L4: Western Energetics I: Humoural system Flashcards
1
Q
Summarise the elements and the qualities
A
2
Q
Four Elements
What does Fire govern?
A
- Digestive secretions
- All enzymes
- Yellow bile
- Metabolism
- ‘Digestive fire’
- Heart, Liver, Stomach (heat-generating organs)
- Active, muscular heat-generating tissue
- Spirit and intelligence
3
Q
Four Elements
What does Water govern?
A
- All vital fluids* (especially clear)
- Kidneys, bladder, urinary tract
- Mucosa (digestive, respiratory, genitourinary)
- Lymphatic system
- Brain and spinal cord
*Phlegm, mucus, plasma, lymph, serous and interstitial fluids
4
Q
Four Elements
What does Earth govern?
A
- Dense, solid parts of the body
- Bones, joints, structural connective tissue
- Nervous tissue and bone marrow
- Teeth and gums
- Hair and nails
- ‘Solidity/groundedness’
5
Q
Four Elements
What does Air govern?
A
- Lungs, chest, thorax
- Cavities and open spaces
- Blood and vital force
- Arteries
- Hollow/porous tissues
- Points of exchange/contact (lungs, kidneys, digestive mucosa)
6
Q
Five Qualities
What are the bodily experiences and appearances with Heat?
A
- Hot (inflammation)
- Swollen
- Tender
- Excess of blood (redness)
- Pain
7
Q
Five Qualities
Examples of manifestations of Heat
A
Fever
Inflammation
Anything with -itis on the end
8
Q
Five Qualities
Diagnostics of Heat
A
- Rapid, superficial pulse
- Red, elongated tongue
- Autoimmune condition
9
Q
Five Qualities
How does Heat work therapeutically in the body?
A
- Purifies
- Drives impurities out of the body (eg Cayenne)
- Clears out pathogens (immune reactions, fever)
10
Q
Five Qualities
What are the herbs we consider for Heat qualities ?
A
- Rosemary: increases circulation, improves brain function
- Thyme: stimulates immunity and is antimicrobial
- Garlic: circulation, digestion, immunity
- Cayenne: safe, natural stimulant
11
Q
Five Qualities
What are the bodily experiences and appearances with Cold?
A
- Pale
- Dark
- Inactive
- Lack of stimulation
12
Q
Five Qualities
Examples of manifestations of Cold
A
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Poor circulation
13
Q
Five Qualities
Diagnostics of Cold
A
- Deep, slow pulse
- Dark red, purple, black tongue
- Pale or blue/purple skin
14
Q
Five Qualities
How does Cold work therapeutically in the body?
A
Binds and tightens
(eg cold pack on inflammation)
15
Q
Five Qualities
What are the herbs we consider for their Cold qualities ?
A
- Rose: cools the liver, topically soothes skin, balances hormonal excesses
- Plantain: takes the heat out of bites and stings
- Barberry bark: cooling and anti-microbial digestive remedy
- Goldenseal: cooling anti-inflammatory action on mucous membrane surfaces
16
Q
Five Qualities
What are the bodily experiences and appearances with Moist?
A
- Lack of tone
- Respiratory discharges
- Skin discharges
- Soggy or boggy tissues, prolapses
17
Q
Five Qualities
Examples of manifestations of Moist
A
- Phlegm, mucous
- Diarrhoea
- Profuse sweating (hyperhydrosis)
- Oedema
18
Q
Five Qualities
What are the herbs we consider for Moist qualities ?
A
- Marshmallow -lubricates the skin and mucous membranes
- Wild Lettuce – lubricating expectorant to treat dry coughs
- Slippery Elm bark powder – stool softener and mild laxative for hard, dry stool
19
Q
Five Qualities
Diagnostics of Moist
A
- Relaxed or obscure pulse
- Wet, coated tongue (glossy or white)
20
Q
Five Qualities
How does Moist work therapeutically in the body?
