Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) reduces anger by focusing on the Liver system, which governs Qi (energy) flow, using treatments like acupuncture, herbal medicine, Qi Gong/Tai Chi, and dietary changes to smooth stagnant Liver Qi, often linked to stress and frustration, promoting emotional balance through holistic methods like deep breathing and physical movement to release tension. Key TCM Approaches for Anger: - Acupuncture: Stimulates specific points (like Liver 3 - Taichong) to unblock Liver Qi, calm the nervous system, and balance mood-regulating neurotransmitters. - Herbal Medicine: A practitioner might prescribe herbs to nourish the Liver and calm the mind, addressing underlying imbalances. - Mind-Body Practices:Qi Gong & Tai Chi: Gentle, flowing movements combined with breath work to harmonize energy and release stress.Deep Breathing: Diaphragmatic breathing helps shift from "fight-or-flight" to a relaxed state. - Lifestyle & Diet:Eat Greens: Support healthy Liver function.Exercise: Physical activity, especially outdoors, helps Qi movement.Eye Exercises: Taking breaks from screens supports Liver health. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), shingles (Herpes Zoster) isn't just a virus but a manifestation of internal disharmony, primarily Damp-Heat and Wind-Fire pathogens stagnating and attacking the body, often along the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, triggered by a weakened immune system (deficient Qi) and emotional stress. Root causes involve internal Liver-Qi Stagnation, Spleen weakness (causing Dampness), and underlying Kidney Yin Deficiency, leading to toxic heat and poor energy flow (Qi) that allows the dormant virus to reactivate, causing inflammation, pain, and blisters. Core TCM Causes - Damp-Heat & Wind-Fire: These are the main culprits, representing pathogenic factors that make the body susceptible.Heat: From inactivity, stress, or diet, causing redness and severe pain.Dampness: Sluggishness, fluid-filled blisters, often linked to Spleen deficiency from poor diet or worry.Wind: Causes itching and rapid spread, often accompanying Heat. - Liver-Qi Stagnation: Stress and emotions (anger, frustration) disrupt Liver Qi, creating heat and stagnation, allowing the virus to flare. - Spleen Deficiency: Weak Spleen leads to Dampness and fatigue, making the system vulnerable. - Kidney Yin Deficiency: Often a chronic pattern, leading to recurrent outbreaks and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), hemochromatosis (excess iron) isn't a single disease but a complex pattern of disharmony, often viewed as a Spleen Deficiency (Pi Xu) leading to impaired transformation and transportation, allowing Dampness and Blood Stasis to form, causing Liver, Kidney, and Heart imbalances, with root causes involving congenital weakness, diet (rich foods, alcohol), and environmental factors, manifesting as organ-specific signs of heat, damp-heat, or blood stagnation due to iron accumulation. TCM focuses on balancing Qi, Blood, and Organ systems (Liver, Spleen, Kidney) to clear excess iron and restore function, using herbs like turmeric (curcumin) and acupuncture to address the underlying patterns, rather than directly targeting the genetic defect. TCM View of Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload)

In TCM theory, the Spleen (which is not the same as the Western anatomical spleen) plays a critical role in digestive function. After a healthy, balanced individual has a meal, the Spleen regulates the absorption of the nutrients. The nutrients then transform into Yin and Yang, and Qi energy. Qi is the central force behind the production of Blood in the body. Thus, a balanced Spleen is essential for all of your bodily functions. If you take care of your Spleen, your Spleen may provide you with excellent health and vitality. It’s for this reason that virtually all traditional Chinese medicines for digestion are formulated to strengthen Spleen function. In the West, the organ that’s most often associated with digestion is the stomach. In TCM theory, the Stomach system likewise plays a key role in digestive function. Before the Spleen can even transform nutrients into various energies, the Stomach has to break down food—not too quickly and not too prolonged, but just in the right amount of time. However, if the body already has an imbalance of Yin and Yang energies, the Stomach may not be able to efficiently break down food and pass the digested food onwards to the intestines. Over time, a poorly functioning Stomach and an accumulation of undigested food particles can lead to excess heat in the digestive system. This can cause “rebellious Qi,” which is when the energy flow is going in the opposite direction of where it should be going. The direction of the Qi flow from the stomach should naturally be downward, towards the small intestine. But after a heavy meal (or an emotional disturbance), rebellious Qi sends energy upwards, towards the esophagus. Cold Deficiency And Heat Excess What type of person do you identify with? Person A is thin, has a pale complexion, hardly ever has a hearty appetite, likes to eat salads and raw vegetables, tends to be on the anxious side, and suffers occasionally from constipation. Person B has a very strong constitution and has an iron stomach. Rarely, if ever, does this person have problems with elimination. However, because this person loves to eat big portions, especially of spicy foods and heavy meats, he or she can have foul-smelling stool and a long list of other indigestion symptoms. Person B tends to have more of a ruddy complexion and is larger-framed.

Updated: Sep 18 The thyroid gland may be small, but its influence on nearly every system in the body is profound. This butterfly-shaped gland nestled in the neck regulates metabolism, energy, temperature, growth, and more through the hormones it produces. When thyroid function becomes imbalanced, whether through hypothyroidism (underactive) or hyperthyroidism (overactive), the effects can be far-reaching and significantly impact quality of life, While conventional medicine typically addresses thyroid disorders through hormone replacement or suppression, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers complementary natural thyroid remedies that address the root imbalances underlying thyroid dysfunction. By working with the body's innate healing abilities, TCM provides gentle yet effective approaches to restoring thyroid health. Understanding Thyroid Disorders Through a TCM Lens In Western medicine, thyroid disorders are generally classified as either hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid hormone production) or hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone production). These conditions are typically diagnosed through blood tests measuring levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). In TCM theory, the thyroid region is associated with the "Sea of Qi" (Qi Hai) and is influenced primarily by the Kidney, Spleen, and Liver organ systems. These aren't just the physical organs as understood in Western medicine, but functional systems that govern various physiological and energetic processes in the body. Here's how these systems relate to thyroid function in TCM: The Kidney system is the foundation of health in TCM and governs growth, development, and reproduction. The Kidneys store essential life energy (Jing) and are closely related to thyroid function. Kidney deficiency often underlies hypothyroidism, particularly in cases with symptoms like fatigue, cold sensitivity, and low libido. The Spleen system is responsible for the transformation and transportation of nutrients in TCM. It generates Qi and Blood from the food we eat. Spleen Qi deficiency can contribute to hypothyroidism, especially when symptoms include digestive issues, fatigue, and weight gain.