Health deficits
Health deficits such as exhaustion and lack of energy are considered holistically in TCM. This distinguishes TCM from Western medicine in some ways.
The view of the human body is different. For a better understanding, a short introduction to the physiological functionality of the human body and the theory of diseases follows:
Three different "substances" circulate through the body. All three substances should circulate freely through the body. The so-called organ clock, for example, indicates when (at what time) most of the energy is in which organ. If one of the substances stagnates over the long term, there will be health deficits. If there is a lack of one of the substances, this is also expressed in physical symptoms. Interestingly, stagnation or deficiency problems are reflected in the texture, color and coating of the tongue (pulse, tongue and meridian diagnosis).
The blood
Material carrier of Qi, in some respects comparable to the western conception of blood.
The blood stagnates - and almost every woman knows that - stabbing pain can occur. When blood stagnates, the sub-lingual veins are often swollen. The tongue body is often purple in color. If there is a lack of blood, the lips and the complexion are pale, which can result in a lack of energy.
The juices
Collective term for all body fluids. Divided into cloudy and clear juices. In the body, they moisten muscles and organs, among other things, and can in part be compared to lymph fluid.
The juices stagnate, edema can develop. With prolonged stagnation, the juices thicken into mucus. According to TCM, cysts, tumors, gallstones or kidney stones often result from the stagnation of juices. Threads of mucus appear on the tongue. If there is a lack of juice, the tongue is dry and rough. This can manifest itself symptomatically in a dry, irritating cough, dry mucous membranes and dry skin.
The Qi
The Qi supplies the body with energy and warms the body.
Qi stagnation is a common symptom. The Qi can stagnate in the meridians and in the organs. When the flow of qi is blocked, the warm energy builds up and heat is generated. Inflammation, stomach ulcers, for example, can result from this. Certain areas on the tongue are red or have cracks. Qi deficiency manifests itself in a general lack of energy (tiredness, loss of appetite), in a weak function of individual organs (e.g. digestive disorders) or in cold extremities.
