imbalances of qi & blood

Question 1

what are the two possible patterns that could arise with some imbalance of Qi

Answer 1

Qi Deficiency; Qi prolapse; Qi fall, Qi collapse
Qi Stagnation (excess condition): Qi depression; Qi counterflow/rebellious Qi

Question 2

what are the causes of Qi deficiency

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

what three organs are most prone to qi deficiency?
what are these organs’ relationships to qi that will be lessened by qi deficiency?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

what are general s/sx of qi deficiency

Answer 4

fatigue, weakness, and forceless/soft/fine pulse
other signs include low voice, shortness of breath, and spontaneous sweating

Question 5

describe lung qi deficiency

Answer 5

the impairment of LU ability to govern qi.
s/sx: cough, asthma, wheezing, easily catch a cold, fluid buildup, facial edema

Question 6

describe heart qi deficiency

Answer 6

the inability to govern blood and vessels and store the shen
s/sx: palpitations, insomnia, anxiety

Question 7

describe spleen-stomach qi deficiency

Answer 7

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

Question 8

describe kidney qi deficiency

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Would someone with qi deficiency feel better or worse with movement

Answer 9

They feel worse with movement. ex: as the day progresses, this person feels worse and worse

Question 10

what is the tongue and pulse of someone who is qi deficient

Answer 10

pale tongue, thin white coat / deep, forceless pulse

Question 11

what are the causes of Qi stagnation

Answer 11

• emotional problems
• phlegm, damp or food retention
• injury

Question 12

what are the s/sx of Qi stagnation

Answer 12

pain and distention, varies in intensity and unfixed in location

Question 13

Would someone with qi stagnation, feel better or worse with movement

Answer 13

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

Question 14

what are the organs prone to qi stagnation

Answer 14

Liver, lung, spleen & stomach

Question 15

why would the liver be prone to qi stagnation

Answer 15

the liver governs the free-coursing of qi

Question 16

what are the causes of Qi counterflow / rebellious Qi

Answer 16

anything that impairs the proper flow:
- emotional problems
- improper diet
- phlegm-fluid

Question 17

what are some s/sx of counterflow Qi / rebellious Qi

Answer 17

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

Question 18

what are the causes of qi prolapse, qi fall, & qi collapse

Answer 18

severe and sudden depletion of qi

Question 19

what are s/sx of qi prolapse, qi fall, & qi collapse

Answer 19

diarrhea, prolapsed anus, bleeding (pale red & watery), excessive sweat, vomiting, profuse hemorrhage, hemorrhoids
in infants: depressed fontanel

Question 20

what are the three possible pathologies of blood

Answer 20

blood deficiency
blood stagnation
heat in the blood

Question 21

what can blood deficiency lead to

Answer 21

insufficient nourishment of flesh, channels, and organs

Question 22

what are the causes of blood deficiency

Answer 22

• 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)

Question 23

what are s/sx of blood deficiency

Answer 23

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

Question 24

what are the causes of blood stasis

Answer 24

qi stagnation, qi deficiency, blood deficiency, cold, heat, hemorrhage/trauma

Question 25

what are the s/sx of blood stasis

Answer 25

• 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)

Question 26

what can be said about excess and defieincy conditions and pressure

Answer 26

excess conditions do not like pressure, deficiency conditions do feel better with pressure

Question 27

what are the causes of blood heat

Answer 27

• pathogenic heat/externally contracted disease (febrile disease)
• emotional factors
• internal imbalances that create fire which enters the blood

Question 28

what are s/sx of blood heat

Answer 28

bleeding (bright red) -in stool, vomit, urine, expectorate, nosebleeds, profuse menstruation
red tongue, thirst, vexation, rapid pulse

Question 29

what are the three types of dual disease patterns of qi and blood

Answer 29

1. Qi stagnation and Blood stasis
2. Dual vacuity of Qi and Blood
3. Qi not managing Blood

Question 30

what are causes of a dual disease pattern of qi stagnation and blood stasis

Answer 30

• 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

Question 31

what are s/sx of qi stagnation and blood stasis

Answer 31

absence of menstruation, stasis clots in menstrual blood, abdominal pain during menstruation, or painful distension of the breasts.

Question 32

why do qi vacuity and blood vacuity commonly concur together

Answer 32

because blood is the mother of qi, blood vacuity gives rise to qi vacuity (and vice versa)

Question 33

what are some s/sx of blood and qi vacuity

Answer 33

SOB, lack of vitality, lusterless complexion, pale nails, dizziness, palpitations

Question 34

what is the cause of qi not managing blood

Answer 34

qi deficiency causing excess bleeding

Question 35

what are the s/sx of qi not managing blood

Answer 35

fatigue, lack of strength, pale tongue, soft soggy pulse

Question 36

what are the 4 reasons blood would move outside the vessels

Answer 36

• 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