Yin is cold, Yang is hot; Yin is blood, Yang is Qi; when Yin and Yang are balanced, all diseases disappear.
A tree’s most important part is its roots. When the leaves turn yellow, it is difficult to find the cause from above. By looking down at the roots, you can easily understand whether it is due to overwatering, drought, pests, or the need for loosening the soil.
For a person, the most important aspect is Qi and blood. If a certain part of the body is uncomfortable, one should not only focus on that part but should look for the cause in Qi and blood.
When Qi and blood are balanced, pain will naturally disappear. If you treat a headache with a headache remedy or foot pain with a foot remedy without addressing the root cause of Qi and blood, you may find yourself running around in vain.
Why is this? Because Qi and blood are flowing, and diseases are also moving.
Imagine the body as a barrel, the disease as the water inside the barrel, and Qi and blood as the wooden planks that make up the barrel.
From birth to death, diseases lurk in our bodies, just like water in a barrel. What we need to do is keep the diseases hidden and not let them flow out.
The reason why some people live long is that they keep their barrel full of water; those who die young have only a little water in their barrel, which leaks out.
Please note: The amount of water a barrel can hold is not determined by the longest plank but by the shortest one.
A person’s lifespan is not determined by the strongest part of their body but by the weakest part.
A sixty-year-old actor has been hospitalized for over three months, and his condition is severe. Initially, he only had trouble biting his tongue while eating, but it later developed into an inability to lift his arms above his head.
The hospital diagnosed him with myasthenia gravis. He has been tormented by illness to the point of being unrecognizable. His eyelids droop, and he sits weakly on the hospital bed, speaking with great difficulty, making it almost impossible to hear what he says.
His wife said: “His heart is very good; the doctor said he could live for another 50 years based on his heart alone; look at his blood pressure, it is also very normal.”
After carefully reviewing the health report, it was clear that many of the actor’s indicators were very good, even better than many young people could achieve. However, the unfortunate reality is that the health of the body is not determined by the good indicators but by the worst one among them.
Upon checking the actor’s pulse, it was evident that his spleen and stomach were severely deficient, and the great Qi in his chest had begun to sink.
The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal health and the source of Qi and blood production. If the spleen and stomach are damaged, Qi and blood will become severely imbalanced; if Qi and blood are imbalanced, the wooden planks in the body will be uneven in length; if the planks are uneven, water will leak out from the shorter planks. Unfortunately, it was as predicted, and not long after, it was reported that the actor had passed away.
If 99% of a person’s body is healthy, but 1% has a serious problem, then that person’s health will be determined by that worst 1%.
The quality of the body does not depend on how good the good parts are, but rather on how bad the bad parts are. Therefore, the principle of health preservation is to seek balance in the body, and the key to body balance is the balance of Qi and blood.
When Qi and blood are balanced, although the good parts of the body may not be very prominent, the bad parts will improve. Thus, your weaknesses will become strengths.
In practice, I have encountered various patients. Some strong and robust patients appear to be in good health with no apparent issues. However, upon checking their pulse and examining their tongue, I find problems; their Qi and blood are extremely imbalanced. These individuals generally belong to the category of Yang excess and Yin deficiency.
One patient, in his fifties, was muscular and energetic. He claimed he could swim 2000 meters in one go and play basketball without taking a break. One would think such a person is very healthy!
However, this is not the case, as what we see are merely the strengths of his body; the weakness is hidden. Sure enough, upon checking his pulse, it was discovered that he had Yin deficiency and excessive internal heat, and upon inquiry, it was revealed that he had been suffering from diabetes for three years.
His weakness lay in the pancreas, and if he did not find a way to strengthen this weakness, his strengths would be of no use, and his lifespan could be imagined.
We often see such individuals around us; they appear strong and healthy, yet one day they suddenly fall ill and are hospitalized, only to pass away within a few days.
Conversely, some people frequently visit the hospital, seemingly suffering from various ailments, yet they live long lives.
The reason is that the former have long strengths and short weaknesses, while the latter have neither long strengths nor short weaknesses. When the body is balanced, longevity naturally follows.
When the Yin and Yang of heaven and earth are harmonious, all industries begin to prosper; when the Qi and blood of the human body are balanced, various diseases will gradually improve.
When the Qi and blood of the heart gradually balance, symptoms like palpitations, anxiety, and chest tightness will gradually disappear, and heart disease will slowly improve; when the Qi and blood of the stomach and intestines gradually balance, diseases like enteritis and gastric ulcers will also gradually improve; when the Qi and blood of the liver balance, liver diseases will gradually improve…
Therefore, Qi and blood are the center of health preservation, and balance is the principle of Qi and blood. When Qi and blood are adjusted to balance, the weak can live long; if Qi and blood are imbalanced, even a strong person may die suddenly.
Yin and Yang in the human body mainly manifest in two aspects: one is cold and heat, and the other is Qi and blood. Cold is Yin, heat is Yang; blood is Yin, Qi is Yang. Only when Yin and Yang are balanced can cold and heat be balanced, and Qi and blood can flow smoothly. Thus, when Yin and Yang are adjusted, all diseases disappear.
What is Qi?
Qi is the most fundamental element of life; everyone lives on a breath of Qi. Whether a person is sick can be determined by their complexion, which reflects the Qi and blood within the body.
In TCM, there is a saying about observing the Qi. What is observed? It is the complexion. Qi is the manifestation of the body’s internal Qi on the surface; color is the manifestation of the body’s internal blood on the surface.
If a person’s Qi is about to disperse, it indicates that their life is nearing its end. TCM states: “The life and death of a person depend entirely on Qi; when Qi gathers, there is life; when Qi disperses, there is death.”
One day, I met a deeply skilled acupuncturist who said that to determine whether a person can be saved, just one needle is enough.
