FACTORS THAT WEAKEN OUR BODY RESISTANCE POWER.

 Wrong and harmful living and eating habits cause weakening of the natural resistance power.

-Wrong habits of living and eating, irregular life, addiction, lack of physical activity, pollution and indiscriminate use of drugs are some of major factors which adversely affects the natural resistance of the body.

- When the natural resistance of the body gets weakened it cannot resist the invasion of diseases.

1) Wrong living and eating habits- This is the major factor responsible for ruining natural resistance power of the body. Indiscriminate use of spices, fried food, cold food, sweets throw the digestive system into disorder. The use of white flour is also increasing day by day. No care is taken to ensure whether the food items consumed by us are proper, good and nutritious for our health or not. Spicy food are consumed in large quantities and overeating causes a heavy burden on the digestive organs. Frequent meal also cause a damage to these organs. It is no way advisable to dump more food on the digestive system till the previous meal is not fully digested. 

2) Mental tension- In modern times complaint of mental tension appears to be a universal one. It is the product of the fast and complex modern life style. It has been proved by the finding of several experiments that, like addiction, mental tension too destroys vitamin deposits of our body. 

3) Lack of exercise- Today, a large section of the society leads sedentary life. In absence of adequate physical activity, the strengthen and the efficiency of the body are adversely affected. 

4) Irregular life- We are unable to observe proper and fixed timings for getting up, for taking meals or for retiring to bed. Television and mobile phones have worsened the situation. They keep us awake till late night and consequently our biological rhythm is disturbed. Our reflex action for answering natural calls stop functioning properly. As a result of this, faeces is not excreted properly and gets accumulated in the bowels. On one hand, a poison depot is thus piling up and on other hand, complaint of Indigestion continues to bother a person and generate a vicious cycle in the body. Finally our digestive system becomes weak. Weak digestive system in turn generates many diseases. 

5) Addiction- It is also responsible for ruining our natural resistance power. Frequent consumption of tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, hemp, brown sugar, narcotic drugs and similar other stimulants items damage the natural resistance power to a considerable extent. Natural resistance power of the body depends heavily on the vitamins. Intoxicating items and stimulants destroy the vitamins depot in the body. 

6) Indiscriminate use of drugs and medicine- Excessive use of drugs and medicines suppress the natural resistance power of the body. First of all, a drug taken orally reaches the stomach, gets digested there and mixed with the blood after getting absorbed there. It then reaches out to every cell in the body through the medium of blood circulation. In this way it affects all the cells of our body. The natural resistance of the body depends on the white cells in the blood. The white cells are produced in the bone marrow. Drugs depress the bone marrow. 

EPIGASTRIC PAIN

 Epigastric pain indicates pain in the stomach area. Pain may radiate towards the right or left costal margins. 

External Pathogenic factors for epigastric pain:-

1. Cold:- It invades the stomach directly, by passing the skin and muscles energetic layers. Since the cold contract so it causes acute and severe epigastric pain accompanied by vomiting. 

Tongue- Thick white coat.

2. Dampness:- It can also invade Stomach directly. Dampness may be combined with either cold or heat according to season. It obstruct the descending of stomach Qi(vital energy) and causes dull pain and nausea. It can cause feeling of oppression and heaviness of the epigastrium area.

Tongue- Sticky coating (white or yellow according to cold or heat).

3. Diet:- Diet is the most important factor in stomach disorders. Stomach rots and ripen food, the Spleen trasform and transport the refined food upwards towards lungs, and stomach sends the waste down to the Intestine.

The stomach perform downward movement and the Spleen perform upward movement. In disease, Qi(Vital energy) easily flow in the wrong direction, in case of stomach, it may flow upwards leading to nausea, vomiting, hiccups or belching. 

4. Quantity of food:- Eating too little can cause dull epigastric pain, Tiredness and weak muscles. Eating too much leads to retention of food so that Stomach Qi cannot descend. This causes sour regurgitation, epigastric pain and fullness, belching and foul breath.

