Feeling the Metal Element's Insult

An 'Insult' in Chinese Medicine refers to when one of the Five Elements, in the Controlling Cycle, acts in a reverse direction or Counterflow. Typically Metal Controls Wood. In the Counterflow situation Wood Insults Metal. We can translate this phenomena (control) under normal conditions as consciousness influencing feelings. When feelings begin to influence our consciousness, that's when the trouble starts.

The formulation of Metal Pearls is based on the case histories of the Northern Chinese master physician Dr. Wu Sheng’an.?This unique herb combination represents a primary way to regulate symptoms of stuck qi by reversing physical and emotional counterflow via the?Lung?and?yangming?networks, transforming phlegm, and nourishing?Lung yin. In the first year of acupuncture school in the 90's, methods for regulating stagnant?Qi?through the?Liver?were the standard means to relieve stress and relax the emotions; they were stamped on the heads of students, so now, 25 years later Dr. Sheng’an’s teachings feel like a fresh breeze is blowing through the?Classical Pearls?window.

Dr. Sheng’an reframed the dynamics of?Yin?and?Yang?to mean?down?and?up. Many modern diseases are the result of counterflow, of something that is supposed to, for instance, go down and out, but goes up instead.?Modern man’s troubles that encompass these dynamics are high blood pressure, anxiety, high cholesterol, acid reflux, palpitations, headaches, constipation, and?skin disease.

The garbage or toxins in our system are meant to be eliminated down through the Large Intestine, but will overflow upward and out through the skin when the?Metal’s Qi?is blocked.?In many cases, this causes a stagnation resulting in skin disease.?I’m seeing one patient right now whose main complaint is lipoma (a benign tumor made of fat tissues).?The garbage was trying to find a way out and ended up stagnating in the adipose tissue.

Dr. Sheng’an always would always rely on the pulse to confirm his diagnosis. When he found the cun position on the right to be slippery, with weakness in all the other positions, he would prescribe Lijin Tang regardless of the physical symptoms. Many diseases, one formula.

Lijin Tang or Metal Pearls: The first part of Metal Pearls is made up from She Jie Xing Chong Tang comprised of Shegan (Belamcanda) which clears Heat, relieves Fire toxicity,?transforms Phlegm and clears the Lungs. Shegan blooms on the first day of spring, giving it an upward momentum and the power clean the lymph glands and anti cancer abilities. Jiegeng (Platycodon) lifts and opens the lungs, clearing phlegm. Xingren (Apricot seed) and Jiangcan (Bombyx) both bring the Qi in the body down. Xingren stops cough, calms wheezing,?moistens the Intestines and unblocks bowels while Jiangcan dispels Wind, disperses Wind-Heat, stops itching and pain,?transforms Phlegm, softens hardness, eliminates toxins and dissipates nodules. Overall, this group helps guide the Lung Qi downward.

The second group are from the Pingjia Erchen modification formula. Banxia (Pinellia), Fuling (Poria), Chenpi (Citrus Peel), and Huangqin (Scutellaria) all deal with Dampness. Banxia dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm,?descends Rebellious?Qi?harmonizes the Stomach?and stops vomiting. Fuling promotes urination, leaches out Dampness,?strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Middle?Jiao. Chenpi regulates and descends?Qi, adjusts the Middle, relieves the diaphragm,?dries Dampness and?transforms Phlegm. Huangqin clears Heat, cools the Blood, dries Dampness, drains Fire, detoxifies?and?calms ascending Liver?Yang. Lastly, Baishao (Peony) nourishes the Blood,?astringes?Yin,?adjusts the?Ying?and?Wei,?calms Liver?Yang?and Liver Wind and alleviates pain. They play their part in transforming any stagnated fluids including phlegm.

Finally, we have my personal favorite herb pair, Baihe (lily bulb) and Huashi (Talcum). Baihe nourishes?Stomach?Yin,?harmonizes the Middle?Jiao,?moistens the Lungs, clears Heat, stops coughing,?clears the Heart and calms the Spirit. Huashi expels Damp-Heat, releases Summerheat and resolves Dampness. They benefit the moisture metabolism in the lymph, in the lungs, and the mucous membranes, tonifying the Yin and Qi of the Lung.

In today’s world of Western medicine, physical counterflow is easier to digest.?Yet, to my mind it feels imperative that the emotional counterpart needs to be paid attention to and where it will lead us stands to be the lynch pin in successful wholistic treatment.?So, here’s to Metal Pearls, have a good cry, and let go of the grief!?Unresolved Ancestral Qi is beginning to rear its head throughout society and won’t be stifled for long, ugly or not.