1 Ozomatli 10-4-10
Posted on September 29, 20101 Ozomatli through 13 Calli (10-4-10 to 10-16-10)
Read Galen, or Culpeper, or a solid book on eastern medicine, and what you will notice, is that the qualities of a thing need to be analyzed first…like… hot or cold, and secondarily, is it damp or dry,…then there is the state of neutral. Next, in what degree is this quality expressing itself?…or, what is the depth of the warmth or cold? What is the extent of the dry or damp? Take time to observe and assess. Then think about why the thing or condition came to be, and then when the history and qualities have been determined, then you can apply the treatment. The formulation should match the quality, but it will be a cure using either a contrary or a similar.
In determining quality “Mars likes his heat and it does draw it to itself” …similarity (or attraction). Therefore, how do you cure affliction of Mars? For example in cases of abnormal or recurring fatigue…the adrenals are stagnant of chi, and this is due to excessive phlegmatic condition (frequently from eating the wrong foods). The circulation slows and adrenals get clogged, producing excessive and stagnant cold moisture there. Of course you would select the siberian ginseng for the gentle heat and dryness that will move the stagnant chi and rid the adrenals of excessive cold damp. The condition of low energy is either a heat deficiency, or excessive moisture, so look to the root cause. Ginseng is hot in the first degree.
As the repetitive fatigue and circulatory problems continue, and the condition progresses, then chronic inflammation will proceed, causing pain, as the condition is driven deeper into the body from lack of balance. The chemicals your body produces to compensate for the excessive dampness is its own flare up system, that generates a heat all over that produces an unhealthy inflammation.
If then body is unable to balance itself , an herb such as cayenne is used since it is extra hot, obviously hot in the 3rd or 4th degree, as it would help for the original damp condition that led to the inflammation. We are talking about energy deficiency, as well as inflammation (both stamina, and inflammation being of under Mars rulership) so then we are still healing using similarity in treating the Mars affliction. Both ginseng and cayenne can be said to be ruled by Mars.
Contrary wise…what if you have had too much activity (excessive heat condition)…and you have a rash now on your skin…there is too much heat, so you will not want to draw, add, or move heat. Instead, you will gently temper this Mars affliction with an application that is cold in the 1st degree…the herb is marshmallow, ruled by lovely Venus.