Allergies - Kiiko Matsumoto Japanese Style

Allergies
Alergies, in this treatment modality, will have there origins from a constitutional weaknesses that will
have an impact on how the upper warmer regulates the emotional as well as physical body's function.
The factor, very common in TCM, of Zong (ancestral) Qi is also important when considering it is
where the vitality (breath) and genetics (ancestral qi), connect with the kidney.
There is an interdependancy between the upper burner where the lungs are located and lower burner
where the kidneys are located. This relationship is best described with an understanding of Ming Men.
The Su Wen chapter 52 mentioned: ...above diaphragm- huang there is father and mother; at the side
of the seventh section there is a small heart..." Ming men is associated with the source of kidney qi
and is the designation for Du4 (tonifies the kidneys among other benefits) at the level of third lumbar
vertibrae. Think of Ming Men as a fire that boils a pot of water (conceptualize the kidney's here), The
steam (qi) boils hot from the lower level (warmer) upward naturally, cooling down as it rises, through
the three levels (jiao's) to nourish and vitalize the organs on the way. Once in the upper heater (where
the lungs are located) and this steam is cooled in condenses along the top of the pot that has a lid
(diaphragm in this case). This condensation cools and drops back down into the pot (kidneys) where
it can be re-heated by Ming Men free of impurities to boiled and recirculated through the Triple
Warmers.

Immune system imbalances are additional factors that need to be considered. Kiiko Matsumoto style
acupuncture recognizes the traditional chinese text where it mentions "wind is the source of one
hundred diseases" and confirms its term of "Evil Wind" and equivilent to any external pathogenic
factor or internal pathogenic factor that invades the body to weaken its defenses to other pathogens.
In the case of allergies, the Evil Wind is fighting against the individuals wei qi and the individuals wei
qi is strong and they are exhibiting symptoms such as sniffling, runny nose, mild fever, and or cough
or the fight is being lost on the wei level and the pathogen has entered further affecting the stomach,
energy levels, joint and muscular stiffness and pain. Factors that weaken the immune system are as
follows;
Focal infections (staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria)
Nasal deviation (narrowing of the nostrils and nasal cavity may lead to focal infections
because the impaired flow of air through the nostrils may casuse may cause bacteria to linger and
multiply in the region of the nasopharynx).
Chronic nasopharyngitis may become a site for focal infections.
Any chronic disease.
Shock, trauma, or other factors that cause adrenal gland exhaustion.
Drug and alcohol abuse including caffeine and smoking or overuse of antibiotic mediction.
Excess of dairy products and/or sugar (especially in persons who are spleen deficient)
Depression, stress, and anxiety
Immune-suppressant drugs.
Radiation and chemotherapy.

General symptoms of a weakened or imbalanced immune system are as follow;

Catching cold easily
Chronically swollen lymph glands at the neck, armpit, or groin.
Fatigue (including chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome)
Difficulty recovering from a cold which may develope into chronic sinusitis, chronic
pharyngitis, chronic otitis, etc.)
Stomach flu, indigestion, and lack of appetitie.
Autoimmune diseases and Allergies.
Chronic ear infections that may lead to symptoms of an autonomic nerve imbalance such as
nausea, dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, and Menier's disease.

Weakened connective tissue which may present as a susceptability to injury, herniation (ie.,
inguinal and intravertebral discs), knee ligamentweakness, ptosis and prolapse of ogans and valves.
Slow healing injuries that cause repeated problems (especially sports injuries in the
extremities that involve tendons and ligaments), scars might not heal completelyy even after years,
keloid formation and adhesions.
Body does not respond to any treatments for chief complaints and diseases.
Chronic and resistant tendonitis (even after the patient had stopped the repetitive motion that
precipitated the tendonitis)

