THIRST AND DRINK

Published on 22/06/2015 by admin

Filed under Complementary Medicine

Last modified 22/06/2015

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THIRST AND DRINK

Chapter contents

PREFERENCE FOR HOT OR COLD DRINKS

ABSENCE OF THIRST

INTRODUCTION

WHY WE ASK

The symptom of thirst (or its absence) reflects the state of the Body Fluids. There are two types of fluid, one called Jin, the other called Ye. The Jin fluids are clear, light and watery and they circulate with the Defensive Qi in the space between skin and muscles; sweat comes from these fluids. The Ye fluids are more dense and heavy and they moisten and lubricate the joint spaces and the sense organs. Saliva is an expression of these Ye fluids; dryness of the mouth or thirst (these are not the same thing) are therefore symptoms of deficiency of such fluids, either because they are burned by Heat or Empty-Heat, or because there is not enough Yin.

The organ involved most closely with thirst and dry mouth is the Stomach but the Kidneys also exert an influence on saliva. However, Heat or Empty-Heat of any organ may cause thirst or a dry mouth.

WHEN WE ASK

During the time I have been practising, I have never had a patient seek treatment for a problem related to thirst (although in China patients recognize problems related to thirst as being indicative of an imbalance that needs to be treated). However, I will ask almost every patient I see whether they feel particularly thirst, have a dry mouth, etc. I usually do this after I have asked about food and appetite, or when I am trying to establish the Hot or Cold nature of a condition.

I specifically ask about thirst in conditions where a patient has apparent symptoms of Heat but I suspect does not actually have Heat. For example, in cases of rebellious Qi in the Penetrating Vessel, a woman may have a feeling of heat of the face and a red face, but no thirst because there is no actual Heat.

HOW WE ASK

For cultural reasons, thirst and dry mouth are two symptoms Chinese patients are very aware of; whereas Western patients are somewhat less aware of these symptoms and seldom report them spontaneously. An added difficulty in the West is that more and more people force themselves to drink very frequently in the mistaken belief that this is a beneficial habit that ‘flushes the kidneys’. As a result of this habit, such people will seldom feel thirsty even if they suffer from Heat. An added difficulty in England is that tea consumption is very high and this would also stop people from feeling thirsty. The same applies to countries where coffee consumption is high. In the USA, people tend also to drink a lot in general (including water and soda). As a result of these factors, fewer patients will report feeling thirsty than is the case in China even though they do suffer from Heat.

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