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Chinese Philosophy
Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Chinese Philosophy goes back over 3,000 years. From the Chinese point of view, traditional Chinese medicine is on an equal footing with Western medicine. Today, traditional Chinese medicine is practiced in China side by side with modern Western Medicine. For the uninitiated Westerner, the diagnostic methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine may seem puzzling. A pulse reading is done, along with a tongue reading. I know my own TCM doctor takes one look at my face, my complexion and has a good idea of what is going on in my body. He confirms it with a tongue and pulse reading. It is a fascinating and accurate reading. Naturopathic medicine is indeed greatly enriched by Traditional Chinese Medicine. The wisdom of considering the body as a whole and the body's degree of balance-imbalance, as well as one's manner of response to "external pathogens" such as wind or cold, are very important for an effective practice of medicine. In the Chinese Philosophy the body is an integrated system in which all parts interact. Western medical practitioners may examine a patient's painful joints and conclude that there is a problem that both begins and ends with the joints. Perhaps an identifiable causative condition, such as lupus or edema, that gave rise to the painful joints. The Chinese Philosophy way of thinking concludes the joints are painful in a particular way and is a manifestation of a systemic condition. Such a complaint as painful joints would be entirely consistent, to the Chinese way of diagnosing, with considering the characteristics and modalities of the pain, as well as examining the tongue and taking the pulse. The diagnosis as well may be surprising to the Westerner, in that it might be "dampness" or "damp cold" for example. Treatment would then be based on such "pathogenic factors" as excesses of damp, cold, heat, fire or wind in the body, as well as any imbalances in Qi or Yin and Yang. TCM and Candidiasis is another entire page. The treatment may be comprised of a number of acupuncture points or a prescription of Chinese herbs or both. Yin and Yang are the two most fundamental concepts in Chinese Philosophy.The human body is divided into yin and yang. Yin stands for storage of energy, while yang stands for human activities. Yin stays within while yang stays in the superficial region to guard against foreign invasion. In terms of treatment, striking a balance between yin and yang is the most fundamental principle of chinese philosophy and clinical practice. The Five ElementsThe Five Elements are a concept in the ancient Chinese philosophy.You are born with a constitution. This never changes. There are five major and four extra constitutions. According to Chinese Philosophy, we react to life’s problems according to our own individual constitution.These constitutions help us understand why we react to different everyday pressures and how these imbalances can cause sickness. When we understand, we can use the appropriate measures to combat them. The Five Consititutions are
You may have had someone ask you, if you are a wood or a fire, etc. Your personality has a connection to which type you are.
This constitution represents the heart and the connected emotion is ‘fright’. Emotional Characteristics are...
Psychic abilities Can be out of touch of reality Frequently speak to quickly Usually have vivid dreams Is bright and vibrant Physical Characteristics are...
Paranoia Anxiety Nervous exhaustion Hyperactive Redness and swelling of tongue Tired or disoriented around midday When a person is in a balanced pattern and of a fire constitution, they can be...
Sociable Magnetic Hopeful Informed Gentle Understanding Enthusiastic Wood Constitution... The Tree The organ represented for a person of a wood constitution is the liver. The emotion connected with the liver is ‘anger’. Emotional Characteristics of a person with a Wood Constitution are...
Can be indecisive and uncommitted Dullness of thought Can be intolerant and impatient Constrained, tense and withdrawn Suffer from depression Difficulty in pressing feelings Physical Characteristics...
Have muscle spasms Rigid and inflamed tendons Hypoglycemia can be a problem Food and chemical allergies Can become prematurely grey Ragged and/or cracked fingernails The Balanced patterns of a person who has a wood constitution are...
Assured Ambitious Competitive Balanced Harmony Commanding Earth Constitution... A person with a earth constitution is The Peacemaker and the Spleen is the organ represented. The emotion represented is anxiety. Emotional Characteristics
Burden themselves with minor details and brood about them Will always be aware of others Has difficulty in saying no and usually quite generous The centre of family relationships Avoids isolation and is not a loner Physical Constitution
Haemorrhoids Varicose veins Lifting heavy weights is difficult Bruise easily Circulation is poor Muscles are weak Cuts heal slowly Suffer from tooth problems Digestive issues ie, bloating Indecisive when making choices of food Balanced Patterns of the Earth Constitution...