5. Nature of food:- Foods are classified according their nature(hot,warm,cold or neutral), and according to their taste(sour,bitter,sweet, pungent, or salty)

The four categories of foods are- 

a) Cold food- These are raw vegetables, salad, fruits,cold drinks, ice cream. An Excessive consumption of cold food will tend to create cold in the Spleen , stomach and epigastric pain.

b) Sugar and sweets- An Excessive consumption of sugar and sweets may tend to produce both Dampness and heat in the stomach.

c) Hot spicy food- These include curries, spices, lamb,beef,and alcohol. An Excessive consumption of hot and spicy food causes stomach heat which may cause burning epigastric pain, thirst, yellow tongue coating. 

d) Greasy food- fried food,dairy food- An Excessive consumption leads to formation of phlegm or Dampness in the stomach. 

Food and water are often contaminated with residue of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. All these can cause stomach disorders. 

6) Conditions of eating:- 

Some eating habits which cause stomach disorders are:-

a) Eating too fast or on the run:- This cause Stagnation of Qi(vital energy) and retention of food in the stomach. Eating on run means eating quick while working or eating just in few minutes or eating while driving. 

b) Eating when emotionally upset:- It can cause Stagnation of Qi in the stomach and liver and sometimes stomach heat. 

c) Going straight back to work after eating:- It can cause stomach Qi deficiency. 

d) Discussing work while eating:- It can cause Stagnation of Qi in the stomach. And impairs the function of Spleen and stomach. 

e) Eating late in the evening or night:- Evening and night time are the time of Yin predominance. It can cause Stomach Yin deficiency. This may manifests on the tongue with wide midline crack. After many years of eating late the tongue may loose its coating and become red.

f) Eating while reading or watching TV- This causes Stagnation of Qi in the stomach and retention of food because reading divert Qi away from the stomach to the eyes and can cause headaches in forehead.

g) Eating Irregular amount from day to day- It can cause stomach Qi deficiency. 

h) Not eating breakfast:- Breakfast is the probably the most important meal of the day. Stomach has its peak of activity between 7am to 9am. It provides nourishment to sustain us throughout the day. Not eating breakfast causes stomach Qi def and also blood deficiency in women.

HEADACHE DUE TO QI DEFICIENCY AND KIDNEY DEFICIENCY.

 1) Headache due to Qi deficiency-

- This headache is due to deficient Qi failing to reach the head.

- It can be due to deficiency of Qi of the Stomach, Spleen,Lung or Heart. 

- It may be manifest in the whole head or Frequently on the forehead. 

- This headache is alleviated by rest and aggravated by excessive work, It is worse in morning. 

- There will be Tiredness, loose stools, poor appetite, slight Breathlessness, Palpitation, Breathlessness on exertion.

Treatment-

Tonify and Raise Qi.

Commonly used Acupoints-

Sp6,St36,Li4,Ren6, Du20

Sp6,St36,Ren6, Li4- Tonify and Raise Qi.

Du20- Raise Qi.

2) Headache due to Kidney deficiency-

- This headache is due to the deficient Kidney essence failing to reach the head and nourish the brain. 

- This headache is experienced inside the brain and not in any specific place and it is accompanied by Dizziness and feeling of emptiness of the brain. 

- It can be also occur on the occiput when Kidney deficiency affects the urinary bladder channel. 

- This headache may occur after sexual activity. 

- In case of Kidney Yang deficiency- Soreness of knees and lower back, feeling of cold, abundant pale Urination, pale tongue.

- In case of Kidney Yin deficiency- Dizziness, tinnitus, Soreness of lower back,feeling heat in the evening,red tongue without coating. 

Treatment-

Tonify Kidney nourish marrow. 

Commonly used Acupoints-

K3,sp6,st36,Du20,Du17,Gb19,Ren4,Ub23,Ub60,Ub10,Ub7.

K3- Tonify both Kidney yin and Kidney yang.

