-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
eyes/ears/nose/throat
conjunctivitis
psychospiritual approaches

metaphors and correlations

• Connected with loss and grief. (Epstein, p. 84)
• Anger and frustration at what you are looking at in life. (Hay, 1984, p. 160)
• Inflammation/Infection: fear; inflamed thinking; seeing red; anger and frustration about seeing conditions in one's life. (Hay, 1984, p. 170-1)
• Conjunctivitis involves not wanting to see a conflict. It leads to pain in the eyes which can only be eased by closing the eyes, not looking directly at the conflict. (Dethlefsen, p. 151)

Chinese psychophysiology:
Liver ~ Gan is the residence 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 opens into the eyes.
»
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 eyes, skin, and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. 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. Chronically suppressed anger can implode and give rise to Fire in the Liver and Gall Bladder with symptoms of irritability, bitter taste, headaches, etc.


therapies

imagery:
• a sight for sore eyes (Chavez)

affirmation:
• (Inflammation/Infection) 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)
• I see with eyes of love. There is a harmonious solution, and I accept it now. (Hay, 1984, p. 160)

psychotherapy:
• The following questions could be addressed:
» What is it that I do not want to see? Am I afraid to see things in their full clarity?
» Is my subjectivity in the way of my awareness? Am I neglecting to recognize myself? What aspect of my nature am I so keen to look away from?
» Can I really bear to see things as they truly are? (Dethlefsen, p. 152)
• Those who are prone to inflammations are attempting to avoid conflicts. In the case of infectious illness, ask the following question:
» What conflict am I failing to see? (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: eyes/ears/nose/throat system)

related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
converting a symptom to a signal
imagery: precautions
imagery: techniques
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.