He said: “When a person’s life state is stable, the needle goes in tightly; if a person is about to die, the needle goes in like it is piercing tofu, loose and slack, indicating that their Qi is about to disperse and cannot gather together anymore.”
Thus, the “Nanjing” states: “Qi is the foundation of a person.”
In the human body, Qi, as described in the “Neijing,” is called “Ren Qi,” which consists of three parts: the first is the innate Qi from the Great Circulation, which mainly comes from the essence of the parents, also known as Jing Qi, the fundamental Qi of the body, comparable to the original shares in the stock market.
The second is the Qi from food and drink, which mainly comes from the energy contained in the various foods we eat.
For example, a red apple’s red skin is a transformation of solar energy; a sweet potato’s yellowish color is a transformation of earth’s Qi…
TCM emphasizes the properties and flavors of medicines, and the same applies to food.
What is the nature of food? It is the Qi of food, which is divided into four types, also known as the Four Qi: cold, hot, warm, and cool.
When people consume these foods containing the Four Qi, they will transform the Qi in the food into Qi within the body in the spleen and stomach, which is also known as “Gu Qi.”
The innate essence from the Great Circulation is just a small initial investment, and no further investment is made, so I often use the analogy of original shares in stock investment. This original share, although small, has enormous potential for appreciation; just think about it, that little essence can eventually grow into a large person.
Gu Qi is different from the innate essence; Gu Qi can be continuously supplied. I often compare it to additional shares. You see, some stocks rise so high because they are continuously financing and issuing additional shares.
If a person does not have a continuous supply of Gu Qi, they will quickly die; if a company does not have capital to continuously issue additional shares, it will go bankrupt.
Another source of Qi comes from the clear Qi of nature, which is the external Great Circulation Qi that relies on the lung’s breathing function and the kidney’s ability to absorb Qi.
The clear Qi enters the body with breathing and must not be interrupted. The “Huangdi Neijing” states: “A person is born from the earth and hangs their life on the heavens; when heaven and earth combine Qi, it is called a person.”
After inheriting the essence, a life is born, but whether this life can grow into an adult depends on the weather and the earth’s Qi. A person absorbs earth Qi from grains and weather Qi from nature; only when the Qi of heaven and earth harmonizes within the body can life grow.
So why is it said that life hangs on the heavens? Think about it, a person can live without eating the grains of the earth for ten days or half a month, but without breathing the air of heaven, they may not live for even ten minutes. This is what it means to hang life on the heavens.
What is blood?
If Qi is the root of life, then blood is the foundation of that root. TCM states: “Qi is the commander of blood, and blood is the mother of Qi.” Qi is Yang, active, and warming; blood is Yin, passive, and nourishing.
Qi and blood are like a loving couple; they are different yet interdependent, living together in the family of the body.
Qi, as the husband, determines the direction of the entire family, providing warmth and support like sunlight; during stormy nights, he stands up to shield his wife and children from the wind and rain.
Blood, as the wife, is like the moon, gentle and nurturing, unconditionally supporting the family; when the husband encounters trouble, she will help without hesitation.
Thus, Qi cannot exist without blood, and blood cannot exist without Qi. Qi can generate blood, circulate blood, and contain blood; blood can generate Qi, nourish Qi, and carry Qi.
A good family is based on the harmony of the couple; a good body is based on the balance of Qi and blood. If the couple is not harmonious, the whole family will face endless troubles; if Qi and blood are imbalanced, whether Qi deficiency or blood deficiency, various diseases will follow. The “Huangdi Neijing” states: “When Qi and blood are out of harmony, all diseases arise.”
Is insufficient Qi and blood the reason for aging? There are many methods to tonify Qi and nourish blood.
Qi and blood are the foundation of life; the biggest difference between the living and the dead is Qi and blood. Do you see Qi and blood in the dead? No, right?
It can be said without exaggeration that no one with insufficient Qi and blood will live long! The saying “to cut off Qi” indicates the death of an organism; without Qi, there is no life, so is this Qi not important?
Insufficient Qi and blood correspond to Qi deficiency and blood deficiency in TCM. The result of insufficient Qi and blood leads to the decline of organ function, causing premature aging.
Qi deficiency can manifest as cold limbs, spontaneous sweating, dizziness, tinnitus, mental fatigue, weakness, palpitations, shortness of breath, and developmental delays.
Blood deficiency can manifest as pale complexion, dry skin, brittle hair, cracked nails, blurred vision, numbness in hands and feet, insomnia with vivid dreams, forgetfulness, palpitations, and mental confusion.
If we compare the human body to a growing plant, Qi is the sunlight, and blood is the rain; both work together to help the body thrive. Once Qi and blood are insufficient, it will lead to a comprehensive collapse of bodily functions.
Qi is the commander of blood, which means Qi can generate blood, Qi can circulate blood, and Qi can contain blood.
Qi can generate blood: The process of blood formation cannot be separated from Qi transformation. Whether it is the transformation of food into refined essence, refined essence into nutritive Qi and body fluids, or essence into blood, all require the action of Qi.
When Qi is abundant, blood production is sufficient. When Qi is deficient, it affects blood formation, leading to blood deficiency.
Qi can contain blood: Qi has a controlling effect on blood, allowing it to circulate in the vessels without overflowing. The controlling effect of Qi is mainly realized by the Qi of the spleen. If the spleen Qi is deficient, it cannot contain blood, leading to various bleeding disorders, known as “Qi cannot contain blood.”
Qi can circulate blood: The circulation of blood in the vessels relies on the propulsion of Qi; hence, “when Qi moves, blood moves; when Qi stagnates, blood clots.” The movement of heart Qi, lung Qi, and liver Qi is closely related to blood circulation; any dysfunction in these links can lead to poor blood flow.
Blood is the mother of Qi: Blood is the carrier of Qi and also the source of Qi’s nourishment. Therefore, Qi cannot exist without blood. Clinically, blood deficiency can lead to a lack of nourishment for Qi, resulting in Qi deficiency. When blood is lost, Qi has no support, and thus Qi also dissipates.
