As the saying goes, treating the root cause is better than treating the symptoms; to treat a disease, one must first seek the cause, and the same applies to weight loss. Only by identifying the root cause of obesity can we apply the appropriate remedies.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that obesity is a type of deficiency syndrome, with its root cause being Qi deficiency. In the Song Dynasty, Yang Renzhai mentioned: “Obese individuals have Qi deficiency leading to coldness.”
Furthermore, it is often said that insufficient Qi leads to obesity, while insufficient blood leads to thinness; Qi relies on blood for support, and blood is the mother of Qi. When Qi is deficient, blood is also deficient; when blood is deficient, Qi becomes deficient. Therefore, to lose weight, activating blood circulation and resolving stasis is crucial.
So, what effective measures can we take in daily life to help activate blood circulation and resolve stasis? Let’s explore!
The Root Cause of Obesity Lies in Qi Deficiency
An article once mentioned that obesity is a deficiency syndrome rather than a full syndrome. Generally speaking, obese individuals often have Qi deficiency, Yang deficiency, and phlegm-dampness.
Yang Renzhai from the Song Dynasty pointed out that “Obese individuals have Qi deficiency leading to coldness; coldness leads to dampness, and dampness leads to phlegm; hence, obese individuals often have cold dampness.” In the Qing Dynasty, the famous physician Ye Tianshi noted, “The skin that is soft and white belongs to Qi deficiency; externally it appears abundant, but internally it is truly weak, indicating a Yang-deficient body, which is often accompanied by phlegm and dampness.”
Thus, it can be seen that the pathological attribute of obesity is a deficiency at the root with symptoms at the surface; Qi deficiency and Yang deficiency are the root causes, while excessive phlegm and dampness are the symptoms. Therefore, weight loss should primarily focus on supplementation, replenishing Qi and Yang, while activating blood circulation and resolving stasis is key.
Why Does Qi Deficiency Lead to Obesity?
Qi deficiency is a type of deficiency syndrome in the human body. In TCM, deficiency syndromes are contrasted with excess syndromes, and there are four types: Qi deficiency, blood deficiency, Yang deficiency, and Yin deficiency. Each type of deficiency syndrome has different causes and presents different symptoms. Qi deficiency generally refers to a series of pathological changes and syndromes caused by insufficient Yuan Qi.
In TCM clinical practice, specific symptoms of Qi and blood deficiency often manifest as low immunity, physical weakness, fatigue in the limbs, dizziness, shortness of breath, and easy sweating during exercise.
In TCM, Qi is a macro concept that can be further divided into Lung Qi, Kidney Qi, Liver Qi, Spleen Qi, Wei Qi, Ying Qi, and Zong Qi. These types of Qi exist within the organs and are the original driving force behind various activities in the body.
Once Qi is deficient, the functions of the internal organs will decline, leading to the Spleen and Stomach’s inability to properly receive and transform food, the Liver and Gallbladder’s failure to regulate and decompose, the Lungs’ inability to control the circulation of Qi, and the Kidneys’ inability to store essence, receive Qi, and regulate water.
When the functions of the organs are impaired, the food consumed cannot be effectively utilized, resulting in the body not absorbing the necessary nutrients and failing to eliminate metabolic waste and toxins. Additionally, substances that should be transformed into Qi are not properly processed.
As a result, these untransformed substances are converted into fat, accumulating under the skin and causing obesity.
How to Quickly Determine Qi Deficiency?
In addition to obesity, Qi deficiency can manifest as fatigue, lack of courage, and lethargy. We can also assess a person’s Qi status by examining their tongue. If an individual’s tongue is enlarged, pale red, has teeth marks on the edges, and they exhibit obesity, it is likely that they have Qi deficiency.
It is important to note that while we often say that insufficient Qi leads to obesity and insufficient blood leads to thinness, clinical experience in TCM shows that many patients may exhibit both Qi and blood deficiency.
As TCM often states: “Blood is the mother of Qi, and Qi is the commander of blood.” Without Qi to command and promote blood, it cannot reach the areas of the body that need it.
When Qi lacks blood as a foundation, it becomes an evil fire within the body. Therefore, for those with Qi deficiency, it is generally necessary to supplement both Qi and blood, while for those with Qi deficiency and obesity, the focus should be on activating blood circulation and resolving stasis.
