When an individual begins a correctional program to improve body function, elimination must be corrected first so that the body can get rid of toxins quickly.  Digestion needs to be corrected next so that nutrients can be absorbed.  As the body heals, deep imbalances will surface.  As deep organs cleanse, symptoms will change in quality.  Each deep organ is imperative to superficial organ.  Deep organs are essential for life.  The process of healing may take up to seven years.

Today our major health challenges relate to toxicity, poor nutrition and stress.  Let’s look at the result of stress.  Our major stress coping organ is the adrenal gland.  In the Chinese approach, the adrenal gland is part of the kidney and the heart constrictor systems.  In response to stress, the adrenal glands release epinephrine, cortisone, estrogen, and aldosterone.  Initially the adrenal gland will be hyper-functional.  With time and continual stress, the adrenal gland becomes depleted of these chemicals and exhausted or hypo-functional.

How much stress your body can handle depends on the strength of your adrenal at birth, your environment, and your diet.  When the body is depleted of cortisone, it will overreact to environmental stresses, like pollens or internal stresses like diet.  Therefore, all allergies are caused by malfunction of the adrenal gland.  By definition, an allergy is an over reaction to a known stimulus.  If the stimulus is a new molecular combination, the body does not recognize it and therefore does not react to it.  When an allergic type person begins a detoxification or wellness program, they may react to toxins as the toxins are eliminated from deep tissues.  They may experience headaches, skin rashes or fatigue.  These are not allergic reactions.  They are detox reactions.  The cleaner the body is the less intense the detoxification will be.

If an individual is taking medication, eating sweets or red meat, drinking coffee or coke, or smoking, the body will dump toxins into the blood stream which might cause detox reactions.  Most individuals with a history of allergies have been on medication and will experience detox reactions for the first three weeks of the wellness program.

In addition to allergic reactions, an imbalance of cortisone effects pancreas, the immune system and the kidney.  A diet of refined and concentrated carbohydrates causes over production of insulin and rapid lowering of blood sugar.  This low blood sugar signals the adrenal to release cortisone and estrogen.  The cortisone prevents the glucose from dropping further.  Over time, a high, sweet diet or emotional stress causes exhaustion of both the adrenal glands and the pancreas resulting in hypo and hyperglycemia.  When blood sugar levels drop the body craves a fix—candy, coffee, cigarettes, pop, alcohol or drugs.  By consuming these fixes, a rollercoaster cycle of highs and lows continue until total hypo-function of the adrenal gland results.  Low blood sugar affects the nervous system, the skin, the blood vessels and the retina of the eye.  Blurred vision, mental confusion, low blood pressure, skin rashes and poor circulation are common signs of low cortisone output due to the exhausted adrenals.  Kidney, spleen, pancreas and heart constrictor are times to target to stimulate the adrenal glands.  When the person is a diabetic or a hypoglycemic or has allergies, stressed adrenal glands also become depleted of aldosterone.

Initially, excessive levels of aldosterone in the blood cause the kidney to dump potassium and retain sodium causing swelling and water retention.  As aldosterone levels become lower, the kidney is stimulated to dump sodium through the excessive urination and perspiration.  Hypo-active adrenal types have low potassium levels inside the cell.  For normal nerve function the body needs an adequate supply of potassium inside the cell and sodium outside the cell.  This balance of sodium/potassium can only be accomplished through restoring kidney function.

Weak adrenals cause improper nerve function, displayed as muscle twitches, cardiac arrhythmias, sensitivity to light and personality changes.  Most Americans today are potassium deficient within the cell even though blood levels are normal.  To correct these symptoms target the kidney and heart constrictor.

In addition to low levels of cortisone and aldosterone output, the stressed adrenal cannot produce adequate estrogen.  The adrenals produce 25% of the body’s estrogen.  If the adrenal is weak, signs of masculinity, such as facial hair may appear.  Other symptoms such as infertility, miscarriages and low sex drive may also appear.  To correct these symptoms, target the adrenal, kidney systems.