Thus, it is evident that Qi and blood are closely related, interlinked, and inseparable. Therefore, when we tonify Qi, we must not forget to tonify blood; when we tonify blood, we must not forget to tonify Qi.
Methods to Tonify Qi and Nourish Blood in TCM
(1) Sixteen Methods to Tonify Qi
Secret herbs to tonify Qi: Huang Qi (Astragalus), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Tai Zi Shen (Pseudostellaria), Huang Jing (Polygonatum), Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes), etc.
Chinese herbal formulas to tonify Qi: Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Pill), Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (Ten Complete Great Tonifying Decoction), Gui Pi Wan (Restore the Spleen Pill), Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder), etc.
Moxibustion to tonify Qi: Zu San Li (ST36), Shen Que (CV8), Guan Yuan (CV4), Pi Shu (BL20), Qi Hai (CV6), Bai Hui (GV20), Fei Shu (BL13), etc.
Acupuncture to tonify Qi: Zu San Li (ST36), Bai Hui (GV20), San Yin Jiao (SP6), Qi Hai (CV6), Guan Yuan (CV4), Pi Shu (BL20), Fei Shu (BL13), etc.
Herbal teas to tonify Qi: Ren Shen Ling Zhi Cha (Ginseng and Reishi Tea), Huang Qi Gou Qi Cha (Astragalus and Goji Tea), Xi Yang Shen Mai Dong Cha (American Ginseng and Ophiopogon Tea), etc.
Medicinal dishes to tonify Qi: Huang Qi Xin Fei Tang (Astragalus and Heart Chicken Soup), Ren Shen Stewed with Hen, Dang Shen Stewed with Pork Ribs, etc.
Medicinal wines to tonify Qi: Huang Qi (Astragalus), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Ling Zhi (Reishi), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berries) soaked in wine.
Dietary methods to tonify Qi: Sea cucumber, eggs, red dates, cow and sheep placenta, gorgon fruit, yam, lotus seeds, etc.
Exercise to tonify Qi: Qigong, Tai Chi, Daoyin, martial arts, fitness exercises, and appropriate activities.
Lifestyle methods to tonify Qi: Regular daily routine, balancing work and rest, maintaining a balanced mindset, etc.
Massage to tonify Qi: Massaging Zu San Li (ST36), Guan Yuan (CV4), abdominal kneading, and spine pinching.
Medical treatment to tonify Qi: Treating diseases early and thoroughly, do not delay, to prevent prolonged illness from depleting Qi.
Post-illness Qi tonification: After major illnesses or surgeries, timely adjustment of deficiencies is necessary to prevent Qi deficiency.
Techniques to tonify Qi: Breathing exercises, focusing on the Dantian, maintaining a moderate level of hunger and cold, and practicing moderation in all things.
(2) Sixteen Methods to Nourish Blood in TCM
Secret herbs to nourish blood: Dang Gui (Angelica), He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti), E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia), Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berries), Huang Qi (Astragalus), etc.
Chinese herbal formulas to nourish blood: Shi Quan Da Bu Gao (Ten Complete Great Tonifying Paste), Gui Pi Wan (Restore the Spleen Pill), Fu Fang E Jiao Jiang (Compound E Jiao Paste), Dang Gui Bu Xue Gao (Angelica Blood Nourishing Paste), etc.
Dietary methods to nourish blood: Longan, old hen, red dates, egg yolks, pig liver, lean meat, fish, etc.
Lifestyle methods to nourish blood: Regular lifestyle, balancing work and rest, maintaining balanced nutrition, cooking with iron pots, avoiding strong tea.
Conservation methods to nourish blood: Avoid prolonged viewing that harms blood, prolonged thinking that depletes blood, prolonged labor that exhausts blood, and external injuries that cause bleeding.
Medical treatment to nourish blood: Preventing and treating bleeding, kidney failure, aplastic anemia, excessive menstruation, and other diseases.
Western medicine to nourish blood: Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, ferrous fumarate, etc.
Infusion to nourish blood: Plasma, whole blood, Shen Mai injection, etc.
Post-surgery blood nourishment: After major illnesses, surgeries, childbirth, or abortions, one should nourish Qi and blood promptly.
Medicinal wines to nourish blood: Huang Qi (Astragalus), Dang Gui (Angelica), Ren Shen (Ginseng), He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti), Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berries) soaked in wine.
Herbal teas to nourish blood: Dang Gui Longan Tea, Gou Qi Black Sesame Tea, Suan Zao Ren Tea, etc.
Medicinal dishes to nourish blood: Huang Qi Dang Gui Stewed Old Hen, Dang Gui Lamb Soup, etc.
Acupuncture to nourish blood: Zu San Li (ST36), San Yin Jiao (SP6), Pi Shu (BL20), Xue Hai (SP10), Ge Shu (BL17), etc.
Moxibustion to nourish blood: Zu San Li (ST36), San Yin Jiao (SP6), Shen Que (CV8), Zhong Wan (CV12), Xue Hai (SP10), etc.
Thread embedding to nourish blood: Zu San Li (ST36), Shen Shu (BL23), Pi Shu (BL20), Gan Shu (BL18), etc.
(3) How to Adjust Insufficient Qi and Blood in Daily Life
1. Exercise regularly
Some people do not have a good habit of exercising and spend long periods sitting or being still. Lack of exercise can easily obstruct the normal flow of Qi and blood, so exercising regularly can effectively promote smoother circulation of Qi and blood, which is especially important for improving Qi stagnation and blood stasis.
2. Ensure sufficient sleep
There is a saying: “Food supplementation is not as good as sleep supplementation.” Compared to dietary therapy, sleep therapy is more convenient and simple, so it is essential to maintain a good sleep habit.
