Bob Flaws and Philippe Sionneau, The Treatment of Modern Western Diseases with Chinese Medicine Blue Poppy Press, Boulder, CO., 2001. p.353-359

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Bob Flaws and Philippe Sionneau present an interesting look at different ways of understanding MS from a Chinese perspective. They begin the article with a good explanation of the Western Medical understanding of MS, with a focus on nutritional deficiencies and environmental toxins that have been associated with MS.

They give the major categorization for MS in Chinese medicine as “wei zheng, wilting condition.” and goes on to list sub categories related to other symptoms: “However different of its symptoms are their own disease categories in Chinese medicine, e.g. ma mu, numbness and tingling, fa li, lack of strength, zhi juan, fatigued limbs, ban shen bu sui, hemiplegia, shi yi wei er, double vision, mu hu, blurred vision, zhen chan, tremors or spasticity xuan yun, dizziness, and niao shi jin, urinary incontinence.” (p. 354)

They go on to list the disease causes as “External invasion or internal engenderment of damp beat evils, unregulated diet, over-taxation, and former heaven natural endowment insufficiency disease.” (p. 354)

They write that the mechanism of the disease is: “Damp heat evils due to either external invasion or internal engenderment may brew and steam internally, thus damaging the qi and consuming yin at the same time as possibly congealing dampness into phlegm. It is also possible for prolonged or extreme over-taxation to consume blood and yin. Hence, the sinew vessels fail to receive adequate moistening and nourishing. Lack of blood and yin may give rise to internally stirring of wind, with consequent spasms and contractures. Extreme or prolonged yin vacuity may reach yang, giving rise to kidney yang insufficiency. Kidney yang insufficiency may also be due to over-taxation, former heaven natural endowment insufficiency, or overuse of steroids.” (p.354)

The majority of the chapter lists different patterns and their treatment with herbs and acupuncture. The patterns listed are: Phlegm heat internally brewing, damp heat damaging the sinews, Blood vacuity with wind hyperactivity, Liver Blood-Kidney Yin vacuity, Qi & Yin dual vacuity, and Kidney Yang insufficiency.

Under the heading of “Remarks”, The last section of the chapter is where Flaws and Sionneau discusses their experience treating people with MS. They write:

“1 . In our experience, the single most commonly seen pattern of MS in real-life Western patients is qi and yin dual vacuity, meaning spleen qi and liver-kidney yin vacuity. However this pattern is always complicated by liver depression, and it is often complicated by any combination of the following: A) damp heat, B) blood stasis, C) internal stirring of wind, D) kidney qi vacuity not securing, and E) kidney yang vacuity. In our experience, it is the rule rather than the exception that there will be five or more concomitant patterns in cases of MS. Whenever there are such complicated patterns, one should first identify all patterns present in order of predominance; two, state the requisite treatment principles for each of those patterns in the same order; and three, compose on an ad hoc basis a treatment plan that addresses all those patterns in the same proportions and with the same priorities.

2. Because spleen qi vacuity and dampness play a central role in most Western MS patients' disease mechanisms, Chinese dietary therapy must also play a correspondingly central role in any comprehensive treatment plan. This generally means eating a clear, bland, hypoallergenic, yeast-free diet. The more marked spleen qi and dampness or damp heat are in a patient's over-all pattern, the more important is proper diet in the prevention of acute attacks and long-term maintenance. ” p. 358

“3. Although western physicians say that attacks and remissions of MS are spontaneous, our clinical experience as Chinese doctors suggests that precipitating factors for both acute attacks and remissions can be identified by Chinese medicine. For instance, may female MS patients experience worsening of wind, liver, and/or spleen related symptoms premenstrually. If there is insufficient blood, when the blood descends to the uterus prior to menstruation this may result in the arising or aggravation of internally stirring wing and/or liver depression. If liver depression is aggravated, then the spleen will tend to become more vacuous due to the liver counterflowing horizontally with wood assailing earth. Other acute attacks can be traced to unusual fatigue, emotional stress, and/or unregulated diet. Therefore, when MS patients experience acute aggravations, it is very important for their Chinese medical care-giver to identify the precipitating factor(s) and to explain these to the patient so that the patient may prevent such exacerbations in the future. For instance, it an MS patients symptoms worsen on exposure to heat, they should consider moving to a cooler climate in the summer or installing air-conditioning in their home.”

The sections not excerpted discuss the involvement of blood stasis in MS, which is traditionally minimal, though may play a part in western cases. They also write about the importance of stress reduction and a low fat diet for the progression of MS. Lastly, he writes that Chinese research has shown that Chinese medical treatments can decrease episodes, and slow progression of MS.

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