KristinWisgirda: August 7, 2020, 4:50pm
Michael’s interview with Leo Lok on Qiological is totally delightful, definitely worth a listen.
Leo mentioned a case where he prescribed bananas for a patient with a slow to heal injury citing Su Wen 22 that
says when the liver is suffering from tension quickly eat something sweet to relax it.
In herbal thinking, I am able to readily access this treatment principle and consider flavors such as gan cao and da
zao. However, with Saam my mind reflexively goes to sweet tooth= Spleen excess. Clinical reality is that there are
plenty of patients who crave sweets because there is a need to relax tension, without any Spleen excess. Though
there might be other possibilities, Liv+ or Sp+ have been effective for relaxing this kind of tension that leads to
sweet cravings.
Any thoughts or experiences?
Daniel: August 7, 2020, 5:47pm
well, we can’t ever forget that ALL the channels are in relationship with each other.
I have had many patients with SEVERE bunions – I mean SEVERE – the big toe is completely collapsed inward. I
take that to mean at the channel level, the Spleen channel has collapsed – it just can’t hold up down there at the toe
– and yet, perhaps they don’t really have many Spleen ‘signs or symptoms’ . . . but things really line up with Liver
excess – so maybe the Liver is pulling so so so hard on Spleen, Spleen has collapsed. Or maybe Stomach is
weakening spleen badly, etc etc . . . so many relationships – there can be a strong sign in one channel but the
‘problem’ is in another channel
michaelmax: August 10, 2020, 4:13pm
KristinWisgirda:
Leo mentioned a case where he prescribed bananas for a patient with a slow to heal injury citing Su Wen 22
that says when the liver is suffering from tension quickly eat something sweet to relax it.
Yeah, I love that conversation with Leo too!
So… the issue here is not that the patient has a sweet tooth, but that they have a “tight” Liver and the sweet taste
helps to relax it. I think of (oh oh… here we go with herbs again) gan cao shao yao tang to relax the sinews and
relieve pain.15/01/2024, 12:19When sweet cravings aren’t Spleen excess – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/when-sweet-cravings-arent-spleen-excess/1205/print2/2
In this case Leo is using more of a “food therapy” approach. In my mind I can see how a “tight” liver as he calls it
could impinge on the spleen via the control cycle. Boosting up the spleen with the sweet flavor would give it the
strength to push the liver to its own domain.
But also the sweet taste tends to relax and soften from an herbal perspective. Harmonizes too.
I realize we are wildly mixing our metaphors here. But wanted to take a run at this so we can see what might be
happening from a Saam perspective. Again, the issue is not a sweet tooth, but rather too tight sinews.
Fun huh?
KristinWisgirda: August 10, 2020, 4:33pm
michaelmax:
the issue here is not that the patient has a sweet tooth, but that they have a “tight” Liver and the sweet taste
helps to relax it.
Yes, but … people with “tight Livers”, with or without tendon issues, are often self medicating and aren’t waiting
for a prescription from their medical provider. When asked if they have a sweet tooth they probably will say yes. I
just want to speak to the multiple possibilities that sweet cravings can point to from a Sa’am perspective so we
don’t knee jerk sweet tooth=Spleen excess.
I also love Leo’s suggestion that the classics need to be rehydrated and that even us non Chinese speakers have the
capacity to do that.
michaelmax: August 10, 2020, 8:41pm
Ahhh, I see your point. That the sweet tooth is because they are trying to generate that softening. Interesting,
usually the people I see with sweet teeth are more Spleen damp. But I’ll keep my eyes peeled.
Love the idea that we have ‘rehydrate” the classics!