The Huangdi Neijing: Understanding the Origins of All Human Diseases

“The beginning of all diseases arises from dryness, dampness, cold, heat, wind, rain, yin, yang, joy, anger, diet, and living environment.”

“Diseases arise from qi. Anger causes qi to rise, joy causes qi to relax, sadness causes qi to dissipate, fear causes qi to descend, cold causes qi to contract, heat causes qi to leak, shock causes qi to become chaotic, overwork causes qi to deplete, and overthinking causes qi to stagnate.”

In the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine), the origins of all human diseases are succinctly summarized. The following text summarizes five major causes based on this legendary medical text.

Originating from Climate

Beware of Air Conditioning and Heating“Originating from wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire” means that external climate can lead to diseases.In the past, “wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire” were purely natural, but now times have changed. This “wind” includes not only natural wind but also fans. “Cold” includes not only natural cold but also air conditioning and refrigeration. Air conditioning and refrigeration also lead to dryness, as the air becomes dry under these conditions. This “dampness” may also have modern causes, and “fire” includes heating, etc. Therefore, there are not only natural factors but also human factors that cannot be ignored in health. Many diseases now develop slowly in air-conditioned environments.The Neijing clearly explains why it gets hot: during hot weather, yang qi disperses, and this dispersal brings out the internal yin and cold. Humans need to consume grains, and the environment cannot always be ideal, so there will be internal yin and cold. What force helps disperse this? The forces of heaven and earth, especially in summer.When summer arrives, everyone’s pores open, and the weather is hot, so people need to engage in appropriate labor. Although it is said not to overwork, some labor is necessary, and exercise is required. This leads to sweating, which opens the body’s channels and eliminates many hidden dangers. This is the body’s self-adjustment; heat is needed, and the body also needs heat. At this time, yang qi disperses outward, bringing out internal issues, and humans must “follow” this process.Thus, the Neijing states that during the summer months, we should not resent the sun, as it is necessary for us.However, many people set their air conditioning too low, causing the temperature to drop significantly. Where does the yang qi go? It goes inward instead of outward. This is called “going against” the natural order, which leads to disaster.Originating from Yin and Yang

What does it mean to originate from yin and yang? The most visible yin and yang today are male and female, with males representing yang and females representing yin. Yin and yang is a significant issue.Why does the Neijing mention the origin of diseases from yin and yang? The greatest yin and yang is between men and women. What is the most significant relationship between them? Marriage. Many diseases arise from marital issues. “The way of yin and yang begins with the couple,” as Confucius said.Traditional Chinese medicine states: “When yin is balanced and yang is secret, the spirit is treated; when yin and yang are separated, the essence and qi are lost.” Harmony between yin and yang, which means harmony between husband and wife, is crucial. How many couples today do not argue? Many couples are either blaming each other or harboring suspicions. When the husband goes out, the wife cannot sit still at home; they are not supporting each other but resenting each other, leading to disharmony in yin and yang.Disharmony in yin and yang is a significant factor in the onset of diseases. Many diseases actually stem from this issue. The Neijing points out that “originating from yin and yang” refers to this problem. If the couple is not well, yin and yang are not balanced, and the children born into such an unbalanced environment cannot be healthy.Many parents bring their children to see doctors repeatedly, whether in traditional or Western medicine. Even if they are treated and recover, they relapse. Where is the root cause? It lies with the parents, in the yin and yang. This is something that everyone needs to pay close attention to.A harmonious family represents harmonious yin and yang, and “when yin is balanced and yang is secret,” the spirit can be treated, leading to health. If this is not addressed, no amount of health supplements will help, and no oral solutions will be effective.Originating from Emotions

