Wind, Cold, Heat, Damp, Dry, and Fire

These are known as the 6 Evils, or 6 Excesses and each effects the system a bit differently.

Although its not necessary to learn about them in great detail for a bodywork practice, understanding their presence and how they effect the body can be very useful.  Each has its own relationship with the 5 Elements and so I will address each of these in a little more depth when we study the elements that they effect the most.

Wind: Effects the Lung and Liver

Associated with the beginning of an illness with sudden onset and movement

Associated with internal (deep) illness with tremors, tics and spasm

Associated with certain emotional spiritual conditions such as Schizophrenia

Wind is commonly found to effect the physical body, due to its relationship to the Wood element, and its effect on the Blood.  Both acute and chronic wind pathologies can be observed

acute wind: stiffness and or tremors/tics, muscle spasm, twitch or tic

chronic wind: autoimmune diseases, Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy

another common example, starts as acute and can become chronic : Bell's Palsy

Cold: Effects the Kidneys and Spleen

Causes contraction, stagnation, and pain. 

Symptoms include chills, aversion to cold, cold limbs, painful digestion, body aches, frequent urination

Yang deficiency can be characterized by a feeling of cold, fatigue, and poor circulation especially in the extremities.

Often occurs after chronic heat pathogenic factor progresses over time and transforms into cold

External Cold can be characterized by: chills, runny nose, clear mucous and body aches.

Seasonal Influence is exacerbated with Yang deficiency, as the body’s yang retreats (south) internally to preserve body heat

Cold conditions have a somewhat natural occurrence due to ageing, as our Qi and Yang slows down and becomes depleted, less movement and mobility accelerate this process

Associated with conditions related with ageing such as Osteoarthritis and certain kinds of Rheumatiod arthritis

Excellent treatment: Moxibustion on ST 36

Heat: Effects the Heart, Stomach, Lungs

Excessive Yang energy, leading to inflammation, fever, and thirst. 

Deficient Yin energy insufficient cold leading to heat rising (menopause)

Causes: food and drinks such as excessive coffee, meat, spicy foods, alcohol

Physical injury leading to inflammation

Stress

Emotional Imbalances

Natural Change of life in women, hormones and lower estrogen levels

Fire: The Extreme of Heat – going longer and deeper

When Heat becomes Fire, there is a more severe issue in the body, and it should be addressed

Signs: Fever, Agitation, insomnia, sweating, flushing, , internal dryness, coughing wheezing, shortness of breath, mouth sores, heart palpitations, night sweats, dizziness, tinnitis, forgetfulness

Causes: Emotions, hot and humid weather, spicy or contaminated food, unchecked pre-existing condition, chemotherapy

Damp: Effects the Spleen and Bladder

Characterized by heaviness, stagnation, and a feeling of sluggishness. Symptoms may include edema, a feeling of fullness, and a sticky tongue coating. 

External Dampness can come from living in a damp environment, wearing wet clothing

Internal Dampness symptoms

Water retention, and can be found with either heat or cold. 

Heat and Damp will lead to the fluids dry up and become sticky and even solid creatingpain and  obstructions in the body

Caused by: eating too fast, overeating

Cold and Damp will lead to pain and white mucous, undigested food in the stool.

Caused by: food cold, raw, excessive sugar, dairy and rich foods

Dampness is caused by:

 Yin insufficiency,  causing retention and slowed movement of fluids leading to blockages and obstructions which lead to disease and illness

Pensiveness, over thinking, stress and lack of exercise

Dry: Effects the Lung and Kidneys

The body’s fluids are depleted or lacking, leading to symptoms such as dehydration. 

Symptoms: include dry skin, hair, mucous membranes, cough, dry throat, thirst, constipation, no sweat, chapped lips, itchy skin, itchy or dry eyes

Caused by: Mineral deficiency, smoking, environmental dryness, yin fluid depletion from excessive heat, Qi and Blood deficiency, excessive sweating vomiting or diahrrea, excessive foods that are salty or dehydrated

Treatment: electrolyte and mineral balance, pears. Herbal medicine

Qi Stagnation: when Qi becomes sluggish, it slows circulation and creates blockages in the region. Characterized by moving pain and soreness that improves with pressure

This is a moderately serious condition and can be effectively treated with movement, dietary changes, working on the emotions

Blood Stasis: when Bloodflow is restricted due to physical trauma or prolonged conditions such as Liver Qi Stagnation, and a deeper and more chronic condition, can be severe (HT Bl Stasis = Ht attack, Blood clot) characterized by sharp, stabbing pain that gets worse with pressure.

Liver Yang Rising when the Liver moves in the opposite direction (will be covered more in the wood section) causing throbbing headache, red eyes, emotional upheaval, fever.  Can be caused by Liver toxicity (alcohol or drugs) emotional imbalance

Qi Deficiency: when Qi is inadequate, it will cause fatigue, paleness, spontaneous sweating, no desire to talk, palpitations. Caused by prolonged illness, overwork

Yin Deficiency: when excess yang heat depletes yin fluids it will cause hot flashes, headaches, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, irritability, fatigue

Yang Deficiency: caused by diet, overwork, stress, overexposure to cold weather will display symptoms such as a desire for warmth, warm foods, intermittent pain, fatigue, cold limbs, pale urine