A
- Nourishes
- Lubricates
- Eg marshmallow and aloe vera protect mucous membranes and skin
21
Q
Five Qualities
What are the bodily experiences and appearances with Dry?
A
- Withered/atrophied
- Weak
- Pallor from lack of fluids/nourishment
22
Q
Five Qualities
What are the herbs we consider for Dry qualities ?
A
- Golden seal –dries up infective discharges e.g. upper respiratory, urinary, digestive system
- Raspberry leaf– stops uterine and vaginal discharges
- Oak Bark – firms up flesh and stops bleeding e.g. gums
23
Q
Five Qualities
Examples of manifestations of Dry
A
- Dry skin and mucous membranes
- Loss of muscle mass
- Constipation due to internal dryness
- Osteoporosis
24
Q
Five Qualities
Diagnostics of Dry
A
- Weak, tense (wiry) pulse
- Dry tongue, no coating
- Rigidity, brittleness
25
# Five Qualities
How does Dry work therapeutically in the body?
* Sets limits and boundaries in health
* eg drying up excess secretions in diarrhoea, stopping bleeding
26
# Five Qualities
What was the most prized quality in Hippocratic medicine?
Neutral
27
# Five Qualities
What does a Neutral quality indicate?
Balance between hot/cold, dry/damp
28
# Five Qualities
Neutral can be said to be opposite to _\_\_\_\_?
Wind
29
# Five Qualities
What are the herbs we consider for Neutral qualities ?
**Adaptogens**
* Siberian ginseng
* Ashwagandha
* Schisandra berry
* Gota kola
* Reishi mushroom
**Nutritive**
* Oatseed
* Schisandra berry
* Ashwagandha
* Maca
* Bilberry
30
# Five Qualities
Herbs may be hot, cold, moist or dry in varying \_\_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_\_
degrees
combinations
31
# Five Qualities
Marshmallow is \_\_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_\_
Cool and moist
32
# Five Qualities
Golden seal is \_\_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_\_
Cold and dry
33
# Five Qualities
Cayenne is \_\_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_\_
Hot and dry
34
# Five Qualities
Pleurisy root is \_\_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_\_
Warm and moist
35
# Four humours
List the four humours, their related elements and their associated 'characteristic'
## Footnote
Melan - black
Cholic - bile
36
# Four humours
Characteristics of Blood
* Relates to Air
* Hot and Moist
* Affintity to Spring
* Youth, health, vitality
* Carries the vital force to all tissues
* First humour from digestive processes
* 'Produced' in the liver
37
# Four humours
Blood out of balance
* Excess -> stagnation
* Weight-gain
* Overburdening of digestion (liver, gall bladder, pancreas)
* Poor circulation (reduced supply of nutrients)
* Fatigue, high BP, hypoxia
* High quantity/low quality blood
38
# Four humours
Strategies to normalise Blood
* Minimise rich foods, meat, alcohol
* Mainly vegetarian diet to cleanse and restore blood (green*, leafy vegetables, bitter greens, beets)
* Dark red, black and blue forest berries
* Blood-moving spices (garlic, ginger)
* Social exercise (dancing, team games)
| *Remember chlorophyll molecular structure similar to haemoglobin
39
# Four humours
Characteristics of yellow bile
* Relates to Fire
* Affinity with Summer
* Hot and Dry
* Represents Fire of Digestion*
* Heat of metabolism
* Physical activity
* Action-oriented people
* 'Produced' in the gall bladder
| *transformation of raw materials
40
# Four humours
Yellow bile out of balance
* Excess can lead to hot/dry consitution#
* Red skin
* Skin eruptions, eczema, psoriasis
* Febrile (physical fevers and state of mind:)
* Indigestion, dyspepsia, heartburn, ulcers
* Sleeplessness
* Irritability, anger, frustration
* Cravings (excitement, drugs, alcohol when bored)
41
# Four humours
Strategies to normalise yellow bile
* Cooling foods and juices
* Salads and raw foods
* Avoiding unhealthy fats
