| Vanessa was an athletic woman in her early | | | | There are a number of tools an acupuncturist |
| 30’s who came to my clinic with a history of | | | | could use in treating sinking Qi. First, they would |
| frequent miscarriages. She was able to get | | | | perform acupuncture, choosing specific |
| pregnant, and had done so three or four times, | | | | acupuncture points that strengthen your Spleen |
| but each pregnancy ended with a miscarriage | | | | and move energy upward. Second, they might |
| sometime during the first trimester. | | | | prescribe a variety of herbs that also have the |
| Vanessa was soft spoken and committed to | | | | action of moving things upward. The formula, |
| doing whatever it took to have a baby. She had | | | | Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang is frequently used for that |
| a history of an eating disorder, mild depression, | | | | purpose, as it strengthens your Spleen to |
| and low energy. Vanessa assured me, however, | | | | improve your body's overall holding function. |
| that she was eating well, and was trying | | | | Finally, through dietary therapy it is possible to |
| unsuccessfully to gain weight. Vanessa had a | | | | strengthen your digestion, and ultimately your |
| Chinese medical diagnosis of sinking Spleen Qi | | | | Spleen. Your practitioner can help you choose |
| (energy). | | | | foods that are best for that purpose and which |
| In Western medicine, your internal organs are | | | | foods to avoid. |
| considered solid entities that have physiologic | | | | In Vanessa’s case, her Spleen and digestion |
| functions and live in a specific place in your body. | | | | had been damaged by her past eating disorder. |
| However, in Chinese medicine, your organs are | | | | Along with acupuncture, we worked on choosing |
| considered symbolic systems of functioning, and | | | | foods that she could easily digest and |
| are related to many physical, emotional, and | | | | concentrated on gaining some weight. In addition, |
| energetic processes in your body. | | | | Vanessa took an herbal formula to strengthen the |
| The job of the Chinese Spleen is to convert the | | | | holding power of her Spleen. In short order, |
| food you eat into energy, blood, and nutrients. | | | | Vanessa became pregnant. At that time, we |
| However, one of the Spleen’s secondary | | | | concentrated solely on strengthening her ability to |
| functions is to hold things in and hold things up. | | | | hold the fetus to avoid another miscarriage. |
| Symptoms that the holding function of the Spleen | | | | Vanessa made it through the first trimester of |
| is not up to par may include easy bruising, chronic | | | | her pregnancy without miscarrying. At that |
| diarrhea, prolapsed (sinking) organs, and a history | | | | point, we began to decrease the frequency of |
| of frequent miscarriages. Frequently, these | | | | her treatments. Vanessa ultimately had a |
| symptoms are accompanied by fatigue, mental | | | | healthy pregnancy and gave birth to an equally |
| depression, and a sense of heaviness or bearing | | | | healthy baby boy. |
| downward. | | | | |