Cancer: GI Health & Detox
Emotional harmony and wellness in the world of cancer, a TCM perspective
There are many causes of cancer, some are known, and some are not. From TCM‘s perspective, cancer is a heat toxin that depletes a person’s nurture and righteous Qi and blood, causing deficiency. Cancer is then formed from an accumulation of prolonged, stagnated toxins, stagnated flow of Qi and blood, and deficiency of essence. Although in conventional knowledge, cancer is the unrestricted and abnormal growth of tissues, in TCM, cancer also reflects the internal and external relations of the body and its environment.
Cancer is also an accumulation of pathogenic Qi, which can come from both external and internal sources. From the external environment, the pathogenic Qi includes extreme temperatures like heat or cold, strong wind, dampness, and fire. If our internal Qi is strong and balanced, we can keep those pathogenic Qi out. From the internal environment, the pathogenic Qi comes from unrestricted emotions, an unbalanced diet, and an undernourished lifestyle.
TCM emphasizes being mindful of our body and health, and following the rhythm of nature, that is much more than what you eat. TCM also sees emotional factors as a part of health, and every organ governs different emotions. For example, the heart governs joy, the Kidney governs fear, the liver governs anger, etc.
Overexpression in emotion is considered an imbalance in TCM, as overexpression of certain emotions can damage the Qi in the organ or other related meridians. For example, too much anger can damage the liver, and cause liver Qi stagnation in the meridians.This means that the functioning of the liver will be negatively impacted, such as in detoxing, repairing, and the coordination with other organs and meridians.
Think about a time when you experienced prolonged and magnified anger. Have you noticed your body showing symptoms such as bad skin quality, or an increase in your body’s inflammation? That is an example of our body dysfunctioning from liver Qi stagnation due to our overexpression of emotions.
When we overexpress the emotion of fear, it depletes the kidney essence, which is our essential reservation of Qi, blood, Yin, and Yang.
When we overthink, it damages the spleen Q, which dominates the function of our digestion and nourishment.
Prolonged sadness damages the lung and leads to the depletion of our defensive Q, which leads to a decrease in our immune system against external pathogenic Qi, and inability to expel the internal pathogenic Qi.
The heart governs joy, consciousness (Shen), and meridians that provide unobstructed pathways for Qi to flow.
That’s why when treating cancer, or any chronic illness, with acupuncture and Chinese herbs, we don’t only focus on strengthening one’s function, but also encourage the movement of Qi, blood, and essence. This is a very unique concept of TCM treatment protocol. We also apply this concept in balancing the emotions that are governed by the organs. This can be achieved through acupuncture, herbs, and Qi Gong movements.
Treating cancer with TCM modality is not just focusing on the reduction of symptoms, but also to balance and harmonize each emotion.
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