In our previous posts 2024 Yang Wood Dragon Year Part 1 and 2024 Yang Wood Dragon Year Part 2, we discussed the two stages of yin disharmony characterizing the Yang Wood Dragon Year. In this post, we continue this discussion by investigating the next two stages
The next two stages requiring support this year are the Taiyang and Yangming regions, organs, and meridians.
Taiyang
The Taiyang organs and meridians are rooted in the Small Intestine and Urinary Bladder. These organs and meridians belong to the Fire and Water elements, respectively. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Small Intestine and Urinary Bladder are considered the two systems closely connected with the nervous system. During the Yang Wood Dragon Year, these systems are weak and stagnant.
Typical signs related to Taiyang weakness are persistent or sudden onset of a headache, neck pain, and stiffness, a headache that changes or is different, loss of feeling or tingling sensations, weakness or loss of muscle strength, loss of sight, or double vision, memory loss, impaired mental ability, and lack of coordination.
In TCM theory, the Small Intestine is associated with decision-making and discernment, both on a physical and emotional level. Emotionally, it is linked with the ability to separate what is beneficial from what is harmful, similar to its physiological function of separating nutrients from waste. Therefore, emotional imbalances or stress may affect the functioning of the Small Intestine, leading to digestive disturbances.
Urinary Bladder:
TCM Function:
Stores and excretes urine: The Urinary Bladder collects and holds urine before eliminating it from the body through urination.
Controls the transformation and excretion of fluids: It regulates the balance of fluids in the body, including the excretion of waste and toxins through urine.
Influences mental clarity and decision-making: In TCM theory, the Urinary Bladder meridian is associated with mental processes, including perception, insight, and decision-making.
Disorders from Weakness/Deficiency:
Urinary Bladder Qi Deficiency: symptoms such as frequent urination, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, and a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen.
Urinary Bladder Damp-Heat: symptoms such as painful urination, dark and scanty urine, urinary urgency, and a feeling of heat in the lower abdomen.
Disorders from Excess Patterns of Disharmony:
Urinary Bladder Heat: Manifests as symptoms like dark, scanty, and painful urination, urinary urgency, thirst, and irritability.
Urinary Bladder Cold: symptoms such as frequent urination with clear urine, aversion to cold, urinary retention, and a feeling of coldness in the lower abdomen.
In TCM, the Urinary Bladder and Small Intestine are connected through the principle of fluid metabolism and transformation. The Small Intestine separates the clear from the turbid, allowing the pure essence to be absorbed and circulated, while the Urinary Bladder regulates the excretion of waste fluids from the body.
Imbalances in either organ can affect the other. For example, excess dampness in the Small Intestine can lead to damp heat in the Urinary Bladder, resulting in symptoms such as painful or frequent urination. Similarly, a deficiency of Qi or Yang in the Small Intestine may weaken its ability to transport fluids, leading to urinary issues related to deficiency patterns.
The urinary bladder and small intestine are located in the Lower Jiao and are the yang expression of the Water and Fire elements, respectively.
The Urinary Bladder (UB) is connected to the Small Intestine (SI), Heart (HT), Kidneys (KI), and Lungs (LU). Notice that the arrows depict a connection in both directions. This means pathology in any of these connected organs can affect the bladder's functions, either weakening or inflaming it. The gray organs belong to the Metal element, the red organs to the Fire element, and the blue organs to the Water element.
When weakness occurs in the bladder or kidneys the fluid metabolism of the body is inhibited. This leads to an imbalance in the heart and lungs.
In the heart, TCM classifies this as Heart Phlegm and is characterized by dizziness, fuzzy-headed or mental confusion, depression, irritability, palpitations, restlessness, and irrational behavior.
In the lungs, TCM classifies this as Lung Phlegm and is characterized by cough, chest congestion, shortness of breath, and wheezing or asthma.
The urinary bladder channel or meridian, instead of the organ, can become the source of pathology. For those unfamiliar with the location of this meridian, a portion of it traverses the entire back from the lumbar region to the neck, occiput, and scalp. When this portion of the channel is exposed to external environmental wind, the properties of the wind begin to invade the channel along with the connected tissues, organs, and body regions. I, especially, caution patients about the direct effects of ceiling fans at night constantly affecting exposed skin.
TCM categorizes this as a Wind Invasion. Wind Invasion is the mechanism of externally contracted diseases such as influenza, the common cold, allergies, and other airborne pathogens.
A Wind-Cold invasion normally occurs in the winter or fall season but can actually occur anytime due to exposure to air conditioning. Typical symptoms include chills, low-grade fever, aversion to cold environments, body aches, runny nose, sneezing, and headache.
A Wind-Heat invasion normally occurs in summer and is characterized by fever, sweating, cough, thick sputum, sore and swollen throat, headache, sinus congestion, thirst
Because the current season is winter, we must protect ourselves from the Wind Invasions responsible for externally contracted diseases.
