Life Cycles

 

Cycles of jing are the unfolding of the three treasures: jing, qi and shen. These evolutionary seven- and eight-year cycles are presented in chapter one of the classic Chinese medical text, the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine.

 

In TCM, life cycles are counted in cycles of seven years for women, and eight for men. The following is a brief guide to one’s qi at these stages:
 

Females at…
7 years: has abundant kidney qi for the growth of permanent teeth as well as body hair.
14 years: starts to menstruate and is able to conceive.
21 years: kidney qi level peaks, body development stops and wisdom teeth grow.
28 years: peak physicality occurs, with strong muscles and bones, and thick, lustrous hair.
35 years: body starts to decline; initial signs of ageing (sallow face, wrinkles or hair loss) are usually due to the degeneration of the Yang Ming Meridian.
42 years: the three yang meridians in the upper body begin to decline, which leads to facial sagging and gradual whitening of hair.
49 years: body deteriorates, and ability to menstruate and give birth ceases.
 

Males at…
8 years: kidney qi consolidates, grows permanent teeth and body hair.
16 years: kidney qi is abundant; as a result, kidney essence will transform into sperm.
24 years: kidney qi level peaks, body development stops, wisdom teeth continue to grow and limbs are strong.
32 years: body reaches its peak, with sturdy and powerful bones and tendons.
40 years: kidney starts to decline at 40, leading to hair loss or loose teeth.
48 years: the body’s yang-qi starts depleting from the upper body; face will start sagging and hair will start greying.
56 years: the liver degenerates, leading to joint problems; kidney degeneration leads to lower amount of essence, so vitality and body greatly wanes.
64 years: hair and teeth may be lost.

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Further Jing cycles are nature's cycle of evolution. Jing Cycles, translated from the Nei Jing, Chapter One:

Female Jing Cycles of Seven

• A woman's Kidney energy becomes prosperous at seven years of age (1x7).

• Her menstruation appears as the ren (sea of yin) channel flows and the chong (sea of blood) channel becomes prosperous at the age of 14 (2x7).

• Her Kidney qi reaches a balanced state, and her teeth are completely developed at the age of 21 (3x7).

• Her vital energy and blood are substantial, her four limbs are strong and the body is at optimal condition at the age of 28 (4x7).

• Her peak condition declines gradually. The yang ming channel is depleted, her face withers and her hair begins to fall out at the age of 35 (5x7).

• Her three yang channels, tai yang, yang ming and shao yang, begin to decline. Her face complexion wanes and her hair turn white at the age of 42 (6x7).

• The ren and chong channels are both declining, her menstruation ends, her physique turns old and feeble, and she can no longer conceive at the age of 49 (7x7).

Male Jing Cycles of Eight

• A man's Kidney energy is prosperous, his hair develops and his teeth emerge at the age of eight (1x 8).

• His Kidney energy grows and is filled with vital energy, and he is able to let his sperm out at the age of 16 (2x8).

• His Kidney energy is developed, his extremities are strong, and all of his teeth are developed by the age of 24 (3x8).

• His body has developed to its best condition, and his extremities and muscles are very strong at the age of 32 (4x8).

• His Kidney energy begins to decline, his hair falls out and his teeth begin to whither at the age of 40 (5x8).

• His Kidney energy declines more, the yang energy of the entire body declines, his complexion becomes withered and his hair turns white at the age of 48 (6x8).

• His Liver energy declines as a result of Kidney deficiency; the tendons become rigid and fail to be nimble at the age of 56 (7x8).

• His essence and vital energy is weak, as are his bones and tendons. His teeth fall out and his body becomes decrepit at the age of 64 (8x8).

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Most people have a far easier time understanding the concept of Qi, Yin, Yang, and even Shen than that of Jing. Jing is translated as Essence.

When two people come together for sex, there is an exchange and blending of sexual energies. When a man and a woman have sex and conception results, the sexual energy blends to form "Pre-Heaven Jing" in the newly conceived individual. Both the father and the mother supply Jing.

The developing embryo and fetus has no independent Jing of its own. It's totally dependent on the Pre-Heaven Jing supplied by the mother and father and on nourishment from the mother's Kidneys. (Maciocia, Foundations, p. 38).

