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Why the Lotus Seminars?

“The Oakland seminars were absolutely mind-blowing. Frankly, I think Jimmy is not only the best herbalist I have ever seen or heard of, he may be the best ever. He is certainly someone who can stand with Zhang Zhong-Jing, Li Dong-Yuan and the rest of the best. It is a privilege to be alive at the same time.” J.G.

INTEGRATING EIGHT PRINCIPLE DIFFERENTIATION WITH
BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE

By Jimmy Wei-Yen Chang, L.Ac.

Being in practice for a long time I am sure you have encountered occasions at one time or another where it is difficult to differentiate the patient’s condition according to the eight principle theory. When a patient presents complex symptoms, it is not always clear and easy to differentiate to come up with a diagnosis and herbal prescription. Maybe the patient is taking pharmaceutical drugs which complicates the clinical prsentations as you don’t know which symptoms are true and which ones are side-effects. Or maybe the patients are just not telling you their entire history or complaints. On the other hand, maybe it is difficult to diagnose because they are telling you too many symptoms. There are also cases where patients are exhibiting all excess signs but are telling you they suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. Or maybe they feel cold but the pulse is forceful, rapid and the tongue is extremely red with yellow coating. One way or another, subjective complaints from the patients may not always point to a right diagnosis.

One objective way to find out exactly whether the patient is deficient, excess, suffering from heat or cold is to take the blood pressure and the heart rate. Master Chang, who is generous enough to share this discovery through his 20 years of practice uses this method daily on all his patients. Below is a brief summary of the most commonly seen types in the clinic.

TYPE 1: SYSTOLIC (HIGH) + DIASTOLIC (HIGH) + HEART RATE (FAST) = EXCESS HEAT

Patients who show high blood pressure and fast heart rate are without an exception suffering from an excess heat condition. Please note that these patients may complain that they are tired and depressed. However, if they have high blood pressure and fast heart rate, tonic herbs should never be used despite the fact that the patient complains of tiredness. The diagnosis is excess fire and heat clearing herbs should be used.

TYPE 2: SYSTOLIC (LOW) + DIASTOLIC (LOW) + HEART RATE (SLOW) = YANG DEFICIENCY

Patients who show low blood pressure and slow heart rate are deficient, mostly qi or yang deficient. These patients should all be tonified and never should sedating herbs be used.

TYPE 3: SYSTOLIC (HIGH) + DIASTOLIC (NORMAL) + HEART RATE (SLOW) = DEFICIENT HEAT +
BLOOD STASIS

Patients who belong to this category usually suffer from blood stasis which may be the result of an old injury or surgery. The heart rate is slow because there is blood stasis obstructing the flow. In turn, systolic pressure is increased.

TYPE 4: SYSTOLIC (LOW) + DIASTOLIC (LOW) + HEART RATE (FAST) = YIN DEFICIENCY HEAT

These patients with low blood pressure but fast heart rate are usually suffering from yin deficiency heat. These patients should be given herbs that tonify yin and sedate deficient heat.

Using Blood Pressure + Heart rate for 8 Principle Differentiation
	Systolic Pressure	Diastolic Pressure	Heart Rate	Diagnosis	Herbs
Type 1	High	High	Fast	Excess Heat	Heat Clearing Herbs

Type 2	Low	Low	Slow	Yang Deficiency	Tonic Herbs

Type 3	High	Normal	Slow	Deficient heat + Blood stasis	Blood moving herbs + Deficient heat clearing herbs

Type 4	Low	Low	Fast	Yin deficiency heat	Tonify yin and sedate deficient heat

Please remember that this is a guideline for you to follow when you become confused on the presentation of the patient. Tongue and pulse diagnosis should be combined to conclude an accurate diagnosis.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jimmy Wei-Yen Chang, L.Ac.

Master Jimmy Wei-Yen Chang has over 25 years of concentrated clinical experience applying his expertise in differential diagnosis and herbal prescription. The author of a pulse diagnosis manual, Pulsynergy, Master Chang currently pursues his specialties in private practice in Hacienda Heights, California, and is widely recognized for his skills in correlating expert pulse taking and herbal prescription.

To learn more about pulses and herbs, Jimmy Chang is speaking on the following topics for Lotus Institute. All classes are approved for 8 CEUs/PDAs by the California Acupuncture Board and NCCAOM.

CLASSES BY THE AUTHOR

Treatment of Gastrointestinal & Hepatic Disorders

2/24/08 Anaheim, CA

Women’s Health & Infertility

6/1/08 Denver, CO

Fang Jia Fang – The Art and Science of Herbal Combinations (Part I)

3/16/08 San Francisco, CA

Fang Jia Fang – The Art and Science of Herbal Combinations (Part II)

7/27/08 Oakland, CA

Revolutionary Pulse Diagnosis (Part I) (30 attendees max.)

10/5/08 Rowland Heights, CA

Revolutionary Pulse Diagnosis (Part II) (30 attendees max.)

11/23/08 Rowland Heights, CA