The holistic aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Zhi Chang Li grew up in the tradition of Chinese medicine and Qi Gong which were taught to him by his grandparents and parents. He worked for many years as an acupuncture doctor in Peking. Since 1989 he lives in Europe, where he founded the Institute for Still Qi Gong in Munich.
Traditional Chinese Medicine calls upon us to get to know nature and her laws, to observe and to respect her. In Chinese philosophy the earth and all that belongs to matter is called Yin, whereas the universe and all immaterial things are called Yang. In relation to the body Yin is the inner part, while Yang represents the outer part. The backside is Yin, the front side Yang. The lower part of the body is Yin, the upper part Yang. All that flows upward possesses Yang-quality, while anything that flows downward possesses Yin-quality.
To keep our body balanced we must follow the laws of the outer and the inner world. The outer world, i.e. Yang, includes our surroundings, the climate, culture, religion, the weather, the social and political environment, as well as the immaterial side of man, namely his spirit and soul.
Yin and Yang are intertwined and inseparably bound, each giving birth to the other part, and neither can exist without its complementary part. This is clearly illustrated by the widely known Chinese symbol of Yin and Yang.
Only when Yin and Yang are balanced, man can as a whole live in harmony and, therefore, be healthy. This holistic understanding of earth and man leads to a holistic form of medicine that puts the responsibility on man for his health and his environment. It provides the knowledge of what keeps the body healthy, but does not consider body and matter to be the only sources of health or illness.
Traditional Chinese medicine also embraces the spirit and asks us to discover, train and use it, to learn more about the unfathomable and the metaphysical and that which cannot be proved. Physics and metaphysics both form part of nature, the latter is a part of nature and is neither dark, full of secrets, difficult to understand, nor is it dangerous or reserved for a few chosen people. Man is meant to experience his inner self, to explore and discover the seemingly unfathomable world.
Thus the source of illness and health encompasses not only Yin, the body, but also Yang, the outer world and inner dwelling spirit.
It is the discovery of the inner self, of the hidden layers within ourselves which makes man experience harmony and health. This path must be chosen and followed deliberately, e.g. in the exercises of the Still Qi-Gong. In these exercises the contact to the outer world is reduced. This is called ‘withdrawal of the six senses’. The outward sense of sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste and consciousness are withdrawn from the outer world in order to experience the world inside. In this state, comparable to that of an embryo, we experience tranquility or stillness. Our spirit recovers and out of the depths of stillness arises movement and thought; the thoughts are realized and transformed into tangible matter.
The stillness of Yin brings forth Yang, the non-tangible element or spirit. This again forms the basis for the creation of matter or Yin. This ever-changing wheel with its ascending, opening, and descending closing movements holds the secret of life.
Through the contact with our inner self we also learn that everything we experience in the outer world also exists within ourselves. We learn that there is no separation between the inner and outer world. Taoism teaches us that we exist as one being, and not as isolated units.
In chapter 39, verse 18 of the Tao Te Ching Lao-tse writes:
Everything has to remain in unity with the eternal essence –
He who has dismantled his vehicle, has no vehicle at all.
When we are at one with the universal essence we can breathe like a tree or a tortoise, move gently like bamboo, or learn to fly like a crane. We can also realize and train our genuine self through the accomplished nature of a true Master like Jesus or Buddha. Their perfect examples remind us of our origin, and transform us to ‘Pu’, the state of a smiling child in its pure and authentic form.
Any form of medicine that deals exclusively with the body only addresses the Yin-aspect of life. If, however, the Yang-aspect, i.e. the spirit and soul, is also included, then the causes for diseases that have their origins in the mental and spiritual states of man are also sought and thereby bringing an integrated form of medicine into existence.
The symbol of Yin and Yang shows that what we see as opposites is in reality one and the same thing with two closely and permanently intertwined aspects. Material and immaterial, the inner and outer world, soma and psyche cannot be separated from each other.
A look at the five main organs may illustrate this:
- The kidneys which, like the bladder, are assigned to the element* ‘water’. They contain the original vital force, called Jing in Chinese. Fear, stress, shock, traumatic experiences of all kinds reduce our initial vital force. As every human being experiences anxiety and fear, the kidneys are weakened through the course of time.
This also inevitably affects the heart, as the great Yin of the kidneys is directly connected with the great Yang of the heart according to TCM. The water in the kidneys, if available in a sufficient amount, can vaporize in an upward movement and thus cool the fire of the heart. The heart, freed from excess heat, can then shine clearly and warm the kidneys. The kidneys, heart, ‘the lower and middle Dantien’** interact with each other; belly and chest embrace each other.
If the kidneys are strengthened by Qi Gong exercises, by herb medicine, correct nutrition and behaviour, or by acupuncture – Chinese medicine offers a variety of treatments – the heart will be eased and become quiet. Thus the spirit becomes quiet and clear, and we are capable of facing situations in our life without anxiety.
In the absence of fear we stand a better chance that our diseases may improve, to be spontaneous and creative, take responsibility for our actions and that we can recover and regain our strength.
