Quite lively!
Lu Jiu was observing the pulse while analyzing Qiao Ling's physical condition, listening to the dialogue among the Five Viscera to pinpoint potential issues she might face.
Although this was only the fourth set of Five Viscera he had encountered, Lu Jiu could clearly identify which belonged to whom through the conversation.
Heart Fire spoke first, saying the blood was at the top and Spleen Earth should move it down.
Actually, this refers to the blood-regulating function of Spleen Earth!
Among the Five Viscera, the heart governs the blood, the spleen controls the blood, and the liver stores the blood.
What does that mean?
Heart governing blood implies that the circulation of blood relies on the propulsion of Heart Qi for continuous movement; the spleen controlling blood indicates that the spleen has the function of overseeing blood, requiring the maintenance of Spleen Qi to prevent blood from bursting out of the vessels; liver storing blood means that the liver has the function of storing and regulating the quantity of blood, supplying it to various tissues and organs during body activities, while during rest and sleep, blood returns to be stored in the liver as the body's metabolic rate reduces and blood consumption decreases.
While the source of our body's strength comes from the kidney, the utilization of power actually arises from the liver.
Our legs can walk because blood flows through the veins, and our hands can grasp things for the same reason.
Once blood doesn't follow the meridians and fails to nourish certain parts, numbness occurs, akin to arms feeling numb and powerless after sleeping on a desk.
This is because while the liver stores blood, it also governs the tendons.
Many martial arts enthusiasts may appear skinny but possess remarkable strength; in actuality, they train their tendons.
They can instantly mobilize Qi and blood, bursting forth with astonishing strength.
Of course, under current circumstances, such individuals have become increasingly rare.
Compared to the power of the meridian, people prefer to believe in those with larger muscles.
After all, just the visual impact is already quite astounding!
After this, Liver Wood mentioned that Qi couldn't move; liver belongs to the lower focal point, implying that there is "Qi stagnation."
Exactly.
Blood stagnation above and Qi stagnation below lead to symptoms of mental distress and restlessness.
In the Regulating the Menstrual Cycle: Yellow Emperor's Wisdom, Qi Bo states, "Qi and blood both stagnate, yin and yang are skewed, Qi's path in the vessel is disrupted, blood's path in the meridian is reversed, Qi and blood depart their residence, one is full, one is empty. Blood stagnates within yin, Qi stagnates within yang, hence frenzy ensues. Blood stagnates in yang, Qi stagnates in yin, leading to heat in the core. Blood stagnates above, Qi stagnates below, resulting in mental distress, reluctance, and irritability. Blood stagnates below, Qi stagnates above, leading to chaos and forgetfulness."
This passage describes how issues in Qi and blood can lead to corresponding symptoms.
The term "stagnate" essentially means stopping but not entirely halted.
The circulation of Qi and blood in our body cannot stop; it must continuously circulate within.
Generally speaking, Qi moves faster than blood because Qi belongs to yang while blood belongs to yin. Qi must push blood and clear a path ahead.
The only scenario leading to "Qi and blood stagnation" is when there's cold within the body.
Qi and blood prefer warmth and dislike cold; coldness obstructs Qi and blood flow, while warmth can disperse and promote their flow.
When the body has cold, leading to Qi and blood stagnation, deficiencies in Qi and blood emerge: when Qi stagnates, blood decreases and becomes deficient, and when blood stagnates, Qi decreases and becomes deficient.
Simply put, when Qi is blocked, less blood comes, leading to blood deficiency; when blood is blocked, Qi doesn't flow, resulting in Qi deficiency.
If the girl before him has blood stagnating above and Qi stagnating below, it's crucial to discern whether she primarily exhibits Qi deficiency, blood deficiency, or more severely, both Qi and blood deficiency.
Logically, whether Qi deficiency or blood deficiency, neglecting it would eventually lead to both Qi and blood deficiency, as Qi and blood share the same source and mutually transform.
"When did you start experiencing headaches?" Lu Jiu asked.
Qiao Ling carefully recalled but couldn't pinpoint, "It should've started last month; I don't remember the exact time."
"Was the pain severe last month?" Lu Jiu asked.
Qiao Ling said, "It's bearable; just difficult to sleep at night due to the pain."
"How's your sleep recently?" Lu Jiu asked.
Qiao Ling responded, "Not very good, I often have insomnia."
"Is it insomnia due to worries, or unexplained restlessness?" Lu Jiu asked.
Qiao Ling said, "I guess restlessness."
"How's your diet? What do you usually eat?" Lu Jiu asked.
Qiao Ling pursed her lips, "I don't eat particularly greasy or fatty foods, just normal."
"Do you eat a lot?" Lu Jiu asked.
Qiao Ling shook her head, "I dare not eat much carbs; they lead to weight gain. I only eat a bowl of rice at lunch."
Lu Jiu frowned; though unclear on Qiao Ling's definition of a bowl, her fear of rice suggested the bowl might be smaller than her hand.
Given Qiao Ling's height of over 170 cm, such a physique consuming only a bowl of rice a day is surely insufficient.
Even if she compensates with other nutrients amply, it's not enough.
Rice belongs to the Five Grains, seeds containing growth Qi, essential for our body; in TCM, it's termed Vital Essence of Water and Grains.
The body is a dissipative structure, not a closed system; Vital Essence of Water and Grains supplements this circulatory system.
Vital Essence of Water and Grains is yin, and within the body can transform into yang; the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor Plain Questions·Disease Discussion describes: "Food entering yin, growing Qi within yang."
The Five Viscera need Vital Essence of Water and Grains for supplementation to generate form or transform into the fundamental energy for yin-yang transformations as required.
This strongly resembles modern medicine's view of metabolism.
In a day, during daytime activities increase body's energy expenditure, Vital Essence of Water and Grains emphasizes decomposition for yang Qi needs; at night, it focuses on nourishing yin-blood and body form.
Pathologically, when evil and righteous forces contend, righteous Qi consumption rises, necessitating Vital Essence of Water and Grains for efficient generation; hence, replenishment's role in therapy holds significant importance.
All these underscore that merely defining the Five Grains as carbohydrates and indicating calorie value is inaccurate.
Besides possessing tangible matter, they also contain intangible Qi, irreplaceable by other nutrients.
Modern medicine concurs that a prolonged absence of carbohydrates results in metabolic anomalies, endocrine imbalances, poor mood, cognitive decline, and in severe cases, heightened cardiovascular disease risk.
Yet some focus solely on rice's glucose transforming into fat, staunchly believing it leads to weight gain.
But what's the truth?
Any food in excess leads to weight gain!
Even if rice is carbohydrate, it's fast-carb, best absorbed and digested.
It's unfair for it to shoulder the weight gain blame!
Not just in TCM, even fitness enthusiasts recommend balanced intake of carbs, proteins, and fats with no excess.
Feeling full or stuffed causes weight gain!
Additionally, TCM believes excess cold foods impair Spleen and Stomach functionality, contributing to weight gain too.
If Spleen and Stomach functionality declines, even drinking water causes weight gain!