Category Archives: Temperature regulation

HEAT

Recently I planted out some flower seedlings in the front garden. I waited until 4pm when I thought it would be cool enough to work. But as I sweated away in oppressive heat for 45 minutes, I realised I’d been mistaken. Back in the house, I felt dizzy, head throbbing and slightly disoriented. It took time, cool drinks and splashing with cold water to come back to equilibrium. Such is the power of the climatic factor of heat. As our climate heats up, we need to be even more careful to protect ourselves from this pathogenic factor.

The Chinese character for this kind of summer heat is re. The three radicals comprising the character represent hand, ball and fire. It can combine with other characters to create meanings that are all resonances of the Fire Element:

Reqing enthusiastic, passionate

Renao: lively

Reai: to adore

Qinre: intimate, warm-hearted

The height of summer, which is where we in the southern hemisphere now find ourselves, is a season of extreme heat. The days are at their longest, giving the sun more hours to heat the atmosphere. This provides the final burst of sunlight to bring summer plants and crops to their fullness and maturity. It is a time for summer holidays when many people take their ease on beaches. ‘Sun worshippers’ are to be found packed onto strips of sand all along our coastlines. The great Aussie holiday at the beach is testament to many people’s love of the summer heat.

A particular craving for summer heat can be diagnostic of an imbalance in the Fire Element of a person. So too can a particular aversion to this climatic factor. Extremes of preference for any of the resonances of an Element can signal that the Element is wobbling and needs support. In this case, craving for or aversion to a hot climate can be a call for the Fire Element to be addressed.

Danger to health arises when the external pathogenic factor of heat enters the body, producing a rise in the body’s temperature, often mimicking symptoms of fever. There can be reddening in the face, hot skin, great thirst and profuse sweating which depletes the fluids of the body. Other symptoms can include a rapid pulse, dizziness, confusion, mental restlessness and fatigue. This is a yang condition which affects the upper body, especially the head, and diminishes yin.

Some are more prone to this exogenous pathogen than others. Older people are more prone as the fluids of an older body tend to be diminished. This is an expression of the Water Element failing to control the Fire Element across the ke or controlling cycle.

While this condition is more prevalent in summer, it is not confined to that season. It can occur whenever there is a heatwave, or even indoors in highly heated, poorly ventilated rooms.

The invasion of summer heat is similar to the condition of heatstroke or sunstroke in western medicine, and the treatment is the same:

Lie down in a cool, shaded place; slowly sip plenty of water (drinking too much too quickly can overwhelm the body); cool down with splashed water on the head, neck and wrists, or shower or bathe in cool water. If severe symptoms don’t ease within an hour, call the emergency number.

Chinese medicine also recognises that heat invasion penetrates to the organs. In particular, the heart, yin organ of the Five Element is most affected, which explains the mental confusion, disorientation and delirium that can result. (All mental disorders are considered disorders of the heart.) But the heat can invade other organs also. Heat can combine with damp which together transform to phlegm and may manifest as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, poor appetite, fatigue and tightness in the chest. Heat can also combine with wind. Wind-heat can affect the lungs and produce symptoms of the common cold: runny nose, sore throat, fever and joint pain

Ways to avoid the effects of the summer heat pathogen are to avoid the sun, seek shade, wear light, loose clothing and a hat, and drink plenty of water over time, sipping rather than gulping. Do not exercise in the heat. (I cringe when I see people jogging in the middle of a hot day.) Keep the house cool by closing blinds early in the day.

Acupressure Points can help rebalance

Large Intestine 11 is a classic point for clearing heat from the body. Located in a hollow at the end of the lateral elbow crease.

Heart Protector 6 is a calming and regulating point for the Fire Element. Located 2 cun above the inner wrist crease.

Triple Heater 5 regulates the body thermostat. Located 2 cun above the outer wrist crease.

Governor Vessel 14 treats excess yang, which is a characteristic of heat invasion. Located on the spine at the base of the neck, between vertebrae C7 and T1.

Other known points include Heart 7, 8; Heart Protector 3, 7, 8; Triple Heater 6;  Stomach 36, Spleen 6.

I’ll be back soon in the Late Summer for a look at the humid or damp climate. Enjoy the rest of the summer. Stay cool!

NOTE: I have been discussing summer heat as an external pathogen. Chinese medicine also recognises heat conditions that are internal and which are created primarily by inappropriate diet and emotional disturbances. TCM recognises a plethora of such heat and fire patterns that are beyond this discussion from the Five Element perspective, but which can be studied in Giovani Maciocia’s ‘The Foundations of Chinese Medicine”.

COLD

Readers may have noticed that here has been a slight hiatus in blog posts. This has been due to a combination of the muse taking a holiday, and my writing energies being directed to another project. But a gentle prod from a reader (thanks Evelyn) and the unusually cold winter in southern Australia have inspired me to begin another series of posts.

