-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
immune system
lymphoma: non-Hodgkin's
psychospiritual approaches
metaphors and correlations
Associated with significant loss, either loss of self-esteem related to injury, retirement, loss of close family member, or other (Achterberg and Lawlis, p. 118)
Study of characteristics in youth as indicative of adult-onset Hodgkin's in 45 men, revealed that risk ratios tended to be lower for men who had various common contagious diseases in childhood. (It was hypothesized that: inadequate early challenge of immune system made them more susceptible, whether or not the Hodgkin's was of infectious origin; heightened immune mechanisms that led to subclinical attacks of early contagious diseases promoted an autoimmune response that evolved as Hodgkin's; or, early childhood eliminated some who would have developed it). Hodgkin's disease risk was also greater for those who had an early death of a parent, particularly from cancer, and those who were obese, heavy cigarette smokers, and coffee drinkers. None of these indicator characteristics were associated with 89 fatal lymphomas of other types that occurred in the same study population. (Locke, 1983, p. 126)
Chinese psychophysiology:
Lung ~ Fei governs the Qi; regulates the rhythm of respiration, the pulse, and all bodily processes; is the home of the Po (Corporeal Soul); facilitates the immune function by assisting the dispersal of the Wei (Protective) Qi; it relates to strength and sustainability; 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.
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).
» 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) Tumors are generally considered a form of Xue Yu (Blood Stasis); Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) often begins with Qi Stagnation.
Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; governs Water to regulate body fluids; controls the bones, particularly the lumbar spine and knees; produces the Marrow which generates the spinal cord, "fills up" the brain, and possibly manifests through the immune system; nourishes the brain to sustain concentration, clear thinking, and memory; facilitates inspiration by grasping and pulling down the Qi of the breath; carries the constitutional endowment from the parents; manifests through the reproductive function, and governs the process of passing on life to offspring; and displays the effects of sexual dissipation, overwork, chronic degenerative processes, and extreme stress.
» Healthy expressions are gentleness, groundedness, and endurance.
» Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs include indecisiveness; confused speech; dreams of trees submerged under water; cold feet and legs; abundant sweating (Seem, p. 28); fearfulness; apathy; chronic fatigue; discouragement; scatteredness; lack of will; negativity; impatience; difficult inhalation; low sex drive; lumbago; sciatica; and musculoskeletal irritation and inflammation, especially when worse from touch. As always, Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Empty Fire and/or acute inflammation.
» Intense or prolonged fear depletes the Kidney. Often chronic anxiety may induce Xu (Deficiency) and then Fire within the Kidney. (Maciocia, p. 250) Overwork, parenting, simple aging, and a sedentary or excessively indulgent lifestyle all contribute significantly to Kidney Xu (Deficiency).
therapies
imagery:
related materia medica listings: imagery for immune enhancement
affirmation:
I am perfectly happy to be me. I am good enough just as I am. I love and approve of myself. I am joy expressing and receiving. (Hay, 1984, p. 183)
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)
related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
converting a symptom to a signal
cancer patients: personality characteristics
cancer correlations: psychoneuroimmunology
cancer treatments: immune enhancement
(includes behavioral, theotherapy, meditation, hypnotherapy)
imagery for immune enhancement
imagery: precautions
imagery: techniques
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
hypnotherapy
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.