Originating from joy and anger means originating from emotions, which significantly affect health. What are emotions?“Heaven has five elements governing five positions, leading to cold, heat, dryness, dampness, and wind; humans have five organs transforming five qi, leading to joy, anger, sadness, thought, and fear.” Why must humans follow yin and yang? Because humans and heaven and earth are a whole. Human emotions are similar to the six qi of heaven and earth: “wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire.” Therefore, excessive or insufficient emotions can affect health. “Cold, heat, dryness, dampness, and wind” are external five elements that can cause diseases; “joy, anger, thought, worry, and fear” are internal five elements that can also cause diseases.Wang Shiren Wang Fengyi, an elderly man from Northeast China who passed away in 1937, was an illiterate farmer but was remarkable for his profound understanding.In his teachings, he emphasized a crucial theory: studying the relationship between our emotions, our mindset, our psychological behavior, and diseases. Our psychological behavior directly affects health, with at least fifty percent of diseases caused by unhealthy psychological behavior. Wang Fengyi summarized five unhealthy psychological behaviors:First is resentment, a tendency to complain about others.Second is hatred.Third is annoyance, being easily irritated.Fourth is anger, being prone to outbursts.Fifth is worry.Hatred harms the “heart,” and there is a decisive relationship between circulatory diseases and hatred.Annoyance affects the respiratory system, particularly the lungs.Anger relates to the liver system, including the liver and gallbladder. Anger encompasses suppressed anger, frustration, and rage, which in traditional medicine are also associated with the liver system.Worry, especially among women, often leads to kidney issues and reproductive system problems, as this factor directly harms the kidneys.Originating from Diet

Diet includes issues of quantity and quality, especially among those who drink excessively, thinking “deep feelings require a big drink,” which is detrimental to health.This includes “cold and warm without moderation,” consuming large amounts of raw and frozen foods, which is harmful. Nowadays, many foods are frozen, which can damage yang qi. Yang qi is crucial for life; do not waste it. Even if you try to replenish it, you cannot if you keep harming it.Another issue is the balance between meat and vegetables. Our physiology indicates that the intestines and teeth of herbivores differ from those of carnivores, which is an objective indicator. Carnivores have sharp teeth, while we have four sharp teeth and the rest are flat, indicating how much meat and vegetables we should consume.We have thirty-two teeth, twenty-eight of which are flat, and four are sharp, which serves as a guideline for our dietary balance.Originating from Living Environment

