imbalances of qi & blood Flashcards
what are the two possible patterns that could arise with some imbalance of Qi
Qi Deficiency; Qi prolapse; Qi fall, Qi collapse
Qi Stagnation (excess condition): Qi depression; Qi counterflow/rebellious Qi
what are the causes of Qi deficiency
- Congenital deficiencies
- Lack of acquired essence –> deficiency of original qi —> decresed organ fxn —> weak zheng qi / reduced resistance to invading evils
- Chronic disease
- Overexertion
- Dysfunctio of lung, spleen, and kidney
what three organs are most prone to qi deficiency?
what are these organs’ relationships to qi that will be lessened by qi deficiency?
lung, spleen and kidney
- lung governs qi and has a dual function of diffusion and depurative downbearing.
- Spleen governs movement and transformation of grain and water and distribution of its essence
- kidney stores essential qi, and is responsible for growth, development, and reproduction
what are general s/sx of qi deficiency
fatigue, weakness, and forceless/soft/fine pulse
other signs include low voice, shortness of breath, and spontaneous sweating
describe lung qi deficiency
the impairment of LU ability to govern qi.
s/sx: cough, asthma, wheezing, easily catch a cold, fluid buildup, facial edema
describe heart qi deficiency
the inability to govern blood and vessels and store the shen
s/sx: palpitations, insomnia, anxiety
describe spleen-stomach qi deficiency
diminished movement and transformation and center qi fall
s/sx: bleeding, prolapse, diarrhea, inability to process food leading to food stagnation, reduced appetite, distention in abdomen, indigestion
describe kidney qi deficiency
impairment of essence storage, engendering marrow, and the qi transformation function of the kidney
s/sx: spermatorrhea, nocturnal emissions, scanty/difficult/decreased urination, tinnitus, aching lumbus/knees, reduced sexual function
Would someone with qi deficiency feel better or worse with movement
They feel worse with movement. ex: as the day progresses, this person feels worse and worse
what is the tongue and pulse of someone who is qi deficient
pale tongue, thin white coat / deep, forceless pulse
what are the causes of Qi stagnation
- emotional problems
- phlegm, damp or food retention
- injury
what are the s/sx of Qi stagnation
pain and distention, varies in intensity and unfixed in location
Would someone with qi stagnation, feel better or worse with movement
They feel better with movement. Ex: the person may have a strong headache in the morning but realize by the middle of the day that they feel better
what are the organs prone to qi stagnation
Liver, lung, spleen & stomach
why would the liver be prone to qi stagnation
the liver governs the free-coursing of qi
what are the causes of Qi counterflow / rebellious Qi
anything that impairs the proper flow:
- emotional problems
- improper diet
- phlegm-fluid
what are some s/sx of counterflow Qi / rebellious Qi
s/sx are dependant upon where the qi is stagnant:
lung: cough, wheeze, asthma, sneezing
stomach: vomiting, nausea, GERD (although occassionaly caused by the liver over acting on the stomach), acid reflex_.upper GI issues
liver: headache/distention, red face and eyes, prone to anger
what are the causes of qi prolapse, qi fall, & qi collapse
severe and sudden depletion of qi
what are s/sx of qi prolapse, qi fall, & qi collapse
diarrhea, prolapsed anus, bleeding (pale red & watery), excessive sweat, vomiting, profuse hemorrhage, hemorrhoids
in infants: depressed fontanel
what are the three possible pathologies of blood
blood deficiency
blood stagnation
heat in the blood
what can blood deficiency lead to
insufficient nourishment of flesh, channels, and organs
what are the causes of blood deficiency
- great loss of blood
- deficiency of stomach and spleen (failure of movement and transformation)
- lack of nutrients
- chronic disease
- blood stagnation (failure to eliminate and engender new blood)
what are s/sx of blood deficiency
pale, whithered complexion, dizziness, flowered vision, pale tongue and fine pulse, palpitations, insomnia, and numbness of extremities
*similar signs as yin deficiency but we do not usually see heat signs with blood deficiency
what are the causes of blood stasis
qi stagnation, qi deficiency, blood deficiency, cold, heat, hemorrhage/trauma
what are the s/sx of blood stasis
- pain-fixed and stabbing
- masses and swellings ie: external or internal swelling or bruising
- bleeding-generally dark purple or clotted blood ie: menstrual irregularities
- general-dark complexion, dark tongue, fine pulse, dry lusterless skin
- red speckles and macules ie: subcutaneous hemorrhage, spider veins and prominent veins on the abdomen (caput medusa)
what can be said about excess and defieincy conditions and pressure
excess conditions do not like pressure, deficiency conditions do feel better with pressure
what are the causes of blood heat
- pathogenic heat/externally contracted disease (febrile disease)
- emotional factors
- internal imbalances that create fire which enters the blood
what are s/sx of blood heat
bleeding (bright red) -in stool, vomit, urine, expectorate, nosebleeds, profuse menstruation
red tongue, thirst, vexation, rapid pulse
what are the three types of dual disease patterns of qi and blood
- Qi stagnation and Blood stasis
- Dual vacuity of Qi and Blood
- Qi not managing Blood
what are causes of a dual disease pattern of qi stagnation and blood stasis
- blood stasis can cause qi stagnation
- qi stagnation can cause blood stasis
- qi deficiency
- blood deficiency can lead to Qi deficiency then stagnation/stasis
- blood heat cooking the blood
- cold
- trauma ie: external injury
- related to LV (Stores blood and ensures movement of Qi)
- related to HT as heart governs blood
what are s/sx of qi stagnation and blood stasis
absence of menstruation, stasis clots in menstrual blood, abdominal pain during menstruation, or painful distension of the breasts.
why do qi vacuity and blood vacuity commonly concur together
because blood is the mother of qi, blood vacuity gives rise to qi vacuity (and vice versa)
what are some s/sx of blood and qi vacuity
SOB, lack of vitality, lusterless complexion, pale nails, dizziness, palpitations
what is the cause of qi not managing blood
qi deficiency causing excess bleeding
what are the s/sx of qi not managing blood
fatigue, lack of strength, pale tongue, soft soggy pulse
what are the 4 reasons blood would move outside the vessels
- qi deficiency-blood can’t be managed because person is deficient
- heat-causes reckless movement of blood
- stasis-pressure causes the blood to move
- trauma-causes blood physically to move due to trauma
