Gallbladder Deficient

This is a constitutional pattern (you can be born with it) characterised by a lack of courage, timidity and poor decision making, that can then affect the way you live. It can also develop as a result of malnourishment, in particular from a protein deficient diet, or from diets that make you emotionally and physically […]

Liver Chi Stagnation

The liver is responsible for a smooth flow of chi around your body. It ensures that your muscles and organs have a constant supply of chi for movement, digestion, blood flow, and the flow of the emotions. If liver chi stagnates, due to emotional tension, ongoing stress and inappropriate diet, it creates symptoms. Symptoms: Abdominal […]

Stagnation of Liver Blood

Longstanding liver chi stagnation (from emotional tension and ongoing stress and inappropriate diet) is the cause of liver blood stagnation. Chi moves blood so when chi stops flowing, so does blood. When liver blood stagnates it creates the following symptoms: Symptoms: Depression, irritability, abdominal pain, abdominal masses and feeling as if there is a lump […]

Cold Damp Invading the Spleen

This pattern is affiliated with chronic fatigue syndrome, candida overgrowth, ulcers, gastritis and obesity and is characterised by a deficient spleen that has caused the formation of dampness. In Chinese medicine the spleen comprises the entire digestive system and aspects of the circulatory system. In cold damp invading the spleen the digestive process is impaired […]

Damp Heat in the Urinary Bladder

This pattern is affiliated with urinary tract infection which can be caused by contamination or inadequate hygiene, overindulgence in fats, sweets or alcohol, or invasion of exterior damp and heat. Dampness obstructs the smooth flow of fluids and burning urination and dark urine is due to heat in the urinary bladder. Feelings of suspicion or […]

Damp Heat Invading the Spleen

This pattern comes from exposure to exterior damp heat (such as hot and humid weather). It can also be caused by eating unclean or contaminated food. The pathology is essentially the same as for cold damp invading the spleen, with the difference that in this case there is heat. The unpleasant odour of the stool, […]

Spleen and Lung Chi Deficiency

This pattern is caused by a combination of a fast food diet, and a sedentary lifestyle. Both spleen and lung are involved in the production of chi, the spleen via food and the lungs via breathing. A diet of fast food and stooping over the desk all day will cause a deficiency in spleen and […]

Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency

This pattern is caused by relying on fast food for daily meals, but also by diets based primarily on cold and raw foods. Both cause spleen chi deficiency. Food is the basis for the formation of blood and when the spleen chi is deficient, not enough blood is produced leading to a lack of blood […]

Obstruction of Spleen by Dampness with Stagnation of Liver Chi

This pattern is caused by eating excessive amounts of deep fried or greasy foods which makes the spleen deficient. The spleen comprises the entire digestive system and aspects of the circulatory system. When the spleen is deficient the digestive process is impaired and foods and fluids don’t move smoothly causing dampness. Dampness obstructs the flow […]

Heart Chi Deficiency

This pattern is affiliated with mood disorders, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) and anxieties which are caused by stress and constant negative emotions. The heart houses the mind and emotional problems, in particular sadness, sap the heart energies leading to heart chi deficiency. Social isolation and chronic illness, which involves sweating and tiredness, can also cause […]