"Uncovering the 6 Evils of Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Holistic Perspective"

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognizes that the cause of illness stems from external pathogenic factors, internal emotional factors, poor nutrition, overwork, and lack of physical and mental rest.

To form part of a diagnosis a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner will determine if presenting symptoms are rooted internally or externally,

internal causes are caused by the emotions (The 7 Emotions) Joy, Fear, Fright, Anxiety, Pensiveness, Grief and Anger.

External causes of disease refer to, environmental factors Wind, Cold, Dampness, Summer Heat, Heat and Dryness, known as the 6 Evils.

These climatic invasions usually enter through the skin, mouth, or nose and if immunity is weak these invasions can penetrate deeper inside the body causing interior disease.

Wind

Wind is a Yang external pathogenic factor that disrupts the smooth flow of "Qi" (vital energy that moves throughout the body) wind moves quickly it rises, disperses, and wonders. Wind usually attacks the uppermost part of the body and the yang aspects of the body such as the muscles, head, face, and skin.

Symptoms of external wind invasion include the acute onset of headaches, dizziness, tremors, numbness of the extremities, common cold/flu symptoms, stiff neck and shoulders, itchy skin, skin rashes, and fever. As wind itself moves quickly in all directions, the symptoms will reflect this with symptoms changing rapidly.

Causes of exterior wind invasion include prolonged exposure to windy weather, air conditioning, "Qi" deficiency caused by poor nutrition, lack of exercise and prolonged periods of stress.

Cold

Cold is a Yin pathogenic factor that can easily injure the yang

Symptoms appear suddenly and may include the inability to get warm, chilliness, pain of the joints/sinews relieved by heat, clear copious urine and bodily fluids such as nasal/vaginal discharge, vomit, loose stools, cramps, spasms, body aches, and a lack of sweating.

Causes of exterior cold invasion include seasonal changes, living in cold conditions, consuming too many cold raw foods such as ice cream, salads, and cold drinks, dressing inappropriately for the season, and lack of physical exercise.

Damp

Damp is a Yin pathogenic factor that if left untreated can impair the Yang and lead to Qi stagnation.

Symptoms of dampness include a sensation of heaviness in the lower body, lethargy, a fuzzy feeling in the head, achy joints, fullness and oppression of the chest, epigastrium or abdomen, cloudy urine, difficult urination, eczema, vaginal discharge, loose stools.

Causes of exterior dampness include exposure to dampness during any season, living in a damp home, working in a damp environment wading in water, wearing damp clothes, sitting on damp ground, and poor nutrition.

Summer Heat

Summer heat is a Yang pathogenic factor that can damage Yin and cause disease, symptoms of summer heat include profuse sweating, aversion to heat, thirst with a strong desire to drink, headaches, dry mouth, lips, eyes, tongue, dry cough, dizziness and blurred vision, restlessness, flushed face, scanty yellow urine, fever, irritability, constipation and in severe cases slurred speech, delirium and unconsciousness.

Causes of summer heat are marked by exposure to excessive heat during the summertime, this can deplete body fluids leading to further complications.

Heat

Heat is a Yang pathogenetic factor that can injure Yin. Symptoms of heat include a red complexion, thirst for cold drinks, fever, headaches, irritability, scanty dark urine, constipation, aversion to heat, a bitter taste in the mouth, sore throat, dry eyes/mouth, agitation, anxiety in severe cases mania, delirium, and unconsciousness.

Causes of heat may be due to climatic factors, an invasion of a virus, the consumption of too much hot and spicy food, alcohol consumption, and stress.

Dryness

Dryness is a Yang pathogenic factor that may damage Yin, dryness injures the Lungs and can lead to symptoms such as a dry cough, dry eyes, dry throat, excessive thirst, dry skin, hair, nails, and constipation.

Causes of dryness include smoking, dry climate, and prolonged exposure to air conditioning.

TCM treatments may help the body to dispel the 6 Evils before they penetrate deeper into the body.

Acupuncture can boost and regulate the flow of Qi within the body strengthening the immune system.