The Chinese calendar marks October 8, 2024, as the beginning of Yang Wood Dog Month. The calendar assigns one of the twelve animals, five elements, and the polarity of yin or yang to each year, month, day, and hour. The Yang Wood Dog month extends until November 6, 2024.
The Yang Wood Dog references the 62nd hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is the Thunder trigram above, and the Mountain trigram below. The Yang Wood Dog represents the "Preponderance of the Small". From the I Ching, we find this description of this month's hexagram:
In Preponderance of the Small, the flying bird sends you the message: “It is not well to strive upward, it is well to remain below. Great good fortune.” If you can keep a low profile and stick to simplicity you will succeed. Since small lines surround the two yang lines there isn't much you can do in this situation, except concentrate on small matters and wait before moving. Wu Wei, the principle of nonaction is a lesson about succeeding without striving. Rather than take action, adjust to the changing times and conserve your energy. The hidden influence of Critical Mass also shows a type of instability that is going through a transition where adjustments are required. Now you are called to step out of your normal routine of pushing your way out into the world to stand beside yourself as a witness to unfolding events. The good fortune comes from witnessing the small things that are normally missed. You might volunteer your time through charity or sacrifice in a lowly position to arrive where you would like to be later. Don’t think about where you are going – look around you now to see where you are. Not striving means not trying but simply doing. It means not looking so far ahead that you miss what is around you now. “Striving upward is rebellion, striving downward is devotion.” Devote yourself to the work and the rewards will come in time.
The Yang Wood Dog represents a situation where careful, measured actions are required, and where small details or minor issues take on significant importance. The hexagram advises caution, attention to detail, and modesty, suggesting that it's not a time for big, bold actions but rather focusing on the smaller, seemingly less important aspects of a situation.
The Yang Wood Dog hexagram:
In traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each of the five elements is associated with a pathogenic influence. Each component has specific characteristics and effects on the body and environment. The Yang Wood Dog combines two of these: dampness, and heat. Understanding how dampness, and heat manifest, their effects, and protective measures can help maintain health and balance.
The Yang Wood Dog is a complex hexagram. The root of the hexagram is the Mountain/Dog trigram. It is associated with the Yang aspect of the Earth element, the Stomach. Its pathological influence is damp-heat depicting an underlying infection. Other systems linked with this trigram are the Spleen/Pancreas, Small Intestine, and the lymphatic and endocrine systems. All these organs and systems are considered upper-body or hand meridians, except for the Stomach and Spleen/Pancreas. Damp-heat is an internal medical condition within the gastrointestinal tract. It results from impaired digestion allowing food to become putrid and toxic in the intestines.
In this hexagram, the Thunder trigram, (upper trigram), represents the lymphatic and endocrine systems. This trigram also has relationships with the Large Intestine and the psychoemotional aspect of the mind, all of which are upper body or hand meridians. The pathological influence of the Thunder trigram is stagnant toxic dampness.
The Yang Wood Dog represents weakness in the digestive tract leading to an accumulation of dampness and heat. It's characterized more by turbid dampness and toxicity leading to yin-type inflammation. Chinese medicine recognizes two types of inflammation. One is Yang type, and the other is Yin type. The Yang Wood Dog is an example of Yin-type inflammation within the Stomach, Spleen/Pancreas, Large Intestine, lymphatic, endocrine, and psychoemotional aspects of the body.
Damp heat in the Stomach manifests as symptoms such as epigastric discomfort, nausea, vomiting, foul breath, and a preference for cold drinks. Patients may also have a greasy yellow tongue coat and experience constipation or sticky stools. The dampness obstructs the digestive process, while the heat exacerbates inflammation and a burning sensation.
The Spleen is responsible for transforming and transporting fluids throughout the body. Damp heat impairs this function, leading to bloating, diarrhea, poor appetite, and heaviness in the limbs. Internal heat tends to cause irritation and affects the Spleen’s ability to move fluids, causing stagnation and accumulated dampness.
Damp heat in the Small Intestine causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, or burning urination if heat extends to the Bladder (due to its connection with the Small Intestine). The damp heat in this organ can also affect nutrient absorption, leading to malnutrition and lethargy.
Turbid dampness in the large intestine results in symptoms like loose stools, diarrhea with an unpleasant odor, or a sensation of incomplete bowel movements. The dampness makes it difficult for the body to properly eliminate waste while the turbid nature of the dampness reflects stagnation and heaviness, potentially leading to more chronic bowel dysfunction such as colitis or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Phlegm-dampness obstructing the psychoemotional aspect of the body often manifests as mental and emotional disturbances, such as confusion, depression, or emotional instability. Physical symptoms include a sensation of oppression in the chest, difficulty breathing, or a heavy sensation around the heart. In severe cases, this can manifest as palpitations or arrhythmias.
Phlegm dampness in the endocrine system results in stagnation of fluid circulation and dysfunction in water metabolism, contributing to systemic bloating, fluid retention, and edema. Various body regions can have these manifestations:
Lung-related issues, chest congestion, and phlegm in the throat.
Digestive issues like nausea, bloating, and loss of appetite.
