“Scotlyn (or any others) - would like to have your input.. is there a TCM procedure to help improve liver/kidney function? For the unvexed, we'll normally take milk thistle and it helps the kidney to work better and handle the daily detox load from the shedding. But for the vexed folks who only approached in the last few months, I have a sinking feeling that all the protocols we developed won't work unless it's done in conjunction with those folks doing dialysis, even if they don't have full kidney failure yet. Just a bit too much detox, and there's an incrased chance of them developing some auto-immunity issues, kinda like losing weight too quickly and releasing stored toxins into circulation.”
Gosh, this is the hardest question to answer in general terms (as opposed to when consulting individually with someone you can see and talk to). So I will throw out some general thoughts, in no particular order, and you will decide if anything speaks to you.
The first point I would raise is the one you have already noticed. In any person with a pathogenic load, the level of the load needs to be assessed, but so ALSO does the strength of the person's UPRIGHT QI. When a person's upright qi is not strong, the pathogenic load does not have to be large to cause damage. And in the cases you are talking about, the pathogenic load IS likely quite large, and has already had time to weaken the upright qi. So, the aim of any treatment has to include efforts to preserve/enhance the patient's upright qi at the same time as trying to reduce their pathogenic load in a way that does not further harm their upright qi. (You are doing already doing the second by making sure the detox effort is done more slowly and gently). So, my biggest suggestion is to look for any way to actively nourish/defend/preserve the person's upright qi. (Many of the common suggestions made here for nourishing the etheric body are applicable, and also anything that is emotionally calming, fear-reducing, and nourishing to the spirit).
Secondly, I'd say that with oedema there are a few things that might be going on there. In western medicine lower limb swelling may relate to heart function as well as to kidney function. But also, do not forget the micro-structures – capillary permeability throughout the vascular and lymph systems may be involved, with or without changes to heart or kidneys. Also consider whether it is possible to buffer changes in the fluid electrolyte balance, as they are affected by whatever is detoxing. I have heard of some people using activated charcoal in order to absorb toxins in their transit between liver and gut, to make sure they continue on out of the body and do not “wash back” into the liver. Apparently timing is critical, but I have not practiced this myself, so it would need to be looked intoin more detail.
In TCM terms lower limb swelling is a function of Spleen as well as of Kidney, and if there is pitting oedema, then you are probably talking about Spleen and/or Kidney Yang deficiency. Try building yang qi (possibly including moxa treatments). The other thing to consider (which I have been working at in my clinic since early in the Covid pandemic) are all of the ways to treat blood stasis (ie- microclotting, and all clotting or bleeding disorders). Fluids and blood and qi must harmonise for the body to perform all of its maintenance functions. In acupuncture we sometimes make use of the three-corner needle to treat blood stasis. I'll let you look that up. Both moxa, and three-corner needle treatments can be effectively applied at the jing-well points under the nail beds of fingers and toes - this is where yin qi and yang qi meet one another and begin to build strength.
Finally, perhaps a local TCM herbalist might suggest herbs that can rescue a person's upright qi, and mobilise their yang qi so that they can more effectively detox their pathogenic loads.
Whatever of use any of this might be to you, please also have my blessing, for all of the work you do.
Re: This hits home.
Gosh, this is the hardest question to answer in general terms (as opposed to when consulting individually with someone you can see and talk to). So I will throw out some general thoughts, in no particular order, and you will decide if anything speaks to you.
The first point I would raise is the one you have already noticed. In any person with a pathogenic load, the level of the load needs to be assessed, but so ALSO does the strength of the person's UPRIGHT QI. When a person's upright qi is not strong, the pathogenic load does not have to be large to cause damage. And in the cases you are talking about, the pathogenic load IS likely quite large, and has already had time to weaken the upright qi. So, the aim of any treatment has to include efforts to preserve/enhance the patient's upright qi at the same time as trying to reduce their pathogenic load in a way that does not further harm their upright qi. (You are doing already doing the second by making sure the detox effort is done more slowly and gently). So, my biggest suggestion is to look for any way to actively nourish/defend/preserve the person's upright qi. (Many of the common suggestions made here for nourishing the etheric body are applicable, and also anything that is emotionally calming, fear-reducing, and nourishing to the spirit).
Secondly, I'd say that with oedema there are a few things that might be going on there. In western medicine lower limb swelling may relate to heart function as well as to kidney function. But also, do not forget the micro-structures – capillary permeability throughout the vascular and lymph systems may be involved, with or without changes to heart or kidneys. Also consider whether it is possible to buffer changes in the fluid electrolyte balance, as they are affected by whatever is detoxing. I have heard of some people using activated charcoal in order to absorb toxins in their transit between liver and gut, to make sure they continue on out of the body and do not “wash back” into the liver. Apparently timing is critical, but I have not practiced this myself, so it would need to be looked intoin more detail.
In TCM terms lower limb swelling is a function of Spleen as well as of Kidney, and if there is pitting oedema, then you are probably talking about Spleen and/or Kidney Yang deficiency. Try building yang qi (possibly including moxa treatments). The other thing to consider (which I have been working at in my clinic since early in the Covid pandemic) are all of the ways to treat blood stasis (ie- microclotting, and all clotting or bleeding disorders). Fluids and blood and qi must harmonise for the body to perform all of its maintenance functions. In acupuncture we sometimes make use of the three-corner needle to treat blood stasis. I'll let you look that up. Both moxa, and three-corner needle treatments can be effectively applied at the jing-well points under the nail beds of fingers and toes - this is where yin qi and yang qi meet one another and begin to build strength.
Finally, perhaps a local TCM herbalist might suggest herbs that can rescue a person's upright qi, and mobilise their yang qi so that they can more effectively detox their pathogenic loads.
Whatever of use any of this might be to you, please also have my blessing, for all of the work you do.