II. The Theory of Deficiency and Excess in Disease

II. The Theory of Deficiency and Excess in Disease

1. “In ancient times, the sages taught their followers that ‘vicious energies and harmful winds are common; we must avoid them at appropriate times, maintain a calm and serene state of mind, let true qi flow freely, and guard our spirit internally—how then can we avoid illness?’” (Suwen, “On the Nature of the Ancient Human Body”)

2. The Yellow Emperor said, “When the Five Epidemics strike, people are all infected, and the symptoms vary depending on the severity. Yet why do some people recover while others die? The reason for this difference lies in the fact that righteous qi resides within the body, while evil qi cannot penetrate it.” (Suwen, “Supplementary Chapters – On the Methods of Acupuncture”)

3. “Where evil qi gathers, qi will inevitably be deficient; when yin qi is deficient, yang qi takes over.” (Suwen, “On the Timing of Organ Functions”)

4. “Yang qi is like the heavens and the sun—when it is lost, one’s lifespan is shortened and one’s brilliance fades.” (Suwen, “On the Flow of Qi and the Heavenly Principles”)

5. “Yin and yang are the ways of heaven and earth, the fundamental framework of all things, the parents of change, the source of life and death, and the realm of divine wisdom—when treating illness, we must seek the root causes.” (Suwen, “On the Harmony Between Yin and Yang”)

Deficiency of righteous qi encompasses both insufficient and disordered immune function. To strengthen the body and restore balance, focusing on tonifying the spleen and nourishing the kidneys is a fundamental principle, effective in treating various chronic diseases such as blood disorders, tumors, hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, endocrine disorders, and chronic nephritis.