Don't Let Low Libido Get You Down

by Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

One of the most common complaints I hear from patients of all ages is low sex drive. Today with so many people overworking, we see this problem with younger and younger patients.

Understanding the core causes of low sex drive can lead to effective treatment with Chinese Medicine. Since the sexual reproductive system is driven by the Kidney’s energy we often need to focus on restoring Kidney Essence and Kidney Yang Qi to restore both sexual drive and function.

The genesis of low libido patterns often arise due to exhaustion from an imbalanced lifestyle. When too much is demanded of the body’s resources from overwork and stress to overindulgence in sex, drugs and late nights, the body’s Essence and Yang Qi simply eventually can’t keep up and low libido can develop regardless of one’s age.

In general, low libido and decreased sexual performance are often rooted in damaging lifestyle patterns which include a chronic lack of sleep, excessive use of stimulants and recreational drugs, excessive sexual activity and, of course, exhaustion from overworking and stress.

Furthermore, low libido is occurring more frequently in younger individuals these days because in general the constitutional Essence of the younger generation isn’t as strong as older generations who lived closer to the earth and had simpler lifestyles.

Of course, the physical demands on the older generations was often quite extreme and people in general didn’t live as long as we do today, but these prior generations grew up on wholesome natural foods void of the sugar and food additives found in today’s modern American diet.

Beginning with the advent of TV dinners in the mid-1950’s and prepared frozen meals, the Standard American diet started to decline. Add in an increase in sugar and chemicals in the diet of young people and newer generation mothers will tend to develop weaker constitutions which will impact their offspring’s constitution as well. Furthermore, this situation has been exacerbated with the poor toxic diets children grow up on from birth to adulthood.

With this said, we can see why low libido is a more common issue today than years past along with the issue of infertility which has become a booming industry because of these factors.

In environments like Silicon Valley where I practice Chinese Medicine, work and life-stress in general is extremely high and this creates a chronic situation where unnatural demands on the body’s resources to support stress hormones far exceeds the need to produce sexual reproductive hormones.

This exposure to chronic stress over time can lead to sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction (ED) as well as infertility.

It’s no wonder a study many years ago demonstrated that 50% of the infertile women who practiced meditation daily ended up getting pregnant. 50% got pregnant naturally from simply relaxing! Meditation and relaxation helped regulate their sexual hormones so they were able to get pregnant through natural means.

The end result of extreme daily stress can not only lead you to feeling tired, but can also lead to a lack of interest or energy to engage in sex. This is because if your body is working overtime during periods of high stress, your resources will be utilized to produce stress hormones and therefore reduces the resources necessary to produce sexual hormones to help your body regenerate and support healthy reproductive function—which is also why long term stress accelerates the aging process.

Even if improving your sexual function is not your priority, this topic is important so you understand how to preserve youthfulness and ensure graceful aging.

Your Jing

Maintaining healthy DNA relates to maintaining your Jing. The organ system that stores and preserves your Jing is the Kidney system. The adrenal glands are also a part of the Kidney organ system. For example, when a woman goes into menopause and her ovaries shut down, the adrenal glands take over the production of sexual hormones, including estrogen and progesterone.

It’s thus essential that a woman struggling with menopause supports her adrenal glands during this transitional period. This is why overworked women with exhausted adrenal glands are prone to suffer from menopausal symptoms such as hot flushing and night sweats.

Your Jing can also be impacted by emotional trauma. Since the Kidneys relate to the emotion of fear and shock, a person who has gone through great trauma can also develop weakened Kidney’s Essence, which can lead to reproductive problems and menopausal symptoms as well.

In Chinese Medicine, Jing is a reflection of the status of Yin, which is a form of fluids. As a form of fluids, Blood helps to nourish Yin. It’s therefore essential to keep the blood strong to support the nourishment of the Kidney Yin.

According to Chinese Medicine, the Liver Blood protects the Kidney Essence from declining, so supporting the Liver to store blood is key to protecting your Jing and preserving your youthfulness.

A diet that includes red meat such as beef, lamb and bison supports the Liver to store blood. If a person has weak blood and is a vegetarian, it’s indeed much more difficult to help the Liver store blood especially in terms of supporting fertility.

