Yes, that’s why I use traditional Chinese medicine. My friend Frank Lin took my pulses, 6 on each wrist, and looked at my pale, scalloped tongue and finally said, “low kidney energy and stagnant liver chi.” Bingo! That’s exactly how I feel–low energy and stuck circulation trapped in my chest. He listened patiently as I described the sharp, stabbing pain I have felt on and off for a couple of weeks that starts from my upper back near my right shoulder blade and reaches to the front near the underarm into the breast. It hurts when I breathe deeply or lay on my side to sleep. I have lumps in that breast area and mammograms for years have produced nothing more than “nothing changed, nothing new” as a diagnosis. That is not enough. It is time to act to prevent the lumps and shrinking breast from turning into “an illness.”

The Chinese herbal doctor checks vital signs, including energy level and circulation using traditional diagnosis. He observes the speed and more importantly the quality of the pulse, which tells him how the qi (life force or vitality) is moving in the body. My lung pulse was “slippery” showing mucus congestion. You bet! I wake up with phlegm in my throat and a sweaty upper back. My liver pulse in the second position of the left hand was “stagnant” which can mean halting or slightly irregular. The kidney pulses on both wrists where low showing low adrenal vitality and immunity.(Imagine the advantage of knowing when you or someone you love is more likely to become weak, exhausted or ill. The pulse and tongue are keys to your level of defence.)

After taking the pulses, looking at my tongue to check my level of vitality and listening to my complaints, the herbalist  advises herbs to enhance health and comfort. They will raise my level of kidney vitality and get my liver qi moving more smoothly to dispel pain. He also added a detoxifying herb to help dissolve lumps (huang yao zi - Dioscorea bulbifera sometimes used for goiter) and advised me to eat kelp seaweed to help dissolve a long time fatty lump in my neck and back. For added protection, I will add anti-cancer herbs I have at home–Anticancerlin, Strong Xiao Jin Tan, and peach kernel.

The thing I like about Chinese diagnosis and treatment is that it is always specialized–not the same answer for everyone. No miracle pill to cure all ills. It works with the body’s own energy vitality to ease symptoms and enhance immunity in order to protect longevity. I know from experience that taking such stimulating, detoxifying herbs will help me lose fat, lumps, low energy, and depression. That is a lot to offer in an herbal tea. But it works gradually to improve life force and comfort despite changing weather, stress, and fatigue.

For more information there are entire chapters in Asian Health Secrets on tongue diagnosis and herbs to enhance immunity and energy.