Wei Syndrome - final

Question 1

the idea of wilting insinuates we have what kind of pathogen?

Answer 1

heat pathogen

Question 2

what happens when the lungs are attacked by a heat pathogen

Answer 2

the body fluids are exhausted and the lobes of the lungs become atrophied - a dry wei condition
the skin and body hair become cracked and brittle.

Question 3

what happens when the heart is attacked by a heat pathogen

Answer 3

the blood flows upward. a condition of excess in the upper body and deficiency in the lower body.
the deficiency below produces hollow vessels and a lack of circulation to the joints (joints become stiff); tendons of the feet become loose and flaccid and the patient is unable to walk.

Question 4

what happens when the liver is attacked by a heat pathogen

Answer 4

the bile flows upward, causing a bitter taste in the mouth. the tendons are drying up and leading to contracture and atrophy - a wei condition of the tendons

Question 5

what happens when the spleen is attacked by a heat pathogen

Answer 5

we see thirst, lack of body fluids and numbness of the muscles/flesh

Question 6

what happens when the kidney is attacked by a heat pathogen

Answer 6

the jing/essence is exhausted and the marrow decreases. This leads to dry bones and weakness of the spine. the back becomes so weak that the patient cannot support himself in an upright position - a wei condition of the bones.

Question 7

what are some biomedical diseases characterized by wilting

Answer 7

muscular dystrophy
MS
myasthenia gravis
guillain-barre disease
motor neuron diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, post pollio syndrome

Question 8

what are the 5 possible zang fu patterns for wei syndrome

Answer 8

• lung heat damaging fluids
• damp heat damaging the sinews
• vacuity of the spleen and stomach
• dual vacuity of the liver and kidneys
• blockage due to blood stasis

Question 9

what is yin fire?

Answer 9

Li Dong Yuan -
“when spleen and stomach qi become vacuous and their qi consequently runs down into the kidneys, yin fire is given a chance to overwhelm the earth phase”

Question 10

what are the mechanisms of yin fire

Answer 10

spleen vacuity
liver depression
damp heat
yin/blood vacuity
stirring of ministerial fire

Question 11

how do we treat yin fire

Answer 11

employ acrid, sweet, warm ingredients to supplement the center and upraise yang along with sweet cold ingredients to drain fire.