The inside part of the adrenal gland called the adrenal medulla produces epinephrine.  Epinephrine or adrenalin causes stimulation of the internal organs in constriction of blood vessels.  Cortisol from the adrenal cortex is needed to sensitize the blood vessels to epinephrine.  Without cortisol, epinephrine cannot adequately constrict vessels.

As the body is stressing out, epinephrine is dumped, mucosa shrinks and mucous secretions are reduced.  At the same time epinephrine causes bronchial dialation by relaxing muscles.  When the adrenals are totally depleted, no bronchial dialation occurs and mucous secretions increase.  The end result is the asthmatic type of breathing and/or a typical heart sounds.

When breathing becomes a problem with the asthmatic, the kidney, the lung and the heart constrictor need to be targeted.  When epinephrine cannot constrict the arteries, dizziness and light headedness upon standing, low blood pressure or coldness of the hand and feet may result.  As the body tries to correct the problem, it may increase systolic blood pressure resulting in nose bleeds.

Cooling of the blood may also result in the abdomen, in the pelvis causing verrucasities in the lower extremities.  Poor blood supply to the stomach, pancreas and intestine, result in slow sluggish digestion.  For these symptoms of poor circulation target the heart constrictor and the kidney.

Remember that stress weakens the adrenal glands which weaken the spleen, pancreas or the immune system.  The spleen, according to the Chinese, is the central for life.  When the spleen is weak, the entire body is weak.  The spleen system is out of balance when an individual is suffering from any infectious disease, any auto immune or immune deficiencies disease or any toxic conditioned disease.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a good example of a week spleen.  These individuals need a higher treatment dose, either a higher dose or a longer treatment time before they notice improvement.  These individuals also need to make some radical changes in their diet.  Any sugar or alcohol needs to be eliminated.  In addition, these people need to frequent a dry climate or the sauna.  Moisture weakens the spleen.  Lupus and MS individuals also show a weak spleen along with a weak liver.  These individuals are toxic and stressed.  They need to avoid meats, sweets, medicines, caffeine and alcohol.  They need to sing and shout.  

Toxicity, in addition to stress, is the second major contributor to malfunction of organs’ systems.  Toxicity may be external such as the climate we choose to live in or internal like the food we eat.  For example, the spleen is weakened by a damp climate and those individuals who eat a lot of sweets or have a lot of antibiotics.  Living in a damp climate will not weaken the spleen in a healthy individual.  Toxicity also comes from the air we breathe or the elements absorbed through our skin.

Aluminum, copper and lead are frequently found in hair samples of patients today.  Aluminum can get into our bodies by using aluminum cookware, eating canned food, taking antacids, using deodorants with aluminum, or working in an aluminum plant.  Copper can appear in our tissues from aerial sprays for the food industry or copper water pipes.  Lead is frequently from drinking water.  These heavy metals, as they are called, are stored in organs such as the liver, bone, and brain tissue.  For heavy metal toxicity target the kidney, liver and lung to restore proper elimination.

When an individual is toxic, the liver becomes congested and the body tries to clear more toxins which stresses out the kidney.  When the kidney can’t eliminate all of the toxins, the body dumps the waste into the joints in soft tissue.  Toxins also come out in the skin and cause toxic rashes which are itchy and red.  Joints swell and inflammatory type pain results—toxic bodies like gout, rheumatoid arthritis, sclerosis and bursitis.  For any swelling in the body, joint pain or skin rashes of any kind, target the liver and the kidney, adrenal systems.

