Ross Rosen teaching on Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Shock and Trauma

Please join me at Kamwo Herbs on Tuesday June 18th at 7pm.

Here's the link to register:  http://www.meetup.com/chinesemed-62/events/122712472/

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Shock and Trauma: A common block to purposeful, effective and lasting treatment is the impact that shock and trauma have on one's health. One of the most prevalent and yet unknown diagnoses in modern Chinese medicine, Heart Shock creates a sequelae of imbalances that if not dealt with prevent the full healing of our patients. With Shen-Hammer Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis and Classical Pulse Diagnosis one can readily diagnose the presence of Heart Shock from pathognomonic pulse quality presentations as well as its impact on other systems.  In this Meetup, Ross will detail how to diagnose and tailor treatment strategies that encompass these diagnoses leading to successful clinical interventions, including acupuncture strategiesincorporating the 8x, primary channels, luo vessels, divergent meridians, sinews, etc. and contemporary and classical herbal strategies that range from Sun Si-miao to Drs. Shen and Hammer....

FREE Webinar on diagnosing and treating shock and trauma

Here is a FREE recording of the webinar I taught on Thursday July 12 on the diagnosis and treatment of shock and trauma.

http://medigogy.com/webinar/diagnose-and-treatment-shock-and-trauma-pulse

I present an introduction to the concept of Heart Shock, signs, symptoms,strategies and treatments (herbal and acupuncture, including the use of the secondary vessels).

Enjoy.

Ross

PreNatal Stress and Schizophrenia

My friend and colleague, Dr. Stickley, posts an excellent study on his blog regarding the link between prenatal stress and schizophrenia. Dr. Stickley and I have studied under Dr. Leon Hammer for years and, while this connection to intra-uterine insults and psychological illness is not new to us, this study marks an important breakthrough for bringing this information to a wider audience.

Check out his post here.

Is there more to trauma than one's memory?

What would you make of a drug that aims to deal with traumas and shocks by reducing or eliminating one's memory of the traumatic event? Would forgetting the trauma negate the negative impact of it on the body and emotions?

Recently, I learned of a growing use of the beta blocker propranolol. In certain dosages it is being used to impair one's memory shortly after a trauma in order to negate the effects of trauma on one's emotions. At the end of this post are a few links to articles addressing this usage.

What we know of propranolol is that it is a beta blocker which blocks the action of the sympathetic nervous system, decreases the heart rate, the amount of oxygen required by the heart and the force of contraction. It is used to treat angina, migraines, tremors, tachycardia. Side effects include: abdominal cramps, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, depression, fever, light-headedness, depression, numbness, tingling, cold extremities, sore throat, shortness of breath, wheezing, low blood pressure, and of course, memory loss. It can aggravate symptoms of heart failure and cause dangerously slow heart rates.

The issue of how traumas and shocks affect us physiologically and emotionally has been detailed by Dr. Leon Hammer. (For more information on Dr. Hammer and Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis, explore the links "Dr. Leon Hammer" and "Dragon Rises Seminars.") Pathognomonic of a shock/trauma that is significant enough to affect the heart, and hence, the circulation is a rough vibration over the pulse. Typically, the initial result of such a shock/trauma will also be to elevate the heart rate. The pulse, especially in the heart position and at the Qi depth can also become tight, reflecting the consumption of Yin from the heart, and the tension in the nervous system respectively. If the shock is great enough, or occurs at an early age (i.e., in utero or during birth, infancy or early life) prior to the maturation of the organ systems, the kidney yang (akin to adrenals) will become depleted. As the kidneys govern the stages of development, growth and developmental delays/insults can become evident.

