Common colds are a well-known and frequently encountered ailment among the public. In fact, a simple cold can be categorized into various types such as wind-cold and wind-heat. Colds are the most typical of the external pathogenic diseases, and their onset is closely related to the “Six Evils” of wind, cold, summer heat, dampness, dryness, and fire. Today, we will discuss these “Six Evils” that are closely related to health.
Wind, cold, summer heat, dampness, dryness, and fire are the six normal climatic conditions in nature. Imagine how terrifying it would be if the world had no wind, no cold, no heat, no moisture, and no dryness. Therefore, under normal circumstances, these six types of qi are beneficial to nature and harmless to the human body, referred to as “Six Qi”.
However, if there are abnormal climate changes, such as “non-seasonal qi” (for example, experiencing cold in spring when it should be warm, or heat in autumn when it should be cool) or if the climate changes too rapidly (such as sudden cold or heat), or if the body’s resistance decreases and cannot adapt to these changes, the “Six Qi” can become the “culprits” that cause disease. In this case, the “Six Qi” are referred to as “Six Evils” or simply “Six Xie”.
Understanding the “Six Evils” can help you take appropriate measures during the corresponding seasons to cope with climate changes, significantly reducing the likelihood of falling ill.
1
Wind Evil
Wind
Wind Evil is most commonly seen in spring, but it can occur in all four seasons.
Wind Evil easily invades the upper body and the skin, so when the body is attacked by wind, symptoms such as headache, sweating, and aversion to wind (wanting to avoid the wind) often appear.
Similar to the strong winds we often talk about, Wind Evil has the characteristic of wandering everywhere and changing rapidly. For example, joint pain that troubles many people often cannot be pinpointed to a specific location; instead, it is migratory and can occur anywhere. Additionally, diseases like wind rash that frequently occur in children can appear suddenly and fluctuate without a fixed location. These are all caused by Wind Evil.
During the spring season, when everything is reviving, one should not hastily remove clothing at the first sign of warmth but should pay attention to keeping warm, especially in the back and around the navel, to prevent Wind Evil from entering.
2
Cold Evil
Cold
Cold Evil, as the name suggests, is a pathogenic evil that occurs when external cold qi invades the body. In winter, due to the cold climate, the body is particularly susceptible to external cold.
Cold Evil is a Yin Evil that easily damages the body’s Yang Qi and closes the skin’s pores. Therefore, when the body is attacked by cold, symptoms such as aversion to cold (feeling cold but unable to relieve it by adding clothing or blankets), fever, no sweating, and body aches often occur. At this time, we should induce sweating to dispel Cold Evil, which is why people often cover themselves with blankets after taking medicine to sweat it out when they have a fever.
With the significant improvement in living standards today, the use of air conditioning in summer has become increasingly common. Many people, after sweating outdoors, seek immediate relief by sitting directly under the air conditioning or consuming cold drinks and ice cream, leading to an increase in cases of Cold Evil in summer. Therefore, during this hot summer, everyone should remember not to seek temporary coolness at the expense of allowing Cold Evil to enter.
3
Summer Heat Evil
Summer Heat
Summer Heat Evil is a manifestation of hot qi, occurring exclusively in summer and has a distinct seasonal characteristic. Especially during the current scorching summer, it is most susceptible to invasion by Summer Heat Evil.
When Summer Heat invades the body, symptoms such as body heat, excessive sweating, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting often appear, along with thirst and a preference for cold drinks, and poor appetite. In severe cases, it can even lead to sudden fainting and loss of consciousness.
Therefore, it is particularly important to take precautions against heat in summer, drink plenty of water, pay attention to diet, and ensure adequate sleep.
4
Damp Evil
Damp
Damp Evil is the main pathogenic evil during the transition from summer to autumn when rainfall is abundant and humidity is at its peak.
In ancient times, Damp Evil was often related to external environmental factors, such as getting wet in the rain or living in damp conditions. Nowadays, people are more commonly troubled by internal dampness, preferring rich and greasy foods while neglecting grains and lacking exercise, leading to dampness accumulating in the body, often manifesting as fatigue in the limbs, dizziness, sleepiness, poor appetite, and sticky stools. These are common symptoms in modern individuals who may not have any significant health issues but feel lethargic and mentally foggy, indicating internal dampness.
Additionally, Damp Evil has a sticky characteristic, making it difficult to eliminate from the body. Therefore, modern individuals should pay attention to healthy eating and regular routines to prevent Damp Evil invasion, and can also use methods such as TCM massage and moxibustion to dispel dampness.
5
Dry Evil
Dry
Dry Evil is the main qi of autumn, and the climate is dry in autumn, making people susceptible to Dry Evil, also known as “autumn dryness”.
Dry Evil often enters the body through the mouth and nose, gradually penetrating deeper and ultimately invading the lungs. Dry Evil is dry and easily consumes the body’s fluids, leading to symptoms such as dry mouth and nose, dry and cracked skin, and in more severe cases, persistent dry cough due to insufficient lung fluids. Therefore, the common cause of cough in autumn is often due to Dry Evil.
During this period, one can use dietary therapy to adjust oneself, focusing on “nourishing Yin and moistening the lungs”. Foods such as sesame, walnuts, glutinous rice, honey, snow pears, and sugarcane are beneficial. Congee can also be used to nourish the stomach and generate fluids, such as lily and lotus seed congee, tremella and rock candy glutinous rice congee, and black sesame congee.
6
Fire Evil
Fire
Fire is the manifestation of extreme heat. Fire Evil often arises from exposure to external warm pathogenic qi or from the transformation of the other five evils under certain conditions. Additionally, excessive emotional stress and dietary imbalances can also generate fire, commonly referred to as “getting heat”.
Fire has the characteristic of rising, so Fire Evil often manifests in the upper body, such as anxiety and worry leading to heart fire rising, causing sores in the mouth and tongue; anger leading to liver fire rising, causing red and swollen eyes; and excessive consumption of spicy foods leading to stomach fire rising, causing swollen and bleeding gums.
When the internal heat accumulates to a certain extent, it can easily burn the vessels, causing blood to leak from the vessels, leading to symptoms such as hemoptysis, epistaxis, skin rashes, and abnormal uterine bleeding. Therefore, it is important to maintain emotional balance and eat a light diet to reduce internal heat.
Mechanism of Fresh Herb Moxibustion
Using heat to draw out heat:
This accelerates blood circulation, promotes metabolism, and uses external force to open the body’s exterior, allowing toxins and heat to be expelled from the body. Fresh herb moxibustion is suitable for individuals experiencing fatigue, stress, low energy, depression, dizziness, cold hands and feet, numbness, general discomfort, deficiency-cold, weak stomach, abdominal pain due to blood stasis, cold in the uterus causing lower back pain, fatigue, stiffness, and poor sleep quality.
By stimulating acupuncture points, unblocking meridians, and using the heat conduction of medicinal properties, it safely and effectively dispels wind, cold, dampness, heat, and toxins from the body, achieving disease treatment, prevention of illness, strengthening the foundation, promoting metabolism, and enhancing the body’s immunity.
Using heat to assist Yang: This means using heat to warm and strengthen Yang Qi. The introduced heat can stimulate the essence and invigorate blood circulation in the body, warming and strengthening the Yang Qi of the organs.
Opening the door to dispel evils: Special penetrating medicinal substances reach the disease site in the shortest distance, using fresh herb moxibustion on acupuncture points to open the meridians and provide an exit for the invading evils.
