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Editor: Zheng Shi Author: Meng Biao Editor: Shui Zhongyue
Patients often ask me, “Can this illness be completely cured?” This shows that people are very concerned about whether they can eliminate the root cause of their illness. So, what is the “root cause” of a disease? As the name suggests, the “root cause” is the source of the illness. The fundamental reason why some diseases keep recurring is that the root cause has not been eliminated. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is a theory called “hidden pathogens” (伏邪, fú yé), which means that pathogenic factors can remain dormant in the body for a long time, and once conditions are ripe, they will cause illness. The “evil” (邪, xié) referred to in TCM is not about demons or monsters, but various pathogenic factors. For example, a cold caused by exposure to cold weather is said to be due to “cold evil” (寒邪, hán xié), heat stroke is due to “heat evil” (暑邪, shǔ xié), and joint pain from dampness is due to “damp evil” (湿邪, shī xié). Of course, “evil” can also refer to pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Yesterday, a man came to see me. He said that his knees felt as cold as ice every winter, and no amount of clothing could alleviate it, although they did not feel cold to the touch. In summer, he did not feel the cold. I asked him how long this had been going on, and he said it had been 10 years. I probed further and learned that it originated from working underground at a depth of 400 meters in a damp and cold environment, which over time led to the formation of “cold evil” (寒邪, hán xié). Therefore, every winter, when the weather is cold and damp, his condition flares up. Some may say this is too abstract; how can you prove the existence of the hidden cold you mentioned? As a TCM professional, I can diagnose through observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, and then provide treatment based on differentiation, which is effective.
Let me give you another example that might be easier to understand. For instance, “herpes zoster” (带状疱疹, dài zhuàng pào zhěn) is a disease that causes blisters and intense pain in the affected area. This disease is caused by the “varicella-zoster virus” (水痘-带状疱疹病毒, shuǐdòu-dài zhuàng pào zhěn bìngdú). In fact, both chickenpox and herpes zoster are caused by the same virus, which is dormant in almost everyone’s body but usually does not cause illness. It only manifests when a person’s constitution is weak, such as after prolonged fatigue or psychological trauma. Western medicine refers to this as the latent period, while TCM refers to it as “hidden pathogens” (伏邪, fú yé), which essentially refers to the same concept, although TCM’s understanding of hidden pathogens encompasses a broader range of factors.
Returning to chronic bronchitis and asthma, TCM believes that patients with these diseases have “hidden pathogens” (伏邪, fú yé) in their bodies. In the “Shang Han Lun” (伤寒论), there is a formula called Xiao Qing Long Tang (小青龙汤, xiǎo qīng lóng tāng), which the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing stated can treat “unresolved exterior cold with water qi in the chest.” In fact, the “water qi in the chest” he referred to is the hidden pathogen—water retention. When water retention lingers in the body, it forms hidden pathogens, and any exposure to cold or other triggers can lead to coughing and wheezing, which is what Zhang Zhongjing described as “unresolved exterior cold.” If hidden pathogens persist for a long time or form tangible entities, TCM often refers to this as “hidden pathogens forming a nest” (伏邪成巢, fú yé chéng cháo). My understanding is that “hidden pathogens” are what we commonly refer to as the “root cause” of a disease. So, can this “root cause” be removed? I feel it is somewhat difficult, but there are still methods available. For cold-related root causes, treating winter illnesses in summer is a very good approach. There are many methods for treating winter illnesses in summer; we can use acupoint application therapy (穴位贴敷疗法, xué wèi tiē fù liáo fǎ), where the applied herbs act on the acupoints to achieve therapeutic effects. In addition to application therapy, taking appropriate TCM herbs orally is also a fundamental approach to treatment. For example, the aforementioned Xiao Qing Long Tang (小青龙汤, xiǎo qīng lóng tāng) can eliminate cold retention. Furthermore, moxibustion (灸法, jiǔ fǎ) can also play a beneficial role.
It takes time to freeze three feet of ice. Only through a certain course of treatment can we hope to eliminate the root cause and achieve recovery.
Expert Profile
Meng Biao
Master of Medicine, Chief Physician, Professor, National Clinical Outstanding Talent in TCM (Fourth Batch), Renowned TCM Physician in Shiyan City, Professor at Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Master’s Supervisor, Director of the Rheumatology Department at Shiyan TCM Hospital, Leader of the Discipline, Leading Medical Talent in Shiyan City, Skilled Technician in Shiyan City, Recipient of the Shiyan City May Day Labor Medal, Editorial Board Member of “Rheumatology and Arthritis” and “Frontiers in Medicine” journals. With 30 years of clinical experience, he has led and completed 12 research projects, received one national-level scientific and technological progress award, one Shiyan City scientific and technological progress award, published 7 monographs including “Clinical Experience of Zhao Heping” and “Passing on the Flame of Medicine”, and authored over 50 academic papers. He has studied under renowned masters such as Tang Zuxuan, Wu Bingcai, and Zhao Heping, and is skilled in treating various rheumatic pains and difficult internal pediatric diseases.
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