Small Intestine:
TCM Function:
Separates the clear from the turbid: After the Stomach partially digests food, the Small Intestine further separates the pure from the impure, allowing nutrients to be absorbed and waste products to be eliminated.
Controls transportation: Determines the direction and timing of movement of fluids and substances within the body.
Receives and transports food essence: Assists in the absorption of nutrients, sending them to various parts of the body.
Disorders from Weakness/Deficiency:
Small Intestine Qi Deficiency: symptoms such as bloating, poor digestion, loose stools, and fatigue.
Small Intestine Yang Deficiency: symptoms such as cold limbs, abdominal pain relieved by warmth, diarrhea with undigested food, and edema.
Disorders from Excess Patterns of Disharmony:
Small Intestine Heat: symptoms like thirst, a feeling of heat in the body, mouth sores, and irritability.
Small Intestine Damp-Heat: symptoms such as abdominal distention, diarrhea with foul-smelling stools, and a feeling of heaviness in the body.
The Small Intestine (SI) is connected to the Urinary Bladder (UB), Heart (HT), Kidneys (KI), Liver (LV) and Spleen (SP). Notice that the arrows depict a connection in both directions. This means pathology in any of these connected organs can affect the small intestine's functions, either weakening or inflaming it. The green organs belong to the Wood element, the red organs to the Fire element, the yellow organs to the Earth element, and the blue organs to the Water element.
The small intestine is prone to becoming inflamed. In TCM this is called Small Intestine Heat. Inflammation here is often transferred to the kidneys and bladder leading to kidney or urinary tract infections.
Small Intestine Heat can, also, be transferred to the heart leading to Heart Fire. Common symptoms are irritability, palpitations, insomnia, chest discomfort, and impulsiveness. Small Intestine Heat affects the liver leading to Liver Fire. In this case, symptoms include headache, tinnitus, red face and eyes, restlessness, insomnia, and dream-disturbed sleep.
In TCM the Spleen comprises both the spleen and pancreas organs. The Spleen. Along with the Lungs these are the only two organs that produce all the Qi (energy) the body uses. All the other organs consume qi. Therefore, it's crucial to keep the Spleen and Lungs as strong as possible. Weakness in either organ will cause a cascade of deficiency throughout the body. Spleen Qi supports the Small Intestine in its functions. When Spleen Qi is weak the small intestine's functions are inhibited leading to sluggish digestion and food processing. This leads to a toxic buildup which is absorbed into the bloodstream. Blood toxicity will affect the kidneys, bladder, liver, and heart, but can, also, become systemic. A dangerous scenario.
Yangming
The Yangming organs and meridians are rooted in the Stomach and Large Intestine. These organs and meridians belong to the Earth and Metal elements, respectively. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Stomach and Large Intestine are considered the two organs with the highest energy state within the digestive system. During the Yang Wood Dragon Year, these systems tend to be weak and stagnant.
The Stomach and Large Intestine are interconnected in the sense that the Stomach initiates the digestive process, and the residue is passed on to the Large Intestine for the final stages of processing and elimination. Disharmonies in either organ can affect the other, leading to various digestive issues. They are interconnected and play crucial roles in the processing and transformation of food. An imbalance of the stomach and large intestine can result in various health issues, affecting both the mental and physical aspects of the body.
The Yangming stage refers to one of the six stages of disease progression. Each stage represents a specific level of pathology and is associated with particular organs and meridians. The Yangming stage is characterized by both deficiency and excess patterns. However, due to their highly energetic state, they are known primarily for excess patterns of disharmony.
Stomach:
TCM Function:
Governs the intake of food and liquids.
Initiates the digestion process by breaking down food into a semi-fluid state.
Sends the partially digested food to the Small Intestine for further processing.
Disorders from Weakness/Deficiency:
Stomach Qi Deficiency: Results in symptoms like poor appetite, bloating, fatigue, and a feeling of fullness even after eating small amounts.
Stomach Yin Deficiency: This leads to symptoms such as dry mouth, thirst, and a preference for cold drinks.
Disorders from Excess Patterns of Disharmony:
Stomach Heat: This manifests as symptoms like heartburn, excessive thirst, and a preference for cold drinks.
Stomach Cold: This leads to symptoms such as abdominal pain, aversion to cold, and a preference for warm foods.
A unique characteristic of TCM is the various internal connections each organ has with other organs and body regions. These connections are considered to be similar to the acupuncture meridians but without acupuncture points. In the case of the stomach and large intestine, they each have specific connections that help to explain pathological processes affecting each of these organs. It's helpful to review the TCM organs and their location within the San Jiao.
The stomach is located in the Middle Jiao and is the yang expression of the Earth element. The large intestine is located in the Lower Jiao and is the yang expression of the Metal element.
