30/08/2024
The "Six Evils" (六邪) are external pathogenic factors that can invade the body through the skin, mouth, or nose, particularly when the body's defenses are weakened. They can act alone or in combination, and their effects can vary depending on the individual's constitution and the prevailing environmental conditions.
1. Wind (风邪) is associated with rapid onset and movement. It tends to cause symptoms that appear suddenly and change quickly. Wind manifests as tremor, convulsions, numbness, itchiness, dizziness, headaches, and rashes that come and go quickly.
2. Cold (寒邪) is a Yin pathogenic factor that damages Yang energy. It causes stagnation and can attract other illnesses. Cold manifests as Cold body and limbs, poor blood circulation, pale face, vomiting, diarrhea, cold painful joints, menstrual pain, and disorders, thin va**nal discharge and bowel movements.
Heat (暑邪) is high in temperature and can cause the body to become bloated as gas gets trapped. It is a Yang pathogenic factor that can disturb body fluids and cause mental disharmony. Heat in the body manifests as heat, thirst, sweating, fatigue, yellow urine, yellow tongue, sudden fainting, fever, red face, red eyes, sore throat, gum swelling, and pain.
Dampness (湿邪) is heavy and sticky, leading to stagnation. It can harm Yang energy and make the body susceptible to various diseases. Damp looks like head pain, chest tightness, sluggishness, sore or swollen joints, poor flexion and extension of limbs, sticky phlegm, cloudy urine, water retention, and weight gain.
5. Dryness (燥邪) consumes body fluids and is particularly damaging to the lungs. It is a Yang pathogenic factor that can easily damage body fluids. Dryness looks like Dry tongue, dry skin, dry hair, dry cough with little or no phlegm, less sweat or no sweat, chapped lips, constipation, dry eyes, and dry throat.
6. Fire (火邪) can burn out and hurt body fluids. It has a violent nature characterized by inflammation and can accelerate blood flow, potentially causing bleeding. Fire causes fever, red face, red tongue, red eyes, sore throat, gum swelling and pain, toothache, constipation, short urine, restlessness, and irritability.