 

One of the functions of Jing is it acts like a blueprint and master control. It turns things on an off during development. In Western terms, think heredity and DNA, though like so many TCM terms, Jing cannot be reduced to Western concepts. Jing includes many of the functions of DNA and the laws of heredity but isn't limited to these.

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After the baby in born, the baby starts to manufacture its own Jing. This is called Post-Heaven Jing. The Pre-Heaven Jing comes from the parents at conception and before birth; the Post-Heaven Jing is made by the individual after birth. "The Pre-Heaven Essence origninates from the parents, the Post-Heaven Essence originates from food." (From "The Golden Mirror of Medical Collection", cited in Foundations, Maciocia, p. 38). As one probably can tell from the quote, the Stomach and Spleen plays a major role in rather or not an individual is going to have enough Post-Heaven Jing.

 

Post-Heaven Jing is a general term to indicate that made by the individual after birth.

Kideny Jing is a more specific term, and this is the one to remember. It's derived from both the Pre-Heaven and Post-Heaven Jing. It's both hereditary and can be replenished. The Kidney Jing is stored in the Kidneys, but a lot of it also is in the 8 Extraordinary meridians, including the Governor Vessel which runs up the middle of the back and the Conception Vessel which runs up the middle of the front of the body.

Kidney Jing Deficiency (and problems with the Kidneys storing Jing) frequently have many of the symptoms of Kidney Yang and Kidney Yin Deficiency PLUS problems having to do with development and maturity. For example the bones don't develop properly, there may be premature aging, the mentrual cycle may be messed up (though Jing disorder is not the only possible cause of this), the hair may be prematurely gray, there may be congngenital retardation, the genitals may fail to develop properly, there may be hereditary enzyme problems, birth defects, and a host of other genetic disorders.

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Sù Wèn Chapter 1 Shang Gu Tian Zhen Lun: Reproductive physiology of women occurs in seven year cycles The physiology of women can be traced as far back as the Huang Di Nei Jing (book of the Yellow Emperor) written about 5000 years ago, which discusses the development, growth, and decline of female-life in seven year cycles (for men in eight year cycles). Su Wen Chapter 1 states: Huang Di asked: When one grows old, one cannot have children. Is it because one’s energy has already been exhausted or due to a natural phenomenon?

 

7 years Qi Bo replied: For a girl, her Kidney Energy (Qi) becomes prosperous when she is seven, as Kidneys determines the condition of the bones, and teeth are the surplus of bone, her milk teeth fall off and the permanent teeth emerge when her Kidney Energy is prosperous; as hair is the extension of Blood and the Blood is transformed from Kidney Essence (Jing), her hair will grow when the Kidney is prosperous. 14 years Her Tian Gui appears at the age of fourteen (2x7). At this time her Ren Mai begins to put through, and her Chong Mai becomes prosperous and her menstruation begins to appear. As all her physiological conditions being mature, she can be pregnant and bear a child. 21 years The growth of Kidney Energy reaches the normal status of an adult by the age of twenty one (3x7). Her wisdom teeth have grown up by this stage, and her teeth are completely developed. 28 years At twenty-eight (4x7) her Vital Energy and Blood become substantial, her extremities become strong, the development of tissues and hair of her whole body are flourishing. In this stage her body is in the strongest condition. 35 years After thirty-five (5x7) the physique of women turns gradually from prosperity to decline. So, by this time, her Yangming channel turns to debility, her face becomes withered and her hair begins to fall 42 years By the age of forty-two (6x7) her three Yang channels (Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang) all begin to decline. Her face complexion becomes wane, and her hair begins to turn white.  49 years After the age of forty-nine (7x7), her Ren and Chong channels are both declining, her menstruation ceases as her Tian Gui being exhausted. Her physique turn old and feeble and she can no more conceive.

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To fully understand female physiology there will be a general overview of the bodily structures that are unique to women and what differentiates them from men. This is generally outlined below, starting with the concept of the ‘bao’.

