Regarding the 7 emotions being pathogenic factors according to "Huang Di Nei Jing"

    Over a year ago I had an article called "How over-thinking can make you sick", that was a touch of how TCM sees emotions affect physical body. Actually there are at least 5 emotions listed in <<Huang Di Nei Jing>> that are believed to have different health impact to different organ system. Chen Wuze (1131-1189) from Song dynasty added 2 more to the system and it became the 7 emotion system we are still using today. Modern medical sciences including psychology does realize the mind-body connections but ancient Chinese had it specified, and that makes it easy for us to use this connection to heal ourselves and even others, or at least, prevent. 

    The 7 emotions are 喜(happy)、怒(anger)、憂(worry)、思(anxiety)、悲(sad)、恐(fear)、惊(shock/surprise). A emotionless person is not a real human being, so healthy person will have these emotions indeed, but when they become dominating in a way and not resolvable they will start to harm the body. 


    How the 7 emotions being pathogenic factor is generally viewed and practiced in 4 major aspects:

    1.Major causes are usually external stimulation. Different from virus or bacteria which usually invade the body through skin, mouth or blood, emotions are our reactions to external stimulation. Proper emotion releases will not harm the body but help the body to balance itself instead. But these are extreme or unusual reactions we are talking about that affect the organs to cause imbalance between Yin-Yang-Blood-energy systems. Unfortunately in most cases we do not have control over these external stimulation, but through proper training and learning we do have control of how do we react to these stimulation.

    2.Different emotion affects different Yin-organ directly. The theory of this topic is very detailed and complicated because it has been worked on by people from one generation after another through centuries. Here we will only talk about the specified emotion-organ connections.

• 怒(anger):Connected with the liver. Anger raises the liver energy and rushes it to the head. Too much anger will keep the energy hanging at the rib cage area and harms the liver. Since liver is the blood reservoir, when liver is harmed so will be the blood system. Others symptoms include high blood pressure, stuffed-chest, red eye, headache, stomachache, fainting or even stroke. 
• 喜(happy): Connected with the heart. Good amount of happiness will smooth the energy and blood flow, ease the tension and keep the body healthy. But too much "happy" will make the "mind" less stable or make a person hard to concentrate on oneself, sometimes even shows craziness. Because the Heart hosts the "mind" or "spirit", when the "mind" or "spirit" leaves the Heart, it will harm the physical heart system. Other symptoms may include weakness, hyperhidrosis, lack of concentration, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, breathing difficulty and fainting.
• 思(anxiety): Connected with the spleen. Too much anxiety and concern make the Qi flow at the spleen stagnate. Spleen in TCM is a unique term and it contains many body functions such as digestion, immune system, blood and metabolism. Common symptoms include  indigestion and loss of appetite, bloated belly, loose stool, palpitation，irregular menstruation, insomnia and forgetfulness.
• 憂(worry)、悲(sad): Connected with the lungs. Too much worry and sadness with make the lungs area circulation slow and accumulated, thus cause upper-energizer malfunction. Without good oxygen intake from the lungs the entire body will feel tired and powerless. Other symptoms include breathing hardness, chest pain and other breathing related symptoms.
• 恐(fear):Connected with the kidneys. It makes the Qi drop lower and the blood will follow. Too much fear consumes the essence in the kidneys, or make the essence "leaks" out of the kidneys because they lose the ability of hold them in place. And since kidneys are connected with bone system, urinating and sexual ability, fear will also affect these functions. Other symptoms include pallor, dizziness, urinary and fecal inconvenience, and miscarriage. 
• 惊(shock/surprise): Connected with the heart and gallbladder. A surprise can be a good surprise (such as winning a lottery), or bad surprise (such as being scared or hearing a shocking news). Either way, this emotion makes our Qi flow "chaotic”, causes strong impacts to the "mind" and harms the heart ultimately. Common results can be temporary loss of speech, mindlessness, lack of responses and even heart attack.  

    Although the emotion-organ connection is specified, do not rigidly think that one emotion can only affect one organ. Because human body is a organic whole system and emotional actives are often mixed and interchangeable. In general, all emotions will affect the heart in a way, because heart is the "emperor" organ in the system and that is where “spirit” resides. 

    3. Emotional impact and fluctuation can aggravate the condition and worsen the state of illnesses. But on the other hand, if the patient adjusts the emotional condition it can also bring the body condition closer to its original balanced state and heal itself.  This is why when we working on heal the body we also must consider the mental and emotional condition of the patients. And this is apparently the practical aspect of this body-mind theory.

