L4: Western Energetics II: Tissue states Flashcards
The six tissues states were an attempt to combine ______ and ______ wisdom
Scientific
Traditional
From which school did the six tissues states arise?
Physiomedicalists
To what system do the six tissue states correspond?
Humoural system: using the categories hot/cold/moist/dry
What are the characteristics of heat/excitation ?
- Exaggeration of normal functions
- Inflammation
- Red, full, tender tissues
- Allergies, bleeding, high BP
What are the diagnostic signs of heat/excitation?
- Pulse: superficial, fast
- Tongue: red, elongated, flame-shaped
- Redness, swelling, pain (local or systemic)
Pathologies of heat/excitation
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Fever
- Autoimmune inflammatory diseases
- Allergies
- Hyperthyroidism
- Skin outbreaks
- Stress and overactivity
What herbal actions are required for heat/excitation state?
- Cooling: Plantain Plantago lanceolata
- Anti-inflammatory: Tumeric Curcuma longa
- Anti-septic: Goldenseal Hydrastis canandensis
- Bitter: Wormwood Artemisia absinthium
What are the characteristics of wind/constriction ?
- Neuromuscular tension
- Rigidity
- Spasm, convulsion
- Inability to switch from sympathetic to parasympathetic
- Alternating symptoms (heat/chill)
What are the diagnostic signs of wind/constriction?
Pulse: tense, wiry
Tongue: deep central fissure
Pathologies of wind/constriction
- Neuralgia
- Sciatica
- Tension-related problems
- Asthma
- Allergy
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
What herbal actions are required for wind/constriction state?
- Antispasmodic, relaxant: Passionflower Passiflora incarnata
- Nervine tonic: Skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
- Adaptogen: Ashwagandha Withania somnifera
What are the characteristics of dry/atrophy?
- Lack of function, nourishment*, vitality
- Well-nourished tissues hold water and oil
- Hormones require fluids for transport
- Skin dry, lacking in resiliance, scaly
*fluids carry all nutrients
What are the diagnostic signs of dry/atrophy ?
Tongue: dry, withered, cracked
Pulse: weak, low, uneven
What are the characteristics of cold/depression ?
- Under-stimulated or cannot respond to stimulation
- Poor circulation
- Lack of oxygenation
- Systemic toxaemia & acidosis
- Poor resistance
What are the diagnostic signs of cold/depression ?
- Low blood pressure
- Pulse deep, weak, slow
- Tongue blue, purple, dark
- Yellow or brown coating - toxin retention
What are the diagnostic signs of damp/relaxation ?
- Tongue swollen and wet with clear coating and “scallops” (teeth marks)
- Pulse languid, non-resistant
What are the characteristics of damp/relaxation ?
- Tissues lack tone and cannot hold fluids.
- Saliva, mucous, perspiration
- Thin watery discharges
- Mineral and nutrient loss in discharges
Pathologies of damp/relaxation
- Diarrhoea
- Excess sweating (hyperhydrosis)
- Common cold
- Moist productive cough
- Ulcers
- Haemorrhage, clotting disorder
- Kidney insufficiency
What herbal actions are required for damp/relaxation state?
- Astringent: Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla vulgaris
- Haemostatic: Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Vulnerary: Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
What are the characteristics of damp/stagnation ?
- Retained damp (as opposed to flowing damp)
- Tissues swollen, stuck, ill-nourished
- Accumulation of toxins, liver congestion
- Weakened nutrition, metabolism and elimination
- “Lack of secretion and excretion” (Thurston)
- Skin lesions, poor peripheral circulation
Pathologies of damp/stagnation
- Abdominal fullness and bloating
- Constipation
- Thick catarrh
- Weight gain
- Arthritic and rheumatic conditions
- Poor healing abilities
- Diabetes
- Cancer
What are the diagnostic signs of damp/stagnation?
Tongue: purple or black, thick coating
Pulse: sluggish, resistant
What herbal actions are required for damp/stagnation state?
- Alterative: Burdock Arctium lappa
- Purgative: Senna Cassia angustifolia
- Deobstruent: Poke Root Phytolacca americana
Pathologies of cold/depression
- Depression
- Slow heart rate
- Hypothyroidism
- Adrenal exhaustion
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
What herbal actions are required for cold/depression state?
- Stimulants: RosemaryRosemarinus officinalis
- Circulatory stimulants: Ginger Zingiber officinale
- Tonics: Ginseng Panax ginseng
What herbal actions are required for dry/atrophy state?
- Demulcent: Marshmallow Althea officinalis
- Mucilaginous: Aloe vera Aloe vera
- Nutritive: Nettle leaf Urtica dioica
Pathologies of dry/atrophy?
- Constipation
- Scaly skin conditions e.g. psoriasis
- Weight loss
- Eating disorders
- Malabsorption
- Multiple sclerosis
