July 7, 2024, in the Chinese calendar, marks the beginning of the Yin Metal Goat month. The Chinese calendar assigns one of the twelve animals, five elements, and the polarity of yin or yang to each year, month, day, and hour. The Yin Metal Goat month extends till August 6, 2024.
The Yin Metal Goat references the 45th hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is the Lake trigram above, and the Earth trigram below. The Yin Metal Goat represents "Fellowship". From the I Ching, we find this description of this month's hexagram:
"Gathering Together" calls for unity, cooperation, and collective effort. It underscores the importance of community and the strength of working together towards common objectives. This hexagram reminds us that through mutual support and shared endeavors, we can achieve far more than we could individually.
The Yin Metal Goat, unlike the previous month's nature, is a weak hexagram. Its nature is damp due to weak transformative energy in the specific channels/organs related to fluid metabolism. As with many hexagrams, there is an indication of both excess and deficiency patterns. The Yin Metal Goat is no different.
The Yin Metal Goat hexagram:
The Yin aspect of the Metal element represents the Lung organ and meridian in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Goat represents the Yin aspect of the Earth element, the Spleen/Pancreas.
In TCM there is a system of disease progression called the Six Levels. Three of these represent the Yang meridians and organs. The other three are the Yin meridians and organs. Each level characterizes various stages of a disease process. The Yin Metal Goat depicts the Taiyin level. The Taiyin level signifies a deeper and more serious disease level. This stage is associated with the Spleen and Lungs, focusing on the interior aspects of the body's function. At this level, the body is typically experiencing a deficiency of Yang, leading to an internal cold and damp environment.
At the Taiyin level, the primary pathology involves a deficiency of the Spleen Yang, the motive force for the transportation and transformation of all body fluids, including food. This results in internal cold and damp accumulation. When the Spleen fails to perform these functions adequately, it will result in symptoms such as:
Abdominal fullness and pain
Poor appetite
Loose stools or diarrhea
Nausea or vomiting
Fatigue and lethargy
Cold limbs
Lack of thirst
The dysfunction of the Spleen affects the Lungs as well, as the Spleen’s failure to properly process fluids can lead to phlegm-damp accumulation affecting the respiratory system. Typical signs of phlegm-damp in the lungs and respiratory tract are:
Cough with phlegm
Sinus congestion
Asthma
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Stifling sensation in the chest
Common symptoms at the Taiyin level include:
Abdominal distension and a sense of heaviness
Dull abdominal pain relieved by warmth and pressure
Poor appetite and a general sense of malaise
Loose stools or diarrhea with undigested food particles
Nausea or vomiting
Pale, swollen tongue with a white, sticky coating
Weak, slow pulse
The Yin Metal Goat month has two primary pathological influences on the body:
1. Lung Qi weakness/deficiency and phlegm
2. Spleen Deficiency and Damp Stagnation
Four situations cause the Yang Metal Goat symptoms:
1. excess use of cold or cool herbs
2. excess consumption of cold or raw foods
3. irregular meal patterns
4. chronic disease
The first two can be grouped together as both cause a weakness in the Stomach fire needed for efficient digestion. Even though the summertime heat is upon us, it's important to remember not to consume excess amounts of cooling foods, fluids, and herbs, as they will suppress the digestive fire. We still need to eat cooked food, even during the summer, and not too spicy.
One of the problems I often see with patients is irregular meal times or skipping meals. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), irregular eating habits or meal times degrade the body's balance and health. TCM emphasizes the importance of regularity and harmony in daily routines, including eating habits. Here are some key points on how irregular eating habits can impact health according to TCM:
Disruption of the Spleen and Stomach Function:
In TCM, the Spleen and Stomach are central to the digestive system and responsible for transforming food into Qi (vital energy) and Blood. Irregular eating weakens the Spleen and Stomach, leading to poor digestion, bloating, and irregular bowel movements.
Qi and Blood Stagnation:
Irregular meal times cause the Qi (energy) to become stagnant, disrupting its smooth flow through the body. This stagnation leads to feelings of fullness, pain, and discomfort in the abdomen.
Imbalance of Yin and Yang:
Regular meal times balance the Yin and Yang energies in the body. Irregular eating can disturb this balance, potentially leading to symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, and emotional disturbances.
Weakened Digestive Fire:
The concept of "digestive fire" in TCM refers to the body's ability to digest and metabolize food efficiently. Eating irregularly can weaken this digestive fire, leading to decreased appetite and inefficient nutrient absorption.
Impact on Emotional Well-being:
TCM views the body and mind as interconnected. Irregular eating affects the emotional state, potentially leading to irritability, anxiety, and stress.
Timing of Meals and Organ Clock:
TCM follows the concept of the body's organ clock, where each organ has a peak activity window during the day. For example, the Spleen and Stomach's peak time is between 7 AM and 11AM, making it the best time for a substantial breakfast. Disregarding these peak times by eating irregularly can disrupt the natural rhythms of the body's organs. To maintain optimal health, TCM recommends regular meal timing, mindful eating, and a balanced diet tailored to an individual's unique needs and constitution. This approach helps to support the body's natural rhythms and promotes overall well-being.
In TCM, health is seen as a state of balance. Most of the time I see patients with what I call "digestive wreckage", as this is the root cause of many internal medical problems.
Understanding the Taiyin level and its relationship to the Spleen and Lungs from a TCM perspective provides a holistic view of how these organs contribute to overall health and the interconnectedness of bodily systems.
Each of the body's organs plays a vital role in TCM theory, not only in physical health but also in maintaining emotional balance and overall well-being. The meridians and channels associated with them are pathways through which the body's vital energy flows, affecting various physiological and psychological functions.
To recap, The Yin Metal Goat represents weakness in the digestive tract. This weakness does not cause Yang-type inflammation. Instead, it's characterized by stagnant dampness which is more like turbid dampness and toxicity. Chinese medicine recognizes two types of inflammation. One is Yang type, and the other is Yin type. The Yin Metal Goat is an example of Yin-type inflammation within the Spleen/Pancreas, Lungs, and respiratory tract.
One final note regarding the Yin Metal Goat is its effect on the intestines. Tayin Level problems result in toxic damp stagnation.
When the Spleen Qi is weak, it can lead to poor transformation and transportation of food and fluids, causing digestive issues such as loose stools, diarrhea, and bloating. This also results in dampness accumulation, which may obstruct the intestines and hinder their function. Dampness affects both intestines, leading to cramping, diarrhea, mucus in the stool, irregular bowel movements, and a heaviness sensation. Since Taiyin level issues disrupt the balance of body fluids, there is, also, the potential for intestinal dryness, dry stools, and constipation.
Many of the signs and symptoms of the Yin Metal Goat month result from digestive Yang Deficiency. Fortunately, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have great treatment options for all the above conditions.
This month is a good time for patients to schedule a personal consultation to determine the correct foods for their 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. Our special this month: 10% Discount on Nano Shield, our in-house Chinese herbal formula to address the many signs and symptoms associated with weakness in the digestive tract with damp stagnation. We developed this formula for yin-type inflammation from an overload of toxic dampness. This formula comes in a 200-capsule bottle and helps to promote healthy digestion, dissolve phlegm and mucus, regulate fluid metabolism, break down biofilm, and inhibit adverse fungal growth to foster a healthy and diverse microbiome. Nano Shield aids in helping with indigestion, gas, bloating, nausea, chest fullness, allergies, and dizziness.
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