One of my first Chinese Medicine teachers who specialized in treating infertility would turn away patients who were vegetarian if they wanted to get pregnant. This is because a diet that excludes red meat is much more challenging to build up the Liver’s Blood than a meat-based diet.

Animal products such as beef and lamb support both the Yin and Yang aspects of the Kidneys so these are powerful, vitalizing foods. When a person is working hard physically or mentally and suffering from sexual reproduction problems like infertility and low libido, boosting the Yin with cholesterol foods supports the raw material for hormone production.

Fortify Your Yang Qi to Boost Your Libido

Four-legged animals like cows and lambs are imbued with a lot of Yang Qi energy, so eating this type of meat can quickly fortify your Yang to enhance energy and sexual performance.

In addition, Acupuncture and Qi Gong are modalities that can help fortify your Yang Qi. Along with consumption of animal products, these powerful practices can help enhance your libido and sexual reproductive functions.

Enhancing your Qi with Acupuncture and Qi Gong helps stimulate Yang Qi to strengthen the production and consolidation of Yin to support your sexual reproduction system. And as your body becomes more balanced through these modalities, sleep will improve and your Yin will also increase because resting is key to regenerating and preserving your Kidney Yin. Increasing your Kidney Yin equates to increasing the production of reproductive hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone to help restore and optimize sexual function.

Here are some herbs that can help out as well.

*Five Herbs to Support Your Sex Drive

Herbal medicine is an important aspect of Chinese Medicine to support your Liver to store Blood and boost your Kidneys’ Yin and Yang energies. Though I’m discussing some individual herbs as examples in this article, it’s important to understand that in the practice of Chinese Medicine, we do not generally prescribe herbs individually but rather we use them synergistically in formulas to counterbalance any side effects.

Since supporting your adrenals is key to boosting your Kidneys, I’ve chosen to share some common herbs that support both adrenal function and sexual health. These herbs include Ashwaganda, Gotu Kola, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Epimedium (also called the ‘Horny Goat Weed’ and Yin Yang Huo) and Cuscuta Seed (also called Chinese Dodder Seed and Tu Si Zi in Chinese Medicine).

1. Ashwagandha is a popular herb that’s native to India. Ashwagandha is known as Indian Ginseng and is especially useful for men with low testosterone, low sperm count and low libido. It also helps reduce anxiety and boosts GABA, a brain neurotransmitter that both helps you relax when overstressed and promotes sleep, which is critical to restore adrenal strength.

   Since Ashwagandha is considered a Kidney Yin and Yang tonic, it can potentially be too warming for some patients so keep this in mind when using it. It has been shown to increase the adrenal’s production of DHEA, a precursor hormone for testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. It’s also been found to reduce depression.

   Generally speaking, Ashwagandha is considered a supportive agent for low libido and erectile dysfunction, but keep in mind if you have Yin deficiency with heat signs, Ashwaganda can create too much heat in the body.

   In these cases, it’s best to nourish the body’s Yin and slowly introduce a warming agent like Ashwagandha along with cooling Yin nourishing herbs. Often times, once the Kidneys’ Yin is nourished, warming stimulants are not even necessary.

   Yin burns out first then the body’s Yang weakens, so it’s important to nourish Yin to recover your Yang Qi. Since resting is a Yin activity, rest is essential for recuperating your vitality.

2. Gotu Kola is one of my favorite brain herbs. Gotu Kola strongly benefits brain health by improving circulation and thereby increasing oxygenation into the brain. Gotu Kola has also been found to promote regeneration of brain nerve cells.

   Since the brain is considered the seat of the Kidney’s Jing, we can see how Gotu Kola is a potent Kidney tonic.

   Gotu Kola is also known for its ability to improve memory recall. Since memory recall is a function of the Liver in Chinese Medicine, we can make the association of how Gotu Kola supports the Liver’s Blood.

   With such potent brain function benefits, it’s no wonder Gotu Kola has long been considered an important longevity herb.

