The Connections of a Family
I am treating a woman, 74 y.o. that has had a severe digestive issue for the last year. She has been unable to eat much, if any, solid foods; she has had to live off ‘ensure’ and other liquid food supplements. She has been to her gastroenterologist, and cancer specialist; they can find no physical reason for her digestive disorder. She had her gallbladder removed 30 years ago and while her allopathic doctors tell her it has nothing to do with her current condition she has had the intuition that it does.
She presented with abdominal pain, right upper quadrant, in the area of her liver. Tender upon palpation and with more-or-less continual pain. Her left leg was painful, all along the Gallbladder meridian, and GB-40 is very tender upon palpation.
After the first treatment she has noticeably less pain in her abdomen. She was able to eat some solid food (she started with a very small salad, not what I would have wanted her to start with, but she never asked me...). The pain along her leg was better for a while, then returned and focused in on the bottom of the heel. I started her on an herbal prescription and she is improving every day.
What I found to be very interesting was when I asked her if there was a “significant emotional event at or around the time her digestive disorder started?”
She said the disorder started first, then the event happened. I am not at liberty to talk about the event, but I would like to explore the connection I felt and saw intertwined into her experience.
In Chinese 5-Element Theory one way of talking about the relationships of the “elements” is to use familial relationships. Grandparents, Parents and Children. The “Sheng” or generating cycle follows the sequence listed above and there is a “Ke” or controlling cycle where the grandparent influences the action of the grandchild. These two cycles are part of the normal 5-element paradigm of health. There are others that are reflections of imbalance or disease, one of those cycles is the “insulting cycle” where the grandchild is, in essence, revolting against the controlling influence of the grandparent. In China it is literally an insult if the grandchild rebels against the grandparent. In a three-generational household the grandparents have significant influence over the lives of everyone within the family.
The event that happened in her life actually happened to her grandchild, but I think on some very real level she is not able to “stomach” what happened. It is also interesting to note that what happened impacted her grandchild’s stomach, in a very physical detrimental way.
Going back to 5-element theory what happened affected the grandmother in her wood element, creating a LOT of anger; manifesting as Liver and Gallbladder overacting on her Stomach and Spleen [Earth Element]. It also affected her daughter in the Fire Element and aside from anger it is causing her to look deeply at her own experience of Spirituality, protection and boundaries [Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium and San Jiao meridians]. I have not been able to meet the grandson, but I know he is having severe digestive issues arising from this incident, grief and fear [Earth, Metal and Water].
Just look at the connections. Did the grandmother sense the issue was about to manifest thus causing her stomach disorder? Is the mother having to face and re-evaluate her connection to her Spirituality as a result of this, or is this a manifestation on a gross-physical level to put her in a position where these questions cannot be evaded? Was the action the grandson took that caused this incident a reaction to control or over-control in his life? Is any of this actually connected in any way?
It is so interesting to me to contemplate this familial connection, to see the representation of the 5-Element Theory in such a complex, yet to my perception clear-cut, example. If I could I would love to be treating all three generations simultaneously. Would they all respond more quickly as each generation was returning to their healthy balance?
For now I am content to just be working with the grandmother and talking to the daughter. I know there will be some other twists that get uncovered (or should I say “unearthed?”) as we progress through our work together.
That’s all for this week. Tell me if you think I am interpreting this correctly, or just letting my overactive mind get out of control, again.
She presented with abdominal pain, right upper quadrant, in the area of her liver. Tender upon palpation and with more-or-less continual pain. Her left leg was painful, all along the Gallbladder meridian, and GB-40 is very tender upon palpation.
After the first treatment she has noticeably less pain in her abdomen. She was able to eat some solid food (she started with a very small salad, not what I would have wanted her to start with, but she never asked me...). The pain along her leg was better for a while, then returned and focused in on the bottom of the heel. I started her on an herbal prescription and she is improving every day.
What I found to be very interesting was when I asked her if there was a “significant emotional event at or around the time her digestive disorder started?”
She said the disorder started first, then the event happened. I am not at liberty to talk about the event, but I would like to explore the connection I felt and saw intertwined into her experience.
In Chinese 5-Element Theory one way of talking about the relationships of the “elements” is to use familial relationships. Grandparents, Parents and Children. The “Sheng” or generating cycle follows the sequence listed above and there is a “Ke” or controlling cycle where the grandparent influences the action of the grandchild. These two cycles are part of the normal 5-element paradigm of health. There are others that are reflections of imbalance or disease, one of those cycles is the “insulting cycle” where the grandchild is, in essence, revolting against the controlling influence of the grandparent. In China it is literally an insult if the grandchild rebels against the grandparent. In a three-generational household the grandparents have significant influence over the lives of everyone within the family.
The event that happened in her life actually happened to her grandchild, but I think on some very real level she is not able to “stomach” what happened. It is also interesting to note that what happened impacted her grandchild’s stomach, in a very physical detrimental way.
Going back to 5-element theory what happened affected the grandmother in her wood element, creating a LOT of anger; manifesting as Liver and Gallbladder overacting on her Stomach and Spleen [Earth Element]. It also affected her daughter in the Fire Element and aside from anger it is causing her to look deeply at her own experience of Spirituality, protection and boundaries [Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium and San Jiao meridians]. I have not been able to meet the grandson, but I know he is having severe digestive issues arising from this incident, grief and fear [Earth, Metal and Water].
Just look at the connections. Did the grandmother sense the issue was about to manifest thus causing her stomach disorder? Is the mother having to face and re-evaluate her connection to her Spirituality as a result of this, or is this a manifestation on a gross-physical level to put her in a position where these questions cannot be evaded? Was the action the grandson took that caused this incident a reaction to control or over-control in his life? Is any of this actually connected in any way?
It is so interesting to me to contemplate this familial connection, to see the representation of the 5-Element Theory in such a complex, yet to my perception clear-cut, example. If I could I would love to be treating all three generations simultaneously. Would they all respond more quickly as each generation was returning to their healthy balance?
For now I am content to just be working with the grandmother and talking to the daughter. I know there will be some other twists that get uncovered (or should I say “unearthed?”) as we progress through our work together.
That’s all for this week. Tell me if you think I am interpreting this correctly, or just letting my overactive mind get out of control, again.
posted by Michael Clifford, L. Ac. | 11:12 AM
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