Recently, the weather has fluctuated between hot and cold, leading many to experience issues such as colds, joint pain, and skin eczema. Have you ever wondered: why does the body always seem to be the first to suffer when the climate changes? Two thousand years ago, the Huangdi Neijing already provided the answer: “The six excesses cause disease, first harming the muscle surface.” Today, we will interpret this wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in a way that modern people can understand, helping you prevent illness before it occurs!
1. The “Breakthrough Point” of External Evils: Why Do They Always Start from the Body’s Surface? The Neijing states: “Yang governs the exterior, while Yin governs the interior.” The body’s Yang Qi acts like a “protective shield,” constantly defending against external enemies. The six external evils (the six excesses) — wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire — are particularly adept at breaching this surface defense! The principle is revealed: – The body surface is “Yang” and serves as the first line of defense against the outside world. – When the righteous Qi is insufficient (due to staying up late, fatigue, or exposure to cold), the evil Qi can invade, penetrating from the surface inward. – Mild cases may result in colds and fevers, while severe cases can lead to organ dysfunction and even chronic diseases! Case warning: Many people think that a “small cold can be endured,” but if the evil Qi is not expelled in time, it may lead to severe conditions such as pneumonia or myocarditis. The Neijing particularly emphasizes that “two types of cold (exterior and interior) being affected simultaneously” is the most dangerous, and medical attention must be sought promptly!
2. The “Criminal Record” of the Six Excesses: Identify the Culprit by Comparing Symptoms External evils attacking the body are not mere “mysticism”; different types of evil Qi lead to specific symptoms. Learning to recognize them allows for precise adjustments! 1. Cold Evil: The cold killer, specifically targeting Yang Qi – Characteristics: Stagnation and contraction, obstructing the flow of Qi and blood. – Symptoms: Fever without sweating, cold joint pain, and clear diarrhea. – Modern equivalents: Air conditioning sickness, cold-type dysmenorrhea, and chronic cold legs. – Key quote from the Neijing: “If the body is like burning charcoal, sweating is the key to dispelling cold!” 2. Heat Evil: The high-temperature assassin, depleting Qi and injuring fluids – Characteristics: Rising and dispersing heat, causing significant damage to vitality. – Symptoms: Profuse sweating, thirst, irritability, and in severe cases, heat stroke and fainting. – Important distinctions: – Yang heat (excessive sun exposure): Red face and high fever, requiring heat-clearing and cooling. – Yin heat (excessive cooling drinks): Heavy head and nausea, needing to transform dampness and dispel cold. 3. Damp Evil: The sticky tumor, obstructing the entire body – Characteristics: Heavy and turbid, like being wrapped in a wet cotton blanket. – Symptoms: Dizziness as if wrapped, heavy limbs, eczema with swelling, and sticky stools. – Warning signs: Prolonged dampness transforming into heat may lead to arthritis or atrophy (muscle wasting)! 4. Wind Evil: The master of a hundred diseases, adept at change – Characteristics: Wandering unpredictably, carrying other evils to create chaos. – Symptoms: Skin itching (urticaria), migratory joint pain, and facial paralysis. – Health tips: Avoid wind as you would an arrow, especially after sweating, to prevent exposure!
3. TCM Treatment for External Invasion: Not about killing germs, but using “four ounces to move a thousand pounds” Many mistakenly believe that TCM treats colds slowly; in fact, it regulates the body’s internal environment, leaving no place for evil Qi to take root! Wisdom from the Neijing: 1. Diagnosis first: For the same fever, use Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) to dispel cold for wind-cold, and Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder) to clear heat for wind-heat; it is not simply “a bowl of ginger soup for all!” 2. Provide an exit for the evil: By inducing sweating, promoting urination, and facilitating bowel movements, guide the evil Qi out of the body. 3. Support the righteous Qi: Tonify Qi, nourish Yin, and strengthen the spleen to enhance the body’s self-healing ability and reduce recurrence. – The misuse of antibiotics can easily harm the righteous Qi; TCM’s “supporting the righteous and expelling the evil” method is more suitable for those with weak constitutions and recurrent infections. – The success of the “Clearing Lung and Detoxifying Decoction” during the pandemic is a modern application of the six excesses diagnostic thinking!
4. Key to Disease Prevention: Align with Nature to Build a “Resilient” Constitution The Neijing emphasizes: “When the evil winds are weak, avoid them at the right time.” To prevent the invasion of the six excesses, remember these three tips: 1. Avoid external evils: – Set air conditioning to ≥26°C, avoiding direct cold air. – Prepare rain gear during the rainy season and dry your hair promptly. – Wearing masks not only prevents viruses but also protects against wind, sand, and pollen (wind evils). 2. Strengthen the righteous Qi: – For those with Yang deficiency (sensitive to cold): Drink ginger and jujube tea in the morning and moxibustion on the Guanyuan (CV4) point. – For those with damp-heat constitution (acne, bitter mouth): Regularly consume Chi Xiao Dou (Adzuki Bean) and Yi Yi Ren (Job’s Tears) porridge. 3. Dynamic adjustment: The constitution changes with the seasons! Prevent wind in spring, heat and dampness in summer, dampness in late summer, dryness in autumn, and cold in winter.
The six excesses causing disease may seem like “natural disasters,” but they are actually the result of an imbalance between the body and nature. Understanding the disease prevention wisdom of the Neijing not only helps cope with climate changes but also fundamentally enhances the quality of life! Share this with your family, and this summer, let’s all be our own “health guardians”! Have you recently been troubled by “external evil invasions”? Leave a comment with your symptoms, and I will teach you how to resolve them with TCM techniques! (Follow us for the next issue revealing the “Self-Rescue Guide for Damp-Heat Constitution”)