Root Cause of Disease: A Chinese Medicine Perspective

Chinese Medicine's view of disease is rooted in the idea that we have three aspects of ourselves: Jing, Qi and Shen.  These are the Three Treasures of life.  Jing is the physical body represented by the candle, Qi is the energy produced or the body in action,  represented by the flame;  and Shen or Spirit is represented by the light emanating from the flame.  We are born with maximum Jing or material essence and we die when the Jing is used up.  The flame goes out when the candle is burned in this same way.  We are born warm and flexible - think of a baby.  We die cold and rigid - you might visualize a corpse.  

The purpose of life is to transform Jing to Shen - to evolve and transform from life's journey. To literally transform material manifestation of ourselves to the non-material.    When we refuse to change, to be open; when we become rigid we will have conflict as we resist what is.    Refusing to change, or be open to possibility makes it difficult to learn the lessons of life, to evolve to wisdom through experience.  

This can set us up for disease in the body.  When the body is diseased or in conflict, Qi or energy may be limited or stuck.  For example, we may not do things to support our body properly, like going outside, getting sunlight, eating the right types of food, engaging socially - all the things that can bring us more "life" and joy.  Things that support our mitochondrial function and/or gut microbiota.  When we have balanced Qi, we don't have too much yin, which can manifest as water weight, candida, fungus, yeast etc.  or too much yang, which might manifest as nervous energy, inflammation, dehydration, canker sores for example.  Acupuncture, herbal medicine and Qi Gong are all mechanisms to rebalance our Qi and thus increase Jing.  

Shen is akin to the heart and our spirit.  When our shen is intact and in line with our Jing and Qi, we will feel connected to others and not separated.  All emotions are connected to our Shen/spirit and each emotion is felt in the body.  Fear for example is connected to the kidneys, Worry to the digestive system and anger to the liver.  If our Shen is disturbed, we feel it in our body.  Vica versa, if we do not live properly, we feel it in our spirit or Shen which ultimately affects the emperor of our body, the Heart.  

Our bodies are microcosms of the universe.  The sun is connected to the heart.  When the heart is affected and cannot shine its light, the end is near.