   In terms of libido, Gotu Kola is also considered an aphrodisiac and this is possibly due to its enhancement of blood circulation, which can help with supporting erection and sexual satisfaction. Gotu Kola also helps calm the nervous system and reduces anxiety as well as depression which can also benefit one’s sexual desire.

   As a blood invigorating herb, it can potentially overstimulate menstruation and is contraindicated during pregnancy. Because of these side effects it’s always advised to consult an herbal professional when using herbal supplements

3. Holy Basil is a common Ayurvedic herb used to support adrenal health. Holy Basil is also called Tulsi meaning “Sacred Plant” in the Ayurvedic tradition.

   Holy Basil helps reduce cortisol levels and therefore has a potent stress reducing action on the body.

   By reducing cortisol, it allows the adrenal glands to conserve energy and resources for the production of sex hormones rather than stress hormones. This is why even though Holy Basil is an adrenal supporting herb, it’s more of a relaxant than a stimulant that helps with anxiety and stress management.

   Ironically, Holy Basil can actually reduce sexual desire, but the reason I’ve included it in this discussion on low libido is that if you’re exhausted from overwork and stress, it’s essential to first recuperate your energy before you can expect to frolic between the sheets.

   An important warning when using Holy Basil is that it’s so strong in winding down a hyped up neuroendocrine system that if you’re already burned out, you may feel worse when taking it. In such cases, Holy Basil should be augmented with other supportive herbal agents or avoided altogether.

   Holy Basil can also reduce blood sugar so if a person has hypoglycemia, Holy Basil may not be well tolerated and contraindicated. Ideally, Holy Basil is for the very hyper type person who can’t seem to slow down and relax and not a person who is already dragging.

   For the overly exhausted person who feels cold and uninterested in sex, an herb like Epimedium, also known as Horny Goat Weed, may be more appropriate.

4. Epimedium is one of the important herbs to add into a formula when a person is truly lacking a sex drive but not overheated from Yin deficiency.

   What this means is a person should not be too dry and hot inside because Horny Goat Weed will exacerbate an overheated body and cause further burnout.

   Under the right conditions, Epimedium can be a true wonder herb when someone needs a boost with their sexual appetite and sexual potency especially when used at the right time and with assistant Yin tonic herbs to balance out its overly warming side effects.

5. Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) is an important herb used in Chinese Herbal Medicine to strengthen the Kidney Yang Qi and nourish the Kidney Yin. It also helps astringe Jing to reduce the loss of Essence if premature ejaculation and urinary frequency are problems.

   By benefiting Kidney Yang, Cuscuta seeds also help boost sexual desire and reduce sexual impotence.

   Since Cuscuta seeds also nourish both the Kidney and Livers’ Yin, this herb helps strengthen the lumbar spine for lower back pain problems which as you can imagine will improve one’s sexual performance as well. In addition, in terms of nourishing the Livers’ Yin, Cuscuta seeds help reduce blurry vision and spots before the eyes. This herb is often combined with Gou Qi Zi berries to improve the vision and I have had personal experience with the benefits of these herbs for vision enhancement and use them periodically when my vision seems to weaken.

In Summary

While Chinese Medicine is a complex study that offers many herbs to support low libido and sexual function, these are some common herbs you may be familiar with that are used today in modern herbalism for low libido and what I will call ‘sexual rehabilitation’.

For any reproduction issue it’s imperative to keep the Liver Blood strong because this is how the Kidney Yin maintains its health. In addition, once the Yin and Blood are depleted, the Yang will suffer and this will compromise the sex drive and libido.

The herbs presented in this article are supportive agents to nourish the Liver Blood and strengthen the Kidney Yin and Yang energies of the body and thereby help normalize sexual reproduction functions.

*This article is for educational purposes only and it’s strongly advised that you consult a medical professional who specializes in herbal medicine before embarking on using these potent substances. Remember that even though an herb may seem appropriate for you, it may be contraindicated with your specific health pattern or need to be used in conjunction with other herbs to balance its side effects.

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Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac. is Founder & Co-Director of A Center for Natural Healing in Santa Clara, CA, a wellness clinic he runs with his wife, Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac., that specializes in Classical Chinese Medicine & Japanese Meridian Therapy, a rare non-insertion form of Acupuncture using Gold and Silver needles. Learn more at www.acenterfornaturalhealing.com.