Another way we become toxic is by what we put in our mouth.  Many packaged and canned foods are a source of chemicals and high sodium and heavy metals.  Nutrasweet is hazardous to the liver and kidney.  It is found in cereals, juices, hot chocolate, and dietary foods and drink.  Monosodium glutamate dramatically weakens the kidney, brain and liver.  It is found in many frozen foods such as fish sticks.  Sulphides and nitrite also weaken the kidney and liver.  Sulphites are sprayed on fresh foods to keep them fresh.  Nitrites are in hot dogs, bologna, lunch meats, sausage, hickory smoked flavored food.  All these chemicals cause toxicity in our body which weaken the liver and kidney.

Not only is our environment weakening our bodies, but also our diet.  Each organ system is weakened by overeating of specific foods.  Too many salty foods weaken the kidney.  Too many sweets weaken the spleen.  Too much sour food weakens the liver.  Too much bitter foods weaken the heart.  Too much spicy foods weaken the lung.  Too much red meat weakens the liver.  Too much chicken weakens the kidney.  Today Americans eat processed, boxed, fast foods which are high in sodium and low in fiber.  We are weakening our kidneys and digestive system by our diet.

With this background, let’s look ate the specific western classifications of disorders and understand what the weak links are.

With any allergy, whether it is asthma or pollen or food, the weak link that needs to be corrected is kidney adrenal.  For asthma and pollen allergies, add the lung.  For food allergies add the pancreas or gall bladder.

For arthritis, inflammatory types like rheumatoid arthritis, target the kidney adrenal, liver and the immune system.  Osteoarthritis is structural involving the bones so target the kidney and the spleen.

For anxiety or nervous tension, target the heart constrictor and the kidney.  The nervous control is out of balance.  The potassium levels within the body, tissues are out of balance.

With any lung condition, including bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema, or asthma, the lung should be targeted.  With bronchitis and pneumonia an infectious condition exists, so also target the immune system.

With constipation, which is long term, the gall bladder, kidney, and triple heater should be targeted.  For an acute episode, target the small intestine, the large intestine and stomach.  For acute diarrhea, target the stomach.

For any cough, target lung, bladder and kidney.  If accompanied by an infection, also target the spleen.

If a depression a person is having seems reasonable, like the person is dealing with the death of a loved one, target the kidney or the heart constrictor.  If the depression is severe, long term or unreasonable, target the liver.

Any conditions involving hearing relate to the kidney.  Therefore, ringing in the ears, deafness or hearing loss relate to the kidney.  If there is ear pain, also target the small intestine.

Any condition involving the eye, like conjunctivitis, photophobia, glaucoma, blurred vision, relate to the liver.  If the skin around the eye is itchy, add the kidney.  If there is infection, add the spleen.

For fever, target the triple heater system to cool the heat and target the spleen to aid the body’s ability to fight an infection.

For gall bladder problems, such as pain under the 12th rib on the right, neck pain, headaches and pain in the right thumb web, target the liver, small intestine and then later the gall bladder.

Gastritis is a heat condition of the stomach.  Target the stomach.  Target the stomach and the triple heater.

Goiters involve the thyroid and the hormone system.  So target the kidney, adrenal system and the triple heater systems.

Gout is an excess of uric acid in the joints because they kidney and liver cannot clear the body of uric acid.  Kidney and liver systems should be addressed.  Also red meats, caffeine, alcohol, ice cream, and tomatoes should be eliminated from the diet.

Hemorrhoids are due to the cooling of the blood.  Congestion of blood relates to the liver.  Also target the large intestine, since hemorrhoids involve the large intestine.

Headaches are warning signs of imbalances.  If they are located in the back of the head, target the liver and small intestine.  If located at the temples, target the gall bladder.  For frontal headaches at the forehead or in and around the eyes, target the stomach, gall bladder, large intestine.  

Heartburn is due to an imbalance in digestive enzymes.  Stomach, small intestine, and large intestine systems need to be balanced.

Hives are an allergic reaction to toxins.  Correct adrenal kidney and liver systems.