The effect of trauma on the heart as evidenced by the rough vibrations, elevated rate, tightness in the heart and nervous systems, predisposes one to a wide range of anxieties, emotional instabilities, post-traumatic stress disorders, sleep disturbances, and circulatory disorders which can affect one on a systemic level. Herbal formulas such as Yunnan Bai Yao and modifications of Sheng Mai San taken together can treat and correct the signs on the pulse, and as such, the emotional and physical ramifications of shock and trauma. Adding herbs to boost kidney yang/adrenals is common where that has been affected as a result of significant trauma or early life shocks.

One of the reasons that traumas affect us emotionally is due to the effect of the shock on the heart and circulation. In Chinese medicine we say that the spirit resides in the heart blood, and an abundance of blood and the smooth flow of the blood is crucial to providing a stable home for the spirit. By correcting the impact of shock on the circulation and the heart with herbs and acupuncture, one can also settle the spirit and make traumas less "traumatic." Stabilizing the mind and nervous system, correcting the circulation and strengthening the heart and kidneys negates the harmful impact of the trauma.

The heart, according the Chinese medicine also has a strong connection to the memory. As the mind and spirit are controlled by the heart, and the spirit resides in the blood, our memories are stored in our blood. Keeping our blood circulating and our heart peaceful allows for a healthy perspective on our emotions and memories, painful and pleasureable ones alike.

So knowing all this, can such a drug reduce the signs of trauma/shock on the heart (rough vibration, tight pulse, rapid rate)? Can it bolster the kidney/adrenals? How exactly does it affect memory?

While I imagine I will see patients who have taken this drug to suppress traumas in the near future, for now I can only speculate. Patients on beta blockers typically have unnaturally slow heart rates. When we are talking about trauma patients, they typically have rapid rates resulting from the shock to the heart. Thus, at first glance, this seems to be beneficial. Unfortunately, understanding the energetic mechanisms behind these rate differences suggests otherwise. The reason for elevation of heart rate in the trauma patient is the quick depletion of heart yin, the anchoring, organizing substance of the heart itself. Propranolol doesn't work by nourishing heart yin, more by depleting heart qi. Reducing the amount of oxygen/energy available for the heart deprives it of its qi and weakens it rather quickly and significantly over time. Without a treatment that nourishes the heart yin, one will be predisposed to all sorts of anxieties and emotional lability.

In addition, symptoms such as fatigue, numbness, tingling, cold extremities are side effects of this medication suggesting the heart is not circulating the blood adequately. Understanding that trauma effects the circulation and part of the protocol for undoing its effects is to enhance/invigorate circulation, propranolol would most likely exacerbate the rough vibrations and circulatory stagnation. From this perspective, propanolol would be detrimental to the trauma patient.

Nothing about propranolol makes it suitable to treat the kidney yang/adrenals should they be impacted from severe trauma or early life events.

Then, what to make of the memory loss of a traumatic event. Is this beneficial? If we understand the premise that the memory is part of our connection to our spirit (which circulates in the blood), it would seem that the memory loss effect of propranolol serves as a disconnect with our spirit. Where enhancing circulation and pacifying the spirit help to make our spirit whole and contented, weakening the heart, negatively impacting circulation and creating additional stagnation of Qi and blood would almost "lock" the trauma away in areas of stagnant blood creating suppression and repression of these emotions.

To heal is to make one whole and a good therapy should be designed to promote healing and wholeness. Disconnecting ourselves from our memories and, hence, our spirit serves to further our imbalances and should, in my opinion, be counseled against.

ACF News

Science News

Living in Accord with Nature

One of the paramount lessons that Chinese medicine teaches is the importance of living in harmony with the cycles of nature. When one resists our ignores these cycles, imbalance sets in and illness is not far off. These discussions were taking place over 2500 years ago as recorded in one of the oldest classics of Chinese medicine, The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine (The Huang Di Nei Jing, Su Wen), wherein the Yellow Emperor had the following conversation with his teacher:

Yellow Emperor asked: I have heard that in ancient times the people lived to over one hundred years, and yet they remained active and did not become decrepit in their activities. But nowadays, people only reach half that age, and yet become decrepit and failing. Is it because the world changes from generation to generation? Or is it that mankind is becoming negligent [of the laws of nature]?

