-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
eyes/ears/nose/throat
otitis externa
psychospiritual approaches
metaphors and correlations
Anger; not wanting to hear; too much turmoil; parents arguing. (Hay, 1984, p. 162)
Our capacity for hearing is a bodily expression of how obedient and submissive we are. Those who are hard of hearing are people who will not listen, they simply fail to hear what they do not want to hear. It shows a certain egocentricity and lack of submissiveness. (Dethlefsen, p. 153)
Chinese psychophysiology:
Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); provides the "Fire of Life" through its Yang functions for the digestive processes and the functions ascribed to the adrenals; provides the nourishing and stabilizing qualities of Yin and Water that balance the Yang and the Fiery qualities; manifests through the ears; and displays the effects of 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, chronic 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).
Gall Bladder ~ Dan is the source of courage and initiative, and is responsible for decision-making as the bodily Minister of Justice; controls circulation of the nourishing and protecting energies [Ying Qi and Wei (Protective) Qi]; expresses itself through the sinews (ligaments and tendons); and opens into the eyes. Its channel purifies Yang energy in the body.
» Healthy expressions are kindness, decisiveness, control, and spirit of initiative.
» Gall Bladder Shi (Excess) signs include tiredness; sighing; irritability; bitter taste in the mouth in the morning; pain in all joints; edematous knees and legs (Seem, p. 29); tinnitus; lateral headache; heaviness in head and stomach; muscular spasms; and limbs slightly cold. Chronically suppressed anger can implode and give rise to Fire in the Liver and Gall Bladder.
» Anger, frustration, and resentment can cause stagnation of Liver Qi which, in turn, can produce Heat which affects the Gall Bladder.
» Mental signs of Gall Bladder channel disorders include bitterness, lack of control, irritability, unfaithfulness, lack of courage, timidity, and hypochondria. (Seem, p. 28)
Small Intestine ~ Xiao Chang receives and transforms food by separating the Clear (Pure) from the Turbid (Impure), with the Clear becoming bodily fluids and the Turbid becoming urine - this function also operates on the emotional, mental, and spiritual levels; regulates quality of Xue (Blood); is responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption; with the Heart, is responsible for sweating; and opens into the tongue.
» Healthy expressions are love, joy, and the ability to discriminate; and, as the Princely Fire, warmth, vitality, and excitement.
» The Small Intestine is affected by sadness which grips a person and destroys the mental clarity and capacity of sound judgment for which this organ is responsible. (Maciocia, p. 273) Weakness, dysfunction, and illness are associated with cruelty, hate, indiscretion, and impatience.
» Small Intestine Deficiency signs include bluish lips with white border, emaciation, profuse sweating (Seem, p. 29); swellings of nodules; hemicrania; tinnitus; pain around the ear; and pain depressing the abdomen.
» Small Intestine Shi (Excess) signs include happiness, joviality, scarlet complexion (Seem, p. 29); congested abdomen; pain at temples and sides of neck; flaccidity of muscles and joints in the arms, especially the elbows; and reddish urine.
» Mental signs of Small Intestine channel disorders include poor mental assimilation, a feeling of mental deficiency due to inability to assimilate ideas, and insecurity. (Seem, p. 27)
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.
» Mental signs of Triple Warmer channel disorders include emotional upsets caused by breaking of friendships or family relations; depression; suspicion; anxiety; and poor elimination of harmful thoughts. (Seem, p. 28)
therapies
affirmation:
Harmony surrounds me. I listen with love to the pleasant and the good. I am a center for good. (Hay, 1984, p. 162)
psychotherapy:
In the cases of hearing or ear problems, it may be useful to ask:
» Why am I not prepared to lend other people an ear? What am I refusing to hear?
» Are the poles of self-centeredness and submissiveness balanced within me?
Those who are prone to inflammations are attempting to avoid conflicts. The following questions may be useful:
» What conflict am I failing to hear? see? feel? admit? (Dethlefsen, p. 108, 154)
process paradigm: (experientially oriented)
What is the symptom preventing me from doing? What is the symptom making me do? (see process interview: eyes/ears/nose/throat system)
related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
converting a symptom to a signal
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
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.