-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
immune system
mononucleosis
psychospiritual approaches

metaphors and correlations

• May lead to depression up to a year after recovery. (Locke, 1986, p. 194)
• Psychosocial factors that significantly increased the risk of clinical IM among seroconverters (who acquired the antibody to EBV) in a 4-year study of 1400 West Point cadets included: having fathers who were 'overachievers'; having a high level of motivation; doing relatively poorly academically. (Locke, 1983, p. 90)
• Associated with fathers who were overachievers, highly motivated, and poor academic performance. (Jores, p.119)
• Anger at not receiving love and appreciation; no longer caring for the self.
(Hay, 1988, p. 50)
• A pattern of belittling life; making others wrong; inner criticism; complaining. (Hay, 1984, p. 175)

Chinese psychophysiology:
Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion and manifests in the muscle tissues; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood); and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel centered and balanced.
» 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; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and, indirectly, obesity.
» 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 and excess consumption of sweet and/or Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen. Environmentally, the Spleen is highly susceptible to attack from external Dampness and Cold.
» Mental signs of Spleen channel disorders include mental sluggishness; vertigo; melancholia; obsessions turned toward the past; fixed and rigid ideas; sleepwalking; agitated sleep; and nightmares. (Seem, p. 27)

Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; provides both the "Fire of Life" (Yang) and the nourishing and stabilizing qualities of Yin and Water; 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; facilitates inspiration by grasping and pulling down the Qi of the breath; carries the constitutional endowment from the parents; and displays the effects of overwork, chronic debilitation, or 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); 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. As always, Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Empty Heat and/or acute inflammation.
» 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).
» Mental signs of Kidney channel disorders include anxiety, fear in the pit of the stomach; sadness; mental and physical fatigue; antisocial tendencies; and laziness. (Seem, p. 28)


therapies

imagery:
related materia medica listings: imagery for immune enhancement

affirmation:
• I love and appreciate and take care of myself. I am enough. (Hay, 1988, p. 50)
• I am one with all of life. I see myself in others and I love what I see. I rejoice in being alone. (Hay, 1984, p. 175)

theotherapy:
Apollo, Artemis (Lemesurier, p. 101)

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?
» What conflict am I failing to admit to? (Dethlefsen, p. 108)

process paradigm: (experientially oriented)
• 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
imagery for immune enhancement
imagery: precautions
imagery: techniques
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
theotherapy
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.