Dampness affects urination and fluid excretion, potentially leading to urinary problems or reproductive system issues.
Many of the signs and symptoms of the Yang Wood Dog month result from Damp Heat. Fortunately, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have great treatment options for all the above conditions.
One final note regarding the Yang Wood Dog is its effect on the body as a whole. The northern hemisphere is now in the Fall season. When the Yang Wood Dog appears here it is a sign of Fall and early Winter infections. The southern hemisphere has begun the Spring season. When the Yang Wood Dog appears here it signals the typical upper respiratory imbalances of the Spring season, especially allergy and sinus conditions. As always, it's recommended that dietary changes should coincide with each season. Integrate foods that are less damp/sticky in the diet. The I Ching's description of the Yang Wood Dog advises us to keep things simple. Try not to make meals too complicated. This is how health problems often begin. General recommendations include avoiding the following:
Greasy, fried, and oily foods: Increases dampness and blocks Qi flow.
Dairy products: Promote phlegm production and dampness, particularly in those with weak Spleen function.
Sugary foods: Encourage damp accumulation and can cause stagnation.
Alcohol: Creates damp-heat and inflames the digestive system.
Spicy foods: In cases of heat, overly spicy foods can exacerbate damp-heat patterns, especially in the Stomach.
To harmonize the body with these complex patterns of damp-heat, turbid dampness, and phlegm-dampness, the diet should focus on:
Cooling and clearing foods to resolve damp-heat.
Damp-resolving and phlegm-transforming foods to clear accumulation in the intestines, Pericardium, and San Jiao.
Spleen-supporting foods to strengthen digestion and prevent further dampness accumulation.
Foods to Clear Damp-Heat
Bitter and cooling foods:
Mung beans: Naturally cooling and great for clearing heat and promoting urination.
Bitter melon: Clears heat, detoxifies, and reduces dampness.
Dandelion greens: Cool in nature, clears heat, and aids digestion.
Cucumbers: Cooling, clears heat, promotes urination, and reduces dampness.
Fruits: Cooling, hydrating fruits help clear heat and move fluids.
Watermelon: Strong cooling and diuretic effect, excellent for clearing summer heat and dampness.
Pears: Moistens the Lungs and clears heat.
Melons (e.g., cantaloupe): Hydrating and clearing damp heat.
Grains:
Barley (specifically Yi Yi Ren/Coix seed): Drains dampness, supports Spleen function, and helps resolve both heat and dampness.
Job’s tears (also Yi Yi Ren): Common in TCM for clearing damp-heat and strengthening the Spleen.
2. Foods to Resolve Phlegm and Dampness
Phlegm-dampness obstructing the Pericardium and San Jiao, as well as turbid dampness in the Large Intestine, require foods that dry dampness and resolve phlegm.
Foods that resolve phlegm and dry dampness:
Daikon radish: Helps to transform phlegm, ease digestion, and eliminate bloating.
Turnips: Transform phlegm and help dry dampness.
Shiitake mushrooms: Help dissolve phlegm and benefit digestion.
Seaweed: Softens masses and resolves phlegm, especially useful in phlegm-damp conditions affecting the chest (Pericardium).
Spices that dry dampness:
Ginger: Warm and pungent, ginger helps transform phlegm, promote digestion, and resolve dampness, especially in the Spleen and Stomach.
Turmeric: Clears damp-heat, invigorates blood circulation, and transforms phlegm.
Garlic: Helps clear dampness and aids digestion, but should be used in moderation for those with heat signs.
3. Foods to Strengthen the Spleen and Promote Fluid Metabolism
Supporting the Spleen is essential when dampness is involved. The Spleen governs fluid metabolism, and its weakness contributes to dampness accumulation. Focus on warming, neutral, and mildly sweet foods that strengthen the Spleen and dry dampness.
Spleen-strengthening foods:
Millet: Easily digestible and strengthens the Spleen and Stomach. It’s cooling and benefits damp-heat conditions.
Sweet potatoes: Tonify the Spleen and Stomach and help drain dampness.
Pumpkin: Helps regulate digestion and drains dampness.
Aduki beans: Clears damp-heat, strengthens the Spleen, and promotes urination to drain dampness.
Warming foods to support digestion (but avoid excess heat production):
Leeks: Warm in nature, help strengthen the Spleen, and eliminate dampness.
Fennel: Promotes digestion and transforms dampness.
Soups and broths:
Bone broth: Nourishing, warming, and supportive of digestion without creating too much heat or dampness. Can be balanced with cooling vegetables.
Congee (rice porridge): Gentle on digestion, congee made with barley or Job’s tears is excellent for clearing damp-heat while tonifying the Spleen.
To get your diet dialed in schedule a personal consultation to determine the correct foods for your constitution as most diet programs are inappropriate. Michelle offers patients an opportunity to help learn the foods that will boost their immune system and are designed especially for your constitution. Schedule with her here.
This month's special: 10% Discount on Nano Shield, our in-house Chinese herbal formula to address the many signs and symptoms associated with damp heat in the GI tract. This formula comes in a 200-capsule bottle.
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