The 6 Evils

Your Acupuncturist has probably said words like damp, heat, cold, and wind when talking about your health. And sure, you've asked questions here and there, but sometimes their answers click, and other times you're left scratching your head. Why does it even matter? And should you care? Well, let me break down Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pattern diagnosis for you in a quick, easy-to-digest way. Think of this as the first lesson, with more fun stuff to come!

Background

In the times of the Shang Dynasty (1800–1051 BC), Chinese ancestors believed that the root of ailments lay in displeased demons and the spirits of departed loved ones. It was thought that falling ill was like a gentle nudge from our ancestors, reminding us to honor them through rituals like offering food, burning incense, and providing spirit money. Essentially, getting sick was viewed as a symbolic message from our forebears, urging us to reconnect with our roots.

Moving forward to the Chou dynasty (1050–256 BC), a shift occurred. People started noticing how changes in weather affected our well-being. Disease was then linked to mischievous spirits (evils) associated with weather shifts. Back then, infectious diseases were rampant, but the microscopic culprits like bacteria and viruses were still mysteries waiting to be unraveled. It wasn't until the 1800s that pioneers like Pasteur, Lister, and Koch laid the foundation for the germ theory. The antibiotic era, championed by Fleming, Florey, and Chai, didn't unfold until the 1900s.

Imagine, in those ancient times, our wise ancestors made sense of their world through keen observation. They attributed illnesses to changes in climate influenced by mischievous spirits, lapses in food or drink choices, and intense emotional experiences.

In the wisdom of Chinese medicine, understanding the roots of ailments often involves recognizing the dance between the "Six Evils" and the "Seven Emotions." Think of them as the dynamic forces shaping our health. The Six Evils are Wind, Cold, Heat, Damp, Dryness, and Summer Heat - they are like external influencers. We’ll get into the Seven Emotions in another blog post: Joy, Anger, Worry, Overthinking, Sadness, Fear, and Shock - they are like internal energies.

In simpler terms, if these forces get out of step, it might throw off your body's natural harmony, opening the door for issues. That's where acupuncture comes in, helping to restore that balance and keep your energy flowing smoothly. So, as we navigate your wellness journey, we'll be mindful of these elements, working together to harmonize your body and invite a sense of balance and vitality.

Six Evils

So, imagine the six evils in Traditional Chinese Medicine like troublemakers hanging out with the five-element theory (Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Metal). They each have their favorite season, but here's the twist – just because one of them hangs out within a particular season doesn't mean it won't stir up trouble in the other seasons (with exception to Summer Heat). It's like they enjoy causing a chaos whenever they please!

These six evils can team up and morph into each other as a disease progresses. It's like they're playing a shape-shifting game, making the whole diagnosis and treatment process a bit of a puzzle.

Picture this: when the weather gets all crazy outside and our protective Qi isn't putting up a good fight, that's when we become easy targets for getting sick! Boosting our own Qi is like giving our body a superhero 🦸🏻‍♀️ upgrade – it helps fend off diseases and keeps us cruising in the zone of good health. It's all about building up that resilience and keeping our wellness game strong!

💨 Wind - Wood Element - Spring Season

Imagine Wind as the MOST mischievous character in Chinese medicine. Wind refers to motion and activity with the ability to carry evil Qi with it. It is one of the most important to remember out of the six as it is said to be the cause of “100 dis-eases.” The wind evil can cause Qi to disperse upward and out causing dis-eases on the neck and shoulders, head, and the skin. There are two types of Wind – the one outside and the one inside. The external Wind can sneak into your skin pores and mess with your body, causing things like colds, the flu, and even a fever. That's why you'll often spot a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner bundled up in hats and scarves during chilly seasons not trying to let the Wind in. If this external Wind sticks around, it can turn into Internal Wind, messing with your energy (Qi) and causing issues with things like blood and joint fluid.

In Western terms, Wind can play a part in diseases like tinnitus, Parkinson’s disease, dizziness, and even sudden headaches with vertigo.

🥶 Cold - Water Element - Winter Season

Now, Cold is like the second troublemaker, and it loves to make things contract and tighten up in your body. Think of it like water turning into ice – it can block the flow of your energy (Qi) and blood, causing all sorts of discomfort, like pain, spasms/cramps, and stiffness. It is known for affecting the knees, lower back and joints rather easily and it can wreck havoc on our stomach, intestines and liver. You might notice this during your menstrual period – that uncomfortable pain reduced by heat? That’s consider a sign of a cold uterus. This is why we might use moxibustion therapy to warm the channels prior to menstruating.

In Western terms, Cold can contribute to arthritis, bloating, severe menstrual pain, and even issues with sperm production. This is why we emphasize the importance of regular warm meals and heat therapy.

🥵 Heat - Fire Element - Summer Season

Heat, on the other hand, is like the opposite of Cold. It loves to rise (just like the warm air upstairs in your house). It's the hot-headed troublemaker causing problems like ulcers, heartburn, and even bone infections. In excess Heat can damage our body’s yin (body fluids), rise heat to the face, eyes and nose as well as easily producing Wind in when excess heat affects the liver (think a night binge drinking). This heat can manifest on the skin as red rashes and itchiness. Some other examples of heat in the body are irritability, sweating, thirst, fever or darker yellow urine. 

💦 Damp - Earth Element - Late Summer

Now, let's talk about Dampness. Picture it as water retention – just like a soggy building isn't great, too much dampness in your body isn't ideal either. It can make you feel sluggish and heavy, like you're carrying around concrete. Dampness is heavy making its way to our lower body, tenacious and very difficult to treat. Depending on your body type, dampness can affect you in different ways. For some, it might show up as acne or eczema, while for others, it could lead to pain in places like shoulders and joints. Dampness can damage the body’s Yang energy which can create stagnation. 

In Western terms, dampness can be linked to things like candida, fibromyalgia, ovarian cysts, and even greasy skin and hair.

Dampness can mess with our body's flow, especially if our stomach and intestines aren't up to speed. Chinese medicine suggests boosting the spleen to kick dampness to the curb. To help, cut back on foods like cold/raw items, bananas, cheese, pastries, greasy stuff, beer, and concentrated juices. Bring in the damp reducing foods – Aduki Beans, asparagus, bamboo shoots, carrots, duck, onions, brown rice, garlic, pineapple, and green tea.

🌵Dryness - Metal Element - Fall

Dryness, associated with the Fall and is external in nature, can leave you feeling, well, REALLY dry! It could be from things like smoking or living in a super dry environment. It really damages the body fluids, manifesting as dry lips, hair, nails, eyes, and stools. It can damage the lungs and create a dry cough with phlegm.

☀️ Summer Heat - Fire Element - Summer

Lastly, we have Summer Heat, which only happens in the Summer. It's like your body's way of saying, "Phew, it's hot in here!" Think of it as similar to sun stroke symptoms. It’s an external pathogen that only occurs when you are exposed to extreme or prolonged heat. It can bring on a high fever, restlessness, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, migraine, blurred vision, and excessive thirst.

The good news? Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are like the superheroes in these analogies! They can help tackle these issues at the root, bringing your system back into balance and easing those symptoms. I hope this was helpful! Contact me for any questions or feel free to book a free 15 minute consultation!