Hello dear Readers!

In this new wave of the Omicron variant of Covid 19, I have received many patients with sequelae of Fatigue. Have you ever wondered, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, what does this mean? Why can a disease that primarily affects the Lungs cause such extreme fatigue?

Let’s think according to the 5 Elements to better understand what is happening with our patients.

In Chinese Medicine we know that the Lung is the body’s biggest energy producer. This is because the Lungs is responsible for producing Defense Energy (Wei Qi) and Nutritive Energy (Yin Qi) through the union of Air and Food Energies (Gu Qi).

When the individual contracts Covid, the Lung will be affected even if there are no severe symptoms. The Omicron variant has been classified as a milder form of the disease (even though severe cases are still reported) and its main symptoms are mild upper respiratory system respiratory problems and fatigue.

Many patients report not being able to do simple things like talking on the phone, doing the dishes or playing the piano. And unlike the first version, what the patient reports is tiredness, not shortness of breath.

As the Lung is responsible for the body’s high energy production, when affected, it will try to correct its production and balanced functioning using the strength of its mother organ, that is, the Spleen. The Spleen, in turn, is responsible for capturing energy from food, and at first it will try to help the Lung in reestablishing their functions, however, with the average duration of the illness being 10 days, the Spleen becomes overloaded, not being able to perform its functions, among them, sending Gu Qi so that the Lungs work again.

Thus, fatigue is installed in the body, due to a low energy production and a low use of food.

Following the Spleen, the Stomach will be impaired. As the first viscera with a digestive function, the Stomach is responsible for breaking down food, maturing it and sending it to the Spleen to extract its essences. Since the Spleen will be weak and overloaded, it will not be able to carry out the reception of matter that comes from the Stomach.

Without reception by the Spleen, the Stomach diminishes its functions, as its work will not be efficiently used by the Spleen. With a deficient Stomach, the patient will have tiredness, lack of appetite, difficulty in digestion, intestinal malfunction, decreased production of Yin fluids by the Stomach, which will result in dry mouth, burning in the stomach and in more severe cases, persistent fever.

When the Stomach weakens, the entire energy-forming chair is broken, so the patient’s tiredness is severe. It is important, therefore, that the therapist knows how to evaluate and treat a post-Covid patient, not only strengthening his Lung, but also the Spleen and Stomach.

I suggest the following points:

• To strengthen the Lungs: Lu7, Lu9, CV17, in auriculotherapy, Lung point.
• To strengthen the Spleen: SP2, SP3, in auriculotherapy, Spleen point.
• To strengthen the Stomach: CV15, CV12, ST36 and SP6, in auriculotherapy, Stomach point.

Once the function of the Spleen is reestablished, which will be able to capture the energy of the Stomach and strengthening the Lungs so that it no longer steals the energy from the Spleen in excess, the patient will be able to resume normal energy production and the symptom of tiredness. and fatigue will resolve more quickly.

Hope it was helpful.

A big hug to everyone.

Fernanda Mara

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Hello readers!

Today let’s talk a bit about Post-Covid Syndrome, describing the tongue evaluation of a real patient.

The patient we are talking about, reports having had Covid in August 2021, without need for hospitalization and suffering from light symptoms, such as tiredness, body pain, few respiration related symptoms and a bit of throat inflammation.

However, as time went by, a few days after the test already ruled negative (to Covid), the patient started feeling extremely tired, lack of appetite and strong mental agitation combined with trouble sleeping. Based off these late symptoms, let’s evaluate the patient tongue, together:

1. About the Tongue’s Color:

We can observe that the patient has the tongue tip full of petechiae (small dark red ball mostly on the tip).

This sign shows that the patient suffers from Heart Heat, justifying the mental agitation and trouble sleeping.

In order to treat this symptom, I suggest the points HT3 and HT5, as well as Heart point in auriculotherapy.

