Over the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in Oriental Medicine in America which has been reflected in the media coverage. The news reports have shown acupuncture as a wonderful treatment for crack cocaine addiction as well as treating pain syndromes and chronic medical problems. Certainly the interest in alternative treatments grows from the disappointment often voiced regarding our western medical model.Although Oriental medicine is a vast topic, my aim in writing this column is to begin to de-mystify the processes which a practitioner of Oriental medicine uses for diagnosis. This will help people understand how to view their bodies in a different way by thinking “Chinese,” in a sense.We have Western philosophy programmed in all that we do. Part of this thinking process is to do whatever we please in all areas of life, and then clean up any damage which occurs. Certainly our planet has suffered greatly from this carelessness, and so has our health. We need to closely evaluate our lifestyles and take seriously that which we do. Prevention and respect of nature and our bodies is the key to a healthy and happy life. Just as the planet pays the price of toxic waste, so our bodies suffer from abuse through excessive, disruptive influences.My thought is that at any point in time, we can begin to make effective changes. The way I view Oriental medicine is as a catalyst for change. People generally become more aware of what their body is saying to them. When they learn more about how to interpret these messages, they can make adjustments to their lifestyle as needed and keep themselves well.I would like to outline some of the basic principles of Chinese medicine, and encourage you to enjoy the concept that you are part of nature. In the words of Chuang Tzu, “Heaven, Earth, and I are living together, and all things and I form an inseparable unity.”YIN / YANG THEORY: Yin and Yang are terms in Chinese philosophy and medicine used to describe the polarization of all phenomena. Although the general nature of a condition may tend to be more Yin than Yang, this is only a relative concept. There is a constant interplay and interdependence of these two forces. They are not absolute, imply no value judgment, and in their opposition they create unity. Something is Yin or Yang only in relation to something else.In medicine, this concept is vitally important in determining the general nature of a condition at any given time. In nature, Yin is cold, wet, dark, dense, forming, and sinking. The time is night and the season winter. In the human body, Yin is at the interior, is cold, quiet, and represents the vital organs of liver, heart, spleen, lung, and kidney.In nature, Tang is hot, dry, light, porous and transforming. The time is day and the season summer. In the human body Yang is at the exterior, is warm, active, strong, and represents the bowel (hollow organs) of gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, large intestine, and urinary bladder.Yin responds to Yang’s stimulus, and Yang is supported by Yin’s foundation. Health is defined as the balance between Yin-Yang, and illness is the result of a deficiency or excess – a Yin-Yang disharmony.Qi (Pronounces CHEE): The Chinese believe that the same force which animates nature is also at work within human beings. This essential life force is called Qi. Qi is the energy in all things. Just as the Qi in rich soil brings nutrients to the roots of a tree, the Qi in our digestive system transforms our food and extracts the nutrients. When these nutrients are distributed through the body (by the Qi), this generates more Qi which we feel as energy. Qi is also generated by the lungs through the respiratory process.The functions of Qi in the body are to warm, activate, protect, transform, and contain. It is certain that when a body is deficient in Qi, they will not feel active and may have difficulty with basic bodily functions.When we observe Western culture with the over-consumption of caffeine, sugar, and over-stimulating foods, we can begin to note how many Qi deficient people there are. In their attempt to feel better they are just depleting themselves further.There is much to say regarding nutrition and the Chinese explanation of the transformation of nutrients to Qi, blood, and vital fluids, which will need to be addressed in another article. One place to begin your awareness is to watch the leaves moving on the trees and know that Qi is there. Know that when you wake in the morning and feel inspired to be active, your Qi is working within you.Nurture your Qi by caring for yourself well. Take in optimal nutrition, rest when you need to, and most importantly, when you begin to build up your Qi, don’t spend it all. Allow your body to store some Qi away so when you need it, the energy will be there. Tend to your internal garden lovingly and make the soil rich, so you can feel strong and rooted as a fruitful tree.
Leslie Landy is an Acupuncture Physician with offices at 2501 W Hillsboro Blvd, #107 Deerfield Beach, Florida, 33442, (954)570-9981
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