-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
immune system
scleroderma
psychospiritual approaches

metaphors and correlations

• Feeling unprotected and unsafe; feeling irritated and threatened by others; creating protection. (Hay, 1984, p. 182)
• Narcissistic, dependent personalities often reported. When circumstances force loss of sense of security, the inflexible nature of this personality does not permit readjustment. The dread fear initiates a generalized spasm of the minute vessels and the evolution of cutaneous and visceral scleroderma. (Locke, 1986, p. 109)

Chinese psychophysiology:
Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; stores and cleanses the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); controls the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, especially the contractility of the muscles and moistening of the sinews; and reflects emotional harmony and movement.
» Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement.
» Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry eyes, skin, and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. Liver Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) predisposes to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) and Xue (Blood) Heat.
» Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is constricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216) Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) often begins with Qi Stagnation.

Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion and manifests in the muscle tissues; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood); and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel centered and balanced.
» Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence.
» Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); abdomen taut and distended like a drum; craving for sweets; flatulence; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; pale lips; loose stools; and muscular weakness. Unresolved Spleen Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Spleen Shi (Excess), particularly accumulation of Dampness and Phlegm, as the Spleen's functioning declines.
» The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen and may lead to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise and excess consumption of sweet and Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen. Environmentally, the Spleen is highly susceptible to attack from external Dampness and Cold.

Lung ~ Fei is the home of the Po (Corporeal Soul); governs the Qi; facilitates the immune function by assisting the dispersal of the Wei (Protective) Qi; regulates the rhythm of respiration, the pulse, and all bodily processes; relates to strength and sustainability; moves and adjusts fluid metabolism; opens at the nose; extends through the skin, controls the pores, and manifests through the body hair.
» Healthy expressions are righteousness and courage.
»
Weakness, dysfunction, and illness are associated with excessive grief, sadness, worry, and depression. Worry depletes the Lung Qi.


therapies

behavior modification:
• Autogenic training and skin temperature (thermal) biofeedback is effective in vasoconstrictive syndromes. (Gentry, p. 503)
• Patients with scleroderma and Raynaud's phenomena received either temperature biofeedback, EMG frontalis biofeedback, or autogenic training. Only those with thermal biofeedback showed significant increases of finger temperature during training; however, none showed clinical improvement. (Locke, 1985, p. 108)

imagery:
related materia medica listings: imagery for immune enhancement

affirmation:
• I am divinely protected and safe at all times. Everything I do is right and brings me love, which I accept with joy and pleasure. (Hay, 1984, p. 153)

psychotherapy:
• Those who are prone to inflammations are attempting to avoid conflicts. The following questions may be useful:
» What conflict in my life am I failing to see? hear? feel? move?
» What conflict am I dodging? What is my relationship to it?
» What conflict am I failing to admit to? (Dethlefsen, p. 108)

process paradigm:
• What is the symptom preventing me from doing? What is the symptom making me do? (see process interview: immune system, process interview: cutaneous system)

related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
converting a symptom to a signal
behavior modification techniques (see also biofeedback, relaxation techniques)
imagery for immune enhancement
imagery: precautions
imagery: principles: receptive or programmed?
imagery: techniques
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
process paradigm


footnotes

Reprinted from The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, Giovanni, 1989, by permission of the publisher Churchill Livingstone, a division of Elsevier Limited.