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Causes of illness

Causes of illness

by | 2727,Nov, 2023 | Health for everyone

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Internal and external causes

Chinese medicine is known as traditional medicine. Like all traditional medicine, it seeks, through its diagnosis, to identify the cause(s) of a pathology.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), health is the result of a healthy overall energy balance. Illness occurs when this balance is disrupted. TCM then focuses on re-establishing this balance.

Its diagnosis therefore focuses on the balance between organ health (yin) and organ function (yang). It also determines energy imbalances according to the theory of the five elements, each organ being linked to one of these five elements, or five energies.

TCM classifies the causes of illness into two main categories:

  • internal causes,
  • external causes.

Internal causes

One of the main factors of internal origin is our emotional state. Emotions and the way we experience them affect our organs. In this way, emotions experienced excessively, for too long, or on the contrary totally repressed, will cause energy imbalances over time.

Here’s an overview of how each emotion, linked in TCM to an organ and an element, impacts our health.

Schéma des trois réchauffeurs
  • Excessive anger and frustration, as well as repressed anger, damage the liver, hindering the free circulation of energy in the body. This energy stagnation can lead to pain, muscle tension, headaches or digestive disorders.
  • Hysteria, excitement, exaltation and excessive laughter can lead to an imbalance in the heart, disrupting sleep and even speech.
  • Obsessive thoughts, mental rumination and excessive intellectual work can unbalance the energy of the spleen, leading to digestive disorders, dizziness, a feeling of having one’s mind bogged down, fatigue on waking even after a long night’s sleep, and for women, menstrual disorders.
  • Sadness, regret, depression and melancholy will affect the lungs and the diffusion of energy in the body, and may result in spontaneous sweating, dyspnoea and a weak voice.
  • Fear, phobias, apprehension and paranoia will damage the kidneys and can generate chronic low back pain, incontinence, night sweats and sometimes tinnitus.

We won’t go into further detail here on the internal causes of illness, so as to focus on the external causes of the 5 climatic energies. There are, of course, other factors that can trigger illness besides internal and external causes.

External causes

Everyone has heard of the 5 elements (or 5 energies), but few know that this is a model or template that can be applied to many different fields. So, for TCM, the external causes of disease are linked to abnormal climatic variations, which are then perceived as pathogenic factors likely to invade the body and upset the Yin/Yang balance, thus generating a large number of illnesses.

These climatic anomalies, or climatic perversions, are thus classified according to the five-element theory into five climatic energies, each linked to an element as shown in the table below.

Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
Wind Heatwave Humidity Dryness Cold

Wind

Wind is a pathogenic factor in itself; it is Yang. It induces movement and generates other climatic phenomena. It propagates and displaces pathogenic elements. The wind we’re talking about here is, of course, the climatic factor, not the internal wind, which is a TCM-specific notion that we won’t go into here.

Femme avec parapluie renversé par le vent

Heatwave

Heatwave is Yang. It is extremely penetrating. It generates fire, as well as dryness. Heatwave penetrates the body following prolonged exposure to intense heat (sauna, sun). It produces perspiration, restlessness, thirst and fatigue. When it penetrates deeply, it can lead to urinary tract infections. Heatwaves lead to heatstroke.

When this heat comes from the transformation of pathogenic factors stagnating in the body, it is transformed into fire. Fire is an aggravation of internal heat.

Dryness

Dryness is Yang in nature, damaging the blood and drying out body fluids, leading to dehydration. It is produced either by a dry climate, or by drying phenomena (diarrhea, heavy sweating, repeated vomiting).

If the lungs are affected, a dry cough will develop. If the intestines are affected, some form of constipation will appear.

Cold

External cold penetrates as a result of prolonged exposure to cold, either by staying in cold places for long periods, or by frequent ingestion of cold food.

When there’s a lot of Cold, Yin becomes abundant, and too much Yin tends to injure Yang. When Cold blocks Yang’s dynamism, it can no longer perform its Qi management and warming functions, leading to illnesses characterized by a drop in the body’s activity: reduced vitality, exhaustion, chilliness.

This can lead to joint pains, aches and pains in the back, as well as intestinal pain and diarrhea. Other examples include lumbago and stomach flu.

Humidity

TCM considers Dampness to be heavy and sticky. It tends to sink or stick close to the ground, and is difficult to get rid of. We readily associate it with something improper or murky… fungi, molds and algae thrive in damp environments. It is on the basis of these particular characteristics of Humidity that TCM qualifies different states of the organism.

Humidity is of the Yin type, and therefore injures the body’s Yang energy. It is caused by exposure to a humid climate. Humidity hinders movement, slowing everything down.

It causes a feeling of heaviness, general fatigue, joint pain with swelling, the sensation of a crowded head, abdominal distension and loose stools.

