Excessive consumption of dairy foods, greasy foods, or irregular eating may impair the function
of the Spleen and lead to the formation of Dampness. If this settles in the muscles, which it has
the tendency to do, it will cause numbness and a progressive weakening of the muscles.
Excessive Sexual Activity And Overwork
Excessive sexual activity and working too hard deplete the Kidneys and Liver, and therefore
weaken bones and sinews. When these are deprived of the nourishment of the Kidney-Essence
and Liver-Blood they become weak and may eventually lead to Atrophy Syndrome.
Traumas
Traumas to the head may cause stagnation of Qi and Blood in the area controlling the motor
nerves and lead to numbness, tingling and weakness of a limb.
Shock
Emotional shocks deplete Heart and Spleen. The Spleen controls the muscles and the Heart
controls the blood vessels and circulation. When Heart and Spleen are depleted the muscles
become weak and circulation of Blood to the limbs is defective. This may cause or contribute to
the development of Atrophy Syndrome.
Atrophy Syndrome is never usually caused by a single factor but results from a combination of
factors: for example, the invasion of external Dampness together with irregular diet and shock.
Another example of combination of factors could be the invasion of external Dampness together
with excessive sexual activity, overwork and a trauma.
The main patterns appearing in Atrophy Syndrome are:
- Heat in the Lungs injuring Yin fluids (Full type)
- Invasion of Damp-Heat (Full type)
- Invasion of Cold-Dampness (Full type)
- Stomach and Spleen deficiency (Empty type)
- Spleen and Heart collapse (Empty type)
- Liver and Kidney deficiency (Empty type)
- Blood stasis in the channels (Full-Empty type).
The pathology of Atrophy Syndrome is characterized by Fullness in its initial stages and either