The Stomach (ST) is connected to the Pericardium (PC/psycho-emotional system), Spleen (SP), Large Intestine (LI), and Lungs (LU). Notice that the arrows depict a connection in both directions. This means pathology in any of these connected organs can affect the stomach's functions, either weakening or inflaming it. The gray organs belong to the Metal element, the green organs to the Wood element, and the yellow organs to the Earth element.
It's worth noting that in addition to their roles in the digestive process, both of these organs affect the respiratory system, specifically the lungs. Also, notice the pericardium has a direct impact on the stomach. This explains how emotional upset can literally upset the stomach.
Large Intestine:
TCM Function:
Receives the residue of the digested food from the Small Intestine.
Extracts water and forms feces for elimination.
Governs the transportation and elimination of waste.
Disorders from Weakness/Deficiency:
Large Intestine Qi Deficiency: This results in symptoms like constipation, abdominal distention, and a feeling of incomplete bowel movements.
Large Intestine Blood Deficiency: This leads to dry stools, thin stools, and possibly bleeding during bowel movements.
Disorders from Excess Patterns of Disharmony:
Large Intestine Heat: Manifests as symptoms like constipation with dry stools, abdominal pain, and thirst.
Large Intestine Cold: This results in symptoms such as abdominal pain that improves with warmth, diarrhea with clear or white mucus, and aversion to cold.
The Large Intestine (LI) is connected to the Liver (LV), Spleen (SP), Stomach (ST), Lungs (LU) and Kidneys (KI). Notice that the arrows depict a connection in both directions. This means pathology in any of these connected organs can affect the large intestine's functions, either weakening or inflaming it. The gray organs belong to the Metal element, the green organs to the Wood element, the blue organs to the Water element, and the yellow organs to the Earth element.
One of the functions of the Kidneys is their control of both lower orifices. This explains why kidney problems can result in both urinary problems and bowel movement problems.
In TCM theory, the Spleen and Large Intestine are closely interconnected in the process of digestion, absorption, and elimination. The Spleen is responsible for transforming food into nutrients, which are then sent to various parts of the body, while the Large Intestine eliminates waste products that are not needed by the body.
If the Spleen is weak or deficient, it may lead to improper digestion and absorption of nutrients, which can affect the quality of stool passed to the Large Intestine. Conversely, disorders of the Large Intestine, such as constipation or diarrhea, can also impact the Spleen's function by disrupting the flow of Qi and blood.
One feature of the Wood element is its impact on the moving energy of the body. One way of assessing health in TCM is by determining the relative movement in the body. Meridian Harmonics has a proprietary, Pulse Matrix Diagnostic technique, for determining this characteristic with each patient. It is the key to establishing overall health.
In the field of physics, there are two types of energy, kinetic and potential. Kinetic energy is the yang (moving) energy in the body. Potential energy is the yin (stagnant) energy in the body. Balancing yin and yang is simply a matter of balancing the moving and stagnant energies of the body.
In TCM moving energy is necessary for health and wellness. Stagnant energy creates disease. When yin and yang are out of balance disease patterns begin. This can be simple aches and pains to severe chronic diseases such as cancer. The Liver, being a Wood element organ, typically, is known for its patterns of disharmony involving excess pathogenic patterns. In most of these cases, the result is a problem with stress, psycho-emotional disturbances, irritability, menstrual problems, digestive problems, and sleep disorders. This type of liver imbalance causes large intestine motility problems along with elevated inflammation.
The Wood element is responsible for healthy movement in the body, as a whole. Excess movement is just as detrimental as inadequate movement. Both can initiate the disease process. Recently there was news of a cyclist who cycled 100 kilometers every day for over 1000 days. He died of cardiac arrest, despite being in good health. Why? TCM calls this overwork. It's similar to racing a car engine so high it eventually destroys the engine. The opposite of this is the person who does very little or no exercise. This causes sluggish Qi movement and metabolism, leading to abundant accumulation of toxicity throughout the body. The key is moderation and adjusting the intensity of the exercise to the current season.
At Meridian Harmonics we aim to address imbalances in the various internal organs through acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle modifications, to restore harmony and promote optimal function to the whole body.
Conclusion
In our three-part discussion of the Yang Wood Dragon year, we've attempted to provide an overview of the energetic tendencies present during this new year and how they affect the health of the body. The Yang Wood represents a weak stagnant nature responsible for toxic accumulations. The Dragon represents a condition in TCM known as Damp Heat or Phlegm Heat. Together these two conditions present opportunities for serious health problems involving inflammation and toxins unable to be removed from the body.
At Meridian Harmonics we strive to help patients by supporting their own unique natural energetic profile during each year and season. During the Yang Wood Dragon year, there is a heightened emphasis on the health of the aforementioned organs and their associated systems. Individuals need to maintain a balance in their diet, lifestyle, and emotions to support the smooth flow of Qi, Blood, and Fluids, our Three Treasures to optimal health.
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