Humidity often affects the lower part of the body and the pelvis (leucorrhoea may appear). In extreme cases, moisture in the body is transformed into mucus, which can cause cysts, tumors or circulatory disorders (excess cholesterol in the blood). The spleen is also affected. Moisture damages the spleen, which is no longer able to perform its transformative function properly.

Resisting climate perverts

Of course, these climatic perversions do not affect individuals in the same way. An individual’s ability to resist these perversions depends on his or her capacity to resist, and therefore on the strength of his or her Zheng Qi. Zheng Qi can be translated as Straight Qi or Correct Qi.

Zheng Qi is thus the synthesis of the vital Qi that ensure the proper functioning of the organs, Qi and Blood, as well as the Yin/Yang balance and harmony between the body and its environment.

This is why the strength of Zheng Qi will determine whether or not an individual falls ill. The climatic perverse is merely the triggering factor.

Fatigue according to the 5 elements

In TCM, the 5-element theory is applied in various fields. It also applies to fatigue. Before we reach the point of exhaustion or “burn-out”, let’s take a look at our state in terms of the 5 energies.

Wood-type fatigue

Physical signs: excessive sighing, premenstrual syndrome, irregular periods, lump in the throat, tendon tension…

Emotional state: irritable, moody, impatient, too many expectations of self, perceived as “aggressive” OR as a doormat.

Causes: constant stress, feeling trapped, tight schedules, frustration, agitating environmental factors (too much noise, frequent disagreements, etc.).

Fire-type fatigue

Physical signs: restless sleep, memory loss, flushed feeling, spontaneous sweating, heart palpitations.

Emotional state: controlling, feelings of rage, excessive vulnerability, significant lack of joy.

Causes: lack of intimacy with self, prolonged exposure to other people’s negativity.

Earth-type fatigue

Physical signs: tiredness after meals, loose stools, bloating, lazy legs

Emotional state: unmet needs, feeling misunderstood, longing for things other than those already acquired, jealousy.

Causes: overthinking, sitting too long or too often, poor diet.

Metal-type fatigue

Physical signs: tired after long talks, shortness of breath, sweats easily, tired after exercise, feels cold, gets sick easily, chronic cough, prone to allergies, chronic fatigue, eczema.

Emotional state: overly critical, hard on self or others, demanding precision/overly perfectionist, “unfair”, sense of loss and grief, quickly cuts ties, holds grudges.

Causes: very frequent use of voice (e.g. teachers), untreated grief, hereditary factors, lower gastrointestinal problems.

Water-type fatigue

Physical signs: adrenal fatigue, hair loss, low back pain, cold limbs, low libido, erectile dysfunction, fertility problems, urinary frequency.

Emotional state: difficulty staying still, “too tired”, restless, anxious, fearful, worried about money, overly tolerant of risk OR frozen in fear.

Causes: prolonged periods of overwork, persistent anxiety/fear.

Dietetics in Chinese medicine

Dietetics in Chinese medicine

by | 2424,Sep, 2023 | Health for everyone

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Balancing vital principles through food

Chinese dietetics is an essential component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is based on thousands of years of observation and understanding of the relationship between food and health. “Let your food be your medicine”, said Hippocrates, the founding father of Western medicine, in the same spirit as Huang Di, one of the major figures of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The overall aim of Chinese dietetics is to ensure the proper functioning of the Jing. Jing is the basic energy inherent in every individual, and is considered one of the “Three Treasures” of Chinese medicine, along with Qi and Shen.

As a reminder, yin represents tissues and organs. If it is deficient, symptoms such as dryness, the production of abnormal internal heat and sleep disturbances may result. Yang, on the other hand, refers to the functioning of organs and organic systems such as digestion… Insufficient yang can lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea, fatigue and even depression.

So food must be as alive as possible, at the height of its vitality, its “Jing”. It is this Jing from the plant that will nourish our own vitality, our own “Jing”.

In Chinese culture, food is considered by its energetic capital. It is a gift from Nature, which must nourish not only our physical needs, but also our mental and spiritual ones. A Chinese proverb says: “To eat is to reach for Heaven”.

Food must be as unprocessed and natural as possible, to fill us with its vitality and make us even more alive.

Chinese dietetics obeys the founding principles of Chinese medicine. Its aim is to readjust the energetic balance of the human being, according to his or her constitution and health. It’s a common-sense dietetic approach that encourages us to be in harmony with Nature, consuming fresh, locally-grown, seasonal produce.

The essence of the food and beverages consumed generates Qi, which supplements “acquired” Jing. For qi to supplement Jing sufficiently, it’s important that meals are adapted to each individual’s specific energy needs at any given time.

Food classification

In Chinese dietetics, foods are classified, among other things, by flavor and nature in relation to the theory of the five elements. The five elements are represented by their color in the table below: red for fire, yellow for earth, gray for metal, blue for water and green for wood.