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The Bao

 

Both women and men have a so called ‘Bao’, an energetic area situated in the Dan Tian (Lower Field of Elixir) approximately three cun below the umbilicus. In women this where the Uterus houses; also referred to as ‘the blood chamber’ (Xue Shi). In men it is called the cinnabar field or ‘the room of sperm’. The term for Uterus, when used in a Chinese medicinal context translates as Bao Gong or Zi Gong, meaning ‘baby’s wrapper or palace’; it encompasses the fallopian tubes, ovaries, endometrium and cervix. The Bao Gong is said to be connected through special channels with the Kidneys and Heart, respectively the Bao Luo (Uterus-Channel) and Bao Mai (Uterus-Vessel). Extraordinary meridians like the Ren-, Chong-, and Dumai, likewise have close relations with the Bao Gong/ Dan Tian.

 

Arrival of Tian Gui

 

Tian Gui or Heavenly Water is a manifestation of Kidney Jing (Essence). In females Tian Gui is the material basis for menstrual blood, in men for sperm production. It is formed by KidneyYin with the support of Heart-Yang. Also the Liver and Spleen play a part in this process, the first among other things; by storing Blood and moving Blood to the Uterus and the second contributes to the formation of Blood and Qi by transforming food/ Post-natal Qi into Xue. The arrival of Tian Gui is related to menarche and the cessation of the Tian Gui to menopause. Fu Qing Zhu, a famous gynecologist from the Qing period explains Tian Gui as followed: Fu Qing Zhu (1607-1684) “Menstrual blood is not Blood but Heavenly Water, originating within the Kidneys, it is the Essence of extreme Yin and Qi of extreme Yang. It is red like blood but is not blood. That’s why it is called Heavenly Gui. People nowadays regard menstrual blood as Blood, a mistake perpetuated for 1000 years…in fact it is not called Blood-Water (Xue Shui) but menstrual water (Jing Shui)…the generation of Kidney Water (and therefore menstrual blood) has nothing to do with Heart, Liver and Spleen, but the transformation of Kidney. 

 

Water is helped by Heart, Liver or Spleen”

 

Menstrual Cycle Chinese Medicine describes the menstrual cycle in terms of the effect of Qi and Xue and Yin and Yang on the Uterus. Broadly viewed it is a cyclic waxing and waning of Yin and Yang. Yin relates to the Western follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and estrogen. Yang on the other hand relates to the luteal phase or secretory phase and progesterone.

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The Kidneys, Heart, Uterus and Liver play a major part in female physiology. The first three of them are inner connected via Chong-, Ren-, and Dumai (Extra-Ordinary Meridians) in the same way the H-P-O-axis (HypothalamusPituitary-Ovary) is in Western physiology and are comparable in function. The Kidneys also connect to the Brain (Nao) through the Dumai and infuses it with pure Jing. Therefore the Brain is called the “Sea of Marrow”. Dumai and Renmai connect the Kidneys, Heart and Brain together.

The Liver, like the Uterus, has the function to store Blood and also masters the flow of Blood throughout the body and in particular helps send Blood down to the Uterus to release menses. The relative state of Blood deficiency in menopause will therefore disturb the Liver and create symptoms of irritability and instability.

 

Chinese medicine follows the natural way (laws of the universe), and since we are not talking disease, this might be the best resource in menopause to turn to.

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The Blood-flow is dependent on Qi flowing freely, which is again to be attributed to the Liver. As seen in the menstrual schedule the Liver controls the flow of Blood in the Uterus. Other important organs are Spleen and Stomach; mainly because they form the fundamental base for Post-natal creating of Qi and Xue in the body.

 

A brief review: From food en fluids they create Gu-Qi (Grain-Qi) which will ascend to the Zheng Jiao (Upper Burner) to mix with the Energies of the Fei (Long) to create Qi, and with the Energies of the Xin (Heart) to create Xue (all under influence of the catalyzing effect of Yuan-Qi/ Original-Energy from the Kidneys).

