Archive for August, 2008

Three Key Elements Of Health

A balance “Yin Yang.” Checked!

A smooth circulation of “Qi,” blood, and body fluid.  Checked!

A coordinated and harmonized internal organ function.  Checked!

“In Western Medicine, whether a person is healthy is determined by his/her normal values of blood and urine tests. Whilst in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), finding out if someone is healthy depends on three elements: ‘Yin Yang,’ ‘Qi,’ and ‘Internal Organs,’” TCM Practitioners said.

Three Key Elements Of Health

“Yin Yang”
In TCM, functions of the human body are based on “Yin Yang Theory”—all parts of the human body such as the interior and exterior, posterior and abdominal parts of the body; and internal organs are classified into “Yin” or “Yang.”  And while “Yin” belongs to “Passive,” the attribute of “Yang” is just the opposite, “Active.”  Under a normal situation, a healthy body should be able to strike the balance and not be deflected to either side.  Yet, if imbalance of “Yin Yang” occurs, there will be disorder of body function and one may feel unwell.  Fortunately, once “Yin” and “Yang” are corrected, health can be reclaimed.

Smooth Circulation of “Qi,” Blood, and Body Fluid
“Qi,” the essential energy, together with blood and body fluid, circulate all through our body and deliver the nutrients that our body needs.  However, for any reason that causes the “Qi,” blood, and body fluid insufficient, excessive, or stagnant, our body will be in poor health.  Therefore, to regain our health, the quantity of the three substances must be adjusted and be able to travel throughout our body tissues in a balanced manner.

Coordinated and Harmonized Internal Organ Function
Internal organs include all organs of the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and urinary system.  According to TCM, our body’s internal organs are not considered as individual structures, but as complex networks.  They dynamically regulate each other cyclically and may also influence each other through internal connections. In fact, only a coordinated and harmonized internal organ function brings a smooth circulation of “Qi,” blood, and body fluid.

“In TCM, even if there is no specific name of a disease, like loss of appetite, is also thought of as caused by disordered flow of “Qi,” blood, and body fluid which disharmonize our internal organs, making us ill,” TCM Practitioners added.

Image by rbieber

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Take Control Over “Non-sick Transition” Status

Don’t we all have had this experience: Feeling peculiar but not really in sick?  In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, if we disregard these body signals and let the condition continue, we may end up ill.

Unlike Western Medicine, which it cannot provide remedy before identifying the name of the disease, TCM is able to start on treatment even before the sickness strikes—that’s when our body is in a stage of peculiar.

Take Control Over

In fact, TCM refers this stage of health to “non-sick transition,” which can be seen as a window to prevent us from getting into “real” sick.  It also gives us information that facilitates us to maintain our very own health.

Aside from herbal medicine and acupuncture, to adjust ourselves to the changing seasons such as choosing the appropriate food and clothing, having proper diet and exercise; and to keep a stable emotions are also crucial elements to cope with “non-sick transition” status.

Image by monkeyc.net

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