The Upside to Feeling Down: The Metal Element & Depression (Part 2 of 6)

by Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

As we begin the exploration into some of the many underlying factors of depression, it’s critical to understand that Chinese Medicine is based on treating the individual to resolve a state of dis-ease. It is not about treating the disease itself. 

In other words, for Chinese Medicine to be most effective, it’s essential to evaluate each individual to tailor a treatment plan that matches his or her specific needs rather than rely on generalized established protocols that have been created to treat a specific disease condition. Only when a treatment plan is tailored to a patient’s specific needs can you expect to achieve optimal results. 

A Five Element Perspective on Depression

Cycles of depression can last months to many years, especially if there is a hereditary disposition. This Five Element Model will provide a comprehensive perspective on the primary factors that need consideration to restore health from debilitating periods of depression.

The five primary organs associated with each of the Five Elements are the Lungs (Metal), the Kidneys (Water), the Liver (Wood), the Heart (Fire) and the Spleen (Earth).

Through the assessment of these systems we can gain important insight on how imbalances in these organs are involved in depression and create strategies to restore mind-body harmony to overcome the challenges of chronic depression and its many related symptoms. 

My Recent Challenge with Depression

Depression can be insidious, zapping your zest for life little by little until you finally realize you’re depressed. This experience culminated for me at the end of last year with a feeling of emptiness that simply seemed to take my spirit away.

For about four months I would wake up periodically in the morning feeling irritable, lacking inspiration or motivation, with tightness in my chest and shortness of breath. My symptoms worsened after the holidays and then I slipped into four days of fever with the flu in late January after returning from Bali. These four days in bed were more emotionally than physically challenging as my spirit delved into what some describe as the dark night of the soul with severe despondency.

As I rested and took herbs to recover my Lungs, day by day my energy increased and my spirit lifted. My inner drive and inspiration started to reveal themselves again and I began to feel better than I had in the previous six months.

In hindsight, a chronic virus had been latent in my system, taxing my immunity and weakening my Lung Qi. It wasn’t until I got low enough for this virus to surface and get burned out of my system through the fever that my health became revitalized and I felt a renewed enthusiasm for life.

I present my story to show how conditions like depression have many causative factors. Was it just the virus or was my immune system depressed from something I was going through emotionally that allowed this virus to take root and depress my immunity?

We don’t always need to know the exact causative factor, but if we follow the signs of the body to restore balance to its energy systems, we can be confident that we can improve our psycho-emotional state as well.

The Metal Element: The Lungs and Depression 

Since the Lungs relate to the emotions of sadness and grief, it’s essential to assess the status of the Lung Qi, or energy to evaluate depression.

Lung energy is most vulnerable during the Fall season, therefore, the Lungs are more prone to be in a state of weakness during this time, which allows for conditions such as depression to more likely occur during the Autumn months. This is especially likely for those who are sensitive to reduced sunlight from Autumn through Winter in the far northern hemisphere where light becomes very limited during this time.

Lack of light exposure makes many Individuals susceptible to SAD syndrome (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and the greater a person has Lung weakness according to Chinese Medicine, the greater their sensitivity to this pattern will be. Because of SAD’s relationship to the seasons of Autumn and Winter, it is crucial to support the Lung Qi as well as the Kidney Qi which relates to Winter. Optimally, it’s best to start strengthening these systems a few months prior to the season when the problem begins to occur.

A simple food remedy is Cod Liver oil, a concentrated source of vitamin A and D essential for supporting the Lung Qi to boost immunity and strengthen lung function overall.

Cod Liver oil is also a concentrated source of the Omega fats DHA and EPA which support brain neurological function. The brain is an extension of the Kidney Essence in Chinese Medicine and these Omega fats in Cod Liver oil have been found to be beneficial for depression, making this a super food for reducing depression and its related symptoms, insomnia and anxiety, as well.

The energy of the Lungs can be suppressed or weakened through any life circumstance that creates prolonged sadness or grief. In this scenario, herbal tonics such as Cordyceps, Ginseng and Astragalus can be used to boost both the Qi energy of the Lungs and Kidneys to increase vitality and enhance overall mood and mental disposition.