 

Qi Jing Ba Mai

 

Beside the Zheng Jing (the 12 main, ordinary meridians), there are also 8 extra-ordinary meridians: the Qi Jing Ba Mai. Qi meaning: extraordinary, odd ore unique, Jing means: meridians, Ba means: eight, Mai means: network or vessels. The Qi Jing Ba Mai: 1) Chong Mai (Penetrating vessel) 5) Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Heel vessel) 2) Ren Mai (Conception/ Directing vessel) 6) Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel vessel) 3) Du Mai (Governing vessel) 7) Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking vessel) 4) Dai Mai (Girdle vessel) 8) Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking vessel)

 

In relation to general female physiology, the first and perhaps 3 most important meridians mentioned above. Li Shi Zhen (a great ancient master): calls Chong-, Ren and Du-Mai ‘three branches of one vessel’. For the reason: that all 3 originate in the region between the Kidneys (where DongQi residences), pass through the Uterus and flow down to Huiyin, Ren-1. From here on out they will start to follow there own pathway. Basically: Renmai traveling the middle-front of the body and Dumai going along the spine over the backside of the body. Chongmai emerges at Qichong St-30 (connecting with Yangming and Post-natal Energies), then flowing upwards with the Kidney meridian to Youmen Kid-21 (connecting with Kidney-Qi and Pre-Natal Energies)

 

The extra meridians contain Jing as well as Qi and Xue and connect the Heart-Uterus-Kidney axis and are thereby also are related to the H-P-O axis. They control the energies that determine growth, maturing and aging. They thrive during the reproductive years and start to diminish when a women enters the pre-menopause. See the 7 year cycles of women . The Chong & Ren Mai are the most important pair in relation to menstruation and menopause. Chongmai is called “the Sea of Xue (Blood)” and masters the 12 main meridians. It influences the supply and movement of Xue in the Uterus. From the Chongmai arise the Ren- and Du Mai, which direct the Yin and Yang Energies of the body.  Renmai is called “the Sea of Yin Channels”, it supply’s the entire body with Yin substances (including Jing, Xue, JinYe), thereby being of great influence on the female reproductive system and physiological processes like puberty, conception, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.  

 

In clinical treatment generally speaking the Chongmai is used for problems surrounding menstruation. Since Blood is slowly depleting in pre-menopause (starting at age 35), one could consider to start treating the Chongmai preventively via herbs or acupuncture. And certainly in cases of irregular menstruation; usually being one of the first signs of premenopause. The Renmai is used to nourish the Yin Energies of the body and could therefore be used in treatment during and after menopause to reduce symptoms like Deficiency Heat caused by Yin-Xu (deficiency). Dumai is called “the Sea of all Yang Channels”, and regulates all the Yang-Qi in the body. It represents the Yang aspect of female reproductive functions because of its connection with Mingmen Fire (the Gate of Life, situated between the Kidneys at Dumai 4).  In general the Dumai can be used for treating genitalia and vaginal problems (see its pathway).

 

In menopause it can be used for instance for Kidney-Yang-Xu or even in KidneyYin-Xu with Fire; to guide back the Fire to Mingmen.  Daimai, also called the Girdle or Belt meridian is the only horizontal vessel, encircling the waist. The Daimai influences the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, the ascending and descending of Spleen-Qi and Kidney-Qi and also supports the Qi of the Uterus and the Jing (Essence).  The Daimai could be considerate treating (depending on differential diagnosis) in menopausal problems like organ prolapse (anal or uterine), or leucorrhea. In regard to fertility and reproduction the main emphasize is usually put on treating the RenChong- and Du Mai. In menopause they are evenly very important, but in clinical practice one should also not forget the Yin- and Yang Qiao Mai and the Yin- Yang Wei Mai. Yin- and Yang Qiao Mai, in contrary to the meridians above, don’t have their own meridian points but rather ‘borrow’ points of the 12 main meridians. Their pathways given in the Nan Jing difficulty chapter 28 are: Yang Qiao Mai arises from the middle of the heel; it passes over the external malleolus and penetrates Fengchi Gb-20 Yin Qiao Mai also arises from the middle of the heel; it passes over the internal malleolus and rises; it reaches the pharynx; it crosses the joins the Chongmai.