    4. In conclusion, the 7 emotions are human's basic mental activities and one of the pathogenic factors.  Understanding the detailed body-mind connections can help us to prevent many illnesses by cultivating the mind. Like <<Huang Di Nei Jing>> emphasized, "Give the heart good care, keep it peaceful, void and empty; Allow the true Qi runs on its original way; Protect and hold the energy and spirit; How can one possibly get sick anymore? ( 恬惔虛無，真氣從之；精神內守，病安從來 ?)" Also, if we also apply the 5-element theory into this method, by balancing the extreme emotion impact from its counter element,  as a good support to help patients to recover from certain physical condition much more effectively. 

August 23rd, 2012. "The End of Heat", the 2nd small Autumn season arrives

    In 2012, the season of "The End of Heat" arrives on August 23rd,same as last year. Celestial longitude: 150 degree. For some of the seasonal information please read this article from last year.

    Here are some additional information:

       Take good care of your skin. Because of the dryness of autumn, our skin easily loses moisture, which can cause discomfort, premature aging, or even skin disorders. Eat foods that have moisturizing properties, such as sesame seeds, honey, white wood ear fungus, and certain dairy products. Make sure to keep your body well hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day, and consider drinking a cup of lightly salted water in the morning. Choose skincare products that are suitable for your skin type, and cleanse your skin thoroughly yet gently. Above all, go to bed early and get enough sleep, as this is one of the simplest and most effective ways to care for your skin.

This is a transitional season in nature, from heat to coolness, and the same transition occurs in the body's Yin-Yang balance. Therefore, we need to adjust our daily lifestyle accordingly. The first aspect that should be adjusted is our sleep schedule. As mentioned earlier, going to bed early and getting up early is the fundamental principle of sleeping during autumn. Traditional Chinese Medicine considers the sleep-wake cycle to be a unified Yin-Yang, rest-activity state of the body's physiological functions. It also reflects the close relationship between the body and the mind.

First, the transition from day to night determines the human sleep-wake cycle. Nature exists through the continuous transformation of Yin and Yang, and the cycle of day and night is one of its clearest expressions. Daytime belongs to Yang, while nighttime belongs to Yin. As human beings are part of nature, our Qi naturally follows this rhythm. Yang Qi governs wakefulness, while Yin promotes sleep. Therefore, the natural human lifestyle is to rise with the sunrise and go to sleep after sunset.

Second, the physiological basis of sleep is explained in TCM through the movement of Ying Qi and Wei Qi. Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) circulates within the blood vessels, nourishing the body's tissues, while Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) circulates outside the vessels, protecting the body from external pathogenic influences. According to <>, Wei Qi plays the most important role in regulating sleep. When Wei Qi enters the Yin aspect of the body, we naturally fall asleep; when it returns to the Yang aspect, we awaken.

Third, TCM considers that our sleep and wakefulness are also governed by the Shen (Mind or Spirit). When the Shen is at rest, the body rests as well, and vice versa. Therefore, our emotional and mental activities during the daytime directly influence the quality of our sleep. As we know, one of the major causes of insomnia is excessive mental or emotional stress and tension.

Excerpt from "Huang Di Nei Jing" about autumn health preservation

The following text is excerpted from <> – Su Wen, Chapter 2: Si Qi Tiao Shen Da Lun. Although it is short, it conveys the core principles of living in harmony with the autumn season according to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

"...秋三月，此謂容平，天氣以急，地氣以明，早臥早起，與雞俱興，使志安寧，以緩秋刑，收斂神氣，使秋氣平，無外其志，使肺氣清，此秋氣之應養收之道也，逆之則傷肺，冬為飱泄，奉藏者少。..."

Directly translated as:

"...The three months of autumn are meant to be peaceful and calm. The sky is high and the wind is brisk; the earth is cool and dry. Go to bed early and get up early, following the rooster's daily rhythm, in order to keep the mind peaceful and stable, soften the harsh influence of autumn, withdraw the emotions and spirit to align with the calmness of the autumn Qi, and do not express your thoughts and desires excessively, so that the Lung Qi remains clear and cool. This is the way of nourishing the body's capacity for withdrawal and collection during autumn. If you go against it, you will injure the Lung Qi, weaken the foundation for storing energy in winter, experience digestion-related health issues, and have little energy in reserve..."

The key words for autumn are "withdraw" and "collect." Like farming, with proper planting in the spring and growth in the summer, there will be a good harvest in the autumn. However, an autumn without a harvest is a sad one, and sadness is an unhealthy emotion. Likewise, in a person's life, if one does not study diligently as a student or work hard as an adult, then upon reaching old age, little will have been accomplished. Such a later life is often filled with regret rather than being "peaceful and calm."

