Channel Theory

Question 1

Post natal Qi

Answer 1

Tai yin is the source post natal Qi

The Spleen transforms food and drink to create nutritive aspect of the blood

The transformation of Qi in the tai yin Lung ch in concert with the beating of the heart, distributes the nutritive aspect throughout the body and outward to the skin

Question 2

How does Lung tai yin work?

Answer 2

The infusion of Qi from the external environment by the lung provides the driving force to distribute fluids and nutrition from the spleen to the rest of the body

Question 3

Causes of a damp pathology?

Answer 3

Dysfunction of either or both tai yin organs: water metabolism by the spleen or the Qi moving aspect of the lung or both

Question 4

Signs of dampness due to tai yin issues?

Answer 4

Spleen Qi deficiency
Fatigue, low appetite, edema
A condition of excess that presents with signs of deficiency

Question 5

What are the functions of the spleen channel?

Answer 5

Transforming dampness,
moving the Qi,
Maintaining the limbs
Storing thought

Question 6

What is the spleen responsible for?

Answer 6

Transportation and transformation

Transformation of food that has been stored and fermented by the dry warmth of the stomach

Transportation of the resulting nutrition into the blood

Question 7

Tai Yin metabolism?

Answer 7

Regulation of dampness

Distribution of nutrition

Question 8

What does the spleen governs the blood mean?

Answer 8

Gathering the blood at the level of micro circulation to being it back into the vessels

This happens at the point where the arterial and venous capillaries meet and there is a mingling of nutrition with the interstitial fluid

Tai yin maintains the quality of the fluids

If the fluids in the cellular environment begin to lack nutritive quality then dampness will result.

Question 9

What is dampness?

Answer 9

Dampness is a condition where fluids without beneficial qualities accumulate and develop pathology

Question 10

What does spleen controlling the blood mean?

Answer 10

Reuptake of fluids at the capillary level

Eg bruising easily,
Inability of spleen to nourish skin through its cellular baths eg eczema and psoriasis

Question 11

What is spleen Qi?

Answer 11

The transformation (removal) of pathogenic dampness

Cang Zhu
bai Zhu

Question 12

What is spleen yin?

Answer 12

Provides nourishing fluids and the nutritive aspect of blood

Shan Yao
Sheng Di Huang
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan

Lu 5 and Kid 7

Sx: atrophy

Question 13

Spleen Qi counter flow herbs?

Answer 13

Abnormal Qi transformation

Fu Ling and Zhu king

Lu 5 and Sp 9

Question 14

Points and herbs to strengthen spleen Qi to transform dampness

Answer 14

Bai Zhu and Cang Zhu

Lu 9 and Sp 3

Question 15

Points and herbs to benefit fluids to support spleen yin?

Answer 15

Shan Yao, Sheng Di Huang and Yi Yi Ren

Lu 5 and Kid 7

Question 16

Points and herbs to regulate tai yin Qi dynamic?

Answer 16

Fu ling and Zhu Ling

Lu 5 and Sp 9

Question 17

What does spleen warms the five yin organs mean?

Answer 17

The spleen provides nourishment to the rest of the body through its transformative action on food and proper nourishment of organs leads to warmth.
Warming the organs gets the Qi moving.

The process of cellular respiration involves the intake of nourishment and a net release of warmth. The spleen provides the post-natal raw material for this process

Question 18

What causes weak or atrophied muscles?

Answer 18

Either spleen Qi deficiency from lack of nourishment of the spleen or accumulation of dampness

Accumulation of dampness In either the spleen organ or the channels can lead to muscle weakness or atrophy

Question 19

When palpating the channels how can you tell deficiency of spleen Qi?

Answer 19

Softness of the muscle tissues sling the tai yin channels

Question 20

When palpating the channels how can you tell accumulation of dampness?

Answer 20

Tenderness and soreness and possibly nodules sling the tai yin channels

Long term accumulation of dampness readily leads to development of phlegm

Phlegm will bring palpable nodules along the course of the channel

In a combination of excess and deficiency regulate channel function and clear excess before beginning tonification (lu 5 and Sp 9)

Question 21

What pyschic aspect does the spleen store?

Answer 21

Intent

Over concentration (excessive intent) is a loss of balance that becomes obsession while lack of intent manifests as scattered disorganized thought

Over-thinking injures the spleen by interrupting the rhythm and composure of the subconscious mind

Rhythmic movement such as tai chi provides a basis for healthy thought

Question 22

What is the emotion associated with the spleen?

Answer 22

Thought or pensiveness

Thought involves a response to the external stimulus and is an activity

Question 23

What points regulate the interaction of the spleen and the lung?

Answer 23

Begin tx with Lu 5 and sp 9

Similar to four gates

Question 24

What office does the Lung hold?

Answer 24

Prime minister to the heart’s emperor

The true Qi (zhen Qi) is brought into the body by the lung is necessary to activate the heart blood. There is potential in blood that is activated by Qi. The two are independent. The lung and the heart are the ultimate source of movement for the Qi and the blood

The lung commands the Qi and the heart moves the blood

Question 25

What does "lung is commander of qi" mean?

Answer 25

All movement of Qi begins with the rhythm of the breath that originates in the lung The paired spleen organ depends on this rhythm to support digestion, transform dampness and maintain the focus of intent

Question 26

What vertebrae is the lung associated with?

Answer 26

The lung is said to hang from the third thoracic vertebrae Changes along the spine in this area indicate not only lung pathology but digestive disorders that are rooted in a lack of rhythmic movement of Qi from the lung

Question 27

Sp 21 treats?

Answer 27

Pain throughput the body Pain in intercostal muscles Breathing and Qi movement problems

Question 28

What pathologies can Qi transformation problems cause?

Answer 28

Immune system disorders Metabolic dysfunction When regulating Qi it is often appropriate to choose tai yin Use tai yin to regulate and then proceed to other channels in later stages of treatment as the root condition becomes more evident

Question 29

Lu 5 and Sp 9

Answer 29

Two sea points which reverses counterflow Regulates Qi Dampness and Qi counterflow Skin disorders, cough, asthma or edema d/t Qi counterflow

Question 30

What points and formula treat spleen with xu with stomach heat? Patient fatigued, over weight with a puffy tongue, a strong appetite and strong smelling breath?

Answer 30

Drain the Epigastrium formulas such as Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang / strengthens the spleen while clearing stomach heat Sp3 and Ren12 and St44 If dampness and HEAT more pronounced Sp4 and St45

Question 31

What is the best way to treat changes in Qi transformation such as immune system disorders and metabolic dysfunction?

Answer 31

Regulate the Qi Dynamic first by treating tai yin

Question 32

What conditions are Lu5 and Sp9 good for treating?

Answer 32

Skin conditions Dampness and Qi counter flow Cough, asthma and edema: tai yin counterflow Combining two sea points reverses Qi counterflow