Activating Blood Circulation and Resolving Stasis is the Key to Weight Loss
In TCM, while weight loss is about “reducing,” we emphasize doing addition. Since the root cause of obesity lies in Qi deficiency, weight loss should first focus on replenishing Qi and Yang. When Yang Qi is sufficient, the Qi transformation function is enhanced, allowing phlegm, dampness, and toxic fluids to be expelled from the body.
As early as in the “Ling Shu: Abnormalities of Wei Qi,” obesity was categorized into three types: greasy type, fatty type, and fleshy type. The causes of greasy and fatty obesity are due to phlegm-dampness, while fleshy obesity is caused by damp-heat.
Phlegm-dampness refers to the presence of phlegm and dampness in the patient’s body, which combine to obstruct the movement of Qi, leading to Qi deficiency and resulting in obesity.
According to the “Shuo Wen Jie Zi,” “凝者曰脂，释者曰膏” (the condensed is called fat, the released is called grease), meaning that the fat that is condensed together is called fat, while the soft fat is called grease. Those with soft and flabby fat are referred to as “greasy people.”
On the other hand, damp-heat refers to the combination of dampness and heat in the body, which obstructs the movement of Qi, leading to Qi deficiency and resulting in obesity.
In the “Ling Shu: Abnormalities of Wei Qi,” it is stated: “Fleshy individuals are large all over.” These types of individuals are round and plump, and at first glance, they appear to be all flesh; ancient people referred to such individuals as “fleshy people.”
As Ye Tianshi said: “Qi deficiency and Yang deficiency are the root causes, while excessive phlegm and dampness are the symptoms.” Regardless of whether it is greasy, fatty, or fleshy, the focus of weight loss is to eliminate dampness, resolve phlegm, and clear heat, with the ultimate goal being to activate blood circulation and resolve stasis.
In dietary therapy, there are many recipes for activating blood circulation and resolving stasis. Today, I recommend a kelp and mung bean soup, which is easy to make and can effectively eliminate dampness, resolve phlegm, clear heat, and activate blood circulation and resolve stasis.
Ingredients: Kelp (15g), mung beans (15g), sweet almonds (9g), rose petals (6g), brown sugar (a little).
Cooking and Consumption Method: Combine all ingredients in a pot, add water, simmer to make soup, and finally add brown sugar for flavor. Consume once a day, with a treatment course of about 25 days.
Obesity has existed since ancient times, and like other diseases, it is essential to identify the cause and apply the appropriate remedies to achieve effective weight loss results.
Especially for those relying on fruits and vegetables for weight loss, it is crucial to note that cold and cool foods promote dampness. If this continues for a long time, it will not only hinder weight loss but also lead to phlegm accumulation and obesity. Therefore, weight loss should focus on addition, replenishing Qi and Yang as the root and foundation.
Lin Xiaomei Light and Beautiful Skin Essence 5ml*10 packs, take one essence and evenly apply it to the abdomen, massaging in a clockwise direction for 10 minutes. This promotes meridian circulation and dispels dampness, reducing fat. 1. TCM ingredients (Saffron + Angelica + Mugwort + Ginger) are combined to open the abdominal meridians, accelerate fat metabolism, and reduce fat volume. ① Monarch (Saffron): Activates blood circulation and resolves stasis, detoxifies and calms the mind, suitable for postpartum stasis and detoxification. ② Minister (Angelica): Nourishes blood, activates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, relieves pain, and promotes the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells, having a bidirectional regulatory effect on the uterus. ③ Assistant (Mugwort): Dispels cold, warms the meridians, relieves pain, dispels dampness, and stops bleeding. ④ Envoy (Ginger): Releases the exterior and disperses cold, warming and promoting circulation, having the effect of inducing sweating and dispelling wind-cold. 2. Promotes meridian opening, expelling damp-cold Qi, and enhances intestinal peristalsis, achieving abdominal cleansing and slimming. Lin Xiaomei Qi Ai Warm Waist Patch 10 pieces, used after the essence, applied to the abdomen. Warms the uterus and abdomen, activates blood circulation, and expels turbidity. 1. Promotes the absorption of the essence and accelerates its effects. 2. Warms the uterus, dispels cold, expels turbidity, and warms the entire body.