Sp6,St36- Tonify Qi,yin,blood 

Du20,Du17- Raise Qi, Nourish marrow. 

GB19 - Attract Kidney essence upto brain. 

Ren4- Nourish Kidney yin.

Ub23- Tonify Kidney yang.

Ub60,Ub10- Headache on occipital. 

Ub7- best point for local pain.

HEADACHE due to blood deficiency.

 Headache due to blood deficiency:-

- It is due to deficient blood failing to reach and nourish the brain.

- This type of headache affects the top of the head and is related to the blood deficiency of Liver and Heart. 

- It often worse in afternoon and evening. 

- There is poor memory and lack of concentration in this headache. 

- In women, it often occurs at the end of the period. 

- This headache gets on better lying down.

Treatment Principle:- 

-Nourish blood.

- Tonify and raise Qi.

Commonly used points are:- 

Sp6,St36,Ub20,Ub18,Ub20, Ren4,Liv8,Du20,H5

Sp6, St36, Ub20- Nourish the blood and tonify Qi.

Ub20 and Ub18 together nourish Liver blood. 

Ren4- Nourish blood. 

H5- Nourish Heart blood. 

Du20- Raise Qi.

Mutiple Sclerosis.

 Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease. In this disease there is partial destruction of the myelin sheaths around the spinal cord,brain and optic nerve.

In TCM Multiple sclerosis is type of Atrophy syndrome.

There are two basic patterns of this disease:-

1). Damp phlegm with Spleen deficiency. 

Symptoms:- Numbness, heaviness, tingling, Dizziness.

Tongue:- Swollen with teeth Marks and sticky coating.

Pulse:- weak and slippery. 

Treatment: Resolve Dampness and tonify Spleen. 

Commonly used Acupoints: U20,ren12,sp9,sp6,st40.

Ub20 and Ren12 will tonify Spleen. 

Sp9 and Sp6 will resolve Dampness. 

St40 resolve phlegm. 

2). Liver and kidney deficiency:-

Symptoms:- Progressive weakness in legs, weak knees and back, poor memory, Blurred vision, urgency of Urination. 

Treatment:- Tonify Kidney and Liver. 

Commonly used Acupoints:-

K3,Ren4,Ub23, sp6,Liv8,ub18,Si3,Ub62,live,Gb20.

K3,Ren4,Ub23,Sp6 - Tonify Kidney. 

Liv8, Ub18- Tonify Liver.

Si3,Bl62- strengthen the spine.

Liv3,Gb20- Subdue the Liver wind.

AcuPoint categories

 Luo-connecting point:-

There are fifteen Luo-connecting points.

At this point the Luo-connecting channel branches off from the primary channel. 

This point connects Yin-Yang pair of channel. 

Functions:-

- Treat disorder of Yin-Yang pair of channel.

- Disorder along the pathway of Luo-connecting channel. 

- Psychological disorder.

Points are: Li6-lu7, Sj5-P6, Si7-H5, St40-Sp4,21,GB37-liv5, Ub58-K4, Du1-Ren15.

Yuan source points:-

Each 12 paired channel has a yuan source point.

At this point Original Qi surfaces and lingers.

Location: 

On Yin channel- Third most distal point, 

On Yang channel- Fourth most distal point. (Expect- Gallbladder)

Functions:-

The Yin source point on Yin channel tonify Yin organ.

The Yuan source point on Yang channel treat excess condition and expel Dampness. 

Points:- Lu9, Li4,St42,Sp3,H7,Si4,Ub64,k3,P7,Sj4,Gb40,Liv3.

Xi - cleft point:-

At this point the Qi and blood gathers and goes more deeper from the superficial layer of channel.

Functions:

- Treat acute conditions.

- On Yin channel this point treat the blood disorder.

Points:- Lu6,Li7, st34,sp8,H6,Si6,Ub63,K5,P4,Sj7,Gb36,Liv6.

Five shu-transporting point:-

These point are on the every channel. 

