Manic and depressive, the disorders of Jueyin often occur.
Western medicine calls it bipolar disorder, that is what it is.
In Chinese medicine perspective, when there is a disorder of cold and heat, excessive and deficient alternate, contradictory emotions manifest.
Among these, the most evident is the “upper heat and lower cold”.
For this situation, Western medicine considers it as an endocrine disorder.
Mania and depression do not occur at the same time, mania easily arises when there is stagnation, as time passes and environment changes, deficiency leads to depression. When qi and blood are in balance, encountering stagnation, mania resurges.
As this disorder often recurs, bipolar disorder is evident, with cold and heat being the primary focus, deficiency and excess secondary.
Regarding cold and heat, this illness can also be described as a rejection between yin and yang.
Depression belongs to yin, mania belongs to yang; depression is cold, mania is hot.
In bipolar disorder, mania and depression interplay, why is that?
Cold and heat, the transformation between yin and yang.
Some say the heart and kidneys are not harmonious, others say the liver and spleen are not in sync, all have their reasons, but not the root of it.
It is truly the imbalance of cold and heat, the disharmony of organs and viscera, resulting in the manifestation of problems.
Excess generates heat, deficiency generates cold.
When heat scatters upwards, mania arises, its duration is not fixed. When blood supply to the lower abdomen is restored, cold departs and heat naturally subsides, the body returns to normal.
If the cold persists, congealed blood forms stasis, leading to a cycle of cold and heat, though not highly conspicuous, it is the progression of Jueyin disorder, eventually leading to insufficient blood supply, thin and scanty pulses.
Many modern physicians focus on yang and neglect yin, preferring self-harm through depression rather than harming others through mania.
Thus, there are more treatments for yang imbalances than for yin imbalances; treating symptoms is common, treating the root cause is rare.
The differentiation between deficiency and excess can be observed through the tongue and pulse.
A deep and thready pulse indicates deficiency, yet even deficiency can have stasis.
A weak and thready pulse signifies pure deficiency; a weak and slippery pulse suggests stasis within excess.
Therefore, treatment should aim to warm and invigorate, supplement the middle jiao and promote circulation.
Long-standing deficiency may seem balanced, but upon supplementation, there is an increase in blood, leading to a reappearance of contradictions, known as deficiency that does not accept supplementation.
At this point, prior to replenishment, it is necessary to unblock.
In excess conditions, a rapid and forceful pulse requires draining and constraining. Where there is stagnation, unblocking can bring relief, supplementation is not suitable.
A thick, greasy coating on the tongue also requires unblocking, indicating stasis of either the spleen or liver.
If the tongue is red and swollen, it suggests excess and should be drained; if pale and thin, it indicates deficiency and should be supplemented. The presence of deficiency or excess in the liver is reflected in the blood. The condition of blood can be examined through the pulse and tongue.
In bipolar disorder, sleep is also disrupted.
During manic episodes, the mind is overly active, with excessive thoughts and worries, affecting the lesser yang.
Excessive thinking leads to energy depletion, which in turn generates heat, causing insomnia.
Alternatively, nervous tension, anxiety, difficult falling asleep, easy waking. All are related to blood. Chai Long Mu clears, Gui Long Mu, Gui Gan Long Mu tend towards supplementation.