These tonic herbs in particular are MAO inhibitors so they can help reduce depression by mitigating the action of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme in the brain that breaks down the mood enhancing neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.

Caution however must be used with the use of these herbal tonics if you are using any medication that it is also an MAO inhibitor. Therefore, please inform your doctor before introducing any herbal substances into your nutritional regimen. Furthermore, Qi tonic herbs are generally warming in nature so you need to know if your body has too much internal heat to avoid exacerbating inflammation.

The Earth Element is the Mother of Metal

Earth energy is about digestion and therefore the health of the digestive system will have a substantial bearing on the function of the Lungs and any type of depression.

The Spleen (which also relates to the Pancreas) and Stomach are the Earth organs and control the transformation of food into energy and raw materials to rebuild the body.

If the function of the Earth organs is compromised or weakened in any way, then the body’s ability to transform is compromised and dampness will accumulate in the gastrointestinal system.

Dampness is a fungal terrain and fungus loves moist environments. As damp fungal terrain accumulates in the gut it can get pushed up into the lungs and into the sinus cavities leading to conditions such as chronic sinus congestion, snoring, allergies and ear conditions including excessive ear wax, pressure in the ears and ear infections. As the fungus migrates into the brain, it can lead to foggy thinking and more severe conditions such as dementia and even brain tumors.

The major factor that can weaken digestive function is consumption of food that is too damp. This can include excessive consumption of grains, especially refined/processed carbohydrates, sugar (including sweet tropical fruit), dairy, nuts, and fried/greasy foods.

Eating habits will also weaken the power of digestion such as eating while distracted such as when watching TV, reading, driving, or eating during a business meeting.

If the nervous system is activated to process information outside of eating, then the power to digest will be compromised and distracted from its role of transforming food into energy and raw material. 

Over time, these habits can weaken the Spleen energy and lead to a systemic deficiency of Qi throughout the body. 

Herbs to consider to support this relationship between the Spleen and the Lungs are substances that nurture digestion.

Cooking spices and digestive enzymes can be important to stimulate digestion. Hydrochloric acid may be necessary to support the digestion of protein, especially if the Stomach is weak.

Chinese Medicine uses sprouts and in some digestive enzyme blends you’ll find the use of Aspergillus oryzae, a type of probiotic fungus used to produce the enzyme amylase, to help the body break down the starches in carbohydrates.

Radish and radish seeds in herbal formulas (called Lai Fu Zi) help break down excessive dampness in the digestive tract and if this dampness has created a lot of mucous in the lungs then white mustard seed (called Bai Jie Zi) is used to break up phlegm and help reduce coughing and sputum. Both of these herbs aid in the digestion of fats.

Excessive dampness and fungus is usually present in the body when there is a very swollen tongue or thick coating on the surface of the tongue, making digestive support imperative for healing on any level in these cases.

As you can see, to support the health of the Lung’s energy, it is crucial to work with diet and eating habits so the digestive system can be a good mother for its child, the Lungs.

The Virtue of the Lungs - Forgiveness

Since the Lungs breathe in oxygen, which supports life, and release carbon dioxide through exhalation, the Lungs reflect our ability to receive life and let go of life through our breath.

If you find this basic respiratory function of the lungs is restricted, it may be necessary to release tightness in your body that may be inhibiting proper breathing. This can often be resolved through Acupuncture and Cupping as well as other forms of bodywork and physical therapy. The primary areas of the body that need to be released to support proper lung function are the Five Ancestral Sinews. (You can learn more in this article)

Freeing up the lungs on a physical level allows for the freeing up of the psycho-emotional aspect as well which involves the Lung’s ability to let go.

Letting go relates to your ability to release trauma, guilt, resentment, and anything that keeps your heart from opening. This metaphorical aspect of the Lungs’ function to let go is achieved through its virtue of forgiveness and forgiveness is experienced when we can let go of our judgements.

So ultimately forgiveness requires letting go of the very nature of what it means to be a Metal (Lung) type person which is to be very judgmental. (To learn more about a Metal type personality and Essential Oils for the lungs go here).