1. Jing-well point- 

Location:- On the tip of fingers or toes. It can be the first or last point of the channel. 

Qi emerges at this point, at this point the polarity changes take place.

Clinical uses:- 

-Quickly clear excess from the body.

-Clear heat, restore consciousness.

-Treat upper end of the channel.

-Treat disorder of shen.

-Fullness below the heart.

2. Ying-spring point:-

Location:- It is the second or second last point of the channel. 

Here, Qi slips or glides at this point.

Clinical uses:- 

-Clear heat.

-Treat changes in skin colour or complexion. 

-In the disease of the Yang channel or Yin organ.

3. Shu-Stream point:-

Location:- It is usually the third point or third last point.(Expect Gallbladder)

At this point Qi pours, rushes down.

Clinical uses:- 

- Treat heaviness in the body.

- Pain in the joints.

-Disorder of Yang channel and Yin organ.

4.Jing river point:-

Location:- Between the wrist and elbow or between knee and ankle. 

At jing river point Qi flows like current. 

Clinical uses:- 

-Treat cough, shortness of breath. 

-Disease of sinews and bones. 

-Disease manifest as change of voice.

5. He-sea point:- 

Location:- Near the elbow or knees. 

Here Qi goes deeper into the body.

Clinical uses:- 

-Treat rebellious Qi.

-Disease of the skin. 

-Disorder of Yang organ.

Gall bladder channel.

 Function: 

-Stores bile.

- Maintains the integrity of muscles. 

- Controls the mental activity such as ability to make decisions as well as courage.

Polarity- Yang.

Number of points- 44.

Element- Wood.

Clinical uses:-

- Disorder along the course of channel.

- Disease of ear,neck.

- Mental disorder. 

- Lactation disorder. 

- Pain in gluteal region.

- Paralysis of lower limb. 

- Sciatica. 

- Low backache. 

- Tension in shoulder and Temporal headache. 

- Inability to digest.

- Nausea vomiting. 

- Inability to make decisions. 

Commonly used some Acupoints on Gallbladder channel:-

GB1- Eye concern, headache, facial paralysis. 

GB8-For one sided headache, Exterior wind, Liver Yang rising, wind fire, phlegm in diaphragm and stomach, vertigo, ear disease.

GB12- Insomnia, calm the shen, Mania, liver wind, whiplash. 

GB20- Expels external wind, wind cold(Gb20+lu7+Li4), wind heat(Gb20+Tw5+Li4), pacify internal wind, blood deficiency, any type of headache, whiplash, ear-eye-nose-tongue disorder.

GB21- Lower limb concern, headache, any shoulder concern, dysfunction of uterine bleeding. 

GB25- Mu-front point of Kidney, nephritis, kidney and Spleen yang deficiency,Abdominal distenion. 

GB26- It is part of Dai mai channel, helps to open Dai mai channel, Irregular menstruation, prolapse of uterus, Leucccorrhea.

GB27 and GB28- For inguinal ligament, hernia, External genital concern. 

GB29- Best point for hip pain.

GB30- Sciatica, disorder of hip joint, paralysis of lower extremities. 

GB31- Sciatica, liver wind, paralysis of lower extremities. 

GB34- Influential point of tendon, moves Liver Qi, eliminate damp heat from Gallbladder, hypochondriac pain.

GB37- Night blindness, any eye concern.

GB39- Influential point of bone marrow so it can be use in brain concern, bone joint, paralysis of lower limb.

GB40-Ankle pain, Sciatica, tossing and turning through out night.

GB41- Helps to open Dai mai channel, subdue Liver Yang, local pain, Breast disorders.

GB43- Drain Liver fire.

Large Intestine Channel.

Large intestine-

Polarity- Yang. 

Number of points-20.

Element- Metal.

Function of Large intestine:

- Metabolism of water and excretion of waste.

Commonly used Acupoints:-

LI4- Key and command point for head and face, removes heat from the body, best point for pain, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea. 

