Oriental Medicine Concepts of Immunity

Wei (pronounced 'way') qi ('chee') is protective qi. This qi is thought to circulate in more superficial levels (skin and muscles). In biomedical terms, it is probably not entire immune system, but part of it that deals with external invasions. Protective qi is controlled by Lung organ-system, and can be compromised by overwork, grief, smoking, not eating, and talking too much.

Vulnerability occurs particularly when you are tired, or from excessive environmental influences like cold, heat, dryness, and dampness- each of these is associated with a season when that pathogen is more prevalent

Entrance of pathogen

The Lung (a system of correspondences including lung, throat, nose, and skin) is most exterior and most vulnerable organ. Sweating opens pores, and 'wind' enters through pores. Wind can be thought of as pathogen itself, since another quality (cold, damp, or heat, for example) is usually attached to describe pathogen. Wind-heat, then, is invasion of body by a heat pathogen.

Types of Colds and Flu in Oriental Medicine Wind-Cold * Symptoms: Feeling of cold, chills more than fever, cough, congestion, fatigue * Herb Formulas: if no sweating - Ephedra Formula; if more body aches - Kudzu Tincture * Kitchen Medicine: Fresh ginger or garlic tea (warming)

Wind-Heat * Symptoms: Feeling of heat, fever more than chills, sore throat or cough, body aches, red eyes, irritability * Herb Formulas: More sore throat - Honeysuckle & Forsythia Formula; More cough - Mulberry & Chrysanthemum Formula * Kitchen Medicine: Mint or chysanthemum tea (cooling)

Sweating (or 'exterior-releasing') is a major therapy in OM. The type of invasion may be identified by whether or not patient is sweating, and whether or not that sweating is leading to improvement in your health

Fever is thought to be 'heat of battle' between pathogenic and righteous qi. In OM, you have a fever if you feel hot, even if your thermometer shows a normal body temperature. Chills are a sign that pathogen is winning, while fever is a sign that your body is winning.

Tiredness, Qi deficiency, & Weakness The fight may take so much of your energy that you can do nothing but lay in bed. You may also lose your appetite, which is a sign of qi deficiency in OM. Some people are more constitutionally weaker from birth, especially those with childhood asthma and allergies. These are often metal or water type people. They need to be especially vigilant in prevention.

These OM disease theories are not without controversy; some biomedical research has concluded that cold temperatures, for example, do not contribute to getting sick. However, since biomedicine only became aware of immune system in 1960's, and OM has been treating colds and flu's for thousands of years, I would slightly favor application of OM. It is true that OM's theories may be inexact at same time that treatments is applies according to those theories are effective. In another thousand years, once biomedical researchers and OM practitioners have tested and sifted through OM theories and treatments, we will have a stronger, more accurate, and integrated medical system.

While browsing online, I was pretty amazed by how many addictive prescription drugs you could buy illegally. The websites said, "comes in a discrete package," and "nobody needs to know!" I understand that sometimes people are recommended drugs that are embarassing to be on… but dangers here are misuse, addiction, and overdose.

If I can beat an old drum for a minute, drugs should be prescribed by doctors, and chinese herbs by acupuncturist/herbalists. As you know from your experience, it's dangerous to treat yourself- even doctors shouldn't do that.

However, there are some legitimate websites that allow you to buy your prescriptions online. They require a doctor's prescription, as they should. The main advantage of using an online pharmacy is much lower prices than your local drugstore. Check out Imported Drugs.com.

It's not my place to recommend what to do with meds that are already being taken... even though it's a little different when you're taking self-prescribed, illegally-purchased meds. It's best to work with an MD and an acupuncturist/herbalist. What literature suggests is:

Quitting Ultram One should TAPER off Ultram rather than just suddenly stopping. That means reducing dosage gradually over a number of days or weeks.

Herbs and Acupuncture for Withdrawal from Addictive Drugs NADA (the proven ear acupuncture detox protocol - more about that in my article on Acupuncture and Addiction) could make withdrawal period easier. So would formulas:

Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang (Bupleurum Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell) and Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum)

The first one (Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang) would be better for someone with a tremor disorder. Neither formula should be taken longer than a couple of months.

Instead of Painkilling Drugs... Your prospects in future for treating aches and pains and tremor would be great with acupuncture and chinese herbs. I would suggest you find an acupuncturist in your area and see them for at least a few months.

Anything else you need, please let me know!

All best, Brian