Daniel: April 19, 2020, 10:29pm
In a recent video posted here, I heard Toby refer to supplementing Large Intestine for ‘toxicity’. Is this a kind of
general advisory like supplementing Small Intestine to move blood? Even if there are no other Sa’Am signs or
symptoms of Spleen Excess or Large Intestine deficiency, would we consider supplementing Large Intestine solely
on the basis of toxicity? And in this context, are we referring to ‘toxicity’ as a Chinese Medical concept or is there
a specific Sa’Am definition of ‘toxicity’? (I am not an herbalist, can someone list for me the Chinese Medical
criteria for toxicity? – extra critically important these days as so so so many people consider themselves to be
‘toxic’ or throw around the term ‘toxic’ with great abandon!)
KristinWisgirda: April 20, 2020, 2:31pm
This is a GREAT and very important question especially because
Daniel:
so so so many people consider themselves to be ‘toxic’ or throw around the term ‘toxic’ with great abandon!)
Toby hasn’t explicitly defined toxicity in Saam terms, in my recollection.
Here are my ideas:
As an herbalist, the presence of putrefaction of tissues and/or pus, which is a combination of dead blood cells and
cellular debris, are indications for toxin relieving herbs. Other indications are brown crusts on the skin and things
that smell foul. In Saam, a focal infection, pus pocket, or foul diarrhea would be strong indications for the toxin
relieving aspect of LI+.
This also brings to mind turbid dampness, as indicated by yucky gross feelings like nauseating malaise maybe with
a sticky feeling in the mouth- on the way to toxic but not quite there yet.
But if you have a festering sore or focal area of toxin, the presence of yucky malaise is an indication that the toxic
situation is going systemic.
Again, this is my understanding, informed from other teachers, namely Sharon W. I am interested in others’ input.
Daniel: April 20, 2020, 3:02pm
so, its a kind of smelly, pus scenario – damp heat to the extreme in other words.
yes, that has been my understanding of ‘toxicity’ in a Chinese Medical sense.23/01/2024, 12:20Large Intestine and Toxicity – Sa’am Clinical Questions – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/large-intestine-and-toxicity/988/print2/3
Is that the same notion of toxicity that a Large Intestine supplementation in Sa’Am would address – I guess that is
the question!
KristinWisgirda: April 20, 2020, 3:51pm
I reached out to Toby asking for a definition from the tradition and will report back.
Daniel:
Is that the same notion of toxicity that a Large Intestine supplementation in Sa’Am would address – I guess that
is the question!
My understanding is Yes. A case I saw Toby treat comes to mind. The very, very thin dry woman had abscessing
teeth and a necrosing jaw as the result of head and neck radiation. He treated LI+ to address the local damp (heat?)
toxin.
KristinWisgirda: April 21, 2020, 5:50pm
Here is my conversation with T about this subject. My questions are in <>. His comments/answers are bold italic.
·Supplementing LI is how we address ? (du: toxin, poison). LI descends and eliminates du in a macro sense as
a bowel movement and in a micro sense as it purges local toxicities (pus, etc).
<Is your definition of the “toxicity” treated by LI any different from what I laid out in the post?>
Not really. Thanks for being so careful.23/01/2024, 12:20Large Intestine and Toxicity – Sa’am Clinical Questions – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/large-intestine-and-toxicity/988/print3/3
KristinWisgirda: May 3, 2020, 2:43pm
Last week, listening to Sharon W’s presentation on Wei Jing Tang expanded my understanding of toxicity as it
pertains to the Lungs.
Wei Jing Tang is for welling abscess in the Lungs. This can present with sputum containing pus and blood but
another important indication is when there is focal pain/distention/stuckness in the chest in the context of phlegm
and heat in the Lungs. From a Saam perspective this has me thinking of LI+, possibly combined with SI+.
Last year a patient presented with pneumonia with this kind of focal pain. Her breathing improved significantly on
the table from St+ but came back the next week with only some relief of the focal pain. I treated ST+ again with
some improvement. It took a third treatment of P+ with SI+ to completely relieve the pain.
LI+ might have served her better.