Just as we have control over our lungs to inhale and exhale, it is through our own choice and volition that we can allow ourselves to let go of our judgements to experience forgiveness. And through this process, as our Taoist and Classical Chinese Medicine teacher Dr. Jeffrey Yuen suggests, “we can achieve an inner cleansing and find redemption in our lives”.

Moreover, as you unburden your Lungs through forgiveness and less judgement of yourself and others, you will more easily breathe in life and experience the vitality that comes with being emotionally free.

It is then that one can move beyond depression and know what it means to have a peaceful heart.

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Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac. is the Founder & Co-Director of A Center for Natural Healing in Santa Clara, California, a health and wellness clinic run by he and his wife, Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. that specializes in Classical Chinese Medicine. Salvador is a leading U.S. practitioner of Japanese Meridian Therapy, a rare form of non-insertion Acupuncture using Gold & Silver needles. More information at www.acenterfornaturalhealing.com.

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Is It Time for a Brain Detox?

By Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

While we've all heard of or experienced a colon or liver detox, we rarely hear about detoxifying the brain. A decline in brain function is a common complaint many people have and the multitude of related symptoms can be due to both brain weakness and brain toxicity.

Abnormal brain function symptoms can vary between hyper and hypo-activity. Both conditions can be rooted in the accumulation of excess toxicity in the brain or a deficiency of adequate nutrition to properly feed the brain's neurons. When the brain’s neurons are overstimulated, symptoms such as epileptic seizures or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can develop. When the brain is under active, symptoms such as brain fog, brain fatigue, poor memory and weakness in critical thinking can develop.  

Brain dysfunction can arise from the condition of systemic inflammation and systemic inflammation is often rooted in poor gut health. In addition, poor brain nutrition is not just the result of a poor diet but also due to poor digestion and poor assimilation of nutrients.

Anything that involves the function of the gut and digestion in Chinese Medicine relates to the Earth element organs, the Spleen and Stomach. Restoring balance in our Earth organs is always going to be a fundamental issue to restore function in our brain.

From the point of view of Western medicine, as we age, the production of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes declines significantly, making it more difficult to properly break down and assimilate the nutrients we consume. Furthermore, the combination of toxic food, toxic medications and toxic thoughts all contribute to inflammation of the gut.

Toxicity that brews in the gut due to imbalances in the microbiome, or gut flora, can lead to 'leaky gut syndrome.' A 'leaky gut' causes improperly digested proteins and unwanted microbial agents to pass through the intestinal wall and enter the blood stream. This dysfunctional process can then trigger a cascade of inflammatory responses throughout the body. This is one of the main causes underlying the degenerative process of systemic inflammation which can create a "brain on fire" and lead to many of the brain disorders we commonly see today.

Treatment of degenerative brain disorders therefore requires the restoration of healthy digestion and elimination so the brain can be properly nourished and detoxified.

A Classical Chinese Perspective on the Brain

In Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM), the brain is considered one of the six Extraordinary Organs and also called the “Sea of Marrow.” The Jing, or Essence, corresponds to the body’s constitution and relates to our genetic material. The Kidney system stores the Jing which supports the brain, so maintaining the health of our Kidneys is fundamental in Chinese Medicine to establishing a healthy, long life. It is the Marrow that comes from the transmutation of Jing Essence which creates the substance to form the brain, the spinal cord, as well as the bone marrow. 

As we age, Jing declines, so there is naturally a decline in brain function with aging resulting in shrinkage of brain mass and decline of memory and other mental functions as well as sensory decline such as hearing, taste and vision. This process relates to our cells dying off with aging and the decline of our genes' ability to replicate and rebuild tissue as efficiently as they did in youth. In Chinese Medicine, this reflects the natural decline of our Water element.

The brain needs blood to function properly as blood brings oxygen and nutrients to support its structure and function. Some of the nutrients transported from blood comes from water. As we seeing clearly in the elderly, a lack of proper hydration through water consumption has a dramatic impact on reducing brain function.

