THE PATHOGENIC ROOTS of AGING and DEBILITATION by John Heuertz, DOM
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THE PATHOGENIC ROOTS OF AGING AND DEBILITATION By John Heuertz, DOM Ji Xue Formula* (Huang Qi Ji Xue Wan) is an important over-turned, but evidence is accumulating that blood sta- restorative formula that protects the blood from damage sis has been under-emphasized as a contributing factor of and helps to restore circulation to the microvessels while aging. New evidence points to aging as essentially the supplementing qi and gently eliminating toxin. It is espe- result of impaired circulation of qi and blood accelerating cially effective in the treatment of the naturally occurring depletion of various senile diseases and as an organ function over time. aid to patients undergoing JI XUE FORMULA Impairment, by its nature, prevents chemotherapy. The formula is tissues from receiving their full por- based on two branches of modern Millettia, Spatholobus Ji Xue Teng 20% tion of nourishment. When the Chinese research. The first, fu patient is weak and the treatment zheng pei ben theory, demon- Astragalus Huang Qi . 14% plan is limited to nourishing/supple- strates that when the qi and blood Coix Yi Yi Ren . 11% menting herbs without proper atten- are properly supported, strength tion to invigoration or removing and vitality return, organ function Polygonum He Shou Wu . 8% impairment, the tissues that receive is restored, and zheng qi (upright the largest share of support from the or righteous qi) is restored. The Tang Kuei Root Dang Gui . 8% herbs will be the same areas that second is heng fa, a term coined Cordyceps Dong Chong Xia Cao 8% were already sufficiently nourished by the famous physician, Dr. Yan before treatment began. This plan is De-xin, meaning, “balancing Red Peony Chi Shao . 8% very nearly a palliative treatment; method”. It emphasizes stasis whatever improvements are seen transformation as an essential Fermented Leaven Shen Qu . 8% from this approach can be expected component of any treatment for Prepared Rehmannia Shu Di Huang 5% to disappear shortly after the patient aging or debilitation. stops taking the tonic. Conversely, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi . 4% organ function can be rejuvenated The body can only reach its opti- when impairments are removed and Citri Aurantii Zhi Ke . 3% mum health if the qi and blood are the whole organ system receives of good quality and are allowed to Gardenia Fruit Zhi Zi . 3% nourishment. circulate unimpaired. With aging and debilitation, there is a fundamental inability for suffi- Blood stasis in aging patients originates primarily from cient nourishment to reach all areas of the body. Stasis, lifestyle and the accumulation of incompletely expelled primarily blood stasis, forms a vicious cycle with qi loss pathogenic factors. The effects of poor diet, residual toxin wherein stasis prevents nourishment from reaching all the or lingering pathogens, stress and insufficient exercise microspaces of the organ systems. Undernourished, the protracted over decades accumulate in the body, creating organs produce inferior quality qi, which has even more micro-obstructions, that, over time can become major difficulty bringing nourishment to the microspaces. obstructions. With rare exceptions, a certain amount of Aging and debilitation share common disease patterns, stasis is inevitable for all of us as we grow older. The though there are differences in their pathogenesis. more a patient’s history fits this pattern, the more impor- tant it is to include invigoration and stasis transformation BLOOD STASIS AND AGING in a balanced treatment plan. A balanced treatment plan Blood stasis now seems to be the common thread in most for aging patients will always consider herbs that support every disease pattern associated with aging. Until recent- the middle burner function and support the organs, as ly, aging was thought by Chinese medicine to be primari- well as herbs that transform stasis, and gently eliminate ly a condition of deficiency. This assessment has not been toxin. *This formula was formerly called Chemo Blood Support Formula. Clinical evidence has shown this formula to be useful for treat- ing all kinds of debilitating disease. The name has been changed in order to reflect this broader application. JI XUE FORMULA 2 DEBILITATING DISEASE Inevitably, the organs suffer from this situation. Debilitating disease is an indistinct category. In its broad- Normally, the organs can be relied upon to produce rein- est sense, “to debilitate” means “to impair the strength and forcement, but even if the debilitating pathogenic factor vitality of something.” In medicine this term is generally has not penetrated to the organs themselves, the quality of applied to sub-acute or chronic diseases that are expected the qi and blood that nourishes them is weak and impure. to continue to sap the patient’s strength and vitality over All activities in the