Qi stagnation Flashcards
What diet is best for Qi stagnation?
Food that is cool, neutral, warm and flavours that are pungent (mildly spicy), sour (in small amounts), and bitter (herbs for stomach and Liver).
What are the recommended dietary guidelines for Qi stagnation?
- Less and take the last meal in the late afternoon or early evening.
- More veg (esp green, yellow and red)
- less refined carbs, more fibre
- less meat (small amounts of high quality)
- light, pungent, mildly spicy foods (curried and asian style dishes)
- lightly cooked (stir fry, poaching, steaming)
- eat in a calm and relaxed environment
What foods are beneficial for Qi stagnation?
Meat and fish: crayfish & prawns
Vegetables: radish, garlic, chives, celery, seaweed, kohlrabi, leeks, carrot, onion, fennel, asparagus
Grains and legumes: sprouted grains, sourdough, rye
Fruit: plums, grapefruit, sour cherry
Nuts and Seeds: black sesame
Drinks and condiments: moderate amount of alcohol, vinegar, ginger, marjoram, coriander, basil, mint, rose, dill
What foods are not beneficial for Qi stagnation?
Drugs & intoxicants: alcohol, caffeine
Processed foods: junk or adulterated food (food colouring, preservatives, sugar)
Saturated fats & oils: cheese, eggs, cream, ice-cream, red meats, margarine, nuts, pizza, hot chips
Hot & pungent foods: spicy
Cold & refrigerated foods: ice cream, beer, salads, raw juices, white wine
Poor food combinations: keep sugar and fruit away from main meals, avoid dairy with meat, avoid too much protein rich foods in one meal, combine rich foods with easily digestible ones.
What do herbs that assist with Qi stagnation do in general?
Herbs of this category are generally pungent and warm, they tend to activate, disperse and promote the movement of Qi to eliminate stagnation or rebellious Qi.
What is a caution of Qi stagnation herbs?
Generally used with caution during pregnancy and in Qi/Yin xu clients as the herbs are aromatic, acrid warm and dry which can tend to deplete Yin and consume Qi.
What are the ingredients of the herbal formula Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang?
- Chai Hu
- Chen Pi
- Chuang Xiong
- Xiang Fu
- Zhi Ke
- Shao Yao
- Zhi Gan Cao
What is the function of Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang?
Disperse the stagnated Liver Qi, activate Qi to relieve pain.
What are the indications / signs and symptoms of Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang?
Liver Qi stagnation: hypochondriac pain, alternating episodes of chills and fever, eructation, abdominal fullness, wiry pulse.
What are the cautions for Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang?
Use with caution for clients with deficient patterns.
What is the recommended dosage for Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang?
8-12 pills, 3 times per day, before meals.
What is Chen Pi?
RETICULATE (FRUIT PEEL)
Sun dried mandarin peel
What is the collection and processing of Chen Pi?
Mature fruit picked in late autumn and early winter.
Peel & dried in sunshine or at low temp.
What are the actions and indications of Chen Pi?
- Move & regulate Qi for Spleen and Stomach Qi stagnation: epigastric/abdominal distension, fullness, bloating, belching, lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting
- Dries damp, regulates the middle for Damp obstructing the Spleen/Stomach: abdominal distension, loss of appetite, fatigue, loose stools, no desire to eat or drink anything, vomiting.
- Transforms phlegm for phlegm-damp obstructing Lung: stifling sensation in the chest/diaphragm, cough with copious sputum.
What are the classifications of Chen Pi?
Nature: warm
Taste or flavour: bitter, acrid
Direction of action: descending
Site of action: Spleen, Stomach, Lung
What is the dosage of Chen Pi?
3 – 10g
What are the cautions and contraindications of Chen Pi?
Use with caution for replete heat, Yin xu, dry cough, phlegm heat patterns, haematemesis, bloody sputum.
What is Xiang Fu?
CYPERUS ROTUNDUS (RHIZOME)
What is the collection and processing of Xiang Fu?
Rhizomes are collected in autumn.
Fibrous roots are burnt away.
What are the actions of Xiang Fu?
- Regulates menstruation, alleviates pain for Liver Qi stagnation related gynaecological disorders: dysmenorrhoea, irregular periods, hypochondrial pain, irritability, flank pain and breast distension.
- Spreads & regulates Liver qi for disharmony between Liver and Spleen: abdominal discomfort, epigastric pain and fullness.
What is the classification of Xiang Fu?
Nature: neutral
Taste or flavour: acrid, bitter, sweet
Direction of action: ascending
Site of action: Liver, San Jiao
What is the dosage of Xiang Fu?
6-12g
What are the cautions of Xiang Fu?
Qi and Yin deficiency, Blood heat
What is Chai Hu?
BUPLEURUM CHINENSE (ROOT)
What is the collection and processing of Chai hu?
Dried root collected in spring and fall
What are the actions of Chai Hu?
- Harmonise the exterior and interior for external cold attack syndrome, shaoyang stage: alternating chills and fever, bitter taste, flank pain, irritability, vomiting/nausea, stifling sensation in the chest.
- Spreads Liver-Qi, relieves constraint for Liver Qi stagnation: Emotional instability, dizziness, vertigo, chest and flank pain, breast distension, menstrual problems.
- Raises and lifts Yang qi for Qi and Yang Xu and sinking: prolapses, exhaustion, haemorrhoids, vaginal discharge.
What are the classifications of Chai Hu?
Nature: cool
Taste or flavour: bitter, acrid
Direction of action: ascending
Site of action: Liver, GB, SJ
What is the dosage of Chai Hu?
3-10g
What are the contraindications / cautions of Chai Hu?
Cough due to Yin Xu, ascendant Liver Yang, Liver fire, pregnancy
