5b. Naturopathic Investigations

Question 1

What is ‘energetics’?

Answer 1

Flow of energy in the body

Question 2

What is the Vital Force called in Chinese medicine?

Answer 2

Qi

Question 3

What is the Vital Force called in Indian tradition?

Answer 3

Prana

Question 4

In energetics, what is an illness or pathology a sign of?

Answer 4

Blockage or insufficiency of the Vital Force

Question 5

In Western energetics what is the digestive system considered?

Answer 5

Hot - the digestive fire

Question 6

What functions does the Digestive Fire govern?

Answer 6

Clearing out impurities in the body
Liver (livid)
Active muscular heat generating tissues
Digestive enzymes and bile flow

Question 7

What is the digestive fire called in Ayurveda?

Answer 7

Agni

Question 8

What is Agni?

Answer 8

The power to digest, transform and absorb nutrients

Question 9

When is Agni at its highest?

Answer 9

In the morning

supporting the need for a good, nutritious breakfast

Question 10

What can make Agni weak?

Answer 10

Energetic imbalance (excess heat or cold)
Bad eating habits

Question 11

What happens in the digestive system if Agni is weak?

Answer 11

Foods remain undigested and can’t nourish the system

Question 12

What is Ama in Ayurveda?

Answer 12

Toxins

Undigested foods

Question 13

How can Ama be reduced?

Answer 13

Fennel, cumin, cardamom, fenugreek to increase digestive fire
Fresh ginger root tea
3 hrs between last meal and bed
4-6 hrs between meals
No snacking
Adequate exercise
Drink water at room temperature
Not reading, working or feeling stressed while eating

Question 14

What is the ‘spleen’ in TCM?

Answer 14

Functional organ that encompasses all aspects of digestion and absorption of foods
(think Western digestive process)

Question 15

What signs and symptoms can be considered as a spleen Qi deficiency?

Answer 15

Diarrhoea
Bloating after eating
Food intolerances
Indigestion

Question 16

What is the function of the stomach in TCM?

Answer 16

To rot and to ripen

Question 17

What is rotting in TCM?

Answer 17

The rotting of meats

digestion of meats with stomach acid

Question 18

What is ripening in TCM?

Answer 18

The ripening of fruits, vegetables and grains

as in nature

Question 19

What is the Western equivalent of ‘Stomach Fire’?

Answer 19

Stomach acid

Question 20

What does insufficient Stomach Fire lead to in TCM?

Answer 20

Foods are improperly ‘cooked’
Poor digestion
Malabsorption

Question 21

What is a ‘spleen’ friendly diet in TCM?

Answer 21

Warm, wet foods - porridge, soups, stews
Well cooked grains - rice, oats, quinoa
Warming herbs and spices
Wet cooking methods - steaming
Naturally sweet veg

Question 22

Why are wet cooking methods considered good for a spleen friendly diet?

Answer 22

Warming
Easy to digest
Excellent source of hydration

Question 23

What foods should be avoided in a spleen friendly diet?

Answer 23

Cold foods - raw, smoothies
Gluten
Refined sugars
Dairy
Herbal bitters

Question 24

Why are naturally sweet foods considered good for the digestive system?

Answer 24

Support and strengthen

Question 25

What are considered to be naturally sweet foods?

Answer 25

Whole grains Root veg Legumes

Question 26

What can sugar cravings indicate?

Answer 26

Spleen Qi deficiency

Question 27

Why shouldn't you give into sugar cravings?

Answer 27

Further compromise the digestive system | Leads to dampness and heat

Question 28

What conditions are associated with dampness and heat?

