A. Introduction
- ‘Wind’ is one of the most difficult terms for modern doctors to understand, particularly when they approach alternative medicine. TCM is a holistic medicine:
- It considers the human body as a whole and attributes disease to an imbalance between the different elements it considers.
- Not only is what happens within the body important, but what happens throughout the body and how that is manifested in response to external and environmental stimuli are also important.
- Thus, TCM treatments, rather than being aimed at healing a particular symptom, focus on restoring the body’s balance, emphasizing the need to have a healthy, nutritious lifestyle, with plenty of relaxation and breathing exercises [2].
- This study intends to provide information, context, and guidance for the collection of all important information on the different concepts of Wind and for their simplification. This new vision for understanding earlier Chinese medicine will benefit public health specialists, traditional and complementary medicine practitioners, and those who are interested in historical medicine by providing a theoretical basis for the traditional medicines and the acupuncture that is used to eliminate Wind in order to treat various diseases.
- The term ‘climate’ in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), from the point of view of Chinese medicine, refers to agents that cause disease; TCM believes that man is a reflection upon the universe, like the existence of a microcosm within the macrocosm [1].
- The same climatic energies that are outside are found inside. Each of these climate forces has a specific action on the body, depending upon their characteristics.
- Hence humans must follow the laws of the Universe to accomplish harmony and total health.
- TCM uses a unique terminology to diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems.
- Patients or modern practitioners who are not familiar with Chinese medicine have a look of concern or smile in a humoring manner when an acupuncturist or herbalist tells them they are suffering from a devil Wind Strike, stagnation of liver Qi, or blood deficiency; they often erroneously assume that something is physically wrong with their liver or blood.
- The theory of Chinese medicine uses the names of the organs to help illustrate related patterns of physical and psychological problems. When a traditional Chinese doctor diagnoses a patient with a “liver” problem, from a historic Chinese medicine perspective, the doctor is usually talking about a problem with the “hepatic system”. This system involves the physical liver, acupuncture meridian liver-related disharmonies (or patterns), and liver diseases (Western medicine) such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.
- Wind is one of five climates that characterize the five seasons according to a Chinese philosophical principle.
- Heat occurs in summer,
- Humidity in late summer,
- Drought in autumn, and
- Cold Wind in winter and spring.
- While Wind is present in all seasons, its manifestation will be stronger in the season that matches it. Wind in the body resembles the wind in nature;
- thus, it generates both movement and movement in what would otherwise remain motionless.
- It produces change and acceleration in what otherwise would be steady and slow and causes things to appear and disappear quickly.
- Wind is considered as the backbone of many diseases in TCM.
- It affects the body in the same way as moving branches and leaves on a tree affect the tree; consequently, Wind is a Yang phenomenon.
- When Feng Xie, or Wind nefarious, attacks the body by penetrating the skin and the pores, an important result in TCM is the emergence of imbalances of external origin caused by climatic aggression pathogenic factors. Wind is associated with spring, but a disharmony characterized by Wind can occur in any season. Feng Xie is a corrupting influence that rarely appears alone, usually being accompanied by some other external pernicious influence, such as cold and damp weather.
B. Conclusion
The concepts of Wind in traditional medicine books have gone beyond the old established manuscript boundaries and are widely incomprehensible. This study intended to provide information, context, and guidance for a collection of all important subjects and simplification concepts for Wind. This new vision for understanding earlier Chinese medicine is applicable for public health specialists, traditional and complementary medicine practitioners, and those who are interested in historical medicine and provides a theoretical basis for herbal drugs or acupuncture administration to eliminate wind in order to treat various diseases.
(source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5234349/)