Harnessing Wuxing Theory for Optimal Health

Introduction

Huang Yuanyu’s wuxing diagram likens the human body’s yuanqi to a wheel, with the spleen and stomach as the hub (middle axle) and the other four organs occupying four positions, operating in a regular pattern.

From this diagram, Huang Yuanyu derived numerous health care suggestions. This article will discuss some of these, starting with simple daily routines before addressing more complex issues like ulcers, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high fat content.

Seasonal Health Practices

01 Living in Harmony with the Seasons

Ancient Chinese wisdom emphasizes the importance of aligning health practices with seasonal changes:

• Spring: Cultivate the liver.
• Summer: Cultivate the heart.
• Autumn: Cultivate the lungs.
• Winter: Cultivate the kidneys.

This approach is akin to launching rockets in the direction of the earth’s rotation for efficiency. Similarly, following natural laws ensures better health outcomes.

In summer, heart-fire is dominant and should decrease over time to prevent excessive cold in the lungs and kidneys during autumn and winter. Thus we should cultivate the heart in the summer.

Conversely, kidney-water should rise in late winter to prevent overheating of the liver and heart in the following spring and summer. Thus we should cultivate the kidneys in the winter.

This cycle maintains a balanced body temperature, described in traditional herbal medicine as “water and fire are in harmony.”

02 Upper heat and lower cold symptoms

If a person does not live according to nature, he is liable to have what are called “upper heat and lower cold symptoms”.

• Upper Heat Symptoms: Thirst, red eyes, canker sores, chronic rhinitis, and pharyngitis.
• Lower Cold Symptoms: Lung disease, chronic asthma, low immunity, kidney deficiency, prostate problems, rheumatism, and arthritis.

When a person suffers from the upper heat and lower cold symptoms, you can bet that he feels very uncomfortable. However, most of the time he does not know that this originates from unnatural living styles. Once he changes the living routines to follow the natural laws, he will be cured.

In modern society, many people adopt unhealthy habits such as poor diet, cold food and drink, and plenty of air conditioning in the summer, leading to stomach damages, resulting in cold symptoms in autumn and winter. Thus, in order to prevent illnesses in the autumn and winter, the best way is to treat the body in summer.

For the same reasons, acupuncture and herbal medicine often treat upper body diseases through the lower body, such as using leg treatments for headaches.

03 Seasonal Clothing Adjustments

Adapting Clothing to Seasonal Changes

• Spring: Keep warm to protect the growing yuanqi, similar to nurturing a sprouting sapling.
• Autumn: Avoid excessive warmth to prevent “rising virtual fire,” which harms lung-qi and causes coughing.

Modern habits often contradict these principles, leading to health issues. For example, consuming cold foods like bitter melon can exacerbate yin-deficiency and water coldness, weakening yuanqi and causing cardiovascular complications. Balancing cold foods with warm foods or herbs is essential to maintain harmony between yin and yang.

Simple Treatment Methods

Traditional Techniques

Traditional herbal medicine divides treatments into two categories: tonification and drainage.

• Tonification: Twisting the acupuncture needle to the left agitates positive yuanqi and disperses pathogenic factors.
• Drainage: Twisting the needle to the right gathers and discharges pathogenic factors, restoring positive yuanqi.

Future discussions will delve into Huang Yuanyu’s unique wuxing theory to guide you in regulating your body and maintaining health. While professional practitioners are essential for serious illnesses, learning basic health tips can help prevent the need for professional intervention.

Looking ahead

For more herbal medical theories of Huang Yuanyu and his contributions to traditional herbal medicine, and how it helps in rejuvenating our health, stay tuned for the next episode.

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