“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”—World Health Organization Constitution.
“Three types of definition of health seem to be possible and are used. The first is that health is the absence of any disease or impairment. The second is that health is a state that allows the individual to adequately cope with all demands of daily life (implying also the absence of disease and impairment). The third definition states that health is a state of balance, an equilibrium that an individual has established within himself and between himself and his social and physical environment.”—Norman Sartorius, the former Director of the Mental Health Program of the World Health Organization and former President of the World Psychiatric Association and of the European Psychiatric Association.
It is such an optimal status, isn’t it? This is the status I am eager to have and I believe that many people are eager to have it as tremendously as I am, no matter what our own current statuses are. Is it difficult to achieve that goal? My answer is that it can be achieved but efforts are needed.
How can it be achieved? Two points are to be discussed. The first one is about the body’s structure and functions. According to Chinese Medical Theory, five layers: skin, muscles, tendons, blood vessels and bones; six Yin (Zang) organs: Lungs, Heart, Liver, Spleen, Kidneys and Pericardium; six Yang (Fu) organs: Large intestine, Small intestine, Gallbladder, Stomach, Bladder and Triple energizer; two more extra Fu organs: Brain and Uterus; twelve muscle regions and twelve cutaneous regions are integrated into a holistic and organic system through meridians and collaterals. In order to maintain the health physically, psychiatrically, socially and spiritually, Zang-Fu organs should be in good shape, function and work together well, and Qi and blood circulate freely and a dynamic Yin-Yang balance in the body should be sustained.
If Qi and Blood are stagnated, and Zang-Fu organs work improperly, and Yin-Yang balance is broken, a disease follows. What makes it happen? This is the second point to be talked about.
The factors causing diseases are called pathogenic factors and include external, internal and non-external, non-internal ones.
The external pathogenic factors such as wind, cold, summer heat, dampness, dryness and fire (warmth and heat), the climatic changes found in nature and seen typically in the spring, summer, late summer, fall and winter respectively. Normally they do not cause any health problems until climatic changes are extreme or sudden or if that person is vulnerable. We had better add or reduce layers of the clothes according to the changes of the weather and stay inside when it is too windy, rainy, cold or hot. Nowadays, the air conditioners are used widely. In the summer, when it is hot outside and we are sweating, our hair pores are open. Once we enter an air-conditioned room where the temperature is lower, the cold can get into our bodies very easily. It may not make us sick right away, but it can mess up the circulation of Qi and Blood and be problematic over the time. Using air conditioners less, or setting up higher temperature can help reduce the damage from it while we can still enjoy the coolness.
The internal pathogenic factors include emotions, diet, exercise and rest. Joy, anger, melancholy, grief, worry, fear and fright are our basic emotions and the response of the body to external stimuli. They do not cause a disease normally. However, if emotional stimuli are too severe, continuous or abrupt for the body to adapt, especially when there is a preexisting overreaction to them. If we are indifference to fame or gain, managing anger to minimum or zero and keeping mental tranquility, the damage caused by the emotional can be prevented or minimized. One thing came to my mind and that is going to the nature more. I spent a few days in the Smoky Mountain national park one summer. Before that trip, I had been overwhelmed and worried about my work and future for a while. While we were walking down along the mountain, I looked back and saw the big mountain covered with green trees. That gigantic green “curtain” hung above the air with the background of the deep blue sky and a few white clouds made me relaxed immediately.
Diet is necessary for maintaining life as it is the source of Qi and Blood on that every part of the body depends, but improper diet may be cause diseases. This includes overeating, insufficient food intake, overindulgence in particular foods and intake of contaminated food. Fresh and locally grown produce is preferred. Choose a lot of varieties of foods when we pick up kitchen ingredients. Cook on your own as much as possible. Eat regularly and chew more. The cooked and warm foods are better in general.
Normal physical exertion and rest do not cause disease and actually it helps build up the good constitution and prevent disease. But overstrain and stress consume Qi and cause disease. Lack of physical exertion can impair the circulation of Qi and Blood. In modern life, we drive or take public transportation much more frequently and spend more time in front of the desk using computers. Screen time takes a lot of our spare time. Many health problems which used to happen to seniors are happening to younger generations. Take myself as an example to demonstrate how moderate exercise can help a body. I had a car accident 10 years ago. Driving a one-year-old minivan, I was hit on the driver’s side like a letter “T” by a car at the speed of at least 45 MPH and my van was totaled. Fortunately, no broken bones and internal bleeding happened. But I started to feel numb in my hands and legs, mainly during the nights, which woke me up quite often. Driving more than two hours was hard for me and I had to shift, looking for a comfortable position for my low back. I had a series of chiropractic treatments and felt much better. However, they came back gradually months later. Because they were less severe and frequent, I did not resume the treatments. In 2018, I began learning Chen Ming Tai Chi from Master Hiromi Johnson. My numbness became better again little by little. I stopped to practice it in January 2020 because I had a trip to China and the Pandemic began in the USA in March. My symptoms came back little by little. I did not realize that I missed Tai Chi until in October 2020 and resumed it. So far, no numbness in my legs. I still experience it in my hands during the nights some times and it can wake me up. But if I practice more often, it happens less.
The non-external, non-internal ones include injuries, bites and improper sexual activities. The Traumatic injuries include gunshots, car crash, burning, sprain and more. They can cause swelling, pain, bruise, bleeding, broken bones, dislocation of the joints, etc. Insect or animal bites including the bites of poisonous snakes, wild beasts and rabid dogs can cause bleeding, pain, open wound, and be poisoned. Improper sexual activities cover starting them at the young ages, having them too frequently or when one of the partners is sick. Thus they can weaken the internal organs. Driving carefully, wearing protection gears, staying away from dangerous areas, moderate sexual activities and more can reduce the risks of being impaired.
Normally the body has an ability to heal itself and that ability is named as the anti-pathogenic Qi. “The pathogenic factors cannot invade the body if the anti-pathogenic Qi remains strong. If it must be weak if the invasion of the pathogenic factors occurs.” — Huangdi’s Internal Classic. The anti-pathogenic Qi can be cultivated by doing the tips mentioned above persistently and being well-disciplined. In that way, the chance of being sick can be lowered and we can stay healthy. If there is a health issue, it may not be severe and can be healed sooner.
One more part is about the congenital. A person gets the congenital essence from his or her parents. The parents’ constitutions and health conditions during the conception and pregnancy play an important role in a person’s health. No matter what we get, it cannot be changed any more. But we can do the right things to keep the good part and curtail the influence of the bad part.
Enjoying our life or having high quality of life during the stages of our lifetime can be an inch away.