Compensation 8-11-15

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Integrative Approach and Classical Chinese Medicine:

Earth School; Compensation

“Nature abhors a vacuum” (Spinoza, 1632-1677)

Master Li Dong-Yuan founder of the School of Supplementing Earth in the Jin Yuen Period in China (220 B.C. to 220 A.D.) developed a school of thought, diagnosis, and treatment referred to now as the “Earth School”. It has been passed down by Yuen (2002) and described and correlated to this text by this author. The Earth School emphasizes the importance of digestive health over almost all other bodily systems and cites digestive weaknesses and disorders as being central to all pathology anywhere in the body. For example, from Li Dong-Yuan’s perspective, the breakdown of digestive processes likely would underlie urinary and bowel disturbances, malaise, psychological issues, cardiac disorders, and neurological dysfunctions, to name a few. Central to his thinking is the concept of what is known as Compensation. This concept is critical to the Integrative Approach as it substantiates much of the philosophies upon which this system is based. The Integrative Approach was developed without the benefit of Li Dong Yuen’s teachings; however, it now may have more credibility because of the correlations between its concepts and the theory of Compensation that has been accepted for over 2000 years in the East.

In Compensation, typically, there is a combination of opposite issues overlaying each other, which require simultaneous treatment so as not to aggravate either opposing factor. If they are not addressed equally, remedying one problem will exacerbate the other. For example: if the body is deficient in Yin, its natural response is to pull from its resources to replenish that Yin substance. It would do that by pulling from its Jing. If there is little Jing from which to pull for this purpose, the body will attempt to replicate that process in any way it can, even if it is pathological. For example, the body often tries to Compensate for a loss of Jing or Yin, with the creation of mucous or phlegm, which is sometimes called “Evil Yin” in Chinese medicine. It is this author’s theory that Compensation and is the process of what this author previously described as the translocation of antigens from the gastrointestinal system, and Latency is where those antigens are stored such as muscles, joints, blood, and organs, in the case of IC the urinary bladder. In many patients having chronic conditions, cholesterol is elevated and once they have undergone treatment for the chronic condition, not the cholesterol, the cholesterol almost always will go down. This would be another example of this dynamic.

Li Dong-Yuan used herbs such as Angelica Sinensis (Dang Gui) and Cooked Rehmanniae (Shu Di Huang). Ironically, although the Integrative Approach was formulated without prior knowledge of these concepts, these tonifying herbs are frequently used as the backbone of treatment in the Integrative Approach to IC.

This is how this syndrome manifests itself in so many ways due to “Compensation”. Remember, this process will occur in various degrees and in various scenarios depending on so many other factors. These factors include such things as determining 1) which organs have been affected 2) the combination and predominance of deficiencies underlying the current state of pathology, i.e., Yin, Yang, Blood, Jing, and 3) the location and extent of Compensation and Latency, i.e., joint or muscle pain, allergies, chronic sinus congestion, obesity, high cholesterol, intestinal bloating, fibroids, etc…

Integrative Approach and Chinese Classical Medicine: Yin Fire: A Disease Created by Compensation and Related to Interstitial Cystitis

Li Dong-Yuan created the theory of Yin Fire. This theory, like Compensation, correlates with the Integrative Approach. Yin Fire is a theory within the context of classical Chinese medicine that is fueled by the physiological response of “Compensation”. This theory has been passed on by Yuen (2002) and correlated to the material in this text by this author.

Its starting point, however, is clearly based on emotional factors or External Pathogenic Factors (EPF). However, within the context of its applicability to IC, we will focus on the emotional component as the starting point. Within this context, the idea is that when we have unexpressed desires or feelings that we suppress, those feelings stay in our body and generate internal Heat. That Heat will begin to ulcerate the tissues in the organ in which it is being created. The body, in an effort to protect itself, will produce fluids to protect the quickly ulcerating tissues. These fluids will come in the form of mucous or phlegm will then mix with the excessively heated tissues, and one will exacerbate the other as described within the context of Compensation. Numerous studies have been conducted by well known researchers like (Baugmart, 2002; Bailey, 2006; Lin, 2004) that connect the impact of stress and gastrointestinal barrier function. This may be one precursor to MOF. Again, MOF is an extreme example of microbial translocation. It is this author’s opinion that where microbial translocation is concerned IC is what lies between health and MOF.

IC is quite frequently treated with antidepressants (ICA-Treatments, 1998, 2003) as it is frequently correlated with emotional components. Assisting the patient in addressing these emotional components, by incorporating them into their appropriately placed portion of the disease, is helpful in completing the treatment process. For example, if the disease pattern commenced acutely after great emotional trauma, then dissecting these emotions through therapy while simultaneously addressing the physiological component are critical. If the symptoms came on insidiously, during which time the patient was undergoing long-term stress in his or her life, those stressors are also important to address during treatment. Emotional factors can contribute in shifting our physiology into an unhealthy pattern and correcting this imbalance is important.

Dr.M