Conditions Are Internal Conditions

-Liping Han-

Skin is a mirror of our health status, it reflects the how well the performance of internal organs and the quality of our blood.

Why do so many people suffer from skin conditions in Britain such as eczema, psoriasis, hair lose etc?

There are a few possible causes:

-Damp weather that encourages certain organisms to grow, the most common one is fungus.

-Diet: high sugar or refined carbohydrates, high consumption of alcohol and dairy products, high consumption of meat that contains growth hormones and antibiotics,

-High stress level

-Food intolerance

-Frequently use of antibiotics that disturbed the balance of intestinal flora

-Others: chemicals, house hold toxins, pesticides etc.

The treatment principles:

-To stop the causes

-To clear toxicity from blood stream

-To help liver and kidney detoxification

-To cleanse intestines, clear the inflammation in the bowels

-To heal the intestine's damage

-To replace the good bacteria in the intestines and help digestion

Tests are available from some private labs, such as “Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis” from “Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory”, it gives you very good information about the state of your intestinal flora.

Case history:

A 27 years old female, came with “alopecia” of 6 years duration. She had a car accident in 1995. The hair started falling off since then. She had conventional treatment that involved with steroids and electric treatment. She had a history of take antibiotic for 2 months for her ulcer, had pain in liver area afterwards, she was still on antibiotics for her kidney infection at the time she came to our clinic. The bowel movement was regular but bloating with wind. She was on contraceptive pills for years. She had a history of thrush and she had bloating since the car accident, suffered from stress from work and relationship. She went to Gym regularly and had high carbohydrates diet for her energy. She was also told that the hair will never grown back.

She had a family history of Diabetes.

Case analysis: this patient had fungal infection from long term of using antibiotics, stress and high carbohydrates diet. The car accident was a trigger to push her organ's function especially the liver detoxification function to the limit. From our test results showed that she did have a fungal infection; her blood sugar was in the upper normal range-know as impaired fasting glucose.

Treatment: started with a change of diet, cleanse liver and kidneys, eliminating fungal infection and promoting the digestive function, re-populate the intestinal flora.

Results: her hair grew back within three month's treatment.

For treatment:

Bradford area Tel: 01274 484514

York area Tel: 01904 709688

Newcastle area Tel: 0191 2268880

Dysglycaemia and Biological Ageing

Prevention and Treatment of Insulin Resistance

Dr Liping Han and Dr Stan Switala

Keywords: (Chinese medicine, diabetes, syndrome X, insulin resistance, dysglycaemia, diet, toxicity)

One of the first observations of biological aging seen in all animals, including humans, is

the decreased ability to manage glucose metabolism with increasing chronological age. This phenomenon, termed “dysglycaemia”, or glucose intolerance, is associated with the aetiology of many age-related diseases, including dementia, diabetes, heart disease, general inflammatory disorders, and even certain forms of cancer. Therefore, the prevention of, or even the delay in, the generation of this pathogenic factor could be of value in the maintenance of health.

The philosophy and practice of Chinese medicine has at its core a preventative, not just a therapeutic role. Consequently, it would appear useful to examine some of the ancient texts to see how thy addressed such a problem.

1 Tiao Jing Lun means discussion on regulating the channels

In another section, (Ling Shu -Da Huo Lun 2 ): one can read “what makes people forgetful? Qi Bo answered: Qi is deficient from the top, and Qi is excess from down below; excess Qi in the Stomach and Intestines, can lead to Heart and Lung Qi being deficient. Because the Ying Qi and Wei Qi (nutrient Qi and protective Qi) are blocked down below, they can not be sent to the top, so people become forgetful”.

This can mean that too much rich food entering the Stomach and Intestines weakens the Spleen, Heart and Lungs, and leads to arteriosclerosis and blockage of the arteries. Forgetfulness can then result from lack/deficiency of blood supply to the brain. Since the discovery that the brain produces insulin, some scientists have suggested that: dementia classification should include the category of Type III Diabetes.

As one of the major products of food breakdown is glucose, and the major energy nutrient is glucose, then how can this essential nutrient for living change into a harmful substance? To answer this let us have a look into the changes in our environment over the last few decades.

Decline in the quality of food

Farming practices have involved changing from the use of organic to artificial fertilisers, and excessive crop production has resulted in soil that is nutritionally exhausted. The major losses are in zinc and magnesium, but some trace minerals that are essential for glucose metabolism, such as Vanadium and Chromium are deficient also. This means that there is weakening of Spleen function in digestion.

The harmful elements in food are raised

The use of herbicides, pesticides, preservatives, colourings and flavourings added to food, make the liver and kidneys work harder to remove them. Another example seen in a big Chinese supermarket in Manchester, in the catering wholesale section, is something called Potato Whitener, and Pea Colouring, with a skull and crossed bones on the containers. This sign indicates the presence of a highly toxic compound.