2. Coating 

In this tongue, the main problem is in the coating. After carefully evaluating it, we can notice that the coating does not have a defined pattern from the root to the tongue’s tip. That’s why the ideal is, dividing the diagnosis of the tongue coating in steps:

2.a) Tongue’s Back: coating concentrated and slightly yellowish

• Indicates heat and humidity in the Lower Burner, especially on the Kidney. The concentrated humidity on the Lower Burner makes the patient loses vitality. The water loses its ascending movement to refresh the Heat from the Fire Element/Heart. The patient enters a depressive state, the tiredness never goes away. It’s necessary that we tone Yang and Kidney energy, in order that Water returns to it’s ascending movement, as well as removing humidity. Due to that, we suggest the points KI7 and CV4.

2.b) Coating Fault in the reflex region for Large and Small Intestine and Stomach:

• Indicates a Deficiency in Yin Energy and Body Fluids in these viscera. The symptoms are lack of appetite, resected feces and constipation. Besides that, the patient can suffer from bad breath, skin and mucosa dryness. Without body fluids, the absorption system won’t properly function. The patient will eat less and will not be able to absorb the nutrients in appropriate matter, turning weak and worsening the tiredness already caused by the previous humidity in Lower Burner.
• In this case, it’s important to use the points that promote fluid production, such as: PC6, ST36, SP6, KI6. In auriculotherapy, use Stomach and Spleen points.

3) Yellowish and thick coating in Spleen reflex region

• Unlike the Stomach region that is suffering from lack of fluids, the Spleen has Humidity and Heat. Under the acting of two new pathological factors, Spleen won’t be able to properly function. Memory will be weakened and the patient will be unwilling, with weight gain sensation and retaining fluids, the intestine won’t work properly. There will be no appetite.
• We need to remove heat and humidity from Spleen. Points as SP2, SP6 and SP9 can be of big help.

It’s important to comprehend that in an Post-Covid patient, Excess symptoms (humidity and heat) may occur concurrent to the Deficiency symptoms (Deficiency Yin and Fluids). Thus it’s important that the therapist is able to remove the pathological factors and strengthen the deficiencies in the same session.

In Chinese Food Therapy, we recommend Fresh aliments for the Heart and Neutral for the Kidney, Stomach and Spleen. Neutral Aliments are always the recommendation for patients with Excess/Deficiency symptoms in the same organ/region.

The complete food chart is at: https://www.facilitatingacupuncture.com/therapeutic-food-tables/

The Covid-19 pandemic isn’t over yet, and a lot is still to be learnt. But it’s a fact that acupuncture and Chinese Food Therapy are big allies in sequel and Post-Covid syndrome treatment.

I hope that helped you!

Big hug!

Profa. Fernanda Mara

Hello dear Readers!

I know a lot has already been written about COVID-19, however I believe every additional information should be of extreme importance.

In my office, I have been noticing lately, a rise in patients who suffer from after Covid-19 sequels that are completely treatable through Chinese Medicine, and I believe it’s the same for all of you. Therefore  I deem it of tremendous importance that the acupuncturist comprehends where the sequels can show up and the “why” behind them.

Covid is a disease that starts attacking the Lung and through this attack, all other organs might suffer, based on the 5 elements knowledge, the following situations might happen:

• Lung not nourishing Kidney – in this situation, mother does not nourish her son and the sequels are related to the Kidney and urinary System functioning, such as kidney failure, UTIs, urinary urgency, and more. In Chinese Medicine the Kidney is also responsible for the bones, and with that in mind we can justify joint pain and bone demineralization that might also happen on after-covid. Another important point that is directly linked to female fertility. The Kidney has extreme importance on a woman’s ability to get pregnant, all vital energy is stored there. That’s why, once weakened, a woman might have trouble getting pregnant. Psychologically the patient might become insecure and develop phobias.

• Lung failing to control Liver – in this situation, the Grandpa, Lung, is incapable of controlling Grandchild, Liver, and the patient may suffer from hepatic inflammations such as hepatitis, fatty liver disease,  decrease in Liver metabolism, etc. In Chinese Medicine the Liver is responsible for nourishing muscles with blood and for that, on after-covid, the patient may suffer from intense muscular pain, muscular tension in specific points and even erection problems. Problems regarding period may also arise, once that the Liver is the one that transports the blood to the uterus so that menstruation occurs. Psychologically the patient shall become irritable and face troubled sleep caused by dreams or nightmares, then waking up in the morning as if it had not even slept.

