-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
cutaneous system
contact dermatitis/diaper rash
psychospiritual approaches

metaphors and correlations

• Hives: feelings of taking a beating (or being mistreated) and being helpless to do anything about it. (Gentry, p. 43)
• Inflammation: fear; inflamed thinking; seeing red; anger and frustration about conditions in one's life. (Hay, 1984, p. 170-1)
• Skin problems represent anxiety, fear, being threatened; old, buried stuff. (Hay, 1984, p. 183)

Chinese psychophysiology:
Lung ~ Fei governs the Qi; regulates the rhythm of respiration, the pulse, and all bodily processes; is the home of the Po (Corporeal Soul); it relates to strength and sustainability; 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.

Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; cleanses the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); and reflects emotional harmony and movement.
» Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement.
» Liver Wind derives from Liver Yin Xu (Deficiency) and/or Liver Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) and their subsequent inability to embrace the Yang, and can manifest as joint stiffness, itching, dizziness, tremor, paralysis, convulsions, and neurological problems.


therapies

behavior modification:
• Compulsive scratching: Suggested treatment techniques include aversive conditioning, relaxation, reinforcement for not scratching, and training in social skills. (Locke, 1986, p. 153)
• Intervention: Pediatric treatment for injurious scratching using a combination of time-out for scratching, and tangible reinforcement for reductions in the number of body sores. Although the scratching was initially elicited by organic factors (contact dermatitis), analysis suggested that the behavior was influenced by social reinforcement. (Locke, 1986, p. 203)
• Intervention: Pediatric behavioral treatment, centering on reinforcing desirable
behavior and noncritical communication. (Locke, 1986, p. 205)

affirmation:
(Inflammation)
• My thinking is peaceful, calm, and centered.
• I am willing to change all patterns of criticism.
• I love and approve of myself. (Hay, 1984, p. 170-1)

(Skin)
• I lovingly protect myself with thoughts of joy and peace.
• The past is forgiven and forgotten.
• I am free in this moment. (Hay, 1984, p. 183)

theotherapy:
(skin problems) Dionysus, Heracles, Orestes, Pelops (Lemesurier, p. 115)

hypnotherapy:
• Hypnosis was started in the form of simple suggestion. Varying degrees of hypnotic trance were obtained, and during the hypnotic state the suggestion was given that the skin condition would resolve and return to normal and the irritation, if present, would disappear. In most of the conditions treated pruritus was a marked feature, and it was certainly found that the anti-pruritic effect of simple hypnosis was often very striking. It was also apparent that the doctor-patient rapport was considerably enhanced. Patients became more willing to speak. (Locke, 1986, p. 188)

psychotherapy:
• Whatever happens to the skin corresponds to an inner process. The diverse functions of the skin (protection, contact, expression, excretion, respiration, temperature regulation, sexuality, etc.) are associated with a common theme that alternates between the two poles of separation and contact. Something is bursting through our limits, or trying to armor an inner sensitivity. Questions to ask in the event of skin problems:
» What is it that is getting under my skin? What is trying to burst through barriers?
» How easy/difficult is it to make contact with other people? Do I desire intimacy?
» Have I condemned myself to solitary confinement? What is useful about this?
(Dethlefsen, p. 162, 170)

process paradigm: (experientially oriented)
• What is the symptom preventing me from doing? What is the symptom making me do? (see process interview: cutaneous system)

related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
skin metaphors and correlations
converting a signal to a symptom
behavior modification techniques
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
theotherapy
hypnotherapy
process paradigm


footnotes