Hara Diagnosis
The act of palpating the Hara allows the practitioner of the this modality to access the overall health of
the underlying organs but also identify whether there are constrictions in specific areas associated
with a stagnation (lack of movement) of Qi or Blood (Qi in this case has an association with energy or
the intention (of energy) to move or circulate). With regard to allergies, the Sixteenth Difficult Issue in
the Nan-Ching states that pressure pain and tightness palpated at the area to the right of the
unbilicus is related to pathology of the lung. When considering palpation of this area, select the points
1and 2 cun below the umbilicus and 2 cun lateral to the midline. These two points are called Wai Ling
ST26 and Da Ju ST27. These two points are especially important according to Master Nagano
because the area between these two points are the reflection zone of the immune system. This why
tension, pressure pain, or soreness in this area may be a clue to a weakend immune system.
An important note regarding the location of this reflex and its underlying physiology worth mentioning
is the mobility of the appendix. The appendix has the largest collection of lymphatic tissue in the lower
abdominal cavity and if a weaker immune system is confirmed it may suggest excessive activity in
this area. Also, due to the different locations of the appendix in different people, there may other
areas on the hara that will reflect this reflex if the traditional locations do not confirm predominant
findings confirming immune deficiency. The different locations have been found by three different
surgeons Dr. Kuemmel, Dr. Lanz, and Dr. McBurney. Kuemmel's point can be described as being
located 2/3 the distance from the navel on a straight line toward ST26 with the second point at a
location in the Ren 7 area. Lanz's point can be located 1/3 the distance from the navel on a straight
line to the ASIS. McBurney's point can be located 1 cun below the traditional ST27 and 1/3 the
distance from the ASIS on the right on a straight line toward the opposite ASIS on the left.
Tian Shu St25 is another important factor in considering the disharmony in the immune system. The
harmony at the Celestial Pivot, where Yin and Yang serve to protect the body from EPF's and heat the
body to drive out pathogens, if interrupted can throw this harmony into disharmony leading to weaker
immune system not capable of fighting off EPF's. If chronic this area will be tender if not painful on
palpation and will clue the practitioner to a treatment to restore this balance.
It should be mentioned that, aside from palpating the hara to confirm the chief complaint, other signs
that may confirm other forms of stagnation may prevail against the immune system. The stagnation of
blood in the hara in the areas of KD15 to ST27 on the left side of the abdomen suggest not only
Oketsu but a degree of toxicity that can be weakening the body's natural inclination to rid itself of
external pernicious factors, causing an imbalance in the liver of liver stagnation (liver reflex by
palpation will be painful or ache), which can turn into heat (heat rises), having an impact on upper
respiratory conditions.
Neck Diagnosis
Once information has been gathered from the hara, another area that can be addressed is the are
located superior and behind the SCM. This area is called by Master Nagano as "East Wind" TH16
and this is referred as the tonsil reflex. This area of the neck will be tender if the immune system has
been weak by EPF or external evil. "East Wind" is located approximately 1 to 1 1/2 centimeters
inferior to TH16, behind the SCM, called "Evil Wind."

Back Diagnosis
Backache along a horizontal lone at the level of BL25, at the iliac crest, is almost always related to a
weak immune system. This may be residual pain from a febrile sisease associated with generalized
muscular and joint ache. Some patients present this symptom as they there chief complaint. Also, the
quadratus lumborum muscle and the fascia behind this muscle can become tight, especially after a
febrile disease. Pressure pain shows at BL23, BL52, and GB25. A side point can be made regarding
the anatomical association between L4 and BL25 as the representation of the front right ST26 and
ST27. We can also include Oketsu reflex of the left anatomically speaking.
A thickening at the neck at DU14 is associated with adrenal, thyroid, and/ or fat metabolism
imbalance. An imbalance in any of these areas may indicate a weakend immune system. As a result
of fat metabolism imbalace, stagnation and an accumulation of toxins may contribute to Oketsu,
which can ultimately burden the immune system. DU12 and DU11 are considered to be the reflex of
the Thymus gland. The Thymus gland is responsible for the activation of T-cells (A T-cell is a type of
blood cell. T-cells belong to a group of white blood cells (WBCs) called lymphocytes. WBCs protect
the body from infection.http://lymphoma.about.com/od/glossary/g/tcells.htm )
Treatment Strategy
Reflex Point prescription
Oketsu LV4 with LU5 (in the direction that clears the reflex best and most tender of the three LU5
locations)
Lung right ST26 and ST27 LI11 and LI10 Tonsilar point to relieve pain at TH16 "East Wind" and TH16
with "Evil Wind"
Active Adrenals KD6 main adrenal exhaustion point to support immune treatment
"Evil Wind" DU14 needle and moxabustion
Additional treatment Point prescription
Thymus gland DU12 needle with moxabustion (in children, associate number of moxa to age until
puberty)
Sinus and Deviated Septum ST44 with ST45 to release pain at ST2 and Bi Tong
GB40 with 8 to 15 direct moxa release pain at ST2 and Bi Tong
Surround the navel with 30mm-40mm Japanese #1 needles at 45 degrees (nose/navel assoc.)
Diode rings on ST2 and Bi Tong