Misc causes of Disease (p279-294) Flashcards
What are the 10 miscellaneous causes of disease as set out by Maciocia?
1) Weak Constitution
2) Overwork
3) Excessive Physical Work (and lack of excercise)
4) Excessive Sexual Activity (or not enough)
5) Diet
6) Trauma
7) Parasites and Poisons
8) Wrong Treatment
9) Medicinal Drugs
10) Drugs (recreational)
What can cause a weak constitution from birth? (5)
- parents’ health in general
- parents’ health at time of conception
- parents too old
- the mother’s health/events during pregnancy (drugs, alcohol, smoking, medicines, emotional stress, severe shock - baby’s HT, etc)
Can one’s constitution be augmented?
Yes, by healthy balance lifestyle and breathing excercises/qi gong
(replenish it with post-heaven qi)
What is the complex of Daoist teachings that strengthen one’s constitution called?
Yang Sheng (“Nourishing Life”)
What are the physical features of a person with a strong prenatal constitution? (9)
good prognosis
- broad forehead and glabella (between and above eyebrows)
- long and wide nose (long and deep nostrils)
- full cheeks
- strong lower jaw
- long ears with long ear lobes
- well-proportioned eyes, nose, ears, and mouth
- long philtrum
- normal complexion with lustre
- firm muscles ad skin
What are the physical features of a person with a weak prenatal constitution? (10)
poor prognosis, prone to deficiency
more easily invaded by ext. pathogens
may suffer distressing symptoms throughout life
- facial features close together
- narrow forehead
- small space between the eyebrows
- narrow nose with nostrils turned up and exposed
- short philtrum
- thin cheeks
- area between cheek and front of ears narrow
- short and small ears that turn outwards
- flat, sunken, low, and narrow lower jaw
- flabby muscles and loose skin
What tow points does Maciocia suggest for assisting a poor constitution?
Ren-4 Guanyuan; KD-3 Taixi
What is a history of childhood Whooping Cough indicative of?
inherited weakness of the Lungs
Why is overwork (long hours for a long period of time) a cause of disease?
- severely depletes Qi, because there is no balance between work and rest to restore Qi
- frequently associated with poor lifestyle: irregular diet, emotional stress (worry)
When/how does chronic overwork cause symptoms of Yin deficiency to appear?
- overwork depletes Yang Qi
- when it is not restored and demands are too high, body begins to draw on Yin substances
- yin begins to deplete, symptoms of yin deficiency occur (particularly KD-yin deficiency)
at this point, rest will not restore: radical change is required (not a holiday) b/c yin can only replenish gradually over a long period of time
Who is excessive excercise particularly harmful for?
- those undergoing puberty, esp girls (who may later develop menstrual issues)
Which zang fu does excessive physical work deplete in general?
SP and LR
muscles and sinews
T/F: Excessive use of one part of the body will cause stagnation of qi in that part.
True
What does excessive jogging injure?
- SP and KD
(muscles and bones)
*Dr Shen also thought it weakened the HT b/c it leads to permanent dilation of the heart and a slowing down of circulation, indicated by slow pulse
What does a lack of exercise lead to?
Qi stagnation, and in some cases, Dampness