 

 A good summation of the Yin- and Yang Qiao Mai from Elisabeth Rochat: “The Yin- and Yang Qiao Mai give the rhythm of the Yin and Yang in each moment of life; the equilibrium between Essences and Qi, Blood and Qi, but also a good balance of Yin and Yang in our surroundings, for example night and day”.

 

Yin- and Yang Wei Mai, a description of their pathologies from the Nan Jing difficulty chapter 29: Yang Wei Mai connects the Yang, Yin Wei Mai connects the Yin. If Yin and Yang cannot connect with one another then there is annoyance (Chang Run) and loss of Will (Shi Zhi). One is without strength, and one no longer has a hold on oneself. When Yang Wei gives rise to illness one suffers from Cold and Heat. When Yin Wei Mai givers rise to illness one suffers from pain in the Heart.  

 

The Yang Wei Mai also maintains a strong relationship with the Gallbladder meridian; Shaoyang of the foot. As said before, when quoting Su Wen; that among other things; at 42 years of age Shaoyang starts declining. Shaoyang being a pivot could therefore cause altering cold and heat signs. In menopause one can often see heat signs above combined with cold symptoms below. In summery one can say that: in menopause the Qiao Mai are very useful for treating insomnia/ sleeping disorders and the Yin- and Yang Wei Mai for emotional disorders.

 

The actual menopausal event, the permanent cessation of menses, is determined retrospectively.   When including post-menopause, actually all three events overlap; by the time you’re concluding menopause to have occurred, you are already in the post-menopausal period. Hence, they are 3-stages of one process.

 

In Chinese pre-menopausal syndrome is translated as: Jing Duan Qian Hou Zhu Zheng. Here the word Jing refers to menses. Duan to “cut off” or “stop” as in stopping one’s water supply, as we know, the Kidney system pertains to “Water”, the Water element and is the material base for formation of Tian Gui. Qian and Hou, mean before and after. Zhu Zheng means “various pathological conditions”. In Traditional Chinese Medicine pre-menopause is said to gradually start setting in from age 35 (see Su Wen quotation).

 

This process begins with diminishing of Spleen-Qi (Spleen-Energy) and declining of Yangming. The two, among other things, naturally start to decline caused by constant blood loss (through menstruating and possible child-delivery/ breast milk). Spleen (Pi) and Stomach (Wei) are, as explained earlier, the basic source of Postnatal Qi and Jing, by creating Gu-Qi from food en fluids. So when Spleen (and Stomach) Qi diminishes automatically this influences the Post-natal production of Qi and Xue in the body and therefore their natural decline will be part of creating a relative state of Qi- and Xue Xu (deficiency) presenting in (pre) menopause. Actually this is only part of the story because also the Pre-Natal creating of Xue is less, caused by decline of Kidney-Qi. Infect this means that; because both Pre-natal and Post-natal sources of Blood production are weakening, in the end there is also no longer an abundance of blood being produced to overflow the Chongmai and create menstruation/ Tian Gui. This means that the sea of Qi and Xue; Yangming also becomes less abundant. Ren- and Chongmai are connected to the Kidneys (the source of Prenatal Xue and Jing) and therefore also are depleting. Plus the Chongmai also connects to, and is filled by Yangming at the point Qichong ST-30. When we look back at the female lifecycle according to Su Wen, at 5x7 it states: her face becomes withered and her hair begins to fall. This can be explained due to decline of Xue; hair being the extension of Xue and Yangming becoming less abundant with Qi and Xue; Yangming travels trough the face, therefore the skin of the face it less nourished. At 42 years of age Su Wen also says: “and her hair begins to turn white”. Here we can see that decline of Kidney-Qi also starts to become more prominent. The main sources of Tian Gui (Kidney-Jing and Spleen-Qi) are depleting. Eventually the Kidneys will completely stop providing Jing for the Uterus and the formation of Tian Gui (menstruation). Therefore Tian Gui totally ceases at age 49 according to Su Wen and today in the modern western society at approximately 51 years.

