- Climate and the Human Body
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) posits that climatic changes exert specific influences on the zang-fu organs, meridians, qi, blood, and yin-and-yang of human body's. To maintain health, individuals must adapt to seasonal and climatic variations through timely physiological and behavioral adjustments. The TCM classic “Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon)” introduces the "yunqi theory" (theory of five circuits and six qi), which explains the occurrence of diseases in relation to the interplay of five circuits (wuyun) and six qi (liuqi). This theory can be broadly interpreted as the seasonal tendencies of diseases and the impact of regional climatic variations on health. As stated in “Volume 2 of San Yin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun (Treatise on the Three Categories of Pathogenic Factors)”by Chen Wuze of the Song Dynasty: "The Six Excesses (liuyin) are the climatic qi of nature. When they invade the body, they first penetrate the meridians and then interact with the zang-fu organs, constituting external causative factors."
Key Terminology Translation Standards
- Zang-fu organs: Standardized translation for internal organs in TCM.
- Meridians: Internationally accepted term for energy pathways.
-Qi, blood, yin, yang: Core TCM concepts retained in pinyin with contextual explanation.
-Yunqi theory: Translated as "theory of five circuits and six qi," with pinyin provided for specificity.
-Five circuits (wuyun) and six qi (liuqi): Technical terms retained in pinyin, followed by English descriptors.
-Six Excesses: Translated per WHO and WFCMS standards to denote pathogenic climatic factors.
- Geographic and Climatic Features of Timor-Leste and The TCM Interpretation
- Climatic Characteristics
Timor-Leste experiences a tropical climate marked by consistently high temperatures and heavy rainfall throughout the year, with no distinct four-season cycle. Instead, it is divided into two primary seasons: the rainy season and the dry season.
- TCM Analysis via the Five Phases (Wuxing) and Yunqi Theory
According to TCM’s Five Phases (Wuxing) and Five Movements and Six Qi (Wu Yun Liu Qi) theory, the climate of Timor-Leste is predominantly governed by the Fire Movement (Huo Yun) and Earth Movement (Tu Yun).
Fire Movement, manifestation in Nature, dominated by heat. Corresponding Zang Organ: Heart (Xin). Pathophysiological Impact: Significant climatic heat fluctuations strongly affect the Qi of heart, leading to imbalances in the heart system. Common Clinical Manifestations:Emotions: Irritability, restlessness, and heightened emotional volatility. Cardiovascular: Mental fatigue, palpitations, lethargy; chest oppression or pain; severe cases may culminate in myocardial infarction.
Earth Movement, manifestation in Nature, dominated by dampness (Shi), particularly during the rainy season. Corresponding Zang Organ: Spleen (Pi). Pathophysiological Impact: Excessive environmental dampness disrupts spleen qi transportation and transformation, predisposing the body to spleen-related disorders. Common Clinical Manifestations: General Symptoms: Physical exhaustion, persistent drowsiness, and profuse sweating. Digestive Symptoms: Reduced appetite, abdominal distension, diarrhea; stools with a sticky or greasy consistency. Tongue Presentation: Swollen tongue body with tooth marks on the edges; pale tongue with a thin, greasy coating. Pulse Quality: Slightly weak (Ruo Mai).
Key Terminology Translation
- Five Movements (Wu Yun) and Six Qi (Liu Qi)): Translated with contextual explanation and retained in pinyin to align with WHO/WFCMS standards.
- Fire Movement (Huo Yun): Translated as "Fire Movement" with pinyin provided for specificity.
- Earth Movement (Tu Yun): Translated as "Earth Movement" with pinyin provided.
- Zang Organs: Standardized as "Zang organs" (e.g., Heart, Spleen), with pinyin in parentheses.
- Dampness (Shi): Recognized as a pathogenic factor in TCM terminology.
- Qi: Retained in pinyin, following international conventions.
III. TCM Health Preservation Education
"When Healthy Qi (Zheng Qi) is preserved internally, Pathogenic Factors (Xie Qi) cannot invade." Told by Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon). In TCM, health preservation emphasizes aligning with the rhythms of the Five Movements (Wu Yun) and Six Qi (Liu Qi) to fortify Healthy Qi and prioritize preventive care before disease manifests.
- Core Components of TCM Health Preservation
TCM health preservation traditionally encompasses the following aspects:
- Lifestyle Regulation
Principles: Follow natural cycles of yin-yang waxing and waning and sunrise-sunset rhythms. "Sleepping late and getting up early" during summer or hot seasons to align with Yang energy. Avoid exposure to Wind, Cold, and Dampness; refrain from sleeping outdoors. Tropical Adaptation: Incorporate noon-time rest to prevent excessive consumption of Qi and Yin due to prolonged heat exposure.
- Dietary Therapy: Adjust diet to balance climatic influences (e.g., heat-clearing foods in hot seasons; dampness-resolving foods in rainy seasons).
- ·Principles of Moderation and Seasonality
-"Dietary Discipline": Emphasizes regular, moderate eating patterns and selecting ingredients that: Clear summer heat and replenish qi, Clear heat and resolve dampness, Nourish the heart and spleen, Promote fluid production and quench thirst.
- ·Food Selection Based on Five Phases Theory
- Fire Phase (Heart): Corresponds to bitter flavor and red-colored foods.
- Bitter foods: Bitter gourd, lettuce stems, crown daisy, endive.
- Red-colored foods: Red beans, sweet potato, goji berries, strawberries, tomatoes, cherries.