Hormone imbalances are due to kidney adrenal malfunctions.  The kidney dominates reproduction, growth and development according to traditional Chinese medicine.  The kidney controls the onset of puberty, the ability to conceive, and the onset of menopause.  Liver stores blood.  For miscarriages, target not only kidney but also liver.

High blood pressure is due to an imbalance in regulation of nervous control, congestion of blood or weak muscles.  Therefore, correct the function of liver, adrenal kidney, bladder, and large intestine systems.  After correcting digestion and elimination, then the heart system may be addressed.

Indigestion can be due to an imbalance in function of the stomach, gall bladder, pancreas, small intestine or large intestine.  For increased acidity, target the gall bladder.  For bloating, burping and belching, correct gall bladder, pancreas and large intestine.  For a nervous stomach, correct the adrenal kidney and stomach systems.

For flu like symptoms, always target the spleen/pancreas.  If there is a stuffy nose, add large intestine.  If there is sweating, add the kidney.  If there is fever, add the triple heater.  If there is a cough, add lung, kidney and bladder.

The inability to sleep can be caused by several weak links.  Insomnia associated with dizziness and palpitations is due to a deficiency of the heart and spleen systems.  Insomnia, characterized by a dream-disturbed sleep, indicates excess energy in the heart constrictor.  Insomnia due to nightmares is to an imbalance in the liver system.  Difficulty falling asleep is associated with gall bladder and stomach imbalance, nerve balance and circulation.

Rhinitis is inflammation of the nose.  Adrenal kidney should be targeted for inflammation.  A dry nose indicates an imbalance in the lungs.  A red nose indicates heat in the spleen or lungs.  A swollen purple nose indicates congestion of blood and problems in the liver.  A shiny or oily nose indicates poor digestion due to a weak spleen.  Sinusitis or inflammation of the sinuses indicates a problem with the kidney and the lung system.  Mucous build-up in the sinuses also indicates a weakness in the spleen.

Sciatica, or pain from the low back down the leg, suggests an imbalance in the bladder or kidney systems.  If the pelvis is twisted or an imbalance exists in the muscle, structural correction by a chiropractor is indicated.

Shock relates to an imbalance in the adrenal kidney, heart and lung systems.

Stroke is due to a lack of blood or oxygen or energy to the brain.  The brain is controlled by the kidney.  Oxygen is controlled by the lung.  Blood circulation is controlled by heart constrictor.

Irregularities of taste relate to the spleen.  Loss of taste indicates a severe weakness to the spleen.  A sweet taste indicates heat and dampness in the spleen.  A bitter taste in the mouth, however, indicates fire in the liver.  A salty taste in the mouth indicates heat in the kidneys.

The tongue is the spirit of the heart and is also related to the spleen.  The heart, kidney, liver and spleen meridians go to the tongue.  The color and characteristics and location of the coat indicate which organs are out of balance.  A coating on the back of the tongue suggests kidney imbalance.  A coating in the center of the tongue indicates an imbalance in the spleen and stomach.  A coating on the outside of the tongue indicates an imbalance in the liver and gall bladder.  A coating or sores on the tip of the tongue indicate an imbalance in the lung and the heart.  A whitish-grey coat indicates an imbalance in the kidney and the stomach.  A yellowish coat indicates an imbalance in the stomach, gall bladder or liver.  A pinkish coat in the center of the tongue indicates an imbalance in the stomach.  A thick, white coating indicates mucous and dampness in the spleen.  A red swollen tongue indicates liver imbalance.  A pale cracked tongue indicates a weakness in the kidney.   

Toothache can be helped by targeting the adrenal and the kidney.

Urinary tract infections indicate a weakness of the bladder, kidney and spleen systems.

Although we have more doctors, more and better equipped hospitals, better drugs and a greater supply of food than any other nation, we are still by far the sickest nation in the world.  The Chinese believe that each person should be taught and should apply the general rules of healing.

The intent of this article is to provide the lay person with the foundation to take charge of his or her own health by applying the Chinese principle of healing.