Ch'i Po answered: There was temperance in eating and drinking. Their hours of rising and retiring were regular and not disorderly and wild. By these means the ancients kept their bodies united with their souls, so as to fulfill their allotted span completely, measuring unto a hundred years before they passed away.

In most ancient times, the teachings of the sages were followed by those beneath them; they said that weakness and noxious influences and injurious winds should be avoided at specific times. They were tranquilly content in nothingness, and the true vital force accompanied them always; their vital spirit was preserved within; thus, how could illness come to them? They exercised restraint of their wills and reduced their desires; their hearts were at peace and without any fear; their bodies toiled and yet did not become weary. Their spirit followed in harmony and obedience; everything was satisfactory to their wishes, and they could achieve whatever they wished. Any kind of clothing was satisfactory. They felt happy under any condition. To them it did not matter whether a man held a high or a low position in life. These men can be called pure at heart. No kind of desire can tempt the eyes of those pure people, and their minds cannot be misled by excessiveness and evil........they are without fear of anything, they are in harmony with the Dao, the Right Way. Thus, they can live more than one hundred years and remain active without becoming decrepit, because their virtue was perfect and never imperiled.

It's hard to imagine that the Yellow Emperor and Ch'i Po could in their wildest dreams (or nightmares) ever predict the extent to which our society ignores the rhythms of nature and how far removed we are from living in accord with nature. If 2500 years ago this was an issue, can you fathom what the industrial revolution, capitalism, the stresses that people are subjected to, the state of the earth, crops, preserved and denatured nutrition, microwaves, forced air etc. have done to our generations health?

In a previous post I have brought up the issues of toxicity and neoplastic conditions (which is epidemic as revealed through the pulse), as well as shock and trauma, of which birthing practices are a significant cause. In December, an article in the New York Times uncovered a significant trend of doctors and parents unnecessarily inducing childbirth for convenience and monetary gain. If living contrary to the cycles of nature negatively impacts adults in significant ways, can you imagine the profound detriment that infants will experience and the health concerns they will encounter from such practices. The impact of trauma on an infant who has immature organ and nervous systems can be potentially life threatening, and at its best a significant challenge to one's health (emotional and physical alike). Such patients often present in the clinic with profound illnesses and lifelong struggles.

I suggest that we all evaluate how closely our lives conform to that of the sages above, and perhaps modify certain aspects of our lifestyle to attain even just a sampling of the peace and contentment they achieved.

You can access the New York Times article referenced above here.

Are we as healthy as our grandparents?

It often strikes me in my practice that I (and many others in my profession) are encountering significant illness and weakness in younger and younger people as the years go by. As both a practitioner and parent, this is very troubling to me. Are we as healthy as previous generations? If not, why?

With all the technology in healthcare, it seems as if it cannot keep up with the assault on our bodies and minds from living in our daily world. Certain findings on the pulse, which were rare only a handful of years ago, now seem ubiquitous. A few are:

1. The Choppy pulse: a sensation like teeth grating on your fingertips is a sign, when found over the entire pulse, of toxicity. What those toxins are need to be borne out with other findings and a detailed history, but the numbers of young adults and children with these findings over the past few years is astounding. Our bodies are in a serious battle with the significant numbers of toxins we are constantly being exposed to. From environmental toxins, pollution, chemicals (both inhalant and those found in our water, foods, those that leach through our skin), prescription medications, preservatives and additives in our food, we are being assaulted on a daily basis. For more information on toxicity and the pulse see this link.

