Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Ancillary Techniques to Aid with Spasticity and Chronic Fight-Flight-Freeze

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One of the challenges in integrating neurophysiology with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to address patterns of spasticity is the need to translate qualitative TCM concepts (pattern differentiation) into a concrete clinical treatment. In my prior work in clinical toxicology, there was rigorous attention to method development that was objective and could hold up in a court of law. This involved testing using spikes, controls, and repeated analysis to ensure accuracy and reliability. The challenge now lies in how to use TCM, which  employs more qualitative methods, to create objective treatments for various patterns successfully. This approach is particularly important in the treatment of neurogenic diseases, where our understanding of pathology is in its infancy.   The pharmaceutical industry, which is supposed to adhere to similar rigorous standards, is falling increasingly short. 

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Ancillary Aids #2: Supplements for Use with Symapthetic Dominance

Digestive issues such as chronic constipation, food allergies, malabsorption, and gastroparesis are prevalent in nearly all cases of neurogenic trauma, including stroke sequela, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, small fiber neuropathy (SFN), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This also applies to adult survivors of childhood trauma. To support optimal digestion under these conditions, targeted supplementation is essential to prevent long-term degeneration and wasting. The cost of one consultation can save you hundreds of dollars otherwise spent on ineffective products, as most clients cannot accurately self-diagnose. While I highly recommend working with a trained clinician for guidance on these issues, these supplements are generally safe to use.

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Integrative Undertanding: Development of the Nervous System

To show a neurological approach to TCM, it is necessary to expand and redefine aspects of the nervous system to include TCM principles. Our nervous system is made up of two components: the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), and the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) serves as the connection between the brain and the body and regulates many body processes that are outside of our conscious control and automated. The involuntary, automatic part of the PNS is called the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and it has three components: the sympathetic autonomic nervous system (SANS), parasympathetic autonomic nervous system (PANS), and the enteric nervous system (ENS). For the purposes of traditional Oriental Medicine, the balance of yin and yang in the body is most closely reflected by the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. (Fang Li, 2015)