One of the resonances through which the Five Elements manifest is that of climate which is closely correlated with the resonance of season. Here’s how they line up:

WATERWOODFIREEARTHMETAL
WinterSpringSummerLate SummerAutumn
ColdWindHeatHumidityDryness

The resonances are realms of life through which the vibrations of the Elements are expressed. The vibration of the Water Element expresses as the season of winter, the climatic condition of cold, the emotion of fear, the organs of bladder and kidney, and so on. When there is an imbalance in an Element within a person, it is likely to express itself through a number of these resonances. In this post we will focus on the way that the climate of cold can influence other resonances of the Water Element. We’ll explore the other climates in their respective seasons over the next year.

The Chinese character for cold is hán and depicts a man trying to protect himself from the cold by staying in his shelter and covering himself with straw.

Fortunately, we have better ways of keeping warm these days, but for many, the cost of heating is unaffordable, and ongoing exposure to the cold can become debilitating to the health. A recent UK government report stated that living constantly in an environment below 18 degrees Celsius (64 F) begins to affect one’s health, and that negative health effects may occur, such as increases in blood pressure and the risk of blood clots which can lead to strokes and heart attacks. It is well documented that the more severe the winter, the greater the number of deaths, especially in those over 60 years.

From the Chinese medicine perspective, these effects of cold are known as cold invasion. In fact, all of the climatic factors are considered to be ‘external pathogenic factors’. In other words, they are pathogens that invade the body in the way we might consider bacterial and viral infections as invaders.

The risk of cold invading the body is clearly greatest in wintertime, though it can occur in other seasons. Being yin in nature, cold injures yang, causing contraction in the body. This includes contraction of the skin, the muscles, the tendons and ligaments, all of which can produce stiffness and biting pain. When cold combines with wind, this allows for the penetration of viral respiratory conditions such as the common cold. In this case wind is the spearhead of the cold invasion. Other symptoms of cold pathogen can be watery, clear or white discharges, period pain, fertility issues, epigastric or abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

These latter conditions arise when there is penetration of cold into the stomach, intestines or uterus. But the deepest effect is upon the yin organ of the Water Element, the Kidneys which house the jing or Essence. This is especially true for those of a certain age whose Kidney Qi is already in short supply, and who may complain of feeling the cold in their bones.

How can we protect ourselves from cold invasion, or treat ourselves when cold has taken a foothold?

The first thing is to bring warmth. Wear extra layers of clothing to trap the body heat, including a hat or beanie, a neck scarf, and an extra layer around the abdomen to warm the kidneys. Use heating pads and heat the room. A hot water bottle on the belly is a lovely way to bring warmth into the body. Drink warm liquids and eat warming foods and herbs like ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cayenne and turmeric.

 Movement and exercise will help to heat the muscles, tendons and ligaments. A more powerful way of warming the body is through Qigong which cultivates as well as circulates Qi. Try any of the ten thousand forms! An ancient, basic, but reliable form is the Ba Duan Jin or Eight Strands of Brocade. These movements are designed to strengthen all the organs and channels. The sixth of these exercises specifically strengthens the Kidneys.

Qigong is not just movement, but also incorporates breathing to gather the Heavenly Qi. Conscious breathing into the belly centre (lower dantian, or hara) warms the body remarkably and strengthens the Kidney Qi. Tibetan monks have a practice known as tummo, the practice of inner heat. This is a series of breathing and visualisation practices that raise body temperature and metabolism. There are notable cases of competitions to see who can melt the most snow around them or dry the most layers of wet cloth on their bodies. (Don’t try this at home.)

More recently, Wim Hof, known as the Iceman for his ability to withstand low temperatures, has popularised a system breathing practices. This involves forceful breathing followed by breath holding which can strengthen the immune system and resist the cold.

There are acupoints that are known to expel cold once it has penetrated the body. The following are some which we have met over the years in this blog, and I have linked to those posts.

• My favourite point to treat cold is Governor Vessel 4 Mingmen Gate of Life. This point strengthens Kidney Qi and addresses the balance between the Fire and Water Elements.

• Stomach 36 Susanli Leg Three Miles, was my very first blogpost in 2014. This highly versatile point can in this case, expel cold if it has penetrated the Stomach.

• Stomach 25 Tianshu Heavenly Pivot for cold invading the intestines.

Triple Heater 5 Waiguan Outer Frontier Gate. This point strengthens the exterior and rebalances the body thermostat.

• When cold with wind has affected the head and neck, use Gall Bladder 20 Fengchi Wind Pond and Governor Vessel 16 Fengfu Wind Palace.

As we navigate the second half of the southern winter, I encourage you to find ways to protect and defend against the cold. I’ll be back in the Spring with a look at the climate of Wind.