Because from 11 PM to around 2 AM is a crucial period for the metabolism and repair of various organs in the body. Only when the body is in a deep sleep state during this time can it better regulate the functions of the organs, which is also an important way to promote the generation of fresh blood.
If one stays up late during this time, it will lead to the depletion of Qi and blood, resulting in insufficient Qi and blood over time.
Regarding cancer:
Cancer terrifies many people, but it is not entirely impossible to escape its clutches. Recently, the American “Network Medicine Doctor” website published a summary of the “cancer symptoms that men and women most easily overlook” by experts from the American Cancer Society, reminding everyone to catch the subtle signs of cancer.
Surveys show that compared to late-stage patients, whose five-year survival rate after treatment is only 10%-30%, early-stage cancer patients can achieve a five-year survival rate of up to 70%-95% with proper treatment.
Symptoms of lung cancer and liver cancer: No fever for five years
People who do not have a fever should be cautious of liver and lung cancer. No fever may seem like good health, but it actually indicates very poor immunity and declining bodily functions, with no response to pathogenic factors.
Symptoms of lung cancer and liver cancer: Waking up frequently at night
Waking up frequently between 1 AM and 3 AM may indicate liver cancer, while waking up between 3 AM and 5 AM may indicate lung cancer. This generally occurs 2-3 years before diagnosis!
Breast cancer symptoms: Noticeable size difference between the two breasts
Women with noticeably different breast sizes, who are irritable during menstruation or have emotional distress, may not only develop this disease but may also suffer from ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids. (Prevention is greater than treatment; for the health of friends around you, please take 3-5 seconds to share this in your circle of friends.)
Additionally, women with blood deficiency and dryness heat may experience hot palms during menstruation, mistakenly diagnosed as excessive lung fire, and taking medications to clear lung fire may lead to breast cancer.
Colon cancer symptoms: Dry stools with blood
Long-term dry stools with blood, increased frequency of bowel movements, and sometimes passing mucus-like stools should be addressed. Those with these conditions must ensure their stools become softer, which can be achieved through diet and TCM.
Long-term dry stools can cause friction in the intestines, and if they irritate a tumor, it can accelerate tumor growth!
Others
Anyone who has not had acne for two years (even after eating a lot of spicy food); those who are not hungry at regular intervals; those whose athlete’s foot suddenly stops itching; those who feel their skin is hot but have no fever; those whose skin becomes tight but lacks elasticity; those who have low-grade fever every afternoon; those with red veins in the eyes; those whose faces turn pale or dark should be cautious.
It is best to check early; if nothing is found, one should still take good care of themselves, as tumors may not be detectable when small. Of course, not everything is cancer; just be cautious and take care of your body!
PS: Everyone has cancer cells in their body; as long as your immune function is strong, there is no problem. Therefore, cancer is like a spring; if you are weak, it becomes strong! Actively cultivating good habits plays a far greater role in cancer prevention than treatment!
[Signs Before Major Illnesses]
Let me teach you some simple methods to identify subtle changes in the body.
∽ Morning Section ∽
Dizziness and lightheadedness: Waking up in the morning feeling dizzy and lightheaded may indicate cervical spondylosis or high blood viscosity.
Intense hunger pangs: Waking up between 4-5 AM with intense hunger pangs and fatigue that only disappears after breakfast may indicate a tendency towards diabetes.
Bad breath: This may indicate problems with the stomach or liver, or it could be caused by periodontal disease.
Ammonia-like smell in the mouth: Pay special attention to kidney health.
A gray ring around the cornea: This may indicate heart problems, and if it is a male aged 30-50, he should contact a doctor immediately.
Flushed face: This may be related to heart disease or high blood pressure.
Nausea: Excluding pregnancy, if this occurs every morning, it may indicate chronic gastritis.
∽ Daytime Section ∽
Upper abdominal pain after eating greasy food, radiating to the right shoulder and back: This may indicate liver and gallbladder disease.
Increased appetite but weight loss: This may indicate hyperthyroidism.
Lack of appetite, nausea at the sight of greasy food, and easy fatigue: This may indicate hepatitis.
Always experiencing acid reflux, bloating, or abdominal pain after meals: This indicates food stagnation; one should eat more fresh vegetables and maintain a light, easily digestible diet.
Slow nail growth, lack of luster, and yellowing/thickening: This may indicate problems with the lymphatic system.
Prominent veins on the back of the hands: This phenomenon may occur with age, but it can also indicate heart disease.
Moist palms: Excessive excitement or nervousness can cause sweating in the palms; if this occurs frequently, it may indicate thyroid abnormalities.
Enlargement or new moles: Be cautious of skin cancer.
Skin showing redness not caused by friction: This may be a precursor to liver disease.
Frequent leg cramps waking you up: This may indicate calcium deficiency or arteriosclerosis.
Among these signs, men and women should pay attention to different aspects, but there are 13 signs that both should be aware of:
Men should pay attention to:
1. Changes in the testicles. Testicular cancer is most common in men aged 20-39. The American Cancer Society recommends that men self-examine their testicles monthly for changes in size, noticeable swelling or shrinkage, lumps in the scrotum, or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum; if there are issues, seek medical attention promptly.
Especially if there is a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, as if a coal ball is placed inside, and it lasts for more than a week, see a doctor for diagnosis. This is a typical precursor to testicular cancer, requiring blood tests and scrotal ultrasound.
2. Urination issues. As men age, urinary problems become increasingly common, with frequent urination, urgency, or incomplete urination being common. If symptoms worsen, especially with a strong urge to urinate, be cautious of prostate cancer. A digital rectal exam will inform you if there is prostate enlargement, which is a major symptom of prostate cancer.
Women should pay attention to:
1. Abdominal bloating. Many women think bloating is very common and do not take it seriously. However, this may be a symptom of ovarian cancer. Liu Jun Tian, director of the Tumor Prevention Medicine Center at Tianjin Cancer Hospital, explains that persistent abdominal swelling, pressure, pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, and difficulty eating or feeling full quickly for several weeks may indicate ovarian cancer.
