Welcome back to part 2 of this series of “The Wonderful World of Naturopathy: Approaches to Healing Naturally”. As I relearn the history and the principles of naturopathy, I captured a new insight into various philosophies about positioning the body back into balance (homeostasis). This part of the series is Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) influenced numerous countries, such as India, Great Britain, Europe, and other surrounding areas (COE, 2022). Traditional Chinese medicine is based on a book titled, “The Yellow Emperor ‘s Classic of Materia Medical” around 1000 BCE (COE, 2022). The Chinese culture adopted the practices from the book which emphasizes the promotion of optimal health rather than, treating the body from illnesses as the first line of defense around 2500 BCE (COE, 2022). In other words, being proactive in being conscientious of all emotions, thoughts, foods, and certain herbs that may be harmful and healthful to the human body. I will be discussing three vital practices that are the frameworks of Traditional Chinese Medicine: yin and yang; Qi and Meridians; & the organ body clock. Come along on this journey of learning and exploring the World of Naturopathy.
Yin / Yang Cosmic Energies
The yin/yang is described as cosmic opposite forces of energies which travel throughout the human body and organs (COE, 2022). Taoist Philosophers innovated yin and yang as a description of the potential harms and potential vitality of the state of physical health (COE, 2022). According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine principle states yin represents male and excretes positive, light, hot, and expansive (COE, 2022). The yang represents female and excretes negative, cold, dark, and contractive energy (COE, 2022).
The yin and yang’s cosmic energy travel in different regions of the body by managing each organ, blood vessel, and other bodily tissues, and regulating lymphatic fluids by contracting and dilating (COE, 2022). If the cosmic energies are imbalanced, then it is potential for the production of diseases and possible emotional decline (COE, 2022). So, it’s imperative for the human body to shuffle the yin and yang’s cosmic energies in a homeostatic manner (COE, 2022). Some of the yang (heat) imbalance examples that appear according to traditional Chinese medicine are a short temper, anger, thirst, constipation, inflammation, and dizziness (COE, 2022). Some of the yin (coldness) imbalance examples that appear according to traditional Chinese medicine are triggering muscular tightness, poor circulation, tissue stagnation, lack of perspiration, and headaches. Both yin and yang have a significant purpose, repeating the cycle of finding a harmonious rhythm (COE, 2022).
Qi and Meridians
According to part 1 of this series, Ayurvedic was described as the fountain of life that create the flow (COE, 2022). In this series, the Qi is described as the life force (energy) that flows through meridians (channels) that are found throughout the body (COE, 2022). The meridians are the channels, for example, flow-through needles that are inserted into the skin of patients by acupuncturists to relieve body pain, and headache, increase mental clarity, increase blood circulation, and lower chronic illnesses (COE, 2022). The Qi and meridians can encourage the mind and body to balance and purification when there is zero blockage presence (COE, 2022). Yin and yang cosmic energies intertwine with the Qi (life force) and have unique channels that are located inside the body to communicate with each organ that is assigned to yin and yang (COE, 2022). The Yin channels are connected to the lungs, heart, pericardium, liver, kidney, and spleen (COE, 2022). The Yang channels are connected to the small intestine, stomach, gallbladder, and bladder (COE, 2022). Understanding the significance of Qi and meridians gives more awareness of how the body is collecting information from outside environmental factors and the internal environmental factors of the human body to survive and seek to thrive (COE, 2022).
Organ Body Clock
The Organ Body Clock is the main source of understanding how traditional Chinese medicine functions in examining and monitoring the state of health in the human body (COE, 2022). Again, traditional Chinese medicine primarily focuses on a preventative approach versus treating ill-health conditions (COE, 2022). Moreover, the Organ Body Clock measures the rhythm of the qi traveling through each organ by maximum and minimum existence rate over a 24-hour period (COE, 2022). As stated in traditional Chinese medicine, the organ body clock has a connection with certain emotions and the rate of optimality of the organ function (COE, 2022). Its similarity to the titles of the books, “Mind-Gut Connection” and “Mind – Immune System Connection” written by Dr. Emerson Mayer, studied how bodily organs may affect emotions and the possible link to mental disorders (COE, 2022). It brings some validity to traditional Chinese medicine’s philosophy on how they study health, reaching and maintaining optimal health (COE, 2022). Naturopaths use the Organ Body Clock to predict their patients’ biological clock genes in the body to create a lifestyle regimen including specific timing of consumption of food and beverages, doing physical exercises, sleep schedule, and other relatable habits.
In conclusion, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been in existence as far as man has recorded history since 2500 BCE (COE, 2022). Traditional Chinese Medicine’s philosophy of good living is preventive habits and techniques to reach and maintain optimal health from ill-health (COE, 2022). The practices established in Traditional Chinese Medicine are the recognition of yin & yang cosmic energies in the human body. Second, explaining how the Qi and meridians are vital in tracking the functionality of emotional regulation which links to the physical health of balance or imbalance. Third, grasping the understanding of the organ body clock in monitoring and examining the state of health in the human body to create a personalized lifestyle regimen that matches the cosmic energies for efficient results. It solidifies the theory that the human body has its own hereditary blueprint for reaching and maintaining optimal results. Anything else would potentially violate the human body blueprint leading to imbalance and malfunctioning.
References:
COE. (2022). The History of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Sign up for a Free Online Course | Centre of Excellence. Retrieved July 4, 2022, from https://www.centreofexcellence.com/lesson/part-1-the-history-essence through the bodyof-traditional-chinese-medicine/
COE. (2022). The Five Elements. Sign up for a Free Online Course | Centre of Excellence. Retrieved July 4, 2022, from https://www.centreofexcellence.com/lesson/part-2-the-five-elements/