2. The Rough Vibration: a coarse rough vibration felt uniformly over the entire pulse. Signifies trauma or heart shock. The import of this is very significant as trauma affects the heart and circulation impairing circulation to the entire organism, and weakening the kidneys and adrenals. When this trauma occurs early in one’s life prior to the maturation of the organ systems, developmental problems and the beginnings of the decline of organ function is set into motion. This leaves one weakened in a compromised physical and emotional state predisposed to the entire gamut of physical and emotional complaints. Unfortunately, unless properly diagnosed and treated, these imbalances will worsen over time into chronic illnesses resistant to conventional treatments. The impact on the emotions (fears, anxieties, panic disorders, depressions) and the body (chronic fatigue syndromes, heart disease, infertility, to name a few) cannot be overstated.

A very common cause of the Rough Vibrations in young children and adults is birth trauma (i.e., placenta previa, traumas to the mother while pregnant, toxic exposures while in utero, breech births, cord being wrapped around one’s neck, forceps, drugs and epidurals, isolation from incubators, etc.). Birthing practices themselves should begin to be questioned by the public at large. Is it okay to continue the common practice of inducing labor for the convenience of doctors when the use of harsh drugs like pitocin and the like literally force out a baby into this world prior to being ready? What emotional effects will this traumatic event have on the baby, toddler, adolescent, young adult, adult? We seriously need to rethink birthing practices and maternal healthcare before the impact of the current practices worsens. In my opinion, they are already unacceptable.

3. Muffled: Muffling on the pulse is described as feeling a pulse through a towel. The artery is palpable and one feels the beating, but the vessel lacks clarity or distinctness. This pulse is a sign of stagnation of the circulation of qi, blood and body fluids. It is generally thought of as a neoplastic process. Not necessarily malignant cancers, but often with cysts, fibroids or other growths and tumors. As such, it is a fairly significant finding. One that is ever increasing in patients across this country and throughout the world. It is not surprising that we are seeing more Muffling on the pulse: just look at statistics. Cancers are practically epidemic.

So with the significant presence of these three pulse qualities in younger and younger populations that were heretofore not present, it would seem that our youth is in serious jeopardy of major illness, illness that will strike younger and younger.

All these findings in young children and young adults suggest weakened and compromised constitution and body conditions. According to Dr. John H.F. Shen and Dr. Leon Hammer, the vulnerability of organ systems depends on (1) constitution (heredity, pregnancy, and delivery); (2) body condition (experiences between birth and adulthood) and (3)adult habits and lifestyles. Should one’s constitution be affected for any reason (and we are mostly discussing the one’s we can control), or should early life experiences be tainted with toxic exposures, it weakens one’s innate energies and invites illness.

Paradigm (cont'd)

Back to the idea of what makes a system of medicine effective. Looking at one’s paradigm for perceiving imbalance, does one look to the past, present or future? Blood tests, MRIs, CT scans, etc. are only a snapshot of the present moment. How often does a patient go to the doctor for regular mammograms only to find out on one visit that she now has breast cancer. Did the breast cancer develop between the yearly mammograms? Or has it been growing (mostly likely for years or decades) without being detectable by western diagnostic tests? The latter, obviously. If one only looks to the present, there can never be a true understanding of the nature of disease.

Chinese medicine’s inquiry starts in the present, looks to the past for understanding, and looks to the future in order to predict where the illness may go (based upon the past and present). One of the major examples commonly seen in practice is the issue of traumas. Traumas have profound impact on us emotionally, physically and spiritually. From traumas occurring at birth (placenta previa and insecurity of the pregnancy, forceps, breech births, cord being wrapped around one’s neck depriving oxygen) to sudden shocks early in one’s life (major accidents, death of a parent) to abuse (physical, sexual), each has tremendous repercussions on our physical and emotional well-being. An interesting case study in Dr. Hammer's trauma and shock article at this link.

The effects of traumas on our heart, nervous and circulatory systems and kidneys can set the stage for multiple imbalances as the years proceed. Being able to spot the signs of trauma (thorough history, visual inspection of the complexion, pulse diagnosis) one can more effectively and holistically treat the current complaints as well as the enduring root causes of these and future illnesses.