The good news, however, is that even if you have missed a few autumn harvests, if you begin now to respect and follow the laws of nature, you can still prepare yourself for the years ahead and reestablish a healthy lifestyle.

After a hot summer filled with activity, Yin becomes stronger while Yang begins to withdraw inward. In TCM we say, "Preserve Yang in spring and summer, and preserve Yin in autumn and winter." But how do we preserve Yin and Yang? In general, to nourish and preserve Yang, we should allow Yang Qi to move outward and express itself during spring and summer through more physical activity, less rest, and more sweating, because sweating is one sign of abundant Yang Qi. When autumn and winter arrive, however, we should do the opposite by resting more, reducing physical and mental activity, and sweating less. Since sweat is transformed from Yin fluids, it is closely related to the body's Essence (Jing). Sweating less helps preserve Yang Qi while simultaneously nourishing Yin and conserving Essence.

"...go to bed early and get up early, following the rooster's daily rhythm...": Roosters naturally follow the transition between Yin and Yang. This passage teaches us to adjust our daily schedule by going to bed earlier and rising earlier in order to preserve Yin. We recommend going to bed no later than 10:00 p.m. local time whenever possible, and waking around sunrise.

"...soften the harsh influence of autumn, withdraw the emotions and spirit to align with the calmness of the autumn Qi...": Autumn is an emotionally sensitive season because nature gradually moves toward a quieter, less vibrant, and seemingly more "depressing" state. If we do not keep our minds calm and balanced, we can easily be influenced by these seasonal changes. The purpose of this advice is to teach us how to protect our mental and emotional well-being during autumn.

"...if you go against it, you will injure the Lung Qi...": The Lungs are the organ associated with autumn, and they correspond to the Metal Element. Their natural preference is to remain "clear and cool." Therefore, we should follow the principle of "withdrawing Yang and preserving Yin" in order to nourish the Lungs. If we fail to do so, the harsh Qi of autumn may injure the Lung Qi and contribute to health conditions related to the respiratory system.

"...weaken the foundation for storing energy in winter, experience digestion-related health issues, and have little energy in reserve...": If we do not follow the principles of autumn by withdrawing Yang Qi inward and conserving our energy, then we will not have sufficient Yang Qi during winter to protect us from the cold, properly digest the food we eat, or generate adequate energy for the body's functions.

August 7th, 2012. "Beginning of Autumn", the 1st small Autumn season arrives

    In 2012, the season of "Beginning of Autumn" arrives on August 7th. Celestial longitude: 135 degree. For some of the seasonal information please read this article from last year.

   There is no additional information for this small season at this moment.

July 7th, and July 22nd, 2012. "Light Heat" and "Severe Heat", the 5th and 6th small Summer season arrives

    In 2012, the season of "Light Heat" arrives on July 7th. Celestial longitude: 105 degree. The season of "Severe Heat" arrives on July 22nd. Celestial longitude: 120 degree. For some of the seasonal information please read this article from last year.

    Here are some additional information:  


    Speaking of drinking water, we do it every day and it seems to be too simple and even hasty. Good thing is that there have been more and more researches and discussion done on this topic. TCM always has opinions about how to and what to drink. Here are some tips for these couple hottest seasons:

1. Drink boiled cool or warm water. TCM advocates boiled warm water since ancient times and modern research results had also shown that boiled water has better structure (physical and chemical) for human body cells to absorb compares “raw” water. 
2. Plain water is the best drink in general. Everyone can drink plain water. Most people can also drink tea to take advantages of its health benefit. But different tea affects the body differently, so finding the right type of tea for you is as important. Juices also provide good amount of water for the body, but commercial juice products sometimes contains additives that are harmful. 
3. Temperature. If you have read enough of my writing then you know I’m all about warmer water. I do share this theory with people around me as well, but sometimes people just wondering what the actual temperature of warm water is. It is a tricky question because, again, everyone’s body condition is different so there is no fixed answer for it. Scientifically, or theoretically, for normal body condition the good temperature range is between 10-30 ℃. 
4. Salty water. When sweating too much, it is helpful to drink some light salty water. Commercial sports are usually salty is for the same reason, but again, additives can bring negative effects in a long run, it is always safer just drink you “homemade” salty water. 
5. Varieties. If you go to the water or drink sections of a supermarket, you always wonder, “What are the differences?” Well, I do the same so I’m not able to tell you exactly. But what I do recommend is drink various types of water or drink. Just like food, water from different source provides different energy force to the body, and we are working on creating a balance in our system.