• Lung taking over Heart – in this situation, Lung is suffering from Qi stagnation due to Covid, this way developing a strong excess disease that will go against grandpa, Heart, domination, leading to heart arrhythmia, palpitations, anxiety crises and panic and all types of mental disturb. Blood circulation may become slow and impaired. Bruises may show up due to capillary fragility, and varicose veins might start appearing as well.

• Lung consuming Spleen energy – in this situation, the sick son excessively consumes mother’s energy. Hence, a weakened Spleen shall lead to a low blood production, even resulting in anemia, alterations on menstrual volume, memory loss, insomnia, chronic fatigue, and others. On top of that, the weakened Spleen may make the patient develop insulin resistance or diabetes, once the Pancreas in Chinese Medicine has energetic shared function.

• Lung with sequels on Lung itself – on the most affected organ, the Lung. In Chinese Medicine, the Lung is in charge of skin and hair. That’s why, hair loss have become so intense and the skin dry. Besides, since it’s in charge of breathing and sense of smell, it’s common that even after some months past the Covid infection, the patient may suffer from shortness of breath and low oxygen saturation. The sense of smell may also be impaired even after a few months from infection. Psychologically the patient may become sad, frustrated and with a difficult on moving forward, attached to the past and turning itself melancholy 

After finding out which organ was energetically affected by Covid, the therapist shall dispose of more resources in order to heal him, always treating the shock organ, the Lung, and strengthening it or dissipating the organ’s energy that became unbalanced. 

There are already scientific researches proving, diverse sequel improvement by means of acupuncture, moxibustion, laser puncture therapy, diet therapy and more.

If you want, I can state a few treatments in my next texts!

A very tight hug to everyone!

Profa. Fernanda Mara

Hello Readers!-

In the last text I wrote about the reasons why certain situations harm our immunity. Now is the time to write a text about how we can improve our immunity with the resources that Chinese Medicine offers us:

Acupuncture Points – World Acupuncture Federation Guidelines
The World Federation of Acupuncture, at the beginning of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) crises, issued a statement to acupuncturists talking about the effectiveness of some acupuncture points that collaborate in improving the immune system, given their functions described below. The following were cited: LI-4, PC-6, SP-6, ST-36, VC-6 and CV-4.

• LI-4: has action to regulate Wei Qi (defense energy)
• PC-6: moves chest Qi
• SP-6: strengthens the Spleen (organ responsible for Gu Qi, which is the raw material for defense Qi)
• ST-36: regulates Wei Qi, expels the wind
• CV-6: strengthens the original Qi (which circulates in the meridians)
• CV-4: roots the mind (shen), nourishes the blood

These points must be done at least once a week with needles. If not possible, it is recommended that they are stimulated with moxa at least once a week. If the patient has more time available, he can use it every other day.

It is important that in this moment of crisis, the therapist can teach patients how to self-apply moxa, thus, they will be collaborating not only to improve the immunity of the patient himself, but also of his family members.

About therapeutic food, we already talked about in the last post, but it is worth remembering that neutral foods from the Earth, Metal and Water tables are good allies in strengthening immunity. The tables can be found at the link:

https://www.facilitatingacupuncture.com/therapeutic-food-tables/

Auriculotherapy can also be an ally in improving immunity. Ping Chuan points are particularly important in caring for the immune system. One is located inside the triangular fossa and the other in the antitrago region. In addition to Ping Chuan, it is considered important to place Shenmen, Kidney, Sympathetic, Spleen, Lung and the Anxiety point in case the patient is feeling particularly tense.

Using 10 drops of propolis dissolved in a glass of water once a day and consuming a small portion of royal jelly (the size of a soy bean under your tongue) every day for at least a month will keep your immunity strong.