2. Irregular bleeding. Dr. Daly, an oncologist in the U.S., states that abnormal vaginal bleeding between menstrual cycles and blood in urine or stool is often overlooked by women. These can be significant signs of common gynecological cancers—endometrial cancer, with at least 3/4 of women with this symptom later diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Blood in stool may indicate colon cancer.
Both men and women should pay attention to:
1. Breast lumps. Breast cancer is not exclusive to women; men should also actively prevent it. If women notice redness or lumps in their breast skin, they should be particularly cautious. “Especially if a rash appears on the breast and persists for several weeks, it must be checked.” Dr. Hannah Linden, an oncologist, states. Additionally, she points out that for non-lactating women, if the nipple retracts and frequently discharges fluid, it is also a bad sign. For men, if the skin of the breast wrinkles, the nipple retracts or is asymmetrical, or if the breast becomes red and swollen with lumps, these are signs of inflammation and symptoms of breast cancer. Liu Jun Tian further explains that these breast lumps are generally painless but gradually enlarge.
2. Pain. The American Cancer Society states that as people age, bodily pain increases. However, if pain appears in a specific area without an apparent cause and lasts for more than a week, the cause should be investigated promptly, as unexplained pain may be a sign of cancer. For example, persistent abdominal pain may indicate colon cancer, chest pain may be caused by lung cancer, and bone pain may indicate cancer metastasis. Liu Jun Tian points out that pancreatic cancer may manifest as persistent dull or cramping pain in the upper abdomen, around the navel or right upper abdomen, which may be intermittent or continuous and usually worsens, radiating to the back.
3. Changes in lymph nodes. Dr. Linden states that regardless of the body part, especially if lymph nodes in the armpit or neck become enlarged, one should not take it lightly. If lymph nodes continue to enlarge for more than a month, it may indicate breast cancer or brain cancer.
4. Fever. Fever is generally caused by flu, pneumonia, or other infections; however, unexplained fever may be a dangerous sign. The American Cancer Society states that when cancer spreads to other organs, it usually causes fever. Lymphoma, leukemia, and other blood cancers also have fever symptoms. Xu Zhijian, director of the Cancer Prevention Department at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, adds that lymphoma in the early to mid-stages may present as persistent low-grade fever, with a temperature around 38 degrees Celsius, and may lead to high fever when combined with infection. Necessary examinations include chest X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans.
5. Unexplained weight loss. Losing weight without effort is indeed pleasing, but if one loses 10% of their weight within a month without increasing physical activity or reducing food intake, they should seek medical attention promptly. Rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, and recurrent diarrhea and constipation are common symptoms of lung cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer, and colon cancer; for women, it may also indicate hyperthyroidism.
6. Persistent abdominal pain accompanied by depression. Dr. Leonardo Lichtfield, an official at the American Cancer Society, states that if abdominal pain persists and is accompanied by depressive symptoms, it may indicate pancreatic cancer. Experts have found a significant relationship between depression and pancreatic cancer. Other symptoms include jaundice or abnormally gray stools.
7. Fatigue. Generally speaking, feeling fatigued is a sign that cancer has developed, but for leukemia, colon cancer, and stomach cancer, fatigue may be felt even in the early stages of the disease. What distinguishes cancer-related fatigue from ordinary fatigue? Experts from the American Cancer Society state that ordinary fatigue disappears after resting, while cancer-related fatigue persists regardless of rest.
8. Persistent cough. Dr. Ranita Michery from Georgetown University Medical Center states that if an unexplained cough persists for more than 3-4 weeks, one should see a doctor promptly, as it may indicate lung cancer or throat cancer.
9. Difficulty swallowing. Dr. Lichtfield states that long-term difficulty swallowing may indicate throat cancer, esophageal cancer, or stomach cancer, and one should undergo X-ray chest scans or gastroscopy as soon as possible. Difficulty swallowing generally refers to pain behind the sternum when eating, a feeling of something stuck in the esophagus, and a sensation of food moving slowly down the esophagus, or even stopping in the esophagus.
10. Skin changes. Dr. Mary Daly, an oncologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, reminds that sudden lumps or pigmentation changes in the skin may indicate skin cancer. After observing for several weeks, one should see a doctor immediately. Additionally, regardless of age, if the skin suddenly bleeds or shows abnormal peeling, one should also see a doctor.
11. Abnormal bleeding. Dr. Michery states that blood in the stool, aside from hemorrhoids, may likely indicate colon cancer, and if necessary, one should undergo colonoscopy for colon cancer screening. Chen Shan, chief physician of the Urology Department at Beijing Tongren Hospital, also reminds that individuals over 40, excluding women during menstruation, should be cautious of bladder cancer or kidney cancer if they experience painless hematuria or difficulty urinating. In addition to blood in the stool, if the tumor grows near the anus, it may also cause changes in stool shape, increased frequency, or even difficulty in defecation.
12. Oral changes. The American Cancer Society points out that smokers should pay special attention to white patches appearing on the mouth and tongue, as this may be a precursor to oral cancer—oral leukoplakia.
13. Indigestion. Men (especially older men) and women (excluding during pregnancy) who experience prolonged unexplained indigestion may be showing symptoms of esophageal cancer, throat cancer, or stomach cancer.
The secrets to cancer prevention are very simple:
A) Develop good habits, quit smoking, and limit alcohol. The World Health Organization predicts that if people stop smoking, cancer rates will decrease by one-third in five years; secondly, do not drink excessively. Smoking and drinking are highly acidic substances, and long-term smoking and drinking can easily lead to an acidic constitution.
B) Avoid excessive consumption of salty and spicy foods, do not eat overly hot, cold, expired, or spoiled foods; elderly or weak individuals or those with certain hereditary diseases should consume some cancer-preventive foods and high-alkaline foods to maintain a good mental state.