LI5- Febrile disease, sore throat, local pain,redness with swelling and pain of eyes.

LI11- Clears heat, tennis elbow, arthritis of elbow, paralysis of forearm, skin disease. 

LI15- Disorder of shoulder. 

LI16- Long term shoulder pain, frozen shoulder. 

LI18- Neck pain, sore throat, cough.

LI20- Open up nasal passages, facial paralysis, toothache.

URINARY BLADDER CHANNEL

 Clinical uses:

- Eyes disorders.

- Genito Urinary disorders. 

- Backache. 

- Muscular cramps.

- Controls the fluids circulation. 

Polarity: Yang .

Number of points: 67.

Element: Water.

Commonly used points:- 

UB1: For any eye concern, night blindness, lacrimation. 

UB2: For any eye concern, sinus, nose concern. 

UB7: For any type of nasal obstruction, for allergies, vertex headache.

UB10: Headache, Neck pain.

UB11: Influential point for bone, great point for any bone concern. 

UB12: Eliminate wind, nasal obstruction. 

UB13: Back shu point for lung, For any lung concern, upper back pain.

UB14: Back shu point of Pericardium, can use to treat both Pericardium as well as Liver, chest pain, liver Qi Stagnation. 

UB15: Back shu point of heart, tonify heart Qi, calm shen, palpitation, feeling tightness of chest.

UB17: Great point for rebellious Qi, Influential point for blood, nourish and move blood.

UB18: Back shu point of liver, helps to move Liver Qi, for eye concern, low back pain, hypochondriac discomfort. 

UB20: Back shu point of Spleen, tonify Spleen Qi, drain damp, low back pain.

UB21: Back shu point of stomach, Great for digestion. 

UB22: Back shu of Triple Warmer, Drain Dampness.

UB23: Back shu point for Kidney, tonify Kidney Qi, lower back pain, night sweating, soreness and weakness of knees. 

UB25: Back shu point of Large Intestine, back pain, Bowel concern.

UB26: Cammand point for low back pain.

UB27: Back shu point for small Intestine, low backache.

UB28: Back shu point of Urinary bladder, Genito Urinary disorder, limbo sacral disorder.

UB32: For poor blood circulation, Genito Urinary disorder, sciatica. 

UB36: Commonly used in sciatica or any type of nerve pain.

UB39: upper He-sea point of Triple Warmer,  drain damp.

UB40: Key and command point for lower back ,any bladder concern, paralysis of lower limb, sciatica, disorder of knee joint, skin disease, dandruff, hair loss, excess sweating during sleep, piles, constipation, Excessive bite of mosquito. 

UB42: Outer back shu point for lung, clear heat, door to the corporeal soul, helps to turn inward, depression, anxiety. 

UB43: (DANGEROUS POINT) ,Outer back shu for Pericardium,  upper back pain, scapular pain, nourish the lung, calm shen, nourish heart, tonify Spleen, Stomach, Kidney.

UB44: Outer back shu point for heart, clear heat and heart fire, calm shen, mental restlessness, anxiety, depression, Insomnia. 

UB47: Outer back shu point for liver, clear heat from Liver, it works on Ethereal soul, depression, Blurred vision, nightmares, dream disturb sleep.

UB49: Outer Back shu point for Spleen, worry.

UB52: Outer back shu point for Kidney, tonify Kidney Qi,Yang and Jing, it is the house of will power.

UB57: Local pain, calf pain, cramps, strengthen the Spleen, Stomach, Liver, any disease of stomach. 

UB60: Local pain, eye pain, bulging eye, occipital headache, sciatica, neck pain, PROHIBITED IN PREGNANCY. 

UB61: Ankle pain, Mania. 

UB62: It brings excess heat and wind to down, clear heat from head, expel wind, Epilepsy(day time), ankle pain, pain along the spine. 

UB67: Prohibited in pregnancy, Promote labour, retention of placenta, malposition of fetus.