We need to understand that often, the best way to attack is to defend ourselves.

I hope the text was helpful.

A big hug to everyone.

Profa. Fernanda Mara

Good morning Readers

In times of pandemic, there is an urgent discussion on how we can improve our immunity to prevent the spread of opportunistic diseases. Everyone knows that maintaining a good diet, sleeping well, avoiding emotional stress and engaging in moderate physical activity are Western Medicine recommendations.

Chinese medicine basically follows the same recommendations and has precise explanations for each one, in addition to offering the possibility of treatment for each of the situations, as we will see below:

1. Good nutrition
   In Chinese Medicine the main organs related to immunity are: Spleen, Lung and Kidney:
   – Spleen: produces Gu Qi, that is, the essence of food. The Spleen receives the food digested by the Stomach and transforms it into the energetic part of the food that will serve as raw material in the formation of the defense energy, known as immunity, in Oriental Medicine.

– Lung: receives Gu Qi from the Spleen and Qi from the air. With the sum of these two energies, it transforms into Wei Qi (Defense Qi). When the defense Qi is good, the patient’s immunity is good. If the Lung lacks energy to transform Wei Qi or the Spleen to form Gu Qi, the patient will suffer from low immunity.

– Kidney: it is the basis of vital energy. Distributes energy to all organs and viscera. Low Kidney energy may reflect low energy for all organs, that is, decrease the production of food and defense energies, mentioned above.

In addition, the Deficiency of Kidney energy, by law of 5 Elements, will consume the energy of the Lung, leaving it weak, preventing the production of Wei Qi.

In this way, foods that strengthen these organs are indicated. Neutral foods are suggested in the therapeutic feeding tables, found at the link:

https://www.facilitatingacupuncture.com/therapeutic-food-tables/

Choose foods that you like and consume at least one of each table per day.

2. Sleep well

– Sleep, in general, restores the energies of our body. Sleeping well and waking up rested ensures that the kidney preserves our vital energy. When we spend long periods without sleeping well, or being able to sleep, but waking up tired, we have an additional expenditure of the Kidney Yin energy.
When there is Kidney Yin Deficiency, we cause internal heat, with long-term dryness of fluids, especially Lung Yin energy.
-As previously explained, when the Kidney is weak, it consumes the energy of the Lung (Law of the 5 Elements) impairing immunity.
-To sleep better, consider using points: Yintang, PC-6 and SP-6.
-To improve the quality of sleep, black sesame and jasmine teas can be used.
-In auriculotherapy, Anxiety, Tension and Heart points can be used.

3. Avoid emotional stress

-Emotional stress can cause internal imbalance in all organs. In general, Liver is the most affected when we refer to stress itself and also due to irritability, frustration and impatience.
-When the Liver Yang rises, due to the insult cycle of the 5 elements, there is a Lung Deficiency, which will be impaired in the production of Wei Qi.
-Therefore, we must avoid stress, however, when we find ourselves stressed, we must use points LR-2 and LR-3.
-In auriculotherapy, Liver Yang and Emotional Tension are indicated.
-Blackberry leaf tea and lemon water are great for reducing liver heat.

4. Practice moderate physical activities

-Moderate physical activity is one that does not cause extreme tiredness, but it is enough to keep the body warm, the blood vessels dilated and a harmonious flow of Qi and Blood.
-It is suggested that this activity take place for 30 to 40 minutes, 3x a week. It can be walking, Yoga, sit-ups, weight training, that is, any physical activity that pleases the individual.
-By avoiding the stagnation of Qi and Blood, the organs are well nourished and avoid any kind of pathology.
-If you feel very tired doing physical activity, it is suggested that you do it for less time. Massage for 3 minutes, bilateral at points ST-36 and Ki-1 will help with the disposition.
-Ginger and cinnamon teas will help the circulation of Qi and Blood.

Following these tips, we will be in agreement with Western Medicine in terms of preventing the loss of immunity.

We will continue debating this subject in another text on how to increase immunity!

A big hug to everyone!

Profa. Fernanda Mara