C) Maintain a good mindset to cope with stress, balance work and rest, and avoid excessive fatigue. It is evident that stress is a significant cancer trigger; TCM believes that stress leads to overwork and weakness, resulting in decreased immune function, endocrine disorders, and metabolic disturbances, leading to the accumulation of acidic substances in the body; stress can also cause mental tension, leading to Qi stagnation and blood stasis, and internal heat.
D) Strengthen physical exercise to enhance physical fitness, exercise more in the sun, and sweating can help expel acidic substances from the body, preventing the formation of an acidic constitution.
E) Maintain a regular lifestyle; irregular habits, such as singing karaoke all night, playing mahjong, or staying out late, can exacerbate the acidic constitution and increase the risk of cancer. One should develop good habits to maintain a weak alkaline constitution and keep various cancer diseases at bay.
F) Avoid consuming contaminated foods, such as contaminated water, crops, poultry, fish, eggs, and moldy foods; eat organic foods to prevent diseases from entering through the mouth.
Finally:
Over thousands of years, TCM has become increasingly mythologized and has faced attacks from extreme scientific rationalists who label it as pseudoscience. People describe TCM as: national medicine, profound and extensive, ensuring health without question. Unfortunately, concepts like Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, Seven Emotions, Six Desires, Eight Principles of Diagnosis, Qi and Blood, Body Fluids, Deficiency and Excess, Cold and Heat, Generation and Control, Organs and Meridians, are difficult to understand and cannot be popularized…
Thus, few understand TCM, and even fewer use it; ordinary people know very little about TCM, and some scholars who speak about it seem to do so to showcase their knowledge.
Here, you must assume the role of an ancient person with limited understanding of nature; abandon your existing medical knowledge. Of course, for those who nitpick, I will also use modern scientific knowledge to validate.
1. Yin and Yang
What is Yin and Yang? Modern people have studied the theory of Yin and Yang so deeply that it has become increasingly distant from ordinary people. If you were an ancient person, you would notice that there are “sun” and “moon” in the sky. The sun has attributes of brightness, warmth, and daytime, while the moon has attributes of darkness, coldness, and nighttime. How about the things on the ground, in the world, and in nature? They need to be classified.
Let’s play a game. One person holds a flag with the word “sun” on it, and another holds a flag with the word “moon” on it, with a commander in the middle.
The commander poses a question, and then asks the soldiers below to gather under the moon flag if they believe it has “moon” attributes, or under the sun flag if they believe it has “sun” attributes. Over time, people created the terms Yin and Yang.
Now you see, “Yin” is a flag with the word “moon” on it, and “Yang” is a flag with the word “sun” on it. There are many such characters in Chinese, for example, “队” (team) is a group of people following a flag.
It turns out that Yin and Yang are just two definitions: anything with “moon” and its extended attributes is “Yin”; anything with “sun” and its extended attributes is “Yang.” Having only definitions is not enough; the key is whether it can lead to correct conclusions.
Let’s do some reasoning: during the day, the temperature rises, and in the morning, you can see water vapor rising in the fields; at night, the temperature drops, and water droplets condense on the leaves. Thus, we have up as Yang and down as Yin; water vapor as Yang and water droplets as Yin. This leads to the idea that light is Yang and heavy is Yin.
Through such extensions, we can analyze the positive and negative aspects of each thing, leading to concepts like “up and down,” “left and right,” “east and west,” “south and north,” “in and out,” “male and female,” “ruler and subject,” “parent and child,” “father and mother,” “children and daughters,” “husband and wife,” “good and bad,” “pain and itch,” “movement and stillness,” etc.
Whether the attributes derived from these deductions are correct needs verification. Ancient people verified through years of practical experience, inheriting what was correct and discarding what was incorrect. Of course, there were also limitations that prevented them from proving certain errors. For example, “south and north”; ancient people only knew that the south was hot and the north was cold.
However, if we place this in the present, we know that the southern hemisphere is exactly the opposite. But this does not hinder our use of the “south and north” Yin and Yang attributes; we just need to be aware of the limiting conditions and remember to reverse them when in the southern hemisphere.
Not only can practical experience verify Yin and Yang, but modern science can also verify it. Take water vapor and water droplets as an example; thermodynamics proves that water vapor at the same temperature contains more heat than water droplets. This heat is called latent heat, and when water vapor turns into water droplets, this heat is released to the outside, while water droplets turning into water vapor must absorb the same amount of heat.
Look at the common uses of Yin and Yang in TCM: discussing the body’s up and down, inside and outside, front and back, Qi and blood; discussing the environment’s dryness and humidity, heat and cold, wind and rain; discussing emotions of joy, anger, fear, worry, and thought. Of course, there are many more; it would take a page to list them all.
Reasoning: Up is Yang, down is Yin.
Proof: The head weighs less than 2% of the body but consumes 20% of the oxygen (the data may not be very precise, as this is written casually and not verified; the same applies below, so please do not quote). Chemical knowledge tells us that consuming oxygen generates heat, which is the basic attribute of Yang, so up being Yang conforms to the basic definition.
Reasoning: The surface is Yang, the inside is Yin.
Proof: The surface of the human body contains 80% of capillaries, which provide nutrients to the cells. The more capillaries there are, the stronger the metabolism (oxidation) in that area.
Some say modern medicine proves that the liver is the most metabolically active organ. I agree, but the liver’s metabolism is mainly reduction, which absorbs heat. This heat can be calculated using modern chemical knowledge. Since this is a popular science article, I will not delve deeper.
Some also say that the surface temperature of the body is low while the internal temperature is high, so the inside should be Yang and the surface should be Yin. Here’s an example: in winter, there is a habit of having a heated wall in the north. The temperature of the heated wall is higher than that of the room, so the surface is Yang and the inside is Yin.
