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I do not think I have a food allergy....it does not matter what I eat.....I just feel very sluggish afterwards....secondly....I have a pink, rash sort of spot on the back of my head, toward where the skull meets neck....it sometimes itches...but is mainly sore....I can feel what seems like a pimple there...but I can not get a good look myself..although my husband says he sees nothing like a bump or pimple, just reddness.
In Reply to: Tired after eating posted by Denise on July 13, 2001 at 08:39:57:
From a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) standpoint, feeling sluggish after eating is a classic sign of Spleen Qi Deficiency.
Allergies often have a component of Spleen Deficiency.
You may want to check out the book Curing Hay Fever Naturally with Chinese Medicine by Bob Flaws. Even though it's aimed at hay fever, it gives basic general TCM background and specific information on allergies from a TCM standpoint. The book will explain what Qi is, why it's important to have enough, and the role of the Spleen in TCM (it differs a lot from the spleen in Western medicine - for one thing the Spleen includes many of the functions of the pancreas). The book also goes into herbs, acupoints, massage, and other things which are helpful in the case of Spleen Deficiency and allergies.
Judy
In Reply to: Tired after eating posted by Denise on July 13, 2001 at 08:39:57:
I though we always get slugish after eating since blood is
needed for digestion.
VF
In Reply to: Re: Tired after eating posted by Judy on July 13, 2001 at 08:56:03:
I would like to add...that I had most of my spleen removed about 24 years ago, when I was 12.
In Reply to: Re: Tired after eating posted by Denise on July 13, 2001 at 12:39:39:
...
In Reply to: Re: Tired after eating posted by Denise on July 13, 2001 at 12:39:39:
Sometimes having all or part of the spleen removed will correlate with Spleen problems - unless the person is very careful to keep the Spleen in optimal health. One of the more common things seen is the person will have trouble with muscle mass and with developing well-defined muscles. (The health of muscles is related to the Spleen in TCM.)
Sometimes, it will be hard to find a pulse in the Gall Bladder position in people who have had their gall bladders removed. It depends on how much attention the person has given to maintaining the health of the Gall Bladder system.
TCM pays more attention to function than to anatomy, and it is more correct to call the Organs Organ systems (also includes the meridians associated with the Organs). For example, the Spleen also includes many of the functions of the pancreas. The Kidneys "open into the ears", and problems with hearing or the ears often have a Root of imbalance in the Kidneys. (Some hearing problems also can have Roots in the Liver system. The Liver "opens into the eyes", and problems with the eyes and/or vision often will be due to a Root Liver imbalance. The Kidneys also include many of the functions of the adrenal glands and are related to the health of the bones and teeth. When a person has poor teeth, automatically suspect Kidney Deficieny and rule in or rule out. Ditto for back problems, especially lower back problems (though not all back problems) and weak, sore knees.
Having all or part of the spleen removed is not the only possible trigger for Spleen Deficiency problems/ Qi Deficiency problems, and feeling fatigued after eating. Overwork can hurt the Spleen and diminish Qi. So can standing on one's feet in one position for too long. So can the dietary factors I mentioned in a previous post. So can studying too long at a time. So can excessive Dampness from either the environment or eating too many cold foods, raw foods, or food with Cold energy or eating too many Damp-engendering foods like dairy. The Spleen also can be damaged by Cold. Not taking proper rest when one is sick can damage the Spleen.
Judy
In Reply to: Re: Tired after eating posted by Vince F on July 13, 2001 at 10:26:46:
Not everyone gets fatigued after eating or even sluggish. Some people who switch to better diets report feeling better after eating whereas before they felt fatigued after eating.
BTW, Spleen Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation are the 2 most common TCM syndromes seen in the U.S., and both are due strictly to lifestyle in the vast majority of cases.
Judy
In Reply to: WOW,Judy. Sounds like you nailed it on the head. NMI posted by beth on July 13, 2001 at 12:50:40: