A Brief Discussion on My Understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The philosophical nature of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is primarily reflected in its fundamental theories—Yin-Yang, the Five Elements, and the syndrome differentiation and treatment in clinical diagnosis.
The theoretical foundation of TCM originates from the I Ching (Book of Changes), hence the saying, “Medicine and the I Ching shares the same origin.” Yin-Yang and the Five Elements are traditional Chinese cultural frameworks for understanding the world.
Yin-Yang possesses characteristics such as opposition, interdependence, mutual transformation, and unity. The Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) have normal relationships of mutual generation and restriction, as well as abnormal interactions such as over-restriction and counter-restriction. Based on these principles, TCM proposes the overarching concept of “Yin-Yang imbalance” as the root of diseases, along with more specific diagnostic relationships such as “a mother’s illness affecting the child” and “a child depleting the mother’s energy.”
In my nearly thirty years of experience in TCM, I have also discovered or extended the sociological attributes of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. However, as this is just a personal perspective, I will not elaborate further.
““Yi Zhuo Tang”” Talks About “Muscles” – Part One
At the beginning of the new year, as all things revive, ““Yi Zhuo Tang”” invites everyone to understand their own “muscles” and recognize a healthier self.
In today’s society, due to changes in lifestyle and work habits, muscle-related issues—especially muscle atrophy—have become significant health concerns. We will explain this topic from four aspects: the basic principles of muscle atrophy, its primary causes, methods of diagnosis, and prevention strategies. Today, we start with the first topic:
1. The Basic Principles of Muscle Atrophy
1. Understanding Muscles
Muscles are composed of millions of tiny muscle fibers, which connect to bones through tendons. Inside muscle fibers are myofibrils, responsible for muscle contraction. The primary functions of muscles include:
- (a) Supporting body structure
- (b) Enabling body movement
- (c) Maintaining posture
- (d) Generating heat
““Yi Zhuo Tang”” Talks About “Muscles” – Part Two
2. The Physiological Process of Muscle Atrophy
1. Reduction in Muscle Fiber Volume
This usually occurs due to inactivity, insufficient nerve stimulation, malnutrition, or disease.
2. Metabolic Imbalance
When muscles are not used, protein synthesis decreases while protein breakdown increases, leading to a reduction in muscle mass.
3. Changes in Neural Control
Weakened or interrupted nerve control over muscles can also cause muscle atrophy.
Summary: For most people, insufficient exercise and dieting (due to obesity or other reasons) are the primary causes of muscle loss. Disease-related muscle atrophy accounts for a smaller proportion of cases.
““Yi Zhuo Tang”” Talks About “Muscles” – Part Three
3. Primary Causes of Muscle Atrophy
1. Neurological Diseases
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): The immune system attacks the central nervous system, impairing nerve signal transmission—like a broken communication line that neither receives nor sends signals.
- Spinal Cord Injury: Disrupts the nerve signals from the spinal cord to the muscles—similar to receiving signals but being unable to send them out.
- Peripheral Neuropathy: Reduces the nerve signals reaching muscles—like being able to send signals but having trouble receiving them.
2. Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
- Diabetes: Prolonged high blood sugar levels damage nerves and blood vessels.
- Thyroid Dysfunction: Abnormal thyroid hormone levels affect muscle metabolism and growth.
3. Muscle Disorders
- Muscular Dystrophy: Protein and energy deficiencies hinder muscle growth and maintenance. A lack of specific vitamins and minerals affects muscle metabolism and function.
- Myositis (Muscle Inflammation): Inflammation can damage muscle cells.
4. Physical Factors
- Lack of Exercise
- Prolonged Bed Rest
““Yi Zhuo Tang”” Talks About “Muscles” – Part Four
4. Diagnosis of Muscle Atrophy
1. Clinical Symptoms and Signs
- Muscle mass reduction
- Decreased muscle strength
- Limited motor function
2. Laboratory Tests
- Blood tests: Muscle atrophy may cause elevated creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.
- Urine tests: Myoglobin levels may increase in urine.
- Imaging Examinations:
- MRI: Provides a clear view of the extent of muscle atrophy.
- CT scan: Assesses the severity of muscle atrophy.
- Electrophysiological Tests: Evaluate nerve control over muscles and the health of muscle tissue.
- Nerve Conduction Velocity Test: Helps determine if muscle atrophy is related to nerve damage.
““Yi Zhuo Tang”” Talks About “Muscles” – Part Five
So far, we have discussed muscles, but we must also talk about the structures at both ends—tendons. Tendons allow muscles to attach to bones and perform their functions.
Tendons are composed of dense connective tissue, forming cord-like or fan-shaped structures that lack active contraction ability. Within tendons, longitudinal connective tissue fibers are interwoven with transverse fibers, creating a structure that allows for overall stress distribution.
Tendon nutrition primarily comes from blood vessels at the muscle and bone junctions since tendons themselves lack a direct blood supply. Due to this, tendons have poor self-repair capabilities. At the same time, they endure the greatest stress in daily activities and exercise, making them prone to injury and slow to heal, often leading to long-term issues.
With the emergence and development of fascial studies, we now have a more advanced understanding of tendons, ligaments, and fascia. Their role goes beyond just connection and support—but that is a topic for another time.
Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Understanding of “Pain”
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes there are three main causes of pain:
- Blockage (obstruction in the body’s pathways)
- Tension (muscles and tissues are too tight)
- Deficiency (insufficient qi and blood supply)
These three factors are interconnected and influence one another in a cycle.
In TCM massage therapy, treatment for pain begins with addressing tension by ensuring:
- Comprehensive coverage (treating the entire affected area)
- Thoroughness (working on both ends of every muscle)
- Deep penetration (reaching superficial, intermediate, and deep muscle layers)
Understanding the Pain Caused by Therapeutic Massage
Pain during a massage occurs only when there is an underlying issue. The discomfort arises as tense muscles and ligaments are loosened through applied pressure.
The Goal of TCM Massage
To achieve “flexible tendons and properly aligned bones”, leading to a balanced and comfortable state.
“Yi Zhuo Tang” Discusses “Pain” Again
Modern medicine classifies soft tissue pain (muscles and ligaments) into two categories:
- Traumatic injury (caused by sudden external force)
- Stress injury (caused by prolonged static force)
Stress injuries are more hidden and deceptive, often going unnoticed until symptoms appear.
How Stress Injuries Develop
- Persistent stress in a specific area increases muscle tension, compressing capillaries and restricting blood flow.
- The body compensates by accumulating calcium in the stressed area, reinforcing its strength.
- Over time, this leads to fibrosis and eventually calcification, forming a lesion.
- The lesion can cause restricted movement, pain, and nerve compression, leading to radiating numbness and pain.
Treatment Methods
The goal is to reduce muscle tension and improve microcirculation. Effective approaches include:
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Herbal hot compress therapy
Western painkillers only block pain signals without addressing the root cause.
Exercise for Recovery
Stretching is key, along with modifying lifestyle and work habits to reduce prolonged stress on the body.
“Yi Zhuo Tang” Discusses Common Ailments – Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is one of the most common ailments, much like cervical spine disorders. It has become a lifestyle-related disease.
Lower back pain is a symptom, not a disease. Many conditions can cause it, such as:
- Kidney diseases and gynecological disorders
- Spinal fractures, tuberculosis, and tumors (less common but important for clinical diagnosis)
Common Causes of Lower Back Pain
- Acute or chronic muscle strain
- Herniated lumbar disc compressing spinal nerves
- Misalignment of lumbar facet joints
- Injuries to lumbar ligaments (e.g., interspinous ligament damage)
- Cauda equina nerve damage
Early diagnosis is crucial to avoid misjudgment!
“Yi Zhuo Tang” Discusses Exercise – Part One
In TCM, there is a saying:
- Top-level doctors treat disease before it occurs.
- Mid-level doctors treat disease when it is about to occur.
- Low-level doctors treat disease after it has already occurred.
We won’t discuss how to become a top-level doctor, but for the general public, the focus should be on preventing illness through proper exercise.
Misconceptions About Exercise
Many people misunderstand exercise, do it incorrectly, or fail to achieve good results.
So, I will systematically share insights on:
- The concept of exercise
- Differences between exercise, physical activity, and labor
- Exercise content, methods, and goals
Three Key Principles of Exercise
- Understand the theory – Know why exercise is important.
- Learn the right methods – Master proper exercise techniques.
Persist consistently – Keep training regularly for long-term benefits.
“Yi Zhuo Tang” Discusses Spine-Related Disorders – Part One
I’ve been busy recently, but I finally have time to continue sharing medical knowledge—something I’ve been eager to do.
What Is Spine-Related Disorders?
As the name suggests, these are diseases related to the spine, developed based on modern anatomical studies.
Previously, I shared details about spinal anatomy, covering:
- Bones
- Muscles
- Nerves
Let’s quickly review:
- The spine consists of 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 1 sacral, and 1 coccygeal vertebra in adults.
- These vertebrae connect via facet joints (also called “false joints”), making the spine inherently unstable.
- The 31 pairs of spinal nerves originate from the spine:
- Motor nerves control limb movement.
- Autonomic nerves regulate internal organs.
Why Does This Matter?
Spinal nerve damage can cause not only back and limb pain but also internal organ dysfunction, leading to various internal diseases that are often ignored.
“Yi Zhuo Tang” Discusses Spine-Related Disorders – Part Two
Let’s take an example: Spinal-Origin Heart Disease
Many people panic when they experience palpitations, chest tightness, or arrhythmias.
But after detailed heart examinations, they find:
- No heart muscle problems
- No blood vessel blockages
- No valve abnormalities
Yet, they still have persistent symptoms.
What Should They Check?
Examine the spine:
- Are thoracic vertebrae 3, 4, or 5 misaligned?
- Is the upper cervical spine straightened or misaligned?
- Are there nodules or tender spots around the atlanto-occipital fascia?
These regions contain nerves that control the heart.
Once the spinal issues are corrected, heart symptoms often disappear instantly.
The Bigger Picture: Understanding Internal Diseases
Internal diseases can be categorized into two main causes:
- Issues within the organ itself (organic diseases)
- Problems with nerve control (functional disorders)
If functional disorders persist long enough, they can eventually lead to organic diseases.
Why Spinal Health Matters
Maintaining spinal health is crucial, which is why my clinic is named “Yi Zhuo Tang”—
A strong, upright spine resembles the number “1”, symbolizing strength and health.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: Sharing on Spine-Related Diseases – Part One
I have been extremely busy recently, but now that I have some free time, I am continuing to share medical knowledge with everyone—a topic I have long intended to devote myself to.
Spine-related diseases, as the name implies, are disorders that occur in relation to the spine and have been developed based on the detailed anatomical studies of modern medicine. Previously, I shared a series on the anatomical structure of the spine in our group—dividing it into sections on bones, muscles, nerves, etc. Now, let’s briefly review:
The spine is composed of 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, 1 sacral vertebra (in adults), and 1 coccygeal vertebra (in adults). Their connections are made through facet joints (also known as “false joints”), which render the spine inherently unstable. The 31 pairs of spinal nerves that emanate from the spine innervate the trunk and limbs—the motor nerves control limb movement, while the autonomic nerves regulate internal organs.
Thus, the key point is: damage to the spinal nerves can not only cause pain in the lower back, arms, and legs but, more importantly and detrimentally, can endanger internal organs and trigger a series of internal diseases that often go unnoticed and unheeded.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: Sharing on Spine-Related Diseases – Part Two
Today, I would like to share an example of a spine-related disease—spinal-origin heart disease.
At the mere mention of heart disease, many become very anxious, given the importance of the heart, with symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, and arrhythmias. After a thorough examination, the heart muscle, blood vessels, and valves all appear normal, yet the symptoms persist.
At this point, it is essential to examine the spine: Are thoracic vertebrae 3, 4, or 5 misaligned? Is the upper cervical spine straightened or misaligned? Are there any nodules or tenderness in the region of the atlanto-occipital fascia?
This area is where the nerves that innervate the heart originate. Often, once this region is properly adjusted, the symptoms of heart disease disappear almost instantly.
To elaborate, the causes of all internal diseases can be divided into two major categories: issues arising from the organs themselves (organic) and problems with nerve innervation (functional). Prolonged functional disorders may eventually convert into organic lesions.
Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to spinal health. This is also the origin of the name ““Yi Zhuo Tang”” for my clinic—a spine held upright resembles the numeral “1”, and I hope that everyone’s “1” remains strong and healthy.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Two
Concept:
Exercise refers to targeted activities—either active or passive—involving the body, breathing, and emotions. These activities aim to enhance bodily functions or compensate for the loss of function in various life processes, thereby maintaining health and improving the body’s capacity to recover.
Explanation:
- The components of exercise include:
- (a) Physical exercise
- (b) Breathing exercise
- (c) Emotional (mental) exercise
- The forms of exercise can be categorized as:
- (a) Active exercise
- (b) Passive exercise
- Three qualifiers for exercise:
- (a) It must be practiced throughout all stages of life.
- (b) It should cover all aspects of the body.
- (c) It must at least meet the baseline required by life’s demands (while there is no upper limit, there is a necessary minimum).
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Four
Literally, the character for “exercise” (锻炼) is composed of a metal radical for “锻” and a fire radical for “炼.” Achieving effective exercise is not easy—it requires repeated refinement and persistence.
Health is a lifelong need, so exercise is something that must be maintained throughout one’s life. In today’s fast-paced world, especially during work hours, how can exercise be perfectly integrated into daily life? Here are some suggestions:
- Develop a strong awareness of exercise; its importance is as essential to the body as proper nutrition.
- Make good use of fragmented free time—for example, during the few seconds of a red light while driving, you can move your shoulders; when idly looking at your phone, you can stretch your legs.
- The exercise methods you adopt should be:
- (a) Bodyweight-based, minimizing the need for equipment;
- (b) Diverse enough to engage the entire body;
- (c) Simple enough to be easily learned and executed.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Three
Contents of Exercise:
- Physical Exercise:
- (a) Increase the muscle belly in the center of each muscle (strength training); enhance the flexibility of the tendons at both ends of each muscle (stretching exercises).
- (b) Ensure the proper alignment of every joint in the body. Structurally, joints can be categorized as true joints (which are less prone to dislocation) and false joints (all spinal joints are false joints, making them most susceptible to dysfunction and misalignment).
This helps the body achieve a state of flexible tendons, properly aligned bones, and balanced comfort.
- Breathing Exercise:
- (a) Practice diaphragmatic and reverse diaphragmatic breathing to achieve deeper, longer breaths that increase blood oxygen saturation and boost metabolic capacity.
- (b) These breathing techniques enable the diaphragm to move to its fullest extent, thereby enhancing the exercise of the thoracic and abdominal cavities and benefiting the internal organs.
- Emotional Exercise:
TCM posits that the internal causes of disease are the “seven emotions” (joy, anger, worry, contemplation, sorrow, fear, and shock). What factors cause these emotional fluctuations, and why do some people experience them more intensely than others? Can exercise help mitigate the adverse effects of these emotions on health?
Reading—especially philosophical texts—can help achieve this balance. I have previously discussed the social attributes of “Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements” in China, which can help strengthen one’s emotional balance.
In summary, exercise is holistic—it promotes physical health, a cheerful mood, and an optimistic, positive outlook.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Five
The Difference Between Exercise and Sport:
There is a fundamental difference between the two, though they are often confused in daily life. Here is an attempt to distinguish them:
- Exercise is about nurturing the body, while sport is about utilizing it.
- The manner in which you engage in sport can be chosen based on your preferences or passions, whereas some exercise methods must be performed regardless of personal taste.
- Sport is a way to showcase the results of your exercise.
- You can choose not to participate in sports, but you cannot avoid exercising.
- Sport is the profession of athletes, while exercise is an essential part of everyone’s life.
In short, the body must be “forged” and “trained” to remain healthy, delay aging, and improve overall quality of life.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Six
On Cultivating a Calm Mindset for Exercise:
- Have sufficient patience to nurture your body. Many of today’s bodily injuries are cumulative, stress-related chronic damages that require recovery according to age and physical condition. It is acceptable to repair after damage occurs, but you must never rush the process as if “pulling the seedlings to help them grow.”
- Choose appropriate benchmarks for your exercise. Initially, compare your current state with your past self (a vertical comparison) rather than immediately comparing yourself with others (a horizontal comparison).
- Establish a progressive exercise plan, especially in the beginning, following a three-phase approach:
- (a) A phase without added resistance;
- (b) A static resistance phase;
- (c) A dynamic resistance phase.
- The ideal amount of exercise is such that you feel fatigued after the session, but that fatigue completely subsides by the next day.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Nine
Facial and Head Exercises:
- Face Rubbing and Hair Combing: Rub your hands together until warm. Then, using your palms, rub upward from below your chin to the front hairline. Next, use all ten fingers to comb the hair from the front hairline backward toward the rear hairline. Repeat until your face and head feel warm.
- Lifting and Pulling: When lifting, use the “Baihui” acupoint as the focal point to lift the skin on your face and head; when pulling, use the tip of the chin as the point to pull the skin downward. The movement should involve raising the eyebrows during the lifting phase and frowning with a puckered mouth during the pulling phase.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Twelve
Spinal Exercises:
- Left-Right Rotation: While seated, stabilize your pelvis and fix your gaze straight ahead to lock your head. Then, rotate your entire spine 45 degrees to the left and right, moving from top to bottom.
- Forward-Backward Undulation: In a half-horse stance, perform a wavelike motion with your spine from the pelvis upward.
- Plank: Position your body parallel to the ground, supporting yourself on your toes and forearms, with your hips slightly raised. Extend the region around the Baihui acupoint forward while keeping your gaze on the ground.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Thirteen
Pelvic Exercises:
- Quadrilateral Swing of the Pelvis: With your hands on your hips and your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees into a half-squat position. Swing your pelvis maximally to the left, right, front, and back.
- Circular Swing of the Pelvis: From the same starting position, rotate your pelvis around your spine as the axis, moving in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Fourteen
Brain Exercises Inspired by “Spring Arrives: Recitation”:
- Reading Aloud: Read an article out loud without adding or omitting any words. Begin with familiar texts, and after some time, challenge yourself with new material—ideally even with classical literature.
- Recitation: Once you have mastered a text, recite it from memory.
- Clearing the Mind: Set aside a moment to clear your mind of all distractions and simply be.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Fifteen (Breathing)
Breathing Exercises:
Breathing is one of the vital signs of life. To enhance metabolism and delay aging, proper attention must be paid to our breathing!
- Diaphragmatic (Abdominal) Breathing: Inhale so that the air first fills the lower parts of your lungs, causing your diaphragm to move downward and your lower abdomen to protrude. Continue filling the middle lung fields and finally the upper lung fields up to the apex. When exhaling, contract your lower abdomen, lift your diaphragm, and expel the air starting from the base of the lungs up to the apex. This complete cycle constitutes one breath. It is important that the surrounding air is fresh and that your breathing is even and prolonged, with inhalation and exhalation through the nose. (In the initial stages, we will not elaborate on the coordination of “mind” with breathing.)
- Reverse Abdominal Breathing: In this method, the inhalation and exhalation movements are exactly the opposite of diaphragmatic breathing; all other requirements remain the same.
As autumn arrives, the lungs tend to become dry; and with winter approaching, respiratory diseases become more likely. So, let’s begin to exercise our breathing.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Fifteen (Emotional/Mental Exercises, Section One)
Emotional Exercise – Part One:
In TCM, the “emotions” refer to the seven emotional states: joy, anger, worry, contemplation, sorrow, fear, and shock. These are considered the internal factors in TCM’s theory of disease causation, underscoring the importance placed on how emotional fluctuations affect the body.
Specifically:
- Excessive joy damages the “heart.”
- Excessive anger harms the “liver.”
- Excessive worry and contemplation injure the “spleen.”
- Excessive sorrow damages the “lungs.”
- Excessive fear and shock impair the “kidneys.”
In our daily life and work, various factors—matters close to the heart, external influences, sudden changes, or long-term accumulation—can cause our emotions to fluctuate and harm our health.
How can we minimize such harmful influences? The answer is through emotional exercises!
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Sixteen (Emotional Exercises, Part Two)
Continuing from the previous discussion on emotional exercises, here are some specific methods:
- Understand the basic philosophical concepts in traditional culture—namely, “Yin-Yang” and the “Five Elements.”
- Yin-Yang: In traditional culture, this is a comprehensive concept summarizing the duality of all things (e.g., black and white, good and bad, high and low). It also embodies the notion of mutual transformation (day turns into night, good can become bad), the unity of opposites (each day contains both light and darkness, and your experiences are a mix of both), as well as interdependence. Understanding these concepts can at least help you avoid the emotional rollercoaster of extreme highs and lows.
- The Five Elements: These are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—a categorization of all things and their properties in traditional culture. They interact through normal relationships of “mutual generation and mutual restriction,” as well as through abnormal interactions such as “overlapping and humiliation.”
By understanding these principles, you can manage interpersonal relationships more effectively—striving for a balanced “mutual generation and restriction” while avoiding the chaotic “overlapping and humiliation”—thus maintaining a calm and composed state.
“Yi Zhuo Tang”: On Exercise – Part Seventeen (Emotional Exercises, Part Three)
2. A Brief Analysis of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements:
- (1) Understanding “Yin-Yang” is equivalent to understanding a worldview. Everyone’s world contains dual aspects—no one’s world is composed solely of sunlight while another’s is only darkness. Proper emotional exercise can help your inner light shine more brightly, even if it begins as just a small spark; it can also help you realize that after a sky full of dark clouds, sunshine will inevitably emerge—and you might even discover a cool shade within the brilliant sun.
- (2) The “Five Elements” can be seen as guiding principles of behavior: “generation” promotes growth and progress; “restriction” helps maintain discipline; while “overlapping” and “humiliation” are sources of disorder, yet they may also indicate areas for potential improvement.
Some might say, “I understand all these principles, but who can truly put them into practice?” The ancient sages pursued the unity of knowledge and action. Let us not treat knowledge and practice as parallel lines but instead let them gradually converge.
At this point, in a total of seventeen parts, I have provided a comprehensive introduction to active exercise, covering physical exercise, breathing exercises, and emotional exercises. In the future, we will also introduce “passive exercise.”
