Dear Prof Du,
Hi, this is my first lesson in TCM and I have some few issues I want clarified.
1. Am I correct in saying that both the Heart and Liver in TCM has functions related to the mind? Although it is the Heart that houses the mind and the Liver the emotions but it seems that some problems in the Liver could also result to insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, dizziness and vertigo which are neurological symptoms.
2. In the theory of the 5 elements, if an element is in excessive state, could it affect all the other elements within its sphere of influence? For example, could an excess in Liver Qi affect the Heart (Mother-Child relationship), Kidney (Child-Mother relationship), Spleen (subjugation pathway), and Lung (reverse restriction pathway)? If that is true, then pathology in a single Organ could affect the whole spectrum of physiological processes in the whole body.
3. How important climactic conditions in the diagnosis and treatment in TCM? The concept of the 5 elements assumes the presence of winter, spring, summer and fall. Here in the Philippines we have only 2 climates: summer and rainy season. How do we correlate then the 5 elements with our 2 seasons?
Thank you.
mike |