However, someone measured the indoor temperature and then measured the outdoor temperature of the wall, finding that the wall’s temperature was lower than the indoor temperature, leading to the conclusion that the inside is Yang and the surface is Yin. The error here is mixing the Yin and Yang attributes of one thing with those of two different things.
Similarly, we can easily deduce the Yin and Yang attributes of other things. It is important to note that “Qi and blood” are often dismissed in modern science as non-existent, which is actually a reflection of ignorance regarding ancient people’s understanding of nature.
Ancient people referred to all things that were invisible and intangible but could be felt as “Qi.” With modern knowledge, we can understand that there are two things that are invisible and intangible but can be felt: 1. Air, 2. Energy.
“Qi and blood” is blood with energy; in modern terms, it is moving blood. Moving blood is Yang, while stagnant blood is Yin. When you read the “Neijing,” when you encounter “Qi,” if it cannot be explained by air, it can be well explained by energy. If you have the “Neijing” at hand, I would quote a few passages.
From this, we can see that TCM studies living people—those with Qi—while Western medicine believes there is no difference between the living and the dead; when a person dies, not a single molecule is lost.
TCM sees the Yin and Yang attributes of living people, with the trunk being Yin and the spirit being Yang. The term “spirit” is used here because people have misunderstood these two words, and it is necessary to clarify to prevent extreme scientific rationalists from making absurd claims.
Spirit refers to the divine that brings forth all things. — “Shuowen Jiezi”
Brightness is the combination of Yin and Yang.
“Spirit” is the combination of the divine that brings forth Yin and Yang, which is life. I have made efforts to find the ancient term for “life,” but have not found it.
In ancient times, “life” was just life, and “命” (ming) was just fate; they were never used together. It was modern people (the earliest seems to be in the Ming Dynasty) who combined “spirit” and “命” into “life.”
We can also find answers from the phrases containing “spirit,” such as spirit energy, spirit expression, spirit state, spirit, concentrating spirit, laboring spirit, and focusing spirit… Here, “spirit” describes a kind of vitality. TCM states that “the heart governs the spirit,” and now we can understand why “the heart governs the spirit” means “the heart governs life.”
It is particularly annoying that many people today (including many TCM masters) confuse “spirit” with “wisdom.”
“The heart governs life” is easy to understand, right? You might say, “Yes.” But wait, you are imagining the “heart” here as the heart in Western medicine. Although the heart also controls life, that is a misinterpretation. The following will explain what TCM’s “heart” is all about.
2. The Five Elements
Throughout the long process of evolution, humanity gradually recognized nature. As early as the era of primates, they knew that trees and fruits could satisfy hunger; water could quench thirst and cleanse; and land was fundamental, as trees grow on land and water flows on land.
As time passed, humans discovered fire. Fire brought warmth and light to humanity. In the Stone Age, humans learned to use tools. Tools were continuously updated, first stone tools, then bronze tools, and later iron tools. TCM was born during the transition between the bronze and iron ages.
At that time, human understanding of nature was quite superficial; in modern terms, it was essential for life and production. Wood and water were essential for life, while fire and tools were essential for production. Of course, modern people no longer eat raw foods, and fire has also become a necessity for life.
Trees and fruits can come in thousands of varieties, but their commonality is to satisfy hunger; water can quench thirst and cleanse, but fruits can also quench thirst, while cleansing is irreplaceable; fire brings warmth and light to humanity, and also provides the means for smelting copper and iron. Since all tools were made of metal at that time, “metal” became synonymous with tools, representing a means to improve efficiency, or in modern terms, labor productivity.
Land is the foundation; trees grow on land, water flows on land, fire burns in the earth (in earthen stoves), and metal is smelted from the earth, so land nurtures all things, making it the leader of the Five Elements, positioned in the center.
Why do people today struggle to understand the “Five Elements”? Because they view the “Five Elements” as five types of matter. However, ancient people saw the essence of different things from phenomena, finding commonalities and individualities among different things, and then summarizing and categorizing them. Modern people have more knowledge and more threads of reasoning, often failing to see the essence of things.
In fact, the “Five Elements” do not refer to matter but to functions. If we must associate them with matter, only “earth” can be considered one. Summarizing with modern concepts:
Wood: can satisfy hunger, providing energy to the body;
Water: can cleanse and nourish;
Fire: heat, energy;
Metal: labor, processing;
Earth: foundation.
In nature, watering grows wood, burning wood produces fire, extinguishing fire leaves earth, smelting earth produces metal, and digging wells yields water. Ancient people believed that humans are part of nature, and the laws of nature are also the laws of humans. This is the unity of heaven and man.
In this concept of the unity of heaven and man, modern people’s understanding has some deviations. People often interpret “unity” as merging, while ancient people understood “unity” as a collective agreement among many individuals, different people but with the same statement.
The unity of heaven and man means that whether it is heaven or human, the laws are the same, rather than considering humans and heaven together. It can be said that “the unity of heaven and man” is a hypothesis, and based on this hypothesis, it is deduced that humans also have Five Elements, and their operational laws are similar to those of the Five Elements in nature.
If the hypothesis is correct, then the result may be correct; if the hypothesis is wrong, then the result is wrong. Ancient people did not have the depth of understanding of the human body that we have today; they could only verify through practical experience. Now we can verify it at the cellular and molecular levels.
Humans have Five Elements, so there should be corresponding organs to perform the corresponding functions. Thus, we have the Five Zang organs. This is why there are only five Zang organs and not as many organs as there are in the human body. People often joke: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”
TCM is clear: the chicken came first, while Western medicine believes the egg came first. Western medicine first dissects an organ and then studies its function, and the deeper the research, the more functions are discovered, leading to a bottleneck in Western medicine research. The question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, will be explored in the next section.
The Five Elements correspond to the Five Zang organs: Earth corresponds to the spleen; Water corresponds to the kidneys; Wood corresponds to the liver; Fire corresponds to the heart; Metal corresponds to the lungs. This is why we refer to the “heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys” without matching them to the actual organs of the body.