The living environment significantly impacts health, as it relates to feng shui. In the past, this was considered superstition, which is absolutely incorrect. Is there feng shui? Certainly.As long as there is traditional medicine, there is feng shui; both discuss the five elements. How to take in qi, the orientation of doors and windows, and the quality of qi relate to yin and yang and the five elements, with no hint of superstition. The human body is a small universe, embodying the five elements, and the balance of these elements in the living environment affects the mind and body of those residing there.Sleep is crucial. Sleep is essentially a process of replenishing yang qi. We just mentioned that yang qi is the root of life, and how is it replenished? Many activities deplete yang qi, and every movement and thought consumes it. There are many ways to deplete yang qi, but few ways to replenish it, with sleep being almost the only method.Thus, sleep is nearly the sole way to nourish yang qi. Is it important? It is the only way to sustain life. Therefore, sleep is extremely important, and everyone should not take it lightly.A major principle is to sleep early. Why sleep early? The living environment must have “timing,” and sleep must also have “timing.” Why is timing important? Because the yang qi of heaven and earth is hidden at this time, and humans also need to conceal themselves. We say spring brings life, summer brings growth, autumn brings harvest, and winter brings storage; the best state for the human body to store is during sleep. In sleep, essence is nurtured, and yang qi receives good replenishment, allowing life to continue to develop.Traditional medicine states that the kidneys govern the bones, and marrow is produced in the bones, which is where blood is generated. Blood production occurs in the bone marrow system, which is governed by the kidneys. When do the kidneys work? In winter, specifically from nine o’clock at night to three o’clock in the morning, when the kidneys are active, blood is produced. Under what conditions do the kidneys function? The body must be in a state of storage and sleep for the kidneys to operate. It is emphasized that during this time, one must sleep; only then can the kidneys govern the bones, produce marrow, and generate blood, allowing yang qi to be replenished.If one does not sleep during this time, missing the opportunity, it is regrettable; once the chance is lost, it cannot be regained. Of course, even if you sleep for eight hours, your eight hours may differ from mine. Modern people are accustomed to nightlife, which is clearly contrary to the natural order. This is something everyone should genuinely consider for their health and adjust their sleep patterns to “gain the way and receive heavenly assistance.”We are busy; what can we do? We can wake up a little earlier to work. If that is not possible, then use your weekends to sleep early, going to bed at nine o’clock, which compensates for the five weekdays of sleep deprivation. If those two days of rest lead to staying up until three or four o’clock and sleeping until eleven or twelve, that is even worse. Therefore, this is a very important issue.The Huangdi Neijing: The Secret to Staying YoungThe Huangdi Neijing states: “In ancient times, people lived to be a hundred years old in both spring and autumn, completing their natural lifespan.” It is said that in ancient times, the people of Ge Tian could all live to be a hundred years old. The elderly had white hair and youthful faces, fully enjoying the lifespan granted by heaven.If you want to stay young, let’s see how the ancients practiced health preservation.1. Physical Labor Without FatigueThe Huangdi Neijing states: “Eating and drinking in moderation, maintaining regular habits, and not overworking allows one to be in harmony with both body and spirit, thus completing their natural lifespan.”Ancient health practitioners believed that body and spirit are interdependent.As the saying goes, “The body relies on the spirit to exist, and the spirit needs the body to survive.” To nurture both body and spirit, one must balance movement and stillness. “Stillness” helps cultivate original qi, while “movement” promotes better circulation of original qi.Maintaining good daily routines, appropriate dietary habits, and consistent effective exercise can lead to a vibrant spirit, allowing the body to grow younger. It is not difficult to find that elderly people in rural areas are often more robust and live longer than those in cities.This is due to rural life, which helps them maintain good labor habits. Regular physical activity prevents them from easily feeling fatigued.When true qi is balanced and regulated, life naturally extends.2. A Calm Heart Without FearThe Huangdi Neijing states: “Joy leads to harmonious qi and clear intentions.”A peaceful mindset, free from worries about gain and loss, and maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude are essential.Physiological activities in the body can then operate according to natural laws. In contrast, those who are constantly burdened with worries and live in fear rarely achieve longevity.The path of health preservation in traditional medicine emphasizes “nurturing the heart and regulating the spirit.” This aligns with the saying in the Huangdi Neijing: “A calm heart is free from fear.” A calm heart is characterized by joy and laughter. Joyful emotions and cheerful laughter surpass all health supplements.Buddhism teaches: all things are created by the mind, and wherever one resides, there is happiness. A stable mind, free from fear, allows for a carefree and liberated life.3. Complete Virtue Without DangerThe Huangdi Neijing states: “Those who can live to be a hundred years old and remain agile do so because their virtues are complete and they are not in danger.”This means that some people can live to be a hundred years old, remaining agile and not appearing old, due to their complete moral cultivation.Ancient people regarded “virtue” as the foundation of existence. Confucius said: “Those with great virtue will surely attain longevity.” This means that individuals with noble moral cultivation often grow younger as they age.Confucius’ saying “the virtuous live long” actually contains medical principles.Sun Simiao proposed in the Qianjin Yaofang: “When one’s nature is good, all diseases will not arise, and disasters and calamities will have no way to occur; this is the great principle of health preservation.” Cultivating virtue can regulate one’s temperament, maintaining original qi from within and extending life.The essence of complete virtue can be summarized in eight words:Good nature, benevolence, contentment, and tolerance.Being humble and courteous, respecting others while maintaining oneself can help us avoid worries and protect our body and spirit from harm, thus promoting longevity.4. A Calm Will With Few DesiresThe Huangdi Neijing states: “Tranquility and emptiness lead to true qi, and the spirit is preserved internally; how can diseases arise?”This means that when a person’s spirit is tranquil and free from desires, true qi will remain within the body. When the spirit is preserved internally and not dissipated, how can diseases invade?To stay young, one must learn to control their desires.Li Duyuan, a health practitioner from the Qing Dynasty, understood the path of desire moderation well. He advocated for a lifestyle that includes:Simple diet to reduce the burden on the spleen and stomach;Simple desires to keep the mind clear;Speaking less to help regulate breath;Maintaining simple relationships to keep oneself pure;Avoiding indulgence in alcohol and lust to maintain a clear mind;Reducing worries to eliminate troubles.In everything, just reduce a little, and you will benefit a little.Everything tastes sweet, and whatever you wear is comfortable; life is simple and satisfying.