In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), one of the most important diagnostic systems is “Eight Principles.” They are Yin, Yang, external, internal, cold, hot, deficiency, and excess. Although TCM Practitioners differentiate patients’ syndrome according to the Eight Principles, most of the illnesses are to be identified as cold or hot before the beginning of any treatment.
“In fact, the treatment approach for cold syndrome basically is contrary to that of hot syndrome,” TCM Practitioner said. “A right treatment cannot be administered if the cold/hot principle is not figured out up front.”
As most of us know that the commonly accepted average core body temperature is 98.6 °F (37.0 °C). But what makes us be able to keep a constant temperature? The answer is our body fluid. While “Yang Qi” (positive energy) inside our body keeps us warm, the main function of body fluid on the other hand is to moisten our overall body by lowering the temperature. “When we have good health, our Yang Qi and body fluid can adjust with each other and maintain a steady body temperature,” TCM Practitioner said. “Yet, if we get sick, our body will be incapable of achieving this balance. As a result, syndromes of being too cold or too hot develop.
Take common cold as an example. If you catch a common cold and have a pale complexion, cold limbs, diarrhea; and shiver continually, you likely have a cold-syndrome common cold. However, if you have a common cold along with a high body heat, flushed face, thirst, and dry mouth, yours probably is a hot-syndrome common cold. You yourself can tell even if you are not a TCM Practitioner.
“Basically, patient who has cold-syndrome common cold should be given treatment that helps warming his/her body up, whereas treatment that facilitates lowering body temperature will be administered to patients who have hot-syndrome common cold,” TCM Practitioner said.
So next time when you have a common cold, in addition to medicine, you know exactly whether you need an ice bag or a hot-water bottle.
Image by Helios
