Causes of Disease:  The Six Climactic Factors 

The theories of Chinese Medicine posit three categories in the cause of disease: internal, external, and miscellaneous. The first of these categories, the internal factors, are the "seven emotions" and have been the subject of a previous newsletter.(Please go to the archives link and find 10/26/2010.) Miscellaneous factors are a collection of influences that include trauma, overwork, poor diet, parasites, poison, and more, and will likely be covered at some point in future newsletters.

Our subject today is the second category, the external influences, also referred to as climactic factors (or the six exogenous evils or the six pernicious influences).

In this era of climate change where it seems that cold is getting colder, hot is hotter, damp (wet) is damper, and wind is windier, (relative to time and place of course), it seems appropriate to give us all a lesson in these climactic influences. There are six and they are wind, cold, heat, summer heat, dampness, and dryness.

Chinese Medicine is a naturalistic medicine and sees the human being as a microcosm of its environment. Thus, we are subject to the influences of our weather, and climactic influences can literally invade our systems and show symptomatically in our bodies.

Modernly, climactic factors are not limited to the outside weather but can also be a product of manmade environments such as a space where the air conditioning is consistently too cold, or a steel mill or hot kitchen where the air is too warm. Maybe a room in an old house collects moisture and is too damp, etc.

A healthy balanced body/mind is generally adequate protection against these influences. Trouble comes either when exposure to the climactic factors is excessive or prolonged, and/or when the body is weak or vulnerable in relation to them. There is much that can be said about these influences, how they manifest in our bodies, and what appropriate behaviors and treatments are in relation to them. Some of this is common sense, and some peculiar to the Chinese Medicine point of view.

If you want to know more use this link, or check out the book recommended below for more info.

One of the behaviors referred to above to keep one healthy through

the seasons and in accord with the climate, is to eat appropriately.

Chinese Dietary Therapy has been part and parcel of Chinese medicine all along and is considered one of the highest forms of medicine, to be used initially in the presence of imbalance preliminary to acupuncture and herbs. Foods are categorized, as herbs are, with flavors (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, pungent and bland), natures (cold, cool, neutral, warm, and hot), and functions (builds qi, moistens dryness, clears heat, moves blood, clears phlegm, tonifies the Kidneys etc, etc, etc).

Choice of foods should be based on and individual's constitution and current physical state, and on the season and climate one is currently experiencing.

It is a very large topic, and fat books are written on the subject and whole courses of study.

In general, though, for most of us here in Texas in the dog days of summer, a larger selection than usual of cooling and moistening foods is in order to keep us balanced in the presence of TOO MUCH HEAT. Many of these foods are obvious: watermelon, and cucumber, for example, and fresh summer fruits (pick the organic ones if you can as many pesticides are considered poison which is one of the "miscellaneous" causes of disease).  More raw foods are called for, and a few more ice cubes are allowed in our drinks. (Chinese Medicine generally discourages iced drinks except in the presence of too much heat.)

As always more info can be found elsewhere.  Here's a Youtube link, and there are many good books (some even not so fat) on the subject if you are interested.

Here is a list of some cooling foods:

apple

banana

pear

persimmon

cantaloupe

watermelon

tomato

grapefruit

lemon

lettuce

radish

cucumber

celery

button mushroom

asparagus

avocado

swiss chard

eggplant

spinach

cabbage

bok choy 

broccoli

corn

zucchini

cashew

tofu

wheat

oats

yoghurt

seaweed

clam

crab

cod

halibut

tuna

For those of you wanting a more comprehensive study of Chinese Medicine, here is a book written for lay people which is both a great introduction and a pleasure to read. There is much to be gained from this book, from a greater understanding of Chinese medical theory (which can seem a bit obtuse at times, but really does make sense), to identifying your constitutional type, and to practical suggestions regarding Chinese herbal medicine and dietary therapy as well. I have had all my students read it in the past and recommend it regularly. Here is a link to the book  on the website of the authors.

And, also remember that Redwing Books is a great source for all books to do with Chinese Medicine as well as many other forms of natural healing.