Excess weight and Wind (Interior Wind 1)

[Guest guest]

First I want to give some info for the list members who are new to

TCM and some review for the TCM students on the list.

 

" Exterior " in TCM refers to the head, neck, arms, legs, skin,

muscles, bones, and meridians. The term " Interior " refers to the

trunk of the body, specifically the internal Organs and tissues.

 

As a general rule, when a condition is Exterior, the symptoms will

be in the Exterior. Things like (most cases of) itchy skin, runny

nose, some kinds of headaches (not all), arthritic pain in the

joints, etc. (There are exceptions and times when an Interior

imbalance will manifest in the Exterior.)

 

As a general rule, when the imbalance is an Interior (Organ)

imbalance, the functions of the body will be affected. For example,

abnormal urination, bowel movement, breathing, digestion, etc. Also

things like behavior and severe mental illness.

 

When Pernicious Evils (Damp, Wind, Cold, Heat, and Dryness)in the

environment attack, they first attack the Exterior of the body. If

not stopped in the Exterior and expelled, they will continue to move

inward to the Interior. Once they get to the Interior, Interior

(Organ)imbalance results, and the functions of the body are

affected. The problem is now an Interior one though it originated in

the environment.

 

Treatment usually is different depending on if the Evil is in the

Exterior or Interior. For example, if Cold from the environment is

still in the Exterior, something like raw ginger is used as it is an

herb that warms the Exterior. If the Cold has penetrated to the

Interior, something like dried ginger is used because it's an herb

that warms the Interior.

 

Pernicious Evils in the envrionment can attack the Exterior and if

not stopped and expelled, invade the Interior where they start to

affect functions of the body. However, sometimes Pernicious Evils

don't invade the Interior, they arise within the Interior. One

example is the Cold of Kidney Yang Deficiency, aka Deficiency Cold.

The Interior Cold isn't coming from Cold invading from the

environment, it's coming from there not being enough Yang to warm

the body properly. Another example is Internal Wind arising becaues

of Blood Deficiency.

 

> Internal Wind, as I understand it, usually

> has symptoms such as convulsions, tremor,

> shaking of the head, dizziness, and wandering

> pain and itching.

> " Wind is swift and changeable " , (unlike obesity,

> I'd add.)

 

When things like " tremor " and spasm are mentioned in regard to Wind

in the Interior (as well as in the Exterior), most people

automatically think in terms of tremors and spasms that an observer

can see. This isn't always the case. Sometimes the tremors and

spasms are in the Interior and can't be seen. For example, when

there are spasms of the esophagus, stomach, bowels, etc.

 

Some readers may be puzzled by mention of symptoms like " shaking of

the head " and skin problems related to Interior Wind. Aren't the

head and skin part of the Exterior? Yes. Remember I said that as a

general rule Exterior problems produce problems in the Exterior, and

Interior imbalances produce symptoms in the Interior. There are

exceptions, and Wind is the main exception when it comes to Interior

imbalance manifesting in the Exterior.

 

The nature of Wind is that it moves upward and outward. Thus,

Interior Wind arising in the Interior (like from Blood Deficiency)

can move upward and outward, creating symptoms in the Exterior.

Like some (not all) skin disorders. Like the shaking of the head.

Etc.

 

So how does one tell if the problem is Exterior or Interior -

especially when there is so much overlap of symptoms like in the

case of Wind? One way is the pulse. A " Floating Pulse " is one which

can be felt with very light pressure. A Floating Pulse points to a

condition being Exterior. (The exceptions are some cases of anemia

and cancer in which the Qi is so weak it " floats " to the surface.)

A " Deep Pulse " is one that can only be felt with heavy pressure. It

points to an Interior imbalance. (Also keep in mind while reading

this that when a TCM healer takes a pulse, s/he checking the pulse

at at least 5 different locations. The pulse may be floating in some

places but deep in others and normal in others. Where the pulse is

deep will tell the healer more about which Organs are imbalanced.

 

To be continued.