Large amounts of toxic compounds come into our bodies by such methods. This increases the workload of the liver and kidneys, and increases the production of free radicals; and inflammation. This in turn causes an increase in cortisol release, and a subsequent rise in blood glucose and insulin levels. This uses up vital nutrients, leading to a Blood deficiency.

Intensive farming uses growth hormones and antibiotics to speed up animal growth and to increase the production of eggs and milk. So the nutrients in the meats, milk and eggs are decreased, and the waste products from growth hormones and antibiotics are increased. For example, the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega 3 family should be in meats and eggs naturally, but now we cannot get enough from the normal diet. That is why we need to add to our diet fish oil or linseed oil, and to eat more oily fish. Deficiency of omega 3 oils is one of the causes of inflammation, arteriosclerosis and insulin resistance. When cells become insulin resistant, it means that glucose entry cannot be facilitated by insulin, the level of which has to rise in an attempt to permit glucose entry (hyperinsulinaemia develops). This factor further weakens the Spleen and leads to Blood deficiency.

“Plastic” (various polymerised hydrocarbons) is one of the materials found in food packaging. “Plastic” can release oestrogen like molecules (xenooestrogens) into the food or water (plastic water bottles) as well as other toxic compounds. Excessive oestrogen can cause cancer, and disturb the balance of hormones in the body. If these substances cannot be metabolised efficiently, then they alter both the genome (genetic material) and the phenome (body structure) and thus over-ride the normal Kidney/Jing control of form.

Stress is a common complaint in modern society. It can cause the adrenal glands to produce higher levels of coritsol and adrenaline. Cortisol can convert amino acids into glucose to supply energy. Therefore long-term stress can reduce muscles mass, increase fatty tissue and increase glucose levels in the blood. The person's weight my actually fall, but their percentage of body fat can increase dramatically while their muscle mass falls. This means that measuring BMI (Body Mass Index is a ratio of weight to height), could make the person think that they are healthier, when in fact their percentage of fat is rising into the unhealthy range. The fall in muscle mass will reduce metabolic rate, as this is the main tissue that produces body energy and movement. Thus the Spleen function will be reduced further and the accumulation of Damp (fat) will be increased as a result of weakened Spleen function.

As the Spleen function weakens, physical work reduces. This produces tiredness, less inclination to exercise, and the intake of carbohydrates is increased. A weakened Spleen craves sweet things that strengthen it. If the Spleen weakness is excessive, then the consumption of carbohydrates will weaken it still further. Alcohol, chocolates, cakes and biscuits, soft drinks and processed wheat and rice etc are all carbohydrates that rapidly raise blood glucose levels. This scenario rapidly leads to over indulgence in refined carbohydrates. One consequence of this rapid rise in blood glucose is that the brain increases its production of seratonin, which is a feel good hormone, and so making it even more difficult to reduce consumption.

This scenario is one major reason why diabetes and its complications are becoming the fastest rising diseases in the world.

How does Dysglycaemia occur?

Carbohydrates from the diet enter the body and are broken down into glucose and other sugars in the small intestine. These sugars then enter the portal vein, triggering the release of insulin from the pancreatic beta cells. If excess carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates, enter the circulation, then there is a release of high levels of insulin. This release facilitates the transport of these sugars into cells, which then use them for energy production and cholesterol, triglycerides and glycogen synthesis.

After many years of high carbohydrate consumption and low expenditure of energy, the body cells become insulin resistant in order to protect the cell interior from a toxic glucose load. This happens when there is a reduction in the number and sensitivity of the insulin receptors. (Excess sweetness is weakening the transporting function of the Spleen) As this situation progresses, the pancreas secretes greater amounts of insulin resulting in hyperinsulinaemia. Now there is a battle between the interior (Yin) of the cell; trying to prevent more glucose entry, and the exterior of the cell, through the action of insulin trying to reduce the blood (Yang) glucose levels. When the pancreas can no longer increase insulin levels to facilitate glucose entry into cells, then the blood glucose levels initially stay higher for longer, and subsequently begin to rise and produce the conditions of dysglycaemia and hyperglycaemia respectively. As the Yang increases excessively, it then becomes a pathogen.

The danger of hyperinsulinemia:

Glucose can combine with proteins (non-enzymatically) to form glycosylated proteins at normal body temperature. This process, known as glycation, produces with time what are called AGE proteins (Advanced Glycosylated Endproducts). The AGE proteins have altered function and antigenicity. Consequently, the immune system will attack these altered proteins thereby initiating inflammation. If this occurs at the arterial wall, then arteriosclerosis and plaque deposition can result, leading to the various complications of diabetes, which relate to accelerated forms of ageing.