* Maintain fluids, correct hydration
* Bitter tonics (release bile, cool digestion)
* Calming exercise, deep breathing
* Eating in calm atmosphere (not close to bedtime)
42
# Four humours
Characteistics of phlegm
* Relates to water
* Affinity to autumn
* Cold and moist
* Clear fluids of the body (plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, mucous and serous exudations of respiratory, urinary and reproductive tracts)
* Functions: lubricate, nourish, moisten, flush out toxins (lymphatic system)
* Is 'produced' in brain and lungs
43
# Four humours
Phlegm out of balance
* Cold, wet conditions (excess mucous/catarrh, common cold)
* Water retention/oedema
* Lymphatic stagnation
* Slow metabolism, hypo-function of adrenals and thyroid
* Disturbed water balance (as a result of sluggish digestion)
* Stagnation: cysts and tumours
* Arthritis: thickening of synovial fluid
44
# Four humours
Strategies to normalise phlegm
* Avoid foods that weaken digestive fire (cucumbers, melons, dairy, cold drinks, sugars, starches)
* Include stimulating, drying foods (pungent: cayenne, garlic, black pepper, ginger)
* Fennel seed, cardamon, fenugreek, milk thistle act on liver to produce less phlegm
* Warming, drying expectorants to remove thick accummulations (pleurisy root)
45
# Four humours
Characteristics of black bile
* Relates to earth
* Affintity to winter
* Cold and dry
* Opposite to blood*
* Associated with pathology and disease
* Is 'produced' in the spleen
| *youth and vitality
46
# Four humours
Black bile out of balance (pathologies)
* Accumulations may be difficult to clear, requiring longer treatment
* Melancholy (nervous humour) rises to the head
* Tics, spasms, tremors, nervous exhaustion
* Rheumatism, arthritis, neuromuscular disorders
* Circulatory disease, hardening of the arteries
* Digestive bloating, acidity, regurgitation, constipation
* Itchy, dry skin, psoriasis
47
# Four humours
Strategies to normalise black bile
* Avoid rough, dry or astringent foods (nuts, pulses unless soaked or puréed, nightshades)
* Include blood-building foods (spinach, nettle, leafy greens, dark red berries)
* Include soluble fibre (flaxseeds, high pectin fruits)
* Spicy foods to promote better digestion (fennel, cardamon, cumin, coriander)
48
# Four humours
Herbal strategies to normalise black bile
* Purgative, liver-cleansing: senna, cascara, rhubarb root, barberry bark, wormwood
* Cholagogues and bitters: barberry bark, dandelion root, gentian root, myrhh
* Colonics, enemas, bowel cleansing protocols
* Detoxification protocols
* Nervines: skullcap, St John's wort, valerian, lavendar
49
# Four temperaments
Who introduced the concept of the four temperaments that are associated with the four humours?
Galen
50
# Four temperaments
What are the characteristics of a sanguine temperament?
* Hopeful
* Courageous
* Youthful
* Naive
51
# Four temperaments
What are the characteristics of a Choleric temperament?
* Firey
* Quick to anger
* Forceful
* Proactive
52
# Four temperaments
What are the characteristics of a Melancholic temperament?
* Despondent
* Sleepless
* Reflective
53
# Four temperaments
What are the characteristics of a Phlegmatic temperament?
* Calm
* Unemotional
* Philosophical
54
# Four humours
55
# Four humours
What are the states that could exist between the humours?
* **Dyscrasia** was the term used to refer to imbalance, which caused disease.
* **Eucrasia** was the desired state of harmony and balance in the humours.
* **Plethora** referred to an excess of any humour
56
# Four humours
What lifestyle issues also need to be in balance for good health?
- Fresh air
- Exercise
- Sleeping and waking
- Food and drink
- Excretion
- Passions and emotions
57
Which Middle Eastern system of medicine is closely related to humoural medicine?
Unani Tibb
