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Rochat de la Vallée – Emotions
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Giovanni Maciocia Lecture on Gynaecology
Dr. Daoshing Ni, Chinese Medicine obstetric and gynecology history and development
Dr. Daoshing Ni, Chinese Medicine obstetric and gynecology fundamentals part 1
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Dr. Daoshing Ni, PCOS in Chinese and Western Medicine
Dr. Daoshing Ni, Amenorrhea: Menstrual Irregularities
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Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) has proved very beneficial in the prevention and treatment of Covid-19 in China.
The CHM diagnosis has emphasised 4 phases in the evolution and treatment of the condition.
The purpose is to strengthen the immune system, to help alleviate early symptoms, and to shorten the duration of the virus.
I would encourage 2 types of people to take a preventative CHM formula.
If you are isolating at home and are not in these categories, I would not necessarily recommend that you take a preventative formula.
Clinical Manifestations: Onset of fever (mostly low-grade fever), aversion to cold and fear of cold, chills, headache, ticklish throat, soreness of muscles of limbs, no sweat or night sweats.
Anybody that has entered the “influenza phase” can take one of the formulas designed specifically for Covid-19 at this stage.
I would strongly recommended that we have a phone/video call consultation to confirm your symptoms and integrate your medical history to maybe customise the formula.
Realistically, it is unlikely in the UK that you would be able to take herbal medicine but the NHS would be taking good care of you in hospital.
If you managed to stop the coronavirus at the influenza stage, it would be a good idea to receive one of the tonic formulas to restore your resources and defences. I would also encourage you to take the preventative herbal formula once the lock down is lifted and you go out into the community again.
In case the condition had reached the pneumonia phase for you, it is likely that you will be discharged but left very weak. I would strongly advise that you take a formula designed for Covid-19 at this stage. We would need to have a phone/video call consultation to integrate your medical history and maybe customise the recommended formula.
The best resources I found for the prevention and treatment of Coronavirus Covid-19 with Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine.
https://www.elotus.org/content/tcm-resources-covid-19
Dr John Chen is the author of “Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology” |
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I changed the doses to make 100g of herbal granules for convenience of use (original dose here). I proposed different alternatives to Ma Huang-Ephedra (banned in Europe) depending on the intention of each formula and provided further information on the formula Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San which was only named in the original document.
The purpose is to strengthen the immune system, to help alleviate early symptoms, and to shorten the duration of the virus.
Huang Qi 21g, Bai Zhu 14g, Fang Feng 14g, Mian Ma Guan Zhong 14g, Jin Yin Hua 14g, Chen Pi 9g, Pei Lan 14g.
Clinical Manifestations: Onset of fever (mostly low-grade fever), aversion to cold and fear of cold, chills, headache, ticklish throat, soreness of muscles of limbs, no sweat or night sweats.
Examination: Tongue is pale, coating is white and thin. Floating pulse.
Flu Formula #1 (100g) Ge Gen Tang or Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
I replaced Ma Huang (banned) with Fang Feng and increased the dose of Gui Zhi.
Ge Gen 15g, Fang Feng 10g, Gui Zhi 10g, Bai Shao 15g, Sheng Jiang 10g, Gan Cao 10g, Da Zao 10g, Jin Yin Hua 20g.
For headache add Bai Zhi 15g, for ticklish throat add She Gan 15g.
Other possible formulas to consider:
Clinical Manifestations: Fever and chills, Headache, Chest and gastric fullness and oppression, Pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, Nausea and vomiting, Borborygmus, Diarrhea, Loss of taste, Aversion to Cold, Cough, Indigestion, No perspiration, Chest discomfort, Sore throat, Disorientation.
Examination: Tongue: normal, coating: greasy and white. Pulse: Moderate and soggy or floating and forceful.
Huo Xiang 12g, Jiang Chao Hou Po 9g, Chen Pi 9, Zi Su Ye 6g, Bai Zhi 6g, Zhi Ban Xia 9g, Da Fu Pi 9g, Bai Zhu 12g, Fu Ling 9g, Jie Feng 9g, Sheng Jiang 3g, Da Zao 4g, Zhi Gan Can 3g.
