4. Improper Diet and. Imbalance Between Work and Rest
Proper diet, workand rest are imperative for the survival of human beings and preservation of their health. Improper diet as well as imbalance between work and rest, however, will disturb the physiological functions of the body, leading to disease.
4-1. lmproper diet leading to disease
Inadequate intake of food, eating too much, intake of decayed, or toxic food as well as an unbalanced diet can all cause disease.
4-1-1. Underfeeding or overeating
Proper amounts of food should be taken regularly so that they can be digested and generate Qi and Blood. If one eats too much at one meal or has insufficient food to eat over along period, one is susceptible to disease. Usually, insufficient intake of food will cause Deficiency of Qi and Blood as they are lacking in a source, leading to diseases of Deficiency type. In addition, when Qi and Blood are deficient because of underfeeding, the body’s resistance to invasion of pathogens will be lowered; therefore, diseases secondary to Deficiency of Qi and Blood will occur.
Excessive intake of food, as a result of the amount of food exceeding the capacity of the digesting function of Spleen and Stomach, tends to impair the Spleen and Stomach. Sudden indigestion often presents with the symptoms of impairment of the Spleen and Stomach, such as epigastric and abdominal fullness, abdominal pain, acid regurgitation and eructation, disgust at the smell of food, or vomiting and diarrhea. As their Spleen and Stomach are not fully developed, children are more likely to suffer from diseases caused by indigestion. In the case of long term food retention, malnutrition will ensue, which is mainly manifested as Heat in the palms and soles of the feet, restlessness, epigastric and abdominal distention, a sallow face and emaciation, restless sleep, etc. Retained food often obstructs the flow of Qi and Blood and causes blockage of the vessels, causing hemorrhoids. Moreover, excessive intake of fatty and greasy food is apt to induce the generation of Heat in the interior, which may in turn lead to skin infectfons.
4-1-2. Intake of unclean food
Unclean food may cause a number of diseases of the digestive tract, with abdominal pain, vomiting with diarrhea, or dysentery as the most commonly seen manifestations. Contaminated food may also cause parasitic diseases, which are marked by abdominal pain, preference for unusual food, a sallow appearance and emaciation.If decayed or poisonous food is taken, symptoms of poisoning, including severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrbea, or even coma and death, will occur as a consequence.
4-1-3. Food preference
Physiologically,Yin and Yang of the bodyare kept balanced by eating food which nourishes Yin and supports Yang evenly. If cold foods or foods Cold in nature are taken excessively, they will strengthen Yin and restrict Yang, causing imbalance of yin and Yang and subsequent disease. In a similar way, excessive intake of hot food or food hot in nature will increase Yang of the body, leading to its overrestraint over Yin and the ensuing imbalance of Yin and Yang, thereby causing diseases. For example, excessive intake of raw and cold food and drinks in summer often leads to diarrhea and abdominal pain, indicating that Spleen Yang is impaired by excessive Yin.
According to TCM, the Five Zang Organs require food of different tastes to be nourished so as to maintain the coordination among them. Thus, preference for food of certain tastes will strengthen the organ it corresponds to, leading to disturbance of the organ and disharmony among the five Zang Organs. In such cases, disease will follow. For example, excessive intake of bitter tasting food will lead to hyperactivity of the Heart, which may overrestrict the Lung and lead to withered hair and dry skin. Therefore, TCM stresses that food of different tastes should be eaten in combination, so that relations among the five Zang Organs can be maintained and health preserved.
4-2. Imbalance between work and rest
Appropriate work or exercise can promote circulation of Qi and Blood and strengthen the constitution, while proper rest can help to relieve fatigue, and restore physical and mental strength; therefore both of them are conducive to health. However, overstrain or undue leisure may be transformed into pathogenic factors and cause diseases.
4-2-1. Overfatigue
In TCM overfatigue can be classified as excessive physical exercise, excessive mental exertion, or intemperance in sexual life. Excessive physical exercise. Long term overwork may consume too much Qi and Blood and lead to Deficiency of Qi and Blood, from which disease results. Exercise mainly depends on the support of Qi. So overexertion consumes Qi, which may become deficient because it cannot be reinforced quickly enough.
Excessive mental activity. This mainly refers to worry impairing both the Heart and Spleen. As the Heart controls both Blood and mental activity and the Spleen is related to thinking in emotions, excessive mental activity is most likely to impair the heart and Spleen, causing Deficiency of both Heart Blood and Spleen, whicb is usually manifested as palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia, dream disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, abdominal distention and loose stools.
Intemperance in sexual life will impair the Essence stored in the Kidney. In accordance with TCM theory, Kidney Essence is the most important substance fo rlife; it should be stored more than discharged. Thus, intemperance in sexual life often leads to soreness and weakness of the loins and knees, dizziness and tinnitus, listlessness, decline of sexual capacity, or nocturnal emission, premature ejaculation, or even impotence.
4-2-2. Inactivity
This refers to excessive ease and comfort without participation in labor or other physical activities. Man must have a certain amount of physical exercise every day; otherwise, his Qi and Blood will fail to flow freely. If he is not engaged in physical labor or exercise for a long time, his Qi and Blood will flow sluggishly, and hypofunctioning of the Spleen and Stomach will occur, so there will be poor appetite, lack of strength, lassitude, weakness of limbs, obesity, palpitation, sweating on exertion and shortness of breath. Obese patients often have constitutions marked by deficiency of Qi and Excess of Damp, because they lack sufficient exercise to metabolize the Yin substance, which then accumulates in the body to cause obesity.
5. Traumatic injuries
Traumatic injuries include gunshot injuries, incised wounds, contusions, sprains, scalds and burns, hypothermia, and injuries inflicted by animal stings or bites. Gunshot injuries, incised wounds, contusions, and sprains directly injure the skin, muscles, bones, joints, tendons, Blood Vessels or Zangfu Organs, leading to Blood Stasis, painful swelling of the skin and muscles, bleeding or laceration of muscles and tendons, fracture and dislocation, or even coma, tics, Yang depletion or prostration Syndrome as a result of massive hemorrhage.
Burns and scalds are caused by high temperature objects, boiling water, scorching oil or fire and so on. Mild burns and scalds may injury only the skin, manifested as redness, swelling, heat and pain in the affected area. In cases of severe wounds, where the surface area is large, there may be complications such as dysphoria,fever, thirst or oliguria. In the case of severe pain or inward attack of Fire toxin, with accompanying evaporation or exudation of Body Fluids, death may occur.
Hypothetmia .refers togeneral or local traumatic wounds due to low temperature.The former results from failure of the deficient Yang Qi to warm the body and to promote circulation of Blood due to its impairment by Cold pathogens, which is usually accompanied by a gradual lowering of the body temperature, pale face, bluish purple lips, tongue and finger nails, shallow breathing, slow and faint pulse, etc. If not treated promptly, it may even cause death. The latter is often seen on the hands, feet, auricullae, etc., and is marked by local pale skin and Cold numbness, followed by swelling and itching pain and scorching heat or blisters of varying sizes. Insect or animal stings and bites include bites by poisonous snakes, wild beasts or rabid dogs, or stings by scorpions and bees. The symptoms in mild cases are usually a local wound accompanied by painful swelling and bleeding. In the case of massive hemorrhage, the internal organs maybe involved and death may occur as a result.
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