Friendly Sympathetic and considerate Alert Poised Charming Metal Constitution...The Protector. This Constitution represents the lung and the emotions are grief and sorrow. Emotional Characterists...
High expectations of others Prefers order rather than chaos Interacts with others easily Secure within self Can be a good teacher Can be distant and aloof Firm in convictions Physical Characteristics
Skin problems,itching,soreness Would benefit from exercise Sensitivity to climate Poor circulation Lungs are irritated with feverish condition Lymphatic swellings, obesity, soft cysts Nose, throat and sinus congestion Sinus headaches, dry hair and skin Loves beauty, ceremony and refinement Balanced patterns of the Metal Constitution are...
Perceptive Approving Tranquil Precise Highly creative Concise and disciplined Modest Water Constitution....The PhilosopherThe person with a Water Constitution is connected with the kidneys and the fear emotion. Emotional Characteristics
Likes to move cautiously Does not take changes Can become bogged down in details Live a quiet life Thoughtful, enthusiastic and motivator of others Usually unwilling to sacrifice principles Need to be creative Physical Characterists...
Knees can suffer from weakness and swelling Cold feet and swelling ankles Arthritis of the hips and knees Hearing, vision and memory problems Tend to suffer diseases of the kidney and bladder Balanced Patterns for a Water Constitution are...
Attentive Reserved Alert Clear Thinking Unbiased Curious Chinese philosophy has helped me a lot with my own health and others.
According to the five element theory and the first law,
The next law states that one organ can control another organ. The law of attack states that one organ can attack another. The fourth law is the law of resisting control. This is a reversal of the law of control. There is so much more to tell you, so I'll be back again soon.I'd like to mention a book called Chinese System of Natural Cures by Henry C. Lu, Ph.D. I found a lot of the information in this easy to understand book. Do you think you would be interested in studying Chinese Philosophy? Do you find Chinese Philosophy fascinating as I do? Chinese Herbal RemediesIn Chinese herbal therapy, several herbs are used together in a formula to cope with the conditions that have been diagnoses. Acupuncture
Acupuncture and chinese herbology are two different branches of Chinese medicine. Acupuncture treats by external methods and herbology is internal. Frequently, both methods could be used simultaneously. Both methods are based upon the theories of yin and yang, the five elements, the internal organs and the meridians. Chinese philosophy is a fascinating study.
Yin Yang Principle
The Chinese Philosophy not only reads the body with yin and yang energies, but also in choosing foods for this body. The Yin Yang Principle of choosing foods means, we take into account such factors as;
A person with a Yin constitution and condition (for example, a person with pale skin, low blood pressure and cold feet) should avoid eating Yin goods. A person with a Yang constitution and condition will have to include some fruit and salad in his meal or he will soon experience trouble of some sort. The Yin-Yang Principles is a study in and of itself. I will mention only a few interesting facts here but if it is your desire to study more, I am sure there are courses available to you and I will be providing more information soon. Stay tuned for more info on this Candida Wellness Center Foods are also considered Yin and Yang. All people are physically and psychologically different from each other. Therefore each person requires a diet different in both quantity and quality, depending on his individual constitution and type of activity. Learning the Yin and Yang Principles of your own constitution and that of food, is an excellent study for a person who is learning to cure himself. Choosing food intuitively with respect to one’s own condition, environment and needs, is along the path of wellness. A Yang vegetable is most likely a plant that grows in a cool place and in the ground –for example - a carrot. A vegetable that takes time to ripen is more Yang than one that grows in a few days. It takes 8 to 10 weeks for a carrot to grow and only a few days for mushrooms and asparagus to reach full size. The part of the plant also determines whether it is a Yin or Yang food.
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