If the spirit is clear and strong it can, with the help of Qi, penetrate matter and remove blockages, i.e. set patterns that make us inflexible and consequently cause disease. The clear, tranquil spirit generates Qi, our vital force. Qi possesses Yang-quality and has a reinforcing effect on the blood, which has Yin-character. Stimulated by the spirit, Qi flows through the meridians, the invisible avenues in our body, harmonizes the circulation of the organs in our body and thereby stabilizes the psyche.
- The liver and the gall bladder are assigned to the element ‘wood’. The liver regulates the quantity of blood circulation in accord with the body’s requirements and facilitates a free flux of Qi. Thus we can grow physically and mentally, become strong and flexible, expand and realize ourselves. When the liver Qi is not sufficiently nurtured, e.g. through weakened kidney-Qi, it will lead to blockages in the liver. As a result, the liver energy will move upwards and create dizziness, headaches or high blood pressure. If we constantly meet with restrictions, prohibitions or control in our actions, this will lead to resentment, aggression, anger and irritability and block the liver-Qi as well. Consequently, the energy of this organ turns inside leading to inner aggression and auto-destructive diseases. Conversely, an even flux of liver-Qi helps us to harmonize our emotions thereby avoiding emotional blockades which in turn could damage the liver.
- The heart and the small intestine are both assigned to the element ‘fire’. The heart regulates the blood circulation and transfers the Qi from our food into the blood. The function of the heart can be compared to that of the sun in the universe. The sun within the heart shines on our body and life. According to Chinese medicine the heart is the abode of spirit and happiness. If the heart carries spirit (Shen in Chinese) our personality can develop in a healthy way. If the spirit loses its radiance, this may lead to unrest, sleeplessness, defective memory or irregular heartbeat. As shown above, the kidneys are also responsible for the state of our heart.
One principle of TCM maintains that there should be abundance in the lower parts and emptiness in the upper part of the body. If the lower Dantien, that is the middle of the abdomen in the region of the kidneys, is well filled with Qi, the middle Dantien, the region of the heart, can be clear and wide like a valley. As a consequence, the spinal cord, the brain and nervous system are also strengthened, so that the head, the upper Dantien, can be free and clear.
Too much fire within the heart, caused by excessive emotions, can however damage the heart. In such instances a person is not balanced in joy, laughter and happiness, and this causes him to stay towards disharmony.
- The spleen as well as the stomach are assigned to the element ‘earth’. The earth is the mother, source of our nourishment and the center around which everything revolves. Like the earth, the spleen should not be too moist. According to TCM, the spleen transforms the body juices and transports them throughout the body. If the spleen is weakened, e.g. resulting from incorrect nutrition, the juices gather in the whole body leading to edema, obesity and/or the production of mucus.
According to Chinese medicine a spleen that is too moist is the cause for excessive sorrowful thoughts, which may result in depression. Fatigue, lethargy, absent-mindedness and lack of concentration are symptoms of a weakened spleen. A balanced spleen provides a well based and deeply rooted center that also balances the stomach, so that food is well received and digested, which in turn nurtures the Qi and the blood.
- The lungs and the colon are assigned to the element ‘metal’. These organs are involved when we want to free ourselves from things. Just as the colon separates the good from the bad in order to discard the latter, the lungs help to dispel grief and separate it from the psyche when we cry and sob. Dwelling in grief will lead to depression and create disharmony in the lungs. This weakens the lung-Qi and thus the function of the lungs, which are no longer able to defend the body against cold, wind and moisture, and consequently we catch a cold. A weak lung-Qi also weakens the dynamic relationship between the lungs and the kidney and may give rise to edemas.
The TCM places the emphasis on a preventive, life-preserving medicine and asks us to be responsible for our own life conduct. It presupposes that we take care of the Qi, of the life force (Yang Qi Fa), so that we can develop into our true selves. This implies the training of virtues like compassion, modesty and honesty. If these virtues are developed then there is little room for avarice, envy, jealousy, lies, self-doubts or fear. To develop these virtues, meditation, prayer and relaxation exercises from Tai Qi, Qi Gong or Yoga are helpful. Neither high-performance sports, “wellness treatments” nor distractions of any kind will develop these virtues however.
- If our ego is full of illusion and has lost the harmony of Yin and Yang, it will place us under permanent stress and thus weaken the immune system. If however the ego is transformed, balance can be restored both within man and in his surroundings.
A true man follows his innermost law, not outward commands-
he keeps to the source not to the sewage – he avoids it and always looks for the pure and original.
…… to be continued.
*Element: One of the next issues of Paracelsus Magazine will speak about the Chinese teachings on elements
**Dantien or Dan Tien or Dan Tian: Centre of Qi
Verses translated from the book Tao Te Qing, Lao Tse, published by Werner Zimmermann, Munich/Germany 1949, (1) page 40 and (2) page 41
Taken from speeches and seminars which Zhi Chang Li, Chinese acupuncture doctor and Qi-Gong Master held in Europe.
With thanks to Ursula de Almeida Goldfarb, Switzerland, trained as Qi-Gong teacher by Zhi Chang Li, who has made available her notes.
Compiled by Brigitta Pflüger-Meienberg, Naturopath and Qi-Gong teacher.
Taken from Paracelsus Health & Healing, I/3
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