The clinical symptoms and diagnosis of hyerinsulinemia :

Syndrome X is a specific collection of signs and symptoms that result from insulin resistance. The conditions that can result from this syndrome are acne, asthma, addiction to carbohydrates and stimulants, delayed puberty, depression and mood swings, IBS, insomnia, and fatigue. Hormone disruption resulting in infertility and polycystic ovaries, with increased body hair due to reduced oestrogen and raised testosterone levels, and osteoporosis. Metabolic effects resulting in headache, type II diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases, high cholesterol and high triglycerides. The altered fat metabolism results in obesity or central obesity with a waist circumference over 35 inches in women, over 40 inches in man. Some patients are not over weight in general but have central obesity. This is still a bad marker, though the body weight may be within normal limits.

Hyperinsulinemia and chronic fatigue:

People with insulin resistance all tend to have fatigue symptoms. Hyperinsulinaemia can be a deficiency (Xu) and excess (Shi) condition combined. The degree of fatigue will vary depending on the quality and types of food consumed. High carbohydrate diets can make fatigue worse, while gentle exercise can improve it. Whereas chronic fatigue syndrome is mostly a deficient (Xu) condition and the level of fatigue does not directly relate to carbohydrate consumption, while physical exertion aggravates the fatigue.

How to correct the dysglycaemia?

To reduce the elevated levels of insulin it is vital to reduce carbohydrate intake, especially refined carbohydrates and processed cereals, to have small frequent meals and gentle exercise i.e. walking about 30min per day.

Reduction of sugar intake

Most patients have an addiction to carbohydrates; so as their insulin levels fluctuate, their blood glucose levels also fluctuate, thus making their moods go up and down, sometimes together with the feeling of light-headedness. In order to keep blood glucose levels constant, and to keep away the sensation of hunger, we need to eat a higher protein (about 0.8g/kg body weight) and higher fibre (about 20-40g/day) diet. We also need to reduce the intake of carbohydrates, in order to reduce the release of insulin, and to increase the intake of organic vegetables and raw foods to supply the nutrients that our body needs for glucose metabolism. Please note that carbohydrate intake should not be cut out totally, as this can cause damage to the body through the excessive consumption of fats which would be needed to supply the calorific needs of the individual. The plentiful consumption of vegetables, especially root vegetables, would provide the necessary carbohydrate.

To increase the utilisation of glucose:

Exercise can increase the sensitivity of insulin receptors to insulin. Even as little as 30 minutes of regular walking daily.

Differentiation diagnoses and treatment using TCM

In looking at the signs and symptoms associated with insulin resistance, we cannot see the typical symptoms of diabetes, such as thirst, excessive eating and passing excessive urine, and in later stages weight loss. Even so, the damage caused by dysglycaemia ( A GE proteins) and hyperinsulinaemia that has already started if left untreated will lead to organic disease. It is much easier to treat a problem at the functional level than at the organic level.

An ancient Chinese saying: “The ordinary physician treats the symptoms of a disease as they appear, but the best physician treat a disease before it has started.” So to recognise and treat the signs and symptoms of early stage diabetes is necessary to be a good physician.

Liver Qi stagnation:

Relatively rapid changes in blood glucose levels can lead to mood swings so these patients can be depressed or irritable, even suddenly losing their temper without an obviously good reason. They can also have a heavy feeling after eating food and a lack of concentration, forgetfulness and headaches when hungry. Most patients have a history of stress from work, family or relationships.

Damp heat in Spleen:

The patients who have diabetes have a high incidence of various forms of infection, partly due to the high glucose levels that reduce immune activity and feed fungal growth. The patients who have hyperinsulinaemia can also suffer from a weakened immune system and fungal infections. These patients can be bloated, with either loose stools or constipation. They often have explosive wind with a foul smell. Women can have a creamy or yellow discharge with a cheesy smell, itching and burning sensation in the genital area. Some patients may suffer from chronic acne.

Diabetes and hyperinsulinaemia patients could all have fatigue as a major symptom, and they all have a history of eating unbalanced foods, not enough physical work or exercise, and a history of long term stress.

Acupuncture and massage are very good for the syndrome of Liver Qi Stagnation, especially when combined with meditation, yoga or taiji exercises.

Chinese herbs can be used to sooth Liver Qi, to strengthen Spleen Qi and drain Dampness, promote digestion, clear Heat and dry Dampness.

When the functions of the Liver and Spleen are improved, the metabolism of glucose is improved, and there is an increase in energy production, with a decrease in fat deposition.

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