This table quickly illustrates that, to maintain good health, human beings need to eat as varied and lively a diet as possible, as mentioned above in relation to Jing.

Digestion or Xiǎo Huà

Ingested food is transformed so that the body can draw from it the elements it needs. Xiǎo huà, digestion, literally means to disperse and transform. The food and liquids consumed break down, then transform through the process of digestion. Like a cauldron (the stomach), food and drink are first fermented, cooked, then broken down and transformed into food porridge.

This process takes place under the action of food fire, which transforms food and drink to produce Qi.

To achieve this, the spleen and stomach work together in interaction to ensure the digestion process. More precisely, it is under the impulse of the spleen, associated with the energy of the kidneys, that our “cauldron” separates the “clear” from the “turbid”.

The clear corresponds to the nutritive energy of food, which serves as the basic material for the elaboration of energy and blood in the body. The turbid represents unassimilable substances that are eliminated as waste (in urine and feces).

Digestion or Xiǎo Huà

Ingested food is transformed so that the body can draw from it the elements it needs. Xiǎo huà, digestion, literally means to disperse and transform. The food and liquids consumed break down, then transform through the process of digestion. Like a cauldron (the stomach), food and drink are first fermented, cooked, then broken down and transformed into food porridge.

This process takes place under the action of food fire, which transforms food and drink to produce Qi.

To achieve this, the spleen and stomach work together in interaction to ensure the digestion process. More precisely, it is under the impulse of the spleen, associated with the energy of the kidneys, that our “cauldron” separates the “clear” from the “turbid”.

The clear corresponds to the nutritive energy of food, which serves as the basic material for the elaboration of energy and blood in the body. The turbid represents unassimilable substances that are eliminated as waste (in urine and feces).

A diet full of vitality

TCM therefore considers diet to be the first of all remedies. Along with breathing, it is the main source of our energy. A poor diet leads to low-quality energy, which is detrimental to health and vitality. In the Chinese tradition, foods are considered according to their impact on the body.

The table seen above enables us to understand the mechanism of Chinese dietetics, which classifies foods according to their color, nature and flavor, according to the 5 elements.

In principle, the plate should feature the 5 flavors and 5 colors (with a dominant color depending on the current season). Each flavor nourishes a specific organ. In this way, dietetics can be used to heal by directing the patient towards foods that will restore his or her energy balance.

If you’re in good health, and want to stay that way, make sure your diet includes a variety of flavors (acid, bitter, sweet, pungent, salty) and natures (hot, cold, fresh, lukewarm, neutral) to maintain energetic harmony in the body.

Some principles of Chinese dietetics

Adapt your diet to the seasons and climate. For example, choose warm foods in winter and cool foods in summer to maintain balance.

Choose fresh, local food, preferably grown naturally.

Take the time to eat slowly and savor every bite. Absolutely avoid eating while watching TV or using electronic devices.

Aim to balance Yin (cold) and Yang (hot) foods in your diet to maintain harmony between opposing energies.

Don’t overload your stomach. Eat until you are satisfied, but not too full.

Drink water at room temperature or lukewarm; avoid iced drinks, as they can extinguish the fire of digestion, and thus harm it.

Choose cooking methods that preserve the nutritional value of food, such as steaming, gentle steaming or slow cooking. Avoid raw foods, which are more difficult to digest, and can therefore exhaust the spleen.

Above all, pay attention to your body’s signals. If you experience digestive imbalances or discomfort, adjust your diet accordingly. Consult us to determine your individual constitution and adjust your diet accordingly.

Basics for maintaining a healthy diet

The five flavors – Foods are categorized into five flavors: sweet, bitter, salty, sour and pungent. Each of these flavors has specific properties that affect organs and emotions. The balance between these flavors is essential.

Harmony of the elements – According to TCM, the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) are associated with different organs. Eating foods in harmony with these elements helps maintain balance.

Seasonality – Chinese dietetics recommends eating seasonal foods, as they are thought to be more suited to the body’s needs at that time.

Food preparation – The way food is prepared is crucial. Steaming, gentle cooking and woks are preferred, while excessive frying is avoided.

Avoid excess – Overeating, eating too quickly or too slowly, or depriving yourself of food can unbalance the body. Moderation is the key.

Listen to your body – Chinese dietetics encourages you to pay attention to your body. Hunger and satiety signals must be respected.

Individualization – Each person is unique. Chinese dietetics takes into account individual constitution, specific imbalances and unique needs.

The importance of beverages – Hot beverages such as tea are favored, as they are considered beneficial for digestion.

Food hygiene – Cleanliness of food and the environment in which it is prepared is crucial to avoid illness.