June 21st, 2012. "Summer Solstice", the 4th small Summer season arrives

    In 2012, the season of "Summer Solstice" arrives on June 21st. Celestial longitude: 90 degree. For some of the seasonal information please read this article from last year.



    Here are some additional information:

    In TCM the Spleen-Stomach system is actually quite different from the Western medicine spleen-stomach system. Basically, the TCM spleen-stomach refers to the entire digestion system and spleen is related to body dampness the most. During the humid summer season, the spleen can be easily harmed. So during the rainy summer season we need to take extra care of the spleen system. The spleen-stomach system is considered as the “mother earth” for our energy system. After born, human’s life activities depends on how well does the spleen-stomach system process and transport the food and essence. Everyone was born differently, some are stronger than others. But if one takes care the spleen-stomach system well, one can still be as strong and lives a healthy life. For teenagers who are growing fast, eat more meat will help the system becomes stronger, but for seniors, massage the belly area (around navel area) works better. If you feel nauseous and have bad appetite in the hot days usually it’s because the spleen system is harmed by internal dampness. Mint and ginger root are the food remedies to go with, plus all kinds of beans. And again, spleen-stomach system likes to stay warm, but summer time most people would treat it in the opposite way. This is a common mistake we make. Try to stay on the warmer side, meaning if you have lots cold, you need to more heat to balance it.

    Since Yang energy reaches its highest level in this season, our body is affected in that way as well. Hypertension is one of the issues. There are too many information we can find about hypertension, here we will just share several simple tips from the TCM perspective: 

1. Avoid heavy physical activates and do not drink alcohol at noon time. Take a short nap and meditate if possible. 
2. Make sure to hydrate the body. We sweat more in the summer and this will make our blood thicker and flow slower. So make sure to drink good amount of water. 
3. Adjust your medication accordingly. Since the external temperature is high, our blood vessels sometimes expand and lower the blood pressure somehow. Also, when sweat we will lose more electrolyte. Many factors may change your needs for the dosage. Make sure to consult with your physician if you sense any difference. 
4. Sleep well. Try to follow a regular life schedule and make sure your mind and body rest enough. Remember noon and midnight is are the most important sleeping time.

June 5th, 2012. "Grain in Ear", the 3rd small Summer season arrives

    In 2012, the season of "Grain Fills" arrives on June 5th. Celestial longitude: 75 degree. For some of the seasonal information please read this article from last year.

    Here are some additional information: 


    As the temperature and humidity keeps increasing, chances of people getting infectious diseases increases as well. In Chinese traditions, starting from this small season into the next 30 days is called “the hundred-poison month”. Some insects, especially mosquito start to become more active, along with the humidity and heat, people gets infected much easier. Although it sounds serious, the ways to avoid get it is not hard. First, maintain good personal hygiene. Make sure to take shower in time, change clothes often and clean the living area well. Second, eat light food and sleep well. Eat light and fresh food to give your body a clean and active condition; sleep well to make sure our immune system is in good shape. 

    During this humid and hot season, many of us, either actively or passively, tend to use air conditioner quite often. Air conditioner no doubt was one of the greatest human inventions, but just like everything that exists, if there is one side, there must be another side. Many health problems are also directly or indirectly caused by using air conditioner. But the true cause of our health problem is actually the decline of some our body mechanisms. As we have mentioned, spring and summer are the seasons to nourish our Yang energy, which will “surface” to skin level during summer seasons. Air conditioner creates a unnatural cold environment that will suppress and harm our surfaced Yang energy thus cause many internal issues such as cold, skin diseases, joint pain and digestion issues. TCM sees “air conditioner syndrome” being the result of harmful cold invades the body system. Therefore the way of treating it is very clear and simple, that is to remove the cold from the skin level and dampness from the internal organ system. 

    Here we recommend a very simple and effective food remedy, fresh ginger root tea (drink). Ginger root is known for its functions of sweating, removing cold, warming the stomach and detoxing. If you use or have to use air conditioner very often, make this drink by simply slicing the ginger root into small pieces and steeping them with boiled hot water. You can also add a little bit of brown sugar or honey. With this drink you will feel heated and start to sweat, but this is the process of both the internal virus and cold being removed. When you have a cold or stomach issue you can also use this drink as the food remedy.But please remember, although it is a nice drink itself, the best time to drink it is morning or before noon time, drink much less or not at all in the afternoon and evening, especially before you go to bed. Also if you surfers from joint or muscle pain, you can make a bigger portion of this drink but use a warm towel to apply externally to the painful area. After all, the basic rule is to try to use less air conditioner possible.“A cool mind makes a cool body” is the ancient saying. Maintain a balance emotional condition is just as effective as a nice breeze of cool air.