body can be traced to an organ. And time. Additionally, the term implies a pathogenic factor though the organs themselves do not engage in pathogenic (sometimes an organ malfunction) at the root of the debil- battles directly, they are the source of all qi, blood, and itation; whereas chronic disease, in a more pure sense, fluid production, as well as their directors. Without proper refers more to a deficiency component rather than a path- nourishment, organ function is less than optimal. In order ogenic one. Aging and senile disease can therefore fall to treat debilitating conditions, a treatment strategy must under the banner of “debilitating” not only because the provide the organs with nourishment, must support the strength and vitality are expected to decline, but because middle burner so that it can produce strong qi, must protect there is pathogenic blood stasis and accumulation of toxin. the qi and blood from further damage, and must invigorate Debilitating conditions do not have to be permanent. For circulation to assure that nourishment reaches all tissues. example, a cancer patient or a Hepatitis C patient under- This is the principle of fu zheng pei ben therapy. going chemotherapy is debilitated by the toxic effects of JI XUE FORMULA ACTIONS the drugs in her system. If the chemotherapy is successful, Ji Xue Formula transforms stasis, nourishes the liver the debilitation is usually temporary and strength can and kidneys, supplements and protects qi and blood, begin to return once the cancer or virus is destroyed and resolves toxin and eliminates dampness. One of the two the drugs are eliminated from her system. chief ingredients, ji xue teng (millettia/ spatholobus) The component factors of debilitating disease are essen- builds both red and white blood cells while transforming tially the same as those of aging, but have greater varia- stasis and invigorating blood flow. It is one of the few tion in emphasis. Stasis, toxin, digestive dysfunction, and herbs in the materia medica shown to increase blood flow deficiency of qi and blood are all present in both patterns. in the minute collaterals. The other chief ingredient, But whereas aging is primarily the result of stasis accel- huang qi (astragalus), is widely studied for increasing erating a deficiency condition and disenabling the body’s immunity and building spleen and lung qi in general. The ability to resolve or expel pathogens, debilitating disease rest of the formula includes substances to promote diges- usually begins as pathogenic factor that depletes the qi tion, support the kidneys and liver, and gently guide out and damages the blood. The disease is not technically accumulations of dampness, food, and toxin. “debilitating” while it remains primarily an excess pat- tern. It is not until it has damaged the qi and blood, not I have successfully used Ji Xue Formula to treat dizzi- until the pathogen has robbed the body of its ability to ness and poor appetite in weak or elderly patients, chron- expel the evil, that the condition is “debilitating.” Once ic fatigue, exhaustion from prolonged illness, peripheral the disease reaches this sub-acute or chronic phase, hav- neuropathy, depression from deficiency, as a control in ing won the battle, the pathogenic factor settles down. It type 2 diabetes, and many many times to support and pro- has penetrated and settled into the deep levels and can tect the blood of patients undergoing chemotherapy or afford to slip into a less aggressive state. The qi of a interferon treatments. The formula is balanced to be quite debilitated patient characteristically remains too weak to safe for long-term use and at high doses (I often prescribe provide good defense against new pathogenic attacks. It as much as 15 tabs a day for chemotherapy patients), has been subdued, not unlike a conquered army, and can even in feeble patients, but is contraindicated for preg- provide little protection without engaging the strength of nancy, due to the inclusion of stasis-transforming sub- its occupying pathogen. This is why, when a patient with stances. I use it as a base formula for nearly all my a debilitating disease contracts another pathogen, like a patients over 60, and for some in their 30s. It can be used cold or flu virus, the new battle sometimes resurrects the as a general tonic for the entire body, not just qi and symptoms of the debilitating pathogen along with the blood. new cold or flu symptoms. The occupying pathogen lurks John Heuertz, DOM is a graduate of the International in the qi, and is vitalized when the wei qi is stirred to con- Institute of Chinese Medicine and later served on their Faculty front the new invader. It is a vicious cycle because the Advisory Board. He is a lecturer and research consultant for defensive qi is weak to begin with, so the patient is prone Golden Flower Chinese Herbs and the formulator of the herbal to contracting illness after illness, without a full recovery remedy Ji Xue Formula.