April Bui Holistic Acupuncture
Houston, TX . Memorial Spring Branch
Chinese Medicine Terminology
Chinese Medicine Terminology
Below are brief explanations of some common terms and concepts in Chinese medicine diagnosis that you would come across in a reading. Although Chinese medicine concept can be abstract, this helps you to understand better the discussion on this page.
- Qi - means energy and is the universal energy that pervades within and without us everywhere in our physical realm of existence. Strictly speaking in our body, qi is the vital force that causes all movements, activities, functions, growth, development, control, check and balance, nourishment, protection, and transformation.
- Blood - the food sustenance for life force and nourishment for all functions in our body.
- Yin - pertains to the material basis of our body.
- Yang - pertains to the energetic, functional aspect of our body.
- Jing Essence - the vital substance which governs and originates the primal foundation for the soul aspect and physical aspect at the moment of conception as well as throughout life. Essence is intrinsically connected to and stored in the kidneys. Essence also helps to create bone marrow and reproductive vital substances such as semen, sperms, eggs, menstrual blood.
- Damp - refers to moisture in the body. The mentioning of damp in a diagnosis usually refers to an excessive accumulation that consequently produces problems.
- Heat, cold - temperature in our body. The mentioning of temperature in a diagnosis usually indicates an extreme level of imbalance.
- Wind - exists naturally in our body. The mentioning of wind in a diagnosis indicates an imbalance has occurred which causes the activity of wind to become excessive or in severe cases out of control.
- Meridian - another term for energy channel.
- Deficiency, excess - the condition of imbalance in the body relative to a normal balance.
Chinese Medicine Diagnosis:
Chinese Medicine Diagnosis:
According to Chinese medicine, endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS are the result of a combination of the following imbalances:
• Qi and blood stagnation especially of liver, spleen, kidney, heart, uterus, chong and ren channels (always present in endometriosis)
• Excess damp (always present in fibroids and PCOS)
• Increased heat
• Deficiency of spleen, kidney qi
• Deficiency of blood and yin (especially in endometriosis due to heavy bleeding)
• Deficiency of yang
Treatment Protocol:
Treatment Protocol:
In treating endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS we use acupuncture and Chinese herbs to achieve these healing effects:
• Unblock all affected energy channels and move qi and blood.
• Break up blood stagnation.
• Disperse qi stagnation.
• Drain heat, clear damp.
• Build qi and blood.
• Nourish yin and yang.
Please note about fibroids and cysts: Chinese medicine can treat fibroids and cysts smaller than 6 cm, but not effective for masses of size 6 cm or larger.
The initial course of treatment comprises of 12 weekly sessions and followed by a period of maintenance for at least one year. For endometriosis, the heavy bleeding and pain should decrease significantly, however complete healing of the condition requires a change in diet and exercise.
For fibroids and cysts, we require patients to have a check up with their medical doctors after the initial 12 sessions to determine whether or not the Chinese medicine treatment has helped to reduce or eliminate the mass.
The healing of endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS requires a serious change to the diet. For endometriosis, eliminating meat of all types from the diet is crucial due to the excessive hormones present in meat. For fibroids and cystic conditions, eliminating all dairy products, fattening/greasy foods, and all mucus producing foods is necessary.
Another way to help control endometriosis is establishing a rigorous workout regimen to suppress the estrogen production. You can start out slow but make it a goal to work up to 5-6 days of exercise, at least one hour each day.