“Acute” Formulas, Ⅱ
Before I begin answering the article’s title question, (can specialized formulas, designed for acute problems, be taken long-term?), let us first go over how we get to the point of having to take one or more of these specialty formulas, either short-term, long-term and sometimes indefinitely.
For some of you who have read our e-book, available on Amazon, A Chinese Way Of Health [and you all should!], worked with Teah or David directly, or have been receiving our newsletters, this information may be old news, but well worth reinforcing. We have always tried to break down and clarify the complexity of Chinese Medicine, as best as possible, to allow the average person an insight and greater understanding into their own health. As with many models of conveying information, creating a logical, algorithmic pathway can get you to the desired goal.
The very first part of our Chinese Medicine algorithm trilogy starts with what we have coined Daily Disharmonies. This is the beginning of the algorithm.
Daily Disharmonies consist of numerous complaints such as: dry eyes, muscle atrophy, memory loss, insomnia, pain, weak nails, menstrual cycle problems, temperature regulation issues, nerve disorders, fatigue, digestion and elimination problems, skin problems, headaches, water retention, emotional issues, urinary tract infections and on and on…
This list includes major, critical level diseases which usually has a sub-list of its own disharmonies. The list of Daily Disharmonies is virtually endless and becomes the building blocks of the next level of our algorithm: the determining of your Chinese Medicine Patterns.
Chinese Medicine Patterns are determined by recognizing specific groupings of disharmonies. This leads to your Five Organ Systems, their associated excesses, deficiencies and atmospheric states which are:
- The Liver
- The Spleen
- The Lung
- The Heart
- The Kidney
For example weak eyesight & dizziness may fall under the Chinese Medicine Patterns of Liver Blood Deficiency or possibly Liver Wind or even Liver Yang Rising. With a thorough assessment, your personal Chinese Medicine Patterns will be discerned.
This brings us to the final part of our algorithm trilogy…the Chinese Herbal Formulas. Both the question and answer lies within the actual name of a Chinese Herbal Formula. Coincidentally, there are no personally named diseases in Chinese Medicine. There are famous Chinese Herbalists recognized for their understanding of both complex Chinese Medicine Patterns and their creation of advanced formulas that have lasted centuries.