Kindness is good for the health

Kindness is good for the health

by | 2020,Oct, 2022 | Health for everyone

Being kind and compassionate has a beneficial effect on the heart

  At a time when materialism and egocentrism have damaged humanity, it is perhaps time to reconnect with the values that make us human. Among these, kindness and compassion are natural to humans; what’s more, their practice has a positive impact on our health. So why deprive ourselves of them?

Before exploring this hypothesis in more detail, let us take the time to study our emotions and more particularly the one that emanates from the heart: joy.

According to Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its theory of the Five Elements, joy is the emotion associated with the heart. TCM has also identified the heart as the seat of Shen, “the transcendent light that shows itself to men”, which can be simply translated as spirit.

The heart is the mirror of our psychological and emotional state. A man whose heart is strong is serene, frank in his outlook. He is clear in his speech and fair in his judgment. His complexion is luminous because the complexion is the reflection of the heart. Conversely, if the Shen is deficient or disturbed, the heart will be directly affected. In this case, any emotion experienced in excess can hurt the heart and lead to confusion or difficulty in expressing oneself clearly.

Similarly, a person with a deficient Shen may not fulfil his or her potential due to lack of discernment and/or lack of joy.

“The Heart is the vital centre, it symbolises the self, the spiritual sun in man. This centre is transcendent to man. That by which this transcendent centre will make itself known to man, the soul or ray emanating from the sun” according to ancient texts of the Chinese masters.

The Heart is vulnerable to emotional excess

In fact, emotions systematically call upon the Liver and the Heart. The Hun (entity or consciousness of the Liver) is the shield of the organism, it governs through the Liver the decongestion and the drainage. It is thus in the front line to receive external disturbing emotions. Through its drainage function, it is there to facilitate the elimination of disordered feelings. Indeed, emotions are a form of refined Qi. As Qi and Blood are interdependent, if Heart Blood is sufficient, mental activity will be sharp and clear. If the Blood of the Liver is abundant, then the Shen will be calm.

We therefore understand that the Shen, through the Heart, represents the synthesis of the psycho-affective life. It governs all the other organs in their spiritual dimension. Consequently, the heart is particularly vulnerable.

It is therefore important to learn to manage the flow of our emotions to avoid excesses in order to protect our heart. Indeed, the heart is considered by Chinese medicine as the Emperor of the organs. We can also preserve our heart by nurturing good feelings towards ourselves and others. For kindness and compassion nourish the heart. And a “good heart” is a source of good health.

“Be kind and compassionate” is therefore not a religious or philosophical precept, but a recommendation of the old Chinese masters to cultivate a quiet mind.

The research results are in

Alongside Chinese medicine, science has also regularly looked at the links between altruistic feelings, generosity or kindness, and human health. Here are some of the studies that have been conducted on this subject.

  • Dr Katherine Nielson-Coffey demonstrated in 2016 the impact of acts of kindness on our health. She and her team studied the difference in effect between prosocial acts (picking up litter, offering a stranger a coffee, opening the door etc.) and self-focused acts (taking a hot bath, doing something good for yourself). The first group, which practised altruistic acts of kindness, experienced more emotional well-being than the second group.
  • Another researcher, Dr David Hamilton, who studies the effects of stress on cardiovascular health, has observed that acts of kindness can cause an increase in oxytocin. This chemical, secreted in the hypothalamus, lowers blood pressure and reduces the impact of stress on the body.
  • Charles Darwin had already emphasised the importance of kindness in human beings. According to him, kindness is an inherent instinct in humans. Its function is to ensure the survival of all living beings. The human tendency to sympathy is instinctive, not cultural, and even stronger than the instinct for self-preservation.

A link between generosity and grey matter

  • In another study, psychologist Nancy Eisenberg found that children with high vagal tone are more cooperative and willing to give.
    • Most recently, a study by researchers in Zurich shows a correlation between generosity and grey matter. The volume of a certain region of the brain influences people’s willingness to be altruistic, explains Prof. Ernst Fehr of the University of Zurich in the journal Neuro.

    By observing the brain activity of the participants in the study, the researchers were able to observe that generous people had more grey matter than stingy people.

    These studies show that there is a link between altruistic acts, generosity and kindness, and health and happiness. We have all experienced this at least once.

    So, even if we don’t do it out of altruism, why not practice kindness, generosity or compassion more often? This practice of kindness will help us to find our inner sun, joy, and improve our health.

    When the practice of kindness leads to well-being

    Being generous is not only about helping others. It is also about taking care of yourself.

    Meditating with com-passion for others shifts resting brain activation to the left hemisphere, a region associated with happiness, and sti-mulates immune fun-ction.

    Giving to others, rather than indulging in nar-cissistic desires, brings lasting well-being.

    Laughing and playing in the face of trauma improves resilience and adaptation.