Etiology

The human body is endowed with ability to resist the invasion of various kinds of pathogenic factors so as keep a relative balance in the interior of the body as well as between the human body and the environmental conditions. This ability is called anti-pathogenic Qi. The various pathogenic factors that can break either of the two states of relative balance are called pathogenic Qi. The normal co- ordination of yin and yang in the body is destroyed and an abnormal change of preponderance or discomfiture of either yin or yang results.

1. Six Exogenous Factors
1. Wind – (yang) Pathogenic wind prevails in spring, as do "wind" diseases. Exposure to the wind after seating, or sleeping in a draught, are important inducting factors in being affected by pathogenic wind.
2. Cold – (yin) Pathogenic cold is prevalent in winter, as are diseases of cold. In the cold season, too little clothing, exposure to cold after sweating, and being caught in wind and rain provide chances for the development of pathogenic cold.
3. Summer heat – (yang) Diseases caused by pathogenic summer heat occur only in summer. Onset is often due to prolonged exposure to blazing sun on hot days, or staying in a hot room with poor ventilation.
4. Damp – Pathogenic damp occurs mainly in the late summer rainy season. Such diseases usually follow the wearing of clothing wet with rain or sweat, dwelling in low-lying and damp place, or being in frequent contact with water during work.
5. Dryness – (yin) Invasion of pathogenic dryness often occurs in late autumn when moisture is lacking in the atmosphere.
6. Heat (fire, mild heat) – Heat, fire and mild heat are all yang pathogenic factors. They are of the same nature but different in intensity. Among them, fire is the most severe and mild heat the least severe. Heat, like summer heat, is also characterized by dispersion, damaging yin with a tendency to go inward to disturb the mind.
2. Seven Emotional Factors:
1. Mental activities relating to emotion are classified in traditional Chinese medicine under:
1. joy
2. anger
3. melancholy
4. meditation
5. grief
6. fear
7. fright
2. They are the main pathogenic factors of endogenous diseases.
3. The seven emotions seven emotions are reflections of man’s mental state as induced by various stipulations in his environment. They are physiological phenomena and will not cause disease under normal conditions. However, if the emotions are very intense and persistent or the individual is hypersensitive to the stimulation, they may result in drastic and long standing change in emotion which leads to disease.
4. Diseases caused by the seven emotional factors often show dysfunction of Zang-fu organs and disturbance in circulation of Qi and blood. Clinically, disorders caused by the seven emotional factors are:
1. Excessive joy or fear may cause mental restlessness and give rise to palpitation, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and even mental disorders.
2. Excessive anger may cause dysfunction of the liver in promoting unrestrained and potency of vital energy and give rise to pain and distention in coastal and hypochondriac region, irregular menstruation, mental depression and irascibility. If the function of storing blood is impaired, hemorrhage may result.
3. Excessive grief, melancholy and meditation may cause dysfunction of the spleen and stomach in transportation and transformation, and cause anorexia and abdominal fullness and distention after meals.
3. Miscellaneous Pathogenic Factors
1. Irregular food intake
1. Gluttonous eating or over-eating of raw or cold food
2. Indulgence in alcoholic drink or greasy food
3. Not enough nourishment
4. Unsanitary food
2. Over-strain, stress or lack of physical exertion
3. Traumatic injuries
4. Stagnant blood and phlegm