Answer 28

``` Candida Weight gain Diabetes Hypertension CVD ```

Question 29

According to the TCM clock, which organ needs supporting 5-7am?

Answer 29

Large intestine

Question 30

According to the TCM clock, how can the LI be supported 5-7am?

Answer 30

Start day drinking warm water (supports LI with elimination) Avoid caffeine (impairs body's detoxification processes, increases cortisol)

Question 31

According to the TCM clock, which organ needs supporting 7-9am?

Answer 31

Stomach

Question 32

According to the TCM clock, how can the stomach be supported 7-9am?

Answer 32

Eat breakfast Warming Hydrating (porridge, not cold smoothie or dry toast)

Question 33

According to the TCM clock, which organ needs supporting 11am-1pm?

Answer 33

Heart

Question 34

According to the TCM clock, how can the heart be supported 11am-1pm?

Answer 34

Nutritionally balanced lunch | Not overfilling to avoid taxing the body

Question 35

According to the TCM clock, which organ needs supporting 3-5pm?

Answer 35

Bladder

Question 36

According to the TCM clock, how can the bladder be supported 3-5pm?

Answer 36

Drink warm fluids - herbal teas | hydrates and supports detoxification

Question 37

According to the TCM clock, which organ needs supporting 5-7pm?

Answer 37

Kidneys

Question 38

According to the TCM clock, how can the kidneys be supported 5-7pm?

Answer 38

Eat dinner and restore energy | should be nourishing, fresh, light

Question 39

What can be pulse be used to diagnose?

Answer 39

Constitution | Nature of the disease

Question 40

What does a rapid pulse indicate constitutionally?

Answer 40

Heat

Question 41

What does a slow pulse indicate constitutionally?

Answer 41

Cold

Question 42

What does a weak pulse indicate constitutionally?

Answer 42

Qi deficiency

Question 43

What does a wiry pulse indicate constitutionally?

Answer 43

Qi stagnation

Question 44

What does the area at the tip/front of the tongue relate to?

Answer 44

Heart | Lungs

Question 45

What does the area at the sides of the tongue relate to?

Answer 45

Liver | Gall bladder

Question 46

What does the area in the centre of the tongue relate to?

Answer 46

Stomach | Spleen

Question 47

What does the area at the back of the tongue relate to?

Answer 47

Lower abdomen - kidneys, bladder, intestines, reproductive organs

Question 48

What can a swollen tongue indicate?

Answer 48

Qi/yang deficiency

Question 49

What can a thin (flat) tongue indicate?

Answer 49

Blood deficiency

Question 50

What can teeth marks along edge of tongue indicate?

Answer 50

Weak digestion | Malabsorption of nutrients in SI

Question 51

What can raised edges on the tongue indicate?

Answer 51

High stress

Question 52

What can a pale pink or pale red tongue indicate?

Answer 52

Normal

Question 53

What can a red tongue indicate?

Answer 53

Heat Inflammation B9/B12 deficiency

Question 54

What can a pale tongue indicate?

Answer 54

Qi/Yang deficiency

Question 55

What can a blue/purple tongue indicate?

Answer 55

Cold | Poor circulation

Question 56

What can a thin white coating on the tongue indicate?

Answer 56

Normal

Question 57

What can a brown coating on the tongue indicate?

Answer 57

Chronic, excess heat

Question 58

What can a greasy yellow coating on the tongue indicate?

Answer 58

Damp heat

Question 59

What can a greasy white coating on the tongue indicate?

Answer 59

Damp cold

Question 60

What can no coating on the tongue indicate?

Answer 60

Yin deficiency

Question 61

What can a pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks indicate?

Answer 61

Spleen Qi deficiency

Question 62

What can a tongue with grey, thick coating at the centre and root indicate?

Answer 62

Dampness affecting spleen and intestines | e.g. candida, SIBO, IBS

Question 63

What can a tongue with a thick yellow coating at the centre and root indicate?

Answer 63

Dampness affecting spleen and intestines | e.g. candida, SIBO, IBD

Question 64

What can a tongue with a brown centre and root indicate?

Answer 64

Excess heat in abdominal area | e.g. stomach ulcers, IBD

Question 65

What can small cracks down the centre of the tongue indicate?

Answer 65

Damage to stomach lining

Question 66

What can a deep crack down the centre of the tongue indicate?

Answer 66

Stomach heat | e.g. acid reflux, ulcers

Question 67

What can spots or lumps on the tongue indicate?

Answer 67

Red spots (raised papillae) indicate heat

Question 68

What can spoon shaped nails indicate?

Answer 68

Severe iron or zinc deficiency

Question 69

What can pale nails indicate

Answer 69

Anaemia

Question 70

What can brittle nails indicate?

Answer 70

Mineral deficiency | Low stomach acid

Question 71

What can white spots on nails indicate?

Answer 71

Zinc or vit A deficiency

Question 72

What can vertical lines on nails indicate?

Answer 72

Malabsorption of nutrients | the deeper the lines, the more severe the deficiency

Question 73

What can horizontal lines on nails indicate?

Answer 73

Sign of illness or infection | a depletion at time of nail growth

Question 74

What can clubbed nails indicate?

Answer 74

Respiratory conditions | e.g. COPD, lung cancer

Question 75

What can grey skin indicate?

Answer 75

Constipation

Question 76

What can yellow skin indicate?

Answer 76

Liver | Gall bladder

Question 77

What can a butterfly rash around nose indicate?

Answer 77

Rosacea (linked to H. pylori) | B3 deficiency

Question 78

What can corrugated lines across the forehead indicate?

Answer 78

Liver dysfunction

Question 79

What can vertical creases between the eyebrows indicate?

Answer 79

Liver dysfunction

Question 80

What can a dry, red forehead indicate?

Answer 80

Possible bladder dysfunction

Question 81

What can acne around the chin indicate?

Answer 81

Hormonal imbalance

Question 82

What can a rash over the cheeks and nose indicate?

Answer 82

Stomach dysfunction

Question 83

What can recurrent forehead acne or rashes indicate?

Answer 83

Bladder or intestinal problem

Question 84

What can clear, bright eyes indicate?

Answer 84

Healthy

Question 85

What can yellow eyes indicate?

Answer 85

Liver | Gall bladder

Question 86

What can bloodshot eyes indicate?

Answer 86

Sleeping difficulties | Liver disharmony

Question 87

What can swollen eyes indicate?

Answer 87

Liver dysfunction

Question 88

What can dry eyes indicate?

Answer 88

Allergy Chronic stress EFA deficiency

Question 89

What can floaters in your vision indicate?

Answer 89

``` Blood deficiency (e.g. low BP, CV changes) ```

Question 90

What can dry hair indicate?

Answer 90

Excess heat or stress | Hypothyroidism

Question 91

What can oily hair indicate?

Answer 91

Excess body acidity and trans fats

Question 92

What can excessive hair loss indicate?

Answer 92

Nutrient deficiencies e.g. B vits, zinc, iron, protein

Question 93

What can a dry, itchy scalp indicate?

Answer 93

Lack of EFAs

Question 94

What can dandruff indicate?

Answer 94

Liver problems | Excess heat

Question 95

What can greying indicate?

Answer 95

Nutrient deficiencies e.g. B5, zinc, copper | Extreme stress

Question 96

Why is it important to ask patients about any problematic teeth?

Answer 96

Teeth are energetically connected to organs of the body

Question 97

What can a headache in the day time indicate?

Answer 97

Qi or Yin deficiency

Question 98

What can a headache in the evening indicate?

Answer 98

Blood or Yin deficiency

Question 99

Which organs can link to a headache in the temples?

Answer 99

Liver | Gall bladder

Question 100

Which organ can link to a headache in the vortex (top of head)?

Answer 100

Liver

Question 101

Which organ can link to a headache in the forehead?

Answer 101

Stomach