Your Heart: The Emperor of Your Body

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28 Feb

Your Heart: The Emperor of Your Body

What is heart disease?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) views the Heart as the emperor of China.  It is a commanding organ that rules the entire kingdom (body) and it is vital to avoid chaos in function.  The Heart based on TCM principles commands the flow of Blood, something that nourishes the whole body.  The Heart is the portal of all emotions in the body.  Heart dis-ease appears as a blockage in the flow of Blood or vital life force called Qi.  This can take on many forms in conventional medicine like High blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, plaque blockage in the blood vessels, or weakening of the organ itself.

Does traditional Chinese medicine offer an alternative to high blood pressure medication?

High blood pressure in conventional medicine is usually treated with drugs that compensate for the bodies loss of normal function instead of treating the underlying cause.  Obviously, the blood pressure will increase if there is any blockage to its flow.  TCM attempts to discover if the blockage emanates from the Liver, Kidney, Spleen, Lung, or the Heart itself.  High blood pressure is viewed as only a symptoms in the body, not as a disease.  Often, simple solutions to reducing blood pressure are evidenced in dietary or lifestyle modifications.

Do I have to use traditional Chinese medicine forever for heart problems?

Chinese medicine is used to physiologically enhance the function of the Heart and not attempt to control or compensate for its function long term.  It was not designed to be used long-term as drugs were.  Unfortunately, when the body loses control of its ability to recover because drugs have been used for years, the Heart weakens and becomes dependent on drugs to function.  The sooner that natural medicine intervention is used either with conventional drugs to reduce their side effects or alone to support Heart function, the better the prognosis for recovery.

Will traditional Chinese medicine interfere with blood thinning medication?

Often, Chinese medicine is used to support the bodies Heart function along with conventional drugs or as stand-alone therapy.  There are many instances whereby herbal medicine has demonstrated a reduction in the drug’s side effects, provides synergistic assistance in preventing bleeding episodes, or eliminates the risk of the drug’s adverse reactions.  There are a few herbs though that may increase or decrease the ability of drugs to prevent blood clots.  An experienced physician trained in the use of Chinese herbal medicine should always be consulted to discuss the potential risks and benefits of using herbal medicine and drugs together.

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LIMITED ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE

I have received multiple requests from patients for acupuncture treatment.  In following CDC, federal and State of Florida orders, the following policy and procedures have been implemented in considering the patient’s benefits and risks of urgent, emergency care in my clinic.

To limit the exposure of patients and health care personnel to viral illness, only those patients with non-viral, acute health conditions with severe symptoms that put the patient’s immediate health, safety or well-being at risk will be treated with acupuncture.  Acupuncture treatments for chronic conditions, corrective or maintenance care should be postponed until local, state and federal governmental orders for healthcare practitioners and shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted.

The office will continue to perform initial consultations, evaluations, and examinations via telemedicine on a medium such as Facetime, Skype, Zoom, or other telemedicine platform.  Herbal and nutritional medicines may continue to be picked up at the office in the front reception area or mailed.

Office Policy and Procedures:

Patients will be screened for respiratory symptoms upon confirming appointments for treatment.  The patient may report temperature monitoring by phone.

Upon entering the office, patients will be requested to complete and sign a screening questionnaire for potential viral exposure and have their temperature checked.  Any patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infections will be asked to leave the premises and seek biomedical urgent care.  Suspected symptoms would include but not limited to fever, cough, shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest.

Patients will be required to utilize alcohol-based hand sanitizer and don facility-provided facemasks when entering clinic to encourage respiratory hygiene for protection the duration of their visit.

Patients will be isolated to separate treatment areas that include private rooms.

The patient will only have immediate contact (within 6 feet) with the physician thus limiting the number of staff providing care.

Progress notes for patient documentation will be left in the individual treatment rooms.  The notes should indicate symptoms of an acute health condition requiring immediate attention.

Patients will be asked to present to the office at their scheduled treatment appointment time.  If arriving early, patients will be asked to wait in their cars until their appointment time.

Patients will not be allowed to loiter in the medical office reception area before or after their treatment.  If herbal medicine is prescribed, it will be placed on a table next to the front door for pick-up.  Patients are to call the office 2-3 days prior to their office visit for herbal or nutritional product refills.  Payment for products or services provided in the office will be collected in advance.  Personal checks or cash may be used for payment by leaving at the front desk.

Best of health,
Dr. Stuart Shipe