According to Chinese Medicine, building and storing blood in the body is a function of the Spleen, Heart, Lung and Liver. Supporting the brain is therefore a function of all five primary organ systems found in the Five Element Theory of Chinese Medicine. The Spleen and Heart combine to produce the substance of blood, the Lung’s provide the Qi or oxygenation to complete the blood production, and the Liver stores the blood and helps send it up into the brain to support proper neurological function.  

The Brain's Built-in Detoxification System

We learned only five years ago through a major medical discovery that the brain’s waste disposal system is far greater than what had ever been known.

It was discovered that the brain has an independent and unique drainage system, called the Glymphatic System that's far more efficient and powerful than the cerebrospinal fluid system we had previously thought was the only drainage system in the brain. The reason for such a late discovery of the Glymphatic System is that technology just recently developed the capacity to study the living brain in action. Prior research was done on dead brains and the Glymphatic System works through live cellular action and not through a structure of its own.

The glymphatic drainage system was actually discovered in the process of researching amyloid protein circulation and its abnormal accumulation in the brain in the form of brain plaques thought to be associated with Alzheimer's disease. 

The Glymphatic System is, in fact, much more proficient in moving nutrients and waste in and out of the brain than the cerebrospinal fluid system. It is like comparing a system that works on a drip process versus a system that is activated by the powerful pumping force under the pressure of blood flow. 

To make a theoretical correspondence to Chinese Medicine, I would say the Glymphatic System is under the functional domain of the Liver and Gallbladder systems.

The Liver meridian ascends blood into the brain for nourishment and the Gallbladder meridian is the main drainage system of the brain to support detoxification. 

Both the Liver and Gallbladder are Wood element organs established in Five Element Theory. According to Five Element Theory, the Wood energy is strengthened by the Water element and this makes the connection how the Kidneys (Water) support the Liver (Wood) for healthy brain function, especially in memory retrieval.

More specifically, long term memory is supported by the Liver and short term memory is supported by the Spleen which brings us back to the Earth element and gut health. If you find yourself having difficulty with memorization, than this is a weakness of the Spleen often due to dampness from excessive sugar in the diet. Dampness or a fungal terrain can also be attributed to excessive use of antibiotics, birth control pills or corticosteroid medications. So any of these medications can impact one's brain health in a negative way.

You may notice that your brain gets fuzzy, lazy and tired after eating too many sweets. This is often due to blood sugar quickly dropping with the consumption of simple sugars and the resulting dampness that impedes brain function. A damp terrain is a fungal terrain. Just as chronic sinusitis is now recognized to be associated with fungus, the same fungal pathology can seep into the brain to down-regulate brain neuron function.

Sugar in any form feeds fungus in the body so it's easy to see why the condition of dampness is a very sticky, stubborn pathology to clear up.

Dampness therefore, according to Chinese Medicine, essentially needs to be dried up or drained out of the brain to support proper function and impede the disease process that leads to brain disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

It is imperative for those suffering from these disorders to eat a very low carbohydrate and low sugar diet. If you've known anyone with these disorders, their diet is usually heavy on carbs, sugar and dairy -- the exact foods that feed the fungus in their brain.

Inflammation, Inflammation, Inflammation

You may find you can't recall things as well as before, or perhaps you easily get tired while reading. These everyday occurrences that people brush off as aging can be early stage signs of a brain inflamed with toxicity. 

Inflammation is associated with most chronic degenerative conditions and what we have now realized in modern medicine is that systemic inflammation is often rooted in poor gut health. The problem is that Western medicine protocols are not addressing this fundamental issue and rely on toxic drugs to try and ameliorate symptoms without addressing the underlying problems. All the while, the medications are tearing apart the very system that is already inflamed and deteriorating.

Chinese Medicine Offers Clues to Evaluate Subtle Indications of a "Brain on Fire"

Based on the associations of the organ systems and brain function as outlined above, we can make some direct correlations you may find helpful to evaluate your own brain health.

If you're suffering from inflamed joints not due to an injury, then it’s time to consider healing your digestive system in order to cool down inflammation that's likely also occurring in your brain. Hip inflammatory problems relate to the Gallbladder system and knee inflammation relates to the Kidneys. Since these systems are directly related to healthy brain function, if you are suffering from any systemic inflammation or, specifically, these large joints are chronically painful and stiff, your brain is also likely inflamed. 

