Pathogenic Factors in Eastern Medicine

One of the major difference between Eastern Medicine vs. Conventional Western Medicine is the pathogenic factors. The terminology of pathogenic  factors in the Eastern Medicine sound like weather terminology. I would like to briefly explain each of them without giving too much details. So you have at least some understanding when I mention them in other my blog posts. 

Easter Medicine Pathogenic Factors: 

• Cold could be differentiated as external cold or internal cold.
  • External cold usually means  the coldness from our environment.
  • Internal cold  means the coldness either fed into our body via diet or caused by severe deficiency  of energy or Yang  (vital fire, or thyroid) 
• Heat could  also be categorized with internal and external 
  • External heat is the heat from our environment. For example, in the summer, people may experience heat stroke
  • Internal heat could be caused by: 
    • stagnation - imagine if there are a big crowd stuck inside a tiny isolated space, the temperature starts rising. Inside  our body, if  there is a stagnation of  energy circulation, it could cause heat. 
    • Yin deficiency usually means the deficiency of body fluid or imbalance of some hormones (or thyroid). For example, during the menopause, some women may experience hot flash. According to the Eastern Medicine, it is caused by Yin deficiency.  
• Damp could also be internal or external
  • External Dampness also means the damp environment 
  • Internal Dampness could be caused either by: 
    • Diet - certain food could cause dampness including: 
      • dairy: cheese, milk
      • sweets 
      • hot or spicy food 
      • Gluten such as pasta, bread 
    • Poor water metabolism due to energy deficiency
• Wind could also be internal or external 
  • External wind is also from our environment 
  • Internal wind could be caused by: 
    • Liver Qi stagnation lead to heat or fire, then causes internal wind.  
    • Severe Yin Deficiency causes internal wind 
• Dryness could also be from internal or  external 
  • External dryness is usually from the environment 
  • Internal dryness could be due to internal heat or Yin deficiency.