Why am I NOT healthy? Chinese Medicine Answers!

Why can’t I get pregnant even though all my tests and my husband’s tests come back perfect?
How come I get headaches once a week?
Why do I get menstruation cramps and I can’t even get up the first two days of my period because I’m in so much pain?
How come I always so fatigued?

WHY, WHY, WHY? 😩

These are the common questions I get from patients. So today I’m going to answer “why am I NOT healthy?” According to Chinese medicine, there are only 3 causes of illnesses and we’re going to discuss them all today.

One of the strengths of Chinese medicine is that it always looks for the root cause and there are always at least one or two causes of illnesses according to TCM. In conventional medicine, often we are told it’s unknown. We don’t know why you can’t conceive. It’s unexplained infertility.

In TCM, there is ALWAYS a cause! ☯️ Does that mean that there’s always a cure? No.

It means that we can either manage the disorders, support the patients, or sometimes get rid of the problem. Patients feel more in control and empowered when they understand what the ROOT cause is, because they can take either change some lifestyle habits, or have us support and manage their disorders, so they can live a healthy life.

So let’s look at why, so we can help our patients feel better, manage their disorders, and help support their entire health.

Keep rocking using TCM,
Clara
TCM Geek

PS: if you haven’t invested in any of my books yet, get your copies today! They have been so useful so many students and practitioners around the world.

Why am I NOT healthy? The Causes of Diseases in Chinese Medicine

The 3 Causes of Illnesses According to Chinese Medicine

1. The 6 External Pathogens: Invade from Outside!

Imagine your body as a well-guarded fortress. External pathogens are like enemies trying to breach your defences and cause trouble. These invaders can be:

Viruses and Bacteria: These tiny organisms can enter the body through the nose, mouth, or breaks in the skin. They can cause a variety of infectious diseases, from the common cold to more serious illnesses.
Environmental Factors: Extreme temperatures, like cold, heat, dampness, or dryness, can also be considered external pathogens. Exposure to these elements can disrupt your body’s balance and lead to discomfort or illness, such as sunburn from too much sun or a stuffy nose from cold weather.
The 6 external pathogens are: Wind, Cold, Fire, Dampness, Dryness and Summer-Heat. These are mostly acute conditions with symptoms of one or more of these pathogens invading the body and fighting against the Wei Qi (defensive Qi).
- One or more of 2 pathogens can cause disease.
- 6 external pathogens influence each other and can transform into each other.
- They invade the body through the skin, mouth or nose.
- Most common combination:
  - Wind: wind heat, wind cold, wind dampness.
  - Dampness: damp-cold, damp-heat
  - Fire: fire wind.

How TCM addresses external pathogens:

Strengthening your body’s natural defences: Acupuncture, herbal remedies, and TCM dietary adjustments can help boost the immune system and make it harder for invaders to take hold.
Promoting elimination: Techniques like acupressure or herbal teas can encourage your body to sweat or eliminate mucus, helping to expel the pathogens.

2. Internal Emotions: The Trouble with Bottled-up Feelings

Our emotions are a powerful force, and according to TCM, over 70% of all chronic physical illnesses are due to long-lasting emotional trauma. Each emotion is linked to a specific organ system:

Anger: Affects the Liver. Symptoms of long-term anger might be headaches, high blood pressure, or digestive issues.
Joy: Excessive joy can create heartburn or insomnia in some people.
Sadness: Grief and depression can weaken the Lungs, leading to fatigue, shortness of breath, or a weakened immune system.
Worry and Overthinking: These can affect the Spleen and Stomach, leading to digestive problems like nausea, bloating, or acid reflux.
Fear: Long-standing fear can damage the Kidneys, causing fatigue, anxiety, or incontinence.

How TCM addresses internal emotions:

Acupuncture and acupressure: Can help regulate the flow of Qi in the body and promote emotional balance.
Herbal remedies: Certain herbs may have calming or mood-lifting properties.
Dietary adjustments: Foods can influence our mood. TCM practitioners may recommend dietary changes to support emotional well-being.
Deep breathing: Qi Gong or Tai Chi, Meditation.
Counselling: Addressing the root cause of emotional imbalances can be crucial.

3. Others: A Big Umbrella for Many Causes

This category encompasses a wide range of lifestyle factors that can contribute to illness. Some examples include:

Overwork (physical or mental): This can lead to pain, fatigue, and a weakened immune system.
Improper Exercise: Both under-exercising and over-exercising can have negative consequences, such as Liver QI stagnation with Phlegm or Blood Deficiency.
Diet: Poor dietary choices can create imbalances and contribute to various health problems, including depleting the TCM Spleen and Stomach.
Trauma Injuries: Injuries can cause pain leading to Blood Stasis, Heat and Damp.
Medication Side Effects: Certain medications can have unwanted side effects.
Radiation Exposure: Exposure to radiation from sources like microwaves or computers may lead to excess Heat.
Recreational Drugs: These can damage various organs and systems in the body.
Wrong Treatment: Accidental mistakes during medical procedures can worsen health.
Weak Constitution (Genetics): Certain genetic predispositions can make us more susceptible to specific illnesses. It relates to Essence in TCM.
Smoking: Depletes the Lungs and can lead to various respiratory problems.

How TCM addresses “Others”:

TCM practitioners consider your lifestyle and habits when creating a treatment plan.

Acupuncture and herbal remedies: Can help manage pain, support recovery from injuries, and promote overall well-being.
Dietary and lifestyle modifications: TCM often recommends dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes to address imbalances and prevent future problems.➡️ Grab your FREE TCM Nutrition PDF: it covers common Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung & Kidney patterns. It offers healing foods for all types of symptoms and emotions that can be addressed through Nutrition. 🍎🍊🥑🍋🥒🥬🌶🥦

Remember: TCM views these three causes as interconnected. For example, stress (an internal emotion) can weaken your immune system (making you more susceptible to external pathogens), and poor diet (part of “others”) can contribute to both emotional imbalances and digestive problems.

By understanding these root causes of illness in TCM, you can make a better TCM diagnosis and empower patients to understand how they can also contribute to their own health.