(High temperature and allergy)

There is a change in the temperature of 10℃ or more every week this February. The patients who have various symptoms of allergy, influenza and the cold as well increase rapidly.
There are many patients coming to the clinic; suffered from the hay fever and conjunctivitis, red round the eyes, itchy in the face.
In the Oriental medicine, environment and condition of health are inseparable and related with living conditions, eating habits, and the mental status. I’m sure that especially the season and the climatic change influence the human body

(Allergy and liver tree)

In the Oriental medicine, the allergy symptom on eyes and noses like above-mentioned which happens in spring is explained as “liver tree”.
Liver tree expresses that the character of the liver expands and emanates.
The tree and plant grow and go up all together in spring if it gets warm. What is called is a bud.
The qi of man’s liver rises up and up too along with when temperature changes and qi of nature rises up.
A person who is busy and a lot of stress, not able to loosen the tension get the qi of liver higher than a neck. The liver tree comes at the same time in spring, the qi of liver is going up and up. That is why many symptoms come out the head and face.
Moreover, it is still cold in February when is the first day of spring, and gets feet cold. The liver tree moves much and the heat makes various allergy symptoms worse and worse.
This is the allergic foundation in the way of the Oriental medicine briefly.

(A Person who becomes an allergy and a person who doesn’t)

However, why are there two types a person who becomes allergy and doesn’t even if he/she is too busy?
The problem depends on the individual, I think.
First of all, atopy, hay fever and asthma are related with the warehouse of lungs that take part in the skin and the mucous membrane.
The qi of liver excited is also related with the warehouse of liver naturally.
The warehouse of kidney below becomes empty by the qi of liver rising up. The warehouse of kidney relates too.
Especially this warehouse of kidney is very important according to the relation between the kidney moisture and the liver tree.
The kidney moisture grows the liver tree. This is called the kidney shadow. A person who is aged and has a weak kidney can’t make the liver tree grow because of a lack of adequate fluids.
This moisture of kidney promotes the less qi of liver and a lack of moisture makes the qi of liver full.

(Check it yourself.)

The words of the Oriental medicine are quite difficult for you.
Please check the presence of weakening of “Warehouse of lungs”, “Warehouse of the liver”, and “Warehouse of kidney” that relates especially to the allergy.

1. I often get irritated without any reason.
2. The tip of the tongue is red.
3. There are red spots on the tip of the tongue.
4. There is itchy spot or pricking pain on my head (even shampoo)
5. I have dry eyes.
6. Eyes are often congested.
7. I get stomatitis easily.
8. I have a temporomandibular arthrosis.
9. I get constipated.
10. I have an unbalanced eating and an overeating tendency. (There are a lot of snacks, the oil food, and meat.
11. I have a dry skin.
12. I have a delicate skin.
13. I catch a cold easily.
14. My feet are cold.
15. I go to toilet many times, at night or the urine leakages.
16. I feel waist heavy.
17. I have an anemia tendency.
18. I hardly do sports.

The person who has six items 1/3 or more in the above-mentioned items; you may pay more attention to the allergy.
Please try to make your skin stronger by rubbing with a dry towel (lungs), stroll and do sports to loosen your tension (liver), and not to take salinity and cold stuff (kidney).

(The Liver running wild)
I happen to have a close friend who suffers from serious atopic symptoms. At the base of atopic symptoms is agonizing emotional turmoil. Atopy causes ceaseless itchiness and anxiety and agonizes the sufferer all day long. Only the person who suffers from it can understand how hard it is.
My acupuncture mentor uses the expression “Kan No Bousou,” which could be literally translated as “Liver Running Wild,” which causes autoimmune diseases such as rheumatism and allergies.

(Functions of the liver)
In Oriental Medicine, “Kan” means the various liver-connected functions, one instance of which is that of capable yet ferocious military leadership. An individual with a stable liver is likely to be equipped with the talent to cope with any situations properly. Such a person could be described as a go-getter. So, a person with reliably stable functions of the liver is capable of successsfully confronting “enemies” that intimidates him/her. In western medical observation, therefore, the liver supports and enhances the immunological functions of the physical system .
Also, the liver loves a relaxed and free atmosphere and hates repression. If it is pushed into some sort of “control” or not allowed to enjoy freedom, it will likely get annoyed and may even “explode” or snap. Letting off steam is needed to alleviate stress which is likely to be imposed on us. But those who lack the skill to let off steam often lose balance in their mentality.

(Blood stored in the liver)
The next important function of the liver is it is a blood storage. This is the reason why blood and its flow is affected if a malfunction occurs in the liver, giving rise to such problems as spasmodic contraction of the eyelid or a cramp in the calf or, in some serious cases, quivering of the head or Parkinson’s syndrome. These are all connected with the movement of muscles. Because blood is essential for keeping muscles in normal condition, malfunctions of muscles are mostly connected with problems with the liver.

When engaged in writing, we are likely to feel unstable and the hand holding a pen begins to tremble, if we feel excessively tensed up. It is only a transient symptom and not at all pathological. But it is said that this symptom proves that an excessive excitement of the liver causes the body temperature to rise and steams up the blood, and as a consequence, leads to the trembling. Thus, in any case, an excessive “excitement” of t he liver lies behind most of the problems with other internal organs.

(Agitated immunity system)
As I have said, the liver is constantly on the alert for attacks of viruses or bacteria from outside, and also for possible disturbance in the spiritual balance internally. If this “military” commander is pushed too hard by stress, it gets annoyed and causes an agitation in the immunity system, giving rise to autoimmunity syndromes such as atopy, collagen diseases or rheumatism. This is a fact recognized by Western medicine as well. In other words, the immunity system, which basically exists for self-protection, turns into an “enemy.” Thus, if the normal spiritual balance collapses, the liver begins to run wild, exacerbating the atopic syndrome and bringing about a vicious cycle. Then what counter measures should and can be taken?

(Try to love oneself)
This means admiring and loving oneself, who is courageously struggling against and agonizing over these physical and mental problems. Never forget to talk to oneself
and silently utter at least once a day such remarks as “How courageous I am, fighting like this!” or “No one could sustain such brave fight against difficulties that I’m faced with.!” As long as one maintains his/her confidence in and strong hope for eventual recovery, an eventual victory is waiting.
I deeply respect people who are suffering from sickness but courageously attempting to overcome it. I feel confident that such a posture of mine toward the problem that agonizes my friend now will eventually succeed in helping her.