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As we can see, the weakening of Kidneys and Spleen are at the root of the female transformation process from fertility to becoming non-fertile. Another aspect though, that needs to be taken in account here is: for any kind of transformation process Qi is needed. More specifically, Liver-Qi must flow freely to set this process in motion. So when this “life-change” proceeds smoothly, few or non pathological sign and symptoms will occur. Unfortunately in Western society this is hardly the case and females experience various complaints/ symptoms from hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia to irritability, emotional instability and forgetfulness (to mention a few). Beside of these complaints, the first sign of pre-menopause setting in usually is irregularity of the menstrual cycle, varying from profuse bleeding to shortened and anovulatory cycles. In Western medicine, as explained before, this is attributed to increasing FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) levels, which speeds up follicular development and thereby shortens the total follicular phase. In TCM the follicular phase pertains to Yin, and its decline causes the length of the menstrual cycle to decrease. Deficiency of Yin can give cause for deficient Heat or Fire to arise, which in turn can (or could be the) cause profuse Bleeding and accounts for several of the other symptoms mentioned above. Over time eventually Yang could also diminish, since Kidney Water is the source of both Yin and Yang.

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Post-menopause

 

During or after menopause, of course Blood supply doesn’t stop entirely, but there is no longer a superabundance of Xue in the Chong- and Renmai to overflow the uterus and create menstruation. According to some books the Bao Mai (Uterus Vessel), which sends down Heart Qi- and Xue to nourish the Uterus, is being redirected or cut off when menopause occurs: Bob Flaws (A Compendium of Chinese Medical Menstrual Disease, 2005) book two, Chapter 10, page 547: …a change is initiated primarily in the relationship between the kidneys and heart via the uterus and chong mai/ bao mai. Rather than sending down Blood from the heart, the bao mai reverses the direction of its flow, sending essence up to nourish the spirit residing in the heart. Instead of preparing the uterus for the growth of a physical addition to the community of humankind, the blood focuses on the heart to nourish the woman’s spirit. Elisabeth Rochat (The Extraordinary Fu, 2003) page 164 quotes: Su Wen chapter 33 says: ‘The monthly affair, yue shi, does not come. The reason is that the vital circulation proper to the uterus (bao mai) is closed (bi).’ Nevertheless, this transition of Energies during the menopausal years is initiated by Xue- and Qi Xu (Energy- Blood Deficiency) and Yin- and Jing Xu (Deficiency). Consequently, as Su Wen states; ‘her Ren and Chong channels are both declining, her menstruation ceases as her Tian Gui being exhausted. Her physique turn old and feeble and she can no more conceive.’

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As Kidney Energy is depleting, also the Yin and Yang parts will decrease, since the Kidneys are the basis of all Yin and Yang Energy in the body. In post-menopause bone degeneration like osteoporosis is also more prone to happen. Bones belong to the Kidneys, and there depletion can deprive them from sufficient nourishment. Vaginal dryness could occur caused by insufficient lubrication caused Yin/ Jin Ye deficiency etc. The severity of possible problems occurring around menopause will be dependable on several things: Pre-heaven inherited Jing; ask mother or aunties when and how they went through menopause., Post-heaven creation of Qi and Xue; by eating good healthy food, environmental situation, Qi Qing (7 Emotions)/ Stress etc.

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Kidney-Yin Xu

 

In pre-menopause because of decline of Qi and Xue, also the dynamic balance between Qi and Xue (in their mother Child relationship) becomes disturbed. Yin and Yang also begin to come out of balance because Kidney-Qi, the fundamental base of all Yin and Yang in the body, is declining. The first manifestation of this disequilibrium between Yin and Yang is Kidney Yin Xu (Deficiency). Xu Dan-Xi (1281-1358), a great doctor of the Jin/Yuan Dynasty stated: “Yang tends to ever have an excess, Yin tends to be ever deficient.” This reflects the typical imbalance of Yin/Yang which he saw in most of his patients. In Chinese medicine it is said that by 40 years of age, Yin is half used up. 14

 