Beginning the Process of Brain Detoxification 

Chinese Medicine offers some of the most potent medicine available today to restore brain function which has been damaged. 

Chinese Medicine is a comprehensive medical system that looks to restore healthy brain function in a holistic way by addressing the other supporting organ systems involved in the brain's function. 

The brain can be directly targeted therapeutically through Acupuncture and herbal medicine, which can provide nutrition and support the flow of nutrients into the brain. In addition, these modalities can stimulate the dissolution of brain plaque and the clearance of toxic debris. 

Acupuncture can stimulate the Gallbladder Meridian to detoxify the brain. 

The Gallbladder Meridian system offers direct access to drain toxicity from the brain and support the removal of debris such as denatured amyloid proteins that cause plaques that lead to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Acupuncture can essentially stimulate the Gallbladder system to flush the brain and help reduce toxicity leading to brain inflammation. Acupuncture as a form of manual therapy is a critical part of detoxification because it is very common for the body to form blockages internally which impair detoxification and interfere with the recovery process. These blockages can be efficiently released through Acupuncture, Cupping and Gua Sha (a type of scraping therapy).

It is imperative to note: for acupuncture and herbal medicine to work optimally, a person's diet must support the healing process that is being instigated by these modalities. Otherwise, you may be disappointed with your progress and blame the medicine for failing. You must clean up your habits for healing to take place, there is no way around this fact. We cannot continue the same lifestyle habits that created our problems. We must change in order for change to occur.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: An Important Component for Restoring Brain Function

Some Chinese herbs target the Gallbladder system to decongest and move the lymphatic circulation for detoxification. Some herbs are specific to break up amyloid tissue and plaques that block the brain neurons from functioning optimally. Other herbs support the nutritional aspect and provide nutrients for the brain to work better as well as the different organs involved in its function. There are herbs to strengthen the Qi energy of the Spleen to improve overall energy and others provide nourishment to help the Spleen build up the blood. These benefits support healthy brain function.

Other herbs specifically nourish the blood of the Liver to improve memory retrieval and vision. In addition, there are Chinese herbs used specifically to increase the Qi of the Lungs which improve oxygenation of the brain in order to quicken brain function and reduce brain fatigue. Perhaps most importantly, there are herbs to strengthen the energy of the Kidneys which as we now know has a direct correlation with the brain and is fundamental to maintaining the health of one's hearing and brain function overall. 

What is most exciting, is that many herbs have been shown to reduce brain inflammation and amyloid plaque deposition which interfere with brain circulation and neuron function.  And perhaps most importantly, herbs such as Turmeric, Gotu Kola and Bacopa Monnieri have been found to stimulate the regrowth of brain neurons to restore lost function as well. In fact, these three herbs support all of these critical actions for restoring brain health. There are a number of studies to support these claims, mostly international studies from China, Japan, Korea and India.

Healing the Brain Takes Time

Keep in mind, when working on the level of the constitution which includes anything related to the brain, it takes a minimum of three months of treatment before one can evaluate the progress of one's condition. Usually results are noticed right along, sometimes quickly, but studies show it takes a few months to regrow brain neurons to improve brain function. Older, weaker individuals and those with more serious brain dysfunction will require longer periods of time to restore brain health.

Healthy brain function allows us the awareness to experience a more full and meaningful life. Awareness is important to put us on the path of healing. My hope is that this information brings you awareness that there is always opportunity to heal and improve your health. Depending on your situation, the path may be easy or challenging, but if you persevere, you may find yourself living in greater health with an active, lively brain for many years ahead.

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Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac. is the Founder & Co-Director of A Center for Natural Healing in Santa Clara, California, a health and wellness clinic run by he and his wife, Setareh Moafi, L.Ac. that specializes in Classical Chinese Medicine. Salvador is a leading U.S. practitioner of Japanese Meridian Therapy, a rare form of non-insertion Acupuncture using Gold & Silver needles. More information at www.acenterfornaturalhealing.com.