As humanity progresses, people gradually understand the functions of certain organs, so they name organs with similar functions accordingly. It is essential to recognize that the Five Zang organs include the organs of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, but they are not the entirety of the Five Zang organs.
For example, the kidney organ belongs to the Water Zang, but the Water Zang is not just the kidney organ; sweat glands also belong to the Water Zang. If we analyze it at the cellular and molecular levels, then the reverse osmosis of the cell membrane belongs to the Water Zang.
Here, I have been using the term “kidney”; however, ancient people had already created the character “肾” (shen) for us. Why not use it? Because in the past century, Western medicine has appropriated the term “kidney,” leading people to associate “kidney” solely with the anatomical organ.
To distinguish between the Water Zang’s kidney and the anatomical kidney, in this article, I will refer to the Five Zang organs as heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, while the anatomical organs will be referred to as heart organ, liver organ, spleen organ, lung organ, and kidney organ.
Using the knowledge modern people possess, we can analyze that the spleen should be part of the digestive system, which is relatively simple; the kidneys, in addition to the urinary system, should also include part of the blood system; the liver is part of the digestive system plus part of the blood system; the heart is part of the blood system; the lungs are part of the respiratory system plus the blood system.
Why is the lung metal both the respiratory system and the blood system? The lung metal represents labor and processing, just as a person moves firewood from the woodpile to the kitchen to cook; this person represents the lung metal. In the blood, there are also such transporters—hemoglobin.
It transports “Qi” from the lung organ to various parts of the body, releasing it and then returning to the lung organ to transport again. If a person’s hemoglobin decreases (anemia), their complexion will be pale, referred to as lacking color. Thus, the “Neijing” states: “The lung color is white.”
Returning to the first section on Yin and Yang, the last question is why the heart is not the heart organ. There are two reasons: one is that there is a better explanation, and the other is how to explain lower organisms that do not have a heart organ. The better explanation is that the heart here refers to the original meaning of the heart—energy.
The heart governs spirit means that energy determines life; without energy, there is no life. Sometimes you will hear about heart Yang being excessive, which does not refer to the heart organ but indicates excessive metabolism. Such individuals have a red complexion, are not afraid of the cold, and have many bumps on their faces (because metabolic waste cannot be removed in time).
3. The Meridians
The importance of meridians in TCM cannot be overstated. However, to date, no one has found the “meridians.” This “finding” includes all currently available physical and chemical methods, leading many to doubt their existence. Here, I cannot say that I have found the meridians, but I can point out the misconceptions people have while searching for them.
To fully describe meridians, they should be divided into two parts: one is the acupoints, and the other is the information pathways connecting these acupoints to the body—the meridian lines. While acupoints may not be visible, they can be felt, and this has become an undeniable fact recognized by everyone. Therefore, I will not discuss acupoints but will focus on the meridian lines.
The meridian lines are mnemonic lines created by ancient people. To be precise, the meridian lines we use today are mnemonic lines created after the Song Dynasty.
Why use the Song Dynasty as a dividing point? This is because there was a bronze acupuncture model during the Song Dynasty, marked with meridian lines.
In the “Neijing,” the “Meridian Theory” states:
The Yellow Emperor asked: “The appearance of the meridians varies, with different colors: green, yellow, red, white, and black. What is the reason for this?” Qi Bo replied: “The meridians have constant colors, while the collaterals have variable colors.”
The Emperor asked: “What is the constant color of the meridians?” Qi Bo said: “The heart is red, the lung is white, the liver is green, the spleen is yellow, and the kidney is black, all corresponding to the colors of their respective meridians.” The Emperor asked: “Do the Yin and Yang of the collaterals also correspond to the meridians?” Qi Bo said: “The Yin collaterals correspond to the meridians, while the Yang collaterals change without constant colors, following the four seasons.”
When it is cold, it condenses and becomes blue-black; when it is hot, it becomes yellow-red. These are all constant colors, indicating no disease. When all five colors are present, it indicates cold and heat. The Emperor said: “Good.”
The Emperor asked: “The evil resides in the skin and hair, enters the collaterals, lingers and does not leave, obstructing the meridians, overflowing into the great collaterals, and causing strange diseases.” Now it is clear that the meridians are located between the muscles and the vessels.
Specifically: skin—muscle—collaterals—great collaterals—meridians—blood.
This is what the “Neijing” tells us about the meridians.
If we use modern knowledge for comparison, it is not difficult to find that “collaterals” refer to capillaries, while “meridians” refer to microvessels. Ancient people could not see capillaries and microvessels, but they established the concept of meridians through analogies with nature (this again proves the importance and correctness of analogies in TCM). Western medicine discovered capillaries and microvessels after the invention of the microscope, thousands of years later than TCM.
Furthermore, from a functional perspective, how does the “Neijing” describe the meridians?
The Emperor said: “In spring, the weather begins to open, the earth’s Qi begins to leak, the frost thaws, and the water flows through the meridians, so the human Qi is in the vessels. In summer, the meridians are full, Qi overflows, entering the collaterals to receive blood, and the skin becomes full. In late summer, the meridians are all full, overflowing into the muscles.
In autumn, the weather begins to collect, the pores close, and the skin becomes tense. In winter, it is covered and hidden, and blood and Qi are in the center, entering the bone marrow, connecting to the five organs. Therefore, evil Qi often follows the seasonal Qi and blood into the body, and when it changes, it cannot be measured, but it must follow its meridian Qi to expel the evil; once the evil is expelled, chaotic Qi does not arise.
Thus, “meridians” are the pathways through which Qi and blood flow, and they are essential for maintaining health.
In summary, the balance of Yin and Yang, the flow of Qi and blood, and the health of the body are all interconnected. Understanding these principles is crucial for maintaining health and preventing disease.