Since Yin and Yang are interdependent, deficiency of Yin causes Yin failing to root the Yang, thereby creating a relative state of Yang excess. The physical manifestations in (pre) menopause causes by Kidney Yin Xu (and a relative Yang Shi/ excess) are: Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness, excessive of frequent bleeding. The last two mentioned mainly occur in pre-menopause and are often due to Heat arising from the Yin Xu. Eventually long term Kidney Yin deficiency could result in Kidney Yang deficiency for they are one and the same and are two manifestations of the same source; Kidney-Jing. Qi and Yang Xu Other manifestations of problems happening can be seen in the relationship between Qi and Yang. As talked about before, Yangming/ Spleen-Qi begins to weaken at age 35. Since Kidney-Yang is the prenatal root of Spleen-Qi; deficiency of Spleen-Qi can easily lead to deficiency of Kidney-Qi and Yang. The physical manifestations of Spleen-Qi Xu and KidneyYang Xu in menopause could be: Fatigue, low libido, lower back pain, urinary leakage, phlegm/ damp accumulations, cold limbs and heavy uterine bleeding. Liver Qi Stagnation Liver Qi Stagnation needs addressing because of its strong involvement in general female physiology, the necessity of Qi required for the transformation process of fertility to nonfertility and the fact that Liver-Qi is highly prone to stagnate due to Stress. The physical manifestations of Liver-Qi Stagnation in menopause are: inducement of other substances to stagnate (Xue, Damp, Food, Phlegm), irritability, depression, mood swings, accumulation and masses, erratic or irregular bleeding. Vice versa aging can give tendency for more Qi stagnation to happen due to the natural decline of Qi, Xue, Yin and Yang; all basic necessities for healthy functioning of the Zang-Fu (Yin-Yang Organs) and the free flow of Qi.

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Conclusion

 

Initially when one talks about menopause, there’s no talk of disease, because again; it is a natural process. This doesn’t mean though that no problems or so called menopausal complaints will occur. Bearing in mind, an estimated 80% of females will and do experience menopausal complaints. The theories presented show the major importance and impact of (healthy) life-style practices, both during and before the menopausal transitions and how it inevitably influence the way women go through menopause. With this in mind, preventively one should make an effort, when encountering younger females (in their twenties/ thirties) in clinical practice to make them aware of this fact.

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Plastics and phthalates are well known to be hormone disruptors in women. This article from the NY Times explores how they disrupt healthy sperm production. We strongly recommend that all people being treated for infertlity take the time to detox their homes from the pernicious effects of plastic. Throw out the plastic containers. Use glass for food storage. Phthalates enter and leave the system relatively quickly.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/a-threat-to-male-fertility/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

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Bibliography

 

Literature • Lu Henry C., A Complete Translation of the Yellow Emperor’s Classics of Internal Medicine and the Difficult Classics (Nei-Jing and Nan-Jing), Published by International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Vancouver, Vancouver 2004 • Marieb Eliene N., Human Anatomy & Physiology, Pearson Education Inc, San Francisco, 2004 • Ojeda L., Menopauze zonder medicijnen, Altamira-Becht, Haarlem, 2004 • Wolfe Lee H., Managing Menopause Naturally with Chinese Medicine, Blue Poppy Press, Boulder, 1998 • Maciocia G., Obstetrics & Gynecology in Chinese Medicine, Churchill Livingstone, Newyork, 1998 • Lyttleton J., Treatment of Infertility with Chinese Medicine, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2004 • Flaws B., A Compendium of Chinese Medical Menstrual Diseases, Blue Poppy Press, 2005 • Larre C., Rochat De La Vallee E., The Eight Extraordinary Meridians, Monkey Press, 1997 • Larre C., Rochat De La Vallee E., The Extraordinary Fu, Monkey Press, 2003 • Jiao Shu-De, Ten Lectures on the Use of Medicinals from the Personal Experience of Jiao Shu-De, Paradigm Publications, Brookline 2003 • Jiao Shu-De, Ten Lectures on the Use of Formulas from the Personal Experience of Jiao Shu-De, Paradigm Publications, Brookline 2005 • Bensky D., Barolet R., Formulas & Strategies, Eastland Press, Seattle, 1990 • Ellis A., Notes From South Mountain, A Guide to Concentrated Herb Granules,Thin Moon Publishing, Berkeley California, 2003