The Freedom to Choose Alternative Medicine
The Freedom to Choose Alternative Medicine
The Importance of Chinese Medicine Pattern Discernment
This is often the place that many of our customers come to us, seeking a professional opinion in an herbal formulation strategy. This is accomplished through Chinese Medicine Pattern discernment by way of an in-depth consultation. As Chinese Medicine Herbalists, we have devoted our lives to studying the many different states that the human body can manifest-in both health and “dis-ease”.
Chinese Medicine Patterns are built from groupings of “daily disharmonies”. A disharmony is any physical or emotional state, even the smallest one that causes distress. Chinese Medicine Pattern are directly related to the vital, Five Internal Organ Systems. These patterns will combine with what are called the six atmospheric “evils”. These “evils” are: cold, heat, wet-heat, dryness, dampness and wind. An example would be Liver Wind Rising which is a common cause of dizziness and migraines.
Chinese Medicine Patterns have various levels of manifestation ranging from its infancy to a full-blown tyranny. Not only that, but these patterns can co-mingle, either accentuating, or even in some circumstances balancing each other out. With time, an out-of-balance Chinese Medicine Pattern will weaken the constitutional reserves of the body. Since our Western culture has no concept of these patterns, our customers usually come to us when multiple patterns are present and are often intensely manifested. Without knowledge of the patterns, they are obviously never addressed…this is the key. They can wreak havoc internally and have a tug-of-war with each other, so to speak.
Often times, a person’s internal environmental patterns are so inter-mingled with each other that to achieve balance can be like untying a complex and entangled knot. The task of balancing an individual can be quite difficult. Chinese Herbal Formula strategies often have to focus on three or four specific points just to achieve some form of resolution without causing any side effects.
An onion is another good analogy. Layers built upon layers built upon layers, and each new layer larger than the last. Unpeeling the first layer takes dedication as it tends to be the thickest, toughest and most time intensive.
The key to success in healing is gaining insight, enough so that it helps to alleviate the stress and burden of finding direction and forming an effective plan of action. There are very few ventures so worthwhile of your precious resources. After all, “health is wealth” as the old saying goes, and perhaps it is among the greatest form of wealth. It enables one to enjoy a greater quality of life, and spend more time with your precious loved ones.
Acquiring a clear picture and mapping of the body is the KEY to getting results. Yet, treading the path of healing, even once it is clearly laid out, can often be much harder than expected. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, proper diet, healthy lifestyle changes, a positive mental perspective and emotional balances are all important components of healing and all have equal weight and importance.