GOOD MEDICINE
A stroke can come on silently and unexpectedly, but the truth of the matter is that the cause of a stroke has been a smoldering fire, growing in size over time … almost literally.
A stroke occurs due to the poor function of the heart and kidneys, which results in bad circulation of the body’s fire and water chi elements.
Ideally, the two need to be kept in constant movement, with one pushing energy upwards and the other pulling it downwards to create an almost gravitational pull of proper energy flow. When this is disrupted, the heat travels too far upwards and problems begin.
In someone with advanced fire/heat circulation problems, the heat (which causes pressure) travels to the brain and causes weakened veins and arteries to break, which disrupts the blood flow to the brain, thus resulting in stroke. Veins and arteries become damaged with stress and improper care over your lifetime, usually assisted greatly by diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure medications, which weaken them quite a bit. A blood deficiency and blood clot also weaken the area by disallowing oxygen and nutrition to this location.
The good thing is that your body gives many warning alarms before a stroke occurs. Each alarm is part of your body’sline of defense. In a stressful moment when your body’s fire energy rises, it causes pain in the chest area. You can press in the area of your breastbone and test for pain there. If pain in that area goes ignored and your life continues on as it has, your defense line weakens, and the next line of defense is located in the shoulder area between the spine and scapula. If pain here is ignored, the next alarm is neck pain, and the last alarm is behind-the-ear pain. Pain in this area is very dangerous, and when it occurs, a stroke is usually imminent, typically within the night you feel pain there. It is very important to get to an emergency room if you’re feeling pain there.
Another lesser sign of a fire/water management problem that you should also keep an eye out for is coldness in the body in and below the abdomen. This means the heat that should be traveling down through to your feet is residing in your upper body instead of completing the cycle of circulation throughout your entire body. In a healthy person, the body will keep the brain area cooler and the feet warmer, with everything in between at a comfortable temperature.
Stroke is something that is very important to prevent. After you have had a stroke, your body malfunctions, and it is very difficult to work your way back. If you are recovering from a stroke, it is very important to pair your physical therapy with acupuncture, as your body needs to be balanced, well-circulating, and receptive for the retraining.
For those who have had warning signs and are preventing stroke, a lifestyle change is necessary, beginning with stress management, as stress needs to be seriously limited. In addition, constitutional food, acupuncture to help detoxify the blood, and herbs all help to restore the proper heat and water circulation in the body.
The body’s aches and pains are often brushed off as general aging, but it is important to see them as your body’s way of communicating problems to you. Covering them up with medications and ignoring them is not the right approach. Listen to your body, and it will tell you all you need to know.
Dr. Lee’s office is located at 175 McMurray Road, Suite G, Buellton. Dr. Lee also has offices in Los Angeles and Paso Robles. To make an appointment, call (805) 693-5162 or (310) 666-8021