- Earth Phase (Spleen): Corresponds to sweet flavor and yellow-colored foods.
- Yellow-colored foods: Millet, soybeans, corn, carrots, pumpkin, bananas, oranges .
- ·Dietary Contraindications
- Avoid excessive cold or raw foods: Coldness damages spleen-stomach Yang qi, leading to damp stagnation with symptoms such as: Digestive: Abdominal bloating, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea. Systemic: Chest oppression, chest pain. Hydration and Nutrition: Replenish fluids and nutrients through frequent small sips of warm beverages or soups.
- ·Recommended Recipes
Soups: Sharen (Amomum) Bean Sprout and Pork Soup, Bitter Gourd Bone Soup, Purslane and Pork Soup, Winter Melon, Lotus Leaf, and Coix Seed Rib Soup. Congees: Hyacinth Bean, Chinese Yam, and Lotus Seed Congee, Mung Bean and Japonica Rice Congee, Red Bean and Coix Seed Congee .
- ·Herbal Teas and Beverages
- Cuiqing Tea: Watermelon rind, lotus plumule , mint leaves .
- Zhuye Maogen Tea: Lophatherum, imperata root .
- Yiren Chidou Decoction: Coix seeds, red beans, red dates.
- Jueming Juhua Tea: Cassia seeds, wild chrysanthemum.
- Suanzaoren Gouqi Tea: Spine date seeds, goji berries.
- Wumei Chenpi Gancao Tea: Smoked plum, aged tangerine peel, licorice.
- Emotional Harmony: Cultivate emotional stability to prevent imbalances (e.g., irritability from Heart Fire; overthinking from Spleen dysfunction).
- ·Key Principles: Avoid emotional extremes: Excess joy or anger, as well as mental restlessness and irritability, disrupt the balance of qi and harm the heart and liver. Align with summer qi: Nurture the body’s vitality and support its natural growth and flourishing during summer.
- ·Classical Quotations
From Suwen: Treatise on Regulating the Spirit in Accordance with the Four Qi, "Let the spirit remain free from anger; let the essence of life flourish like blooming flowers; let qi flow freely, as if one’s affections are directed outward. This is the way to harmonize with summer qi and cultivate the Dao of nourishing growth." From She Sheng Xiao Xi Lun (Treatise on Preserving Life in Response to Seasonal Changes): "One should regulate breathing and calm the mind, maintaining mental coolness as if holding ice or snow in the heart. By doing so, the perception of external heat diminishes. Do not allow external heat to provoke internal heat."
- Appropriate Exercise: Engage in gentle, rhythmic activities (e.g., Tai Chi, Baduanjin) to harmonize Qi flow without overtaxing the body.
- · Core Principles:"Three Appropriatenesses"
- Timely: Exercise during cooler periods (early morning or evening).
- Moderate: Avoid excessive intensity to prevent injury.
- Location-appropriate: Prioritize outdoor activities in shaded or breezy areas; ensure indoor ventilation.
Balance Between Activity and Stillness: Combine dynamic exercises (e.g., swimming, walking, jogging, anaerobic workouts) with meditative practices (e.g., yoga, meditation, traditional exercises like Tai Chi and Baduanjin).
- · Recommended Timing
- Optimal: Early morning (5:00–8:00 AM) or evening (5:00–7:00 PM).
- Avoid: Outdoor activities between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM due to intense heat and Yang energy.
- ·Intensity and Precautions
- Intensity: Gentle to moderate; stop immediately if experiencing dizziness, shortness of breath, or excessive sweating.
- Hydration and Nutrition: Replenish fluids and electrolytes with warm water or herbal drinks; avoid icy beverages.
- TCM Warning: Overexertion may damage both Yin and Yang, leading to fatigue, insomnia, or qi deficiency.
- ·Activity Recommendations
- Outdoor: Walking, Tai Chi, Baduanjin, or shaded swimming.
- Indoor: Yoga, meditation, or light aerobic exercises with proper airflow.
- TCM Therapeutic Approaches
- ·Self-Care Acupressure Techniques
- Method: Apply gentle pressure or circular massage to specific acupoints for 5–10 minutes daily.
- Recommended Acupoints:
- Dampness Obstruction with Gastrointestinal Symptoms:
- Laogong (PC8): Palmar center, between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones.
- Neiguan (PC6): 2 cun above the wrist crease, between tendons.
- Hegu (LI4): Dorsal hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones.
- Yinlingquan (SP9): Inferior to the medial knee joint, posterior to the tibia.
- Zusanli (ST36): 3 cun below the knee, lateral to the tibia.
- Mental Restlessness and Insomnia:
- Shenmen (HT7): Wrist crease, radial to the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
- Adjunctive Therapies:
- Acupoint Herbal Patches: For symptom relief.
- Cupping Therapy: To dispel dampness and promote qi flow.
- Precaution: Go for clinical care if symptoms persist or worsen.
- ·TCM Herbal Formulas (Under Professional Guidance)
The following formulas may be prescribed by a licensed TCM practitioner based on pattern differentiation:
- Huoxiang Zhengqi Wan: Resolves dampness, harmonizes the Middle Jiao.
- Shidu Qing Jiaonang: Clears damp-heat toxins, alleviates skin disorders.
- Buzhong Yiqi Wan: Strengthens spleen qi, lifts sinking yang.
- Guipi Wan: Nourishes the heart and spleen, stabilizes Shen (spirit).