Clinical Manifestations: Fever, aversion to cold, sore and dry throat, dry cough, scanty sputum, sore and painful muscles in the limbs, weakness, headache
Examination: Tip and sides of the tongue are red; thin white or yellow tongue coating. Floating and rapid pulse.
Flu Formula #2 (100g) Yin Qiao San & Qing Wen Bai Du San
Jin Yin Hua 11g, Lian Qiao 11g, Jing Jie 11g, Niu Bang Zi 11g, Bo He 11g, Gan Cao 11g, Dan Zhu 11g, Lu Gen 16g, Huang Lian 7g
Clinical Manifestations: Aversion to cold, fever or absence of fever, dry cough, dry throat, fatigue, weakness, chest stuffiness, epigastric distention, nausea, diarrhea.
Examination: Pale tongue, white greasy coating, slippery pulse.
Damp Cold Formula #1 (100g)
In this formula, I replaced Ma Huang (banned) with Bai Guo and Sang Bai Pi.
Cang Zhu 16, Chen Pi 11, Hou Po 11, Huo Xiang 11, Cao Guo 6, Bai Guo 6, Sang Bai Pi 6, Qiang Huo 11, Sheng Jiang 11, Bing Lang 11
Check the original document if necessary.
Clinical Manifestations: Absence of fever, dry cough, chest stuffiness, shortness of breath, shortness of breath upon exertion, dry mouth, weakness.
Examination: CT reveals inflammation begins to subside as well as pulmonary interstitial changes. Pale red tongue, thick or greasy coating, thread, rapid pulse.
Recovery Formula (100g) Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang
Sha Shen 9g, Mai Dong 9g, Wu Wei Zi 9g, Ren Shen 7g, Lai Fu Zi 9g, Si Gua Luo 9g, Ju Luo 9g, Zi Su Zi 8g, Zhe Bei Mu 8g, Ku Xing Ren 8g, Huang Qin 9g, Gan Cao 6g
Cupping is an age-old technique used in traditional Chinese medicine to stimulate acupuncture points or larger areas of the body. Cupping is often practised alongside acupuncture but can also be used as a treatment in its own right.
Cups are rounded and can be made of rubber, glass or very occasionally, bamboo. In cupping, the practitioner creates a vacuum inside the cup and quickly places it onto the skin where treatment is needed. The cup is left in place for anything up to 20 minutes. The practitioner will often use several cups in one treatment.
If large areas of the body need treating, a technique known as ‘sliding cups’ is used. A thin layer of massage oil is spread over the skin, the cups are then placed onto the body in the usual way and slid along the muscles being treated. This sliding method helps the blood and ‘qi’ to flow more easily in areas of stagnation.
Cupping is not painful, however it can leave reddish patches on the skin, like circular bruises. Although these marks resemble bruises, the muscles have not been traumatised in any way. The redness on the skin indicates that there has been movement in the circulation of blood under and around the cups. Not all cupping will result in redness as this depends on the complaint being treated.
Cupping is a specialist technique and is contraindicated in certain cases. The easiest way to ensure your practitioner is properly trained is by visiting a British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) member.
Moxibustion is an essential part of Chinese medicine which uses moxa, a soft woolly substance prepared from mugwort leaves (Artemisia vulgaris). In moxibustion the moxa is placed either directly on the skin or held just above it, over specific acupuncture points or meridians. The herb is lit and as it smoulders slowly, a therapeutic heat permeates the skin and affects the flow of “qi” (energy) and blood in the area being treated.
Direct moxibustion is more commonly used for specific areas needing treatment. The practitioner shapes the moxa into a tiny cone and places it directly on to the body before lighting. The lit moxa cone is removed as soon as the patient feels any sensation of heat.
Moxibustion is a specialist technique demanding skilled clinical judgement and is contraindicated in certain cases. The easiest way to ensure your practitioner is properly trained is by visiting a British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) member.
