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tx
endocrine system
diabetes mellitus
psychospiritual approaches
metaphors and correlations
Relationship between stress and immune function is greater in IDDM than NIDDM: IDDM patients reported significantly more stressful events, more perceived stress, anticipation of stress, and feeling of responsibility for events than for NIDDM. Correlations between perceived stress and immune responsiveness were inverse and higher for IDDM than for NIDDM. IDDM patients differed significantly on several immunological parameters - chemotaxic responsiveness, delayed hypersensitivity, lymphocyte response to mitogens. (Locke, 1983, p. 101)
The juvenile diabetic very quickly loses his ability to produce insulin and thereby falls into a chronic state of emergency. A sympathetic fundamental tension leads to an intense fight for independence (as opposed to adult-onset diabetes where a strongly depressed attitude in conjunction with a parasympathetic fundamental tension enables the individual to accept the illness as fate). This manifests in rebellious resistance and paranoid projections. (Locke, 1983, p. 129)
Longing for what might have been; a great need to control; deep sorrow; no sweetness left. (Hay, 1984, p. 162)
Bitterness in life and need to sweeten one's life. (Epstein, p. 92)
Associated with stress. Diabetics have increases ketones after stress. Anecdotal review of life histories of 50 DM patients correlates onset of disease after period of environmental or interpersonal stress. Stress has been associated with exacerbations of the disease. (Achterberg, p. 201)
The abundant personality conditions leading to obesity apply as well to the adult diabetic. All told, there exists a tendency for a highly depressed attitude in conjunction with a parasympathetic fundamental tension which enables the individual to accept the condition as fate. (Locke, 1983, p. 129)
Associated with need for immediate gratification. (Harrison, p. 134)
Starvation for love and affection from the family. (Achterberg and Lawlis, p. 177)
Common parental messages communicated to diabetics as children:
- be in control
- do not be angry or upset
- death will occur at an early age
- you are special but flawed
- be strong and do not ask for help
(Achterberg and Lawlis, p. 178)
May be due to the strain of inadequately satisfied demands for love and attention. (Alexander, p. 397)
Longing for what might have been; a great need to control; deep sorrow; no sweetness left. (Hay, 1988, p. 28)
Unexpressed anger and hostility. (Achterberg and Lawlis, p. 172)
Strong dependency needs. (Achterberg and Lawlis, p. 174)
"Dying for something sweet." (Achterberg and Lawlis, p. 177)
Behind the desire of diabetics to enjoy sweet things, and their simultaneous inability to assimilate sugar and absorb it into their own body-cells, stands an unsatisfied desire for love, along with the inability to accept love and absorb it unreservedly. Diabetes leads to an over-acidification of the body which can lead to coma. Once again we have the polarity between love and aggression, between sugar and acid, and thus mythologically between Venus and Mars. (Dethlefsen, p. 138)
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); and relates to strength and sustainability.
» Healthy expressions are righteousness and courage.
» Weakness, dysfunction, and illness are associated with excessive grief, sadness, worry, and depression. Worry depletes the Lung Qi.
» Lung Xu (Deficiency) signs include cold shoulder and back; changing complexion; inability to sleep (Seem, p. 28); shortness of breath; changes in urine color; rumbling in the bowels with loose bowel movements; pallor; malar flush; chills; sniffles; sneezing; light cough; and sensitivity to cold.
Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion, includes the pancreas and its functions; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood); resolves Dampness; and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel balanced and centered.
» 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; easy bruising; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and, indirectly, obesity.
» The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen. This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise, overexposure to external Dampness, and excess consumption of sweet and/or Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen.
Kidney ~ Shen houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; regulates the body fluids; and displays the constitutional endowment from the parents as well as the debilitating effects of aging, overwork, 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); hearing loss; 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.
» 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:
swim past free (Chavez)
honey bear (Chavez)
stream tumbler (Chavez)
Make sure your patient understands the disease process. Persons with diabetes often imagine high blood sugar as the problem, and imagine it would be solved if the blood sugar would just leave. Since it is a problem of transporting sugar into cells and metabolism, education is important in the imagery process. (Achterberg, p. 107)
affirmation:
I will do something sweet for myself today. (Epstein, p. 92)
This moment is filled with joy.
I now choose to experience the sweetness of today.
(Hay, 1988, p. 28)
theotherapy:
Tantalus (Lemesurier, p. 93)
process paradigm: (experientially oriented)
What is the symptom preventing me from doing? What is the symptom making me do? (related materia medica listings: endocrine system interview)
related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
converting a symptom to a signal
imagery: precautions
imagery: techniques
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
theotherapy
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.