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tx
immune system
AIDS/HIV
psychospiritual approaches
metaphors and correlations
Heart chakra (thymus) and immune system collapse (Serinus, p. 281, 292);
see also: human energy centers
Strikes culturally isolated minorities: this isolation, often internalized as self-hatred or lack of self-acceptance, allows AIDS virus to begin to incubate once it has entered. Lack of love from without (harmony) internalizes to lack of self-love as key causal element of thymus dysfunction. (Serinus, p. 82, 109, 241)
AIDS may be so prominent among homosexuals, because the male homosexual is avoiding the archetypal encounter with the feminine. Those themes that AIDS imposes on us (weakness, powerlessness, tenderness, gentleness, consideration) belong to the yin or feminine side of polarity. The groups most at risk, IV drug-users and homosexuals, are sharply marked out from society at large, and spurned. What the body is living out and learning by falling prey to AIDS is the opposite of hate; it is the abandonment of all defenses and thus love for all. AIDS confronts humanity with a deeply buried region of the shadow. (Dethlefsen, p. 256)
Victim consciousness; at a level of helplessness and hopelessness so powerful it eclipses what little hope s/he holds for ever changing the victimized condition ; anguish and fear of social and moral rejection. (Shealy, p. 198)
Denial of the self; sexual guilt; strong belief in not being good enough. (Hay, 1984, p. 151)
Chinese psychophysiology:
Lung ~ Fei is the home of the Po (Corporeal Soul); governs the Qi; facilitates the immune function by assisting the dispersal of the Wei (Protective) Qi; regulates the rhythm of respiration, the pulse, and all bodily processes; relates to strength and sustainability; moves and adjusts fluid metabolism; extends through the skin; and controls the pores.
» Healthy expressions are righteousness and courage.
» Weakness, dysfunction, and illness are associated with excessive grief, sadness, worry, and depression. Worry depletes the Lung Qi.
» Lung Xu (Deficiency) signs include cold shoulder and back; changing complexion; inability to sleep (Seem, p. 28); shortness of breath; changes in urine color; rumbling in the bowels with loose bowel movements; pallor; malar flush; chills; sniffles; sneezing; light cough; and sensitivity to cold. Chronic Lung Yin Xu (Deficiency) increases susceptibility to rising Heat and acute Shi (Excess) conditions such as Phlegm, Wind, Heat, and Cold.
Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; stores and cleanses the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); reflects emotional harmony and movement; and expresses itself in the nervous system.
» Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement.
» Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry skin and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. Liver Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) predisposes to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) and Xue (Blood) Heat. Liver Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to the Shi (Excess) conditions of Liver Wind, Liver Yang Rising, and Liver Fire Blazing.
» Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is constricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216)
» Liver Shi (Excess) signs include discontent; anger; pain in lumbar region and genitals (Seem, p. 28); muscular tension; excessive sex drive; insomnia; moodiness; excitability; genital diseases; red, tearing eyes; compulsive energy; and bitter taste in the mouth.
San Jiao ~ Triple Warmer regulates the relations among the three regions roughly delimited by the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; influences the supply of Xue (Blood), Qi and Fluids; is the source of Wei (Protective) Qi; and relates to the function of heat regulation.
Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion and manifests in the muscle tissues; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood) and holds it in the vessels; and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel balanced and centered.
» Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence
» Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); abdomen taut and distended like a drum; craving for sweets; flatulence; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; easy bruising; pale lips; loose stools; and muscular weakness.
» The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen and may lead to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise, overexposure to external Dampness, and excess consumption of sweet and/or Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen.
Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; governs Water to regulate body fluids; controls the bones, particularly the lumbar spine and knees; produces the Marrow which generates the spinal cord, "fills up" the brain, and possibly manifests through the immune system; nourishes the brain to sustain concentration, clear thinking, and memory; and displays the effects of sexual dissipation (especially excessive ejaculation), chronic degenerative processes, and extreme stress.
» Healthy expressions are gentleness, groundedness, and endurance.
» Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs include indecisiveness; confused speech; dreams of trees submerged under water; cold feet and legs; abundant sweating (Seem, p. 28); hearing loss; fearfulness; apathy; chronic fatigue; discouragement; scatteredness; lack of will; negativity; impatience; difficult inhalation; low sex drive; lumbago; sciatica; and musculoskeletal irritation and inflammation, especially when worse from touch.
» Intense or prolonged fear depletes the Kidney. Often chronic anxiety may induce Xu (Deficiency) and then Fire within the Kidney. (Maciocia, p. 250) Overwork, parenting, simple aging, and a sedentary or excessively indulgent lifestyle all contribute significantly to Kidney Xu (Deficiency).
therapies
behavior modification:
Biofeedback combined with series of therapeutic massages and saunas to send blood flow to critical endocrine functions, especially spleen, lymphatics, thyroid, pancreas. (Serinus, p. 117)
imagery:
healthy immune system: immune functioning (Serinus, p. 184, 203)
Kuan Yin journey: bodhisattva of compassion, cleansing (Scully)
the master gardener: immune scavenger (Chavez)
Mut and Crone journey: intuition, healing wisdom (Scully)
open windows: viruses (Chavez)
perfect white: immune scavenger (Chavez)
rainbow butterfly journey: self-esteem (Scully)
truth being told: spleen and thymus (Chavez)
vitality of life: immune functioning (Serinus, p. 203)
related materia medica listings: imagery for immune enhancement
affirmation:
I am a divine, magnificent expression of life.
I rejoice in my sexuality.
I rejoice in all that I am.
I love myself. (Hay, 1984, p. 151)
theotherapy:
(infection) Apollo, Artemis
(homo/bisexual) Apollo, Dionysus, Eros, Dioscuri, Ganymede, Heracles, Hermes, Minos, Pan, Poseidon, Silenus, Zeus (Lemesurier, p. 101, 99, 89)
psychotherapy:
Those who are prone to inflammations are attempting to avoid conflicts. In the case of an infectious illness, the following questions may be useful:
» What conflict in my life am I failing to see? hear? feel?
» What conflict am I dodging? (or lodging?)
» What conflict am I not admitting to? (Dethlefsen, p. 108)
process paradigm:
What is the symptom preventing me from doing? What is the symptom making me do?
(see process interview: immune system)
related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
converting a symptom to a signal
human energy centers
cancer correlations: psychoneuroimmunology
cancer treatments: immune enhancement
(includes behavioral, theotherapy, meditation, hypnotherapy)
behavior modification techniques (see also biofeedback)
imagery for immune enhancement
imagery: precautions
imagery: techniques
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
theotherapy
hypnotherapy
process paradigm
footnotes
Reprinted from The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, Giovanni, 1989, by permission of the publisher Churchill Livingstone, a division of Elsevier Limited.