This internal "damp terrain" provides a perfect environment for chronic inflammation. Think of it as a swamp: stagnant, oxygen-poor, and prone to festering. This illustrates how Spleen Qi Deficiency causes inflammation from a TCM perspective.

What Do We Mean by “Throbbing” Pain? A throbbing, pulsating pain is a rhythmic ache that seems to beat in time with your heartbeat, almost as if something were “tapping” the nerves from the inside. When it strikes the temples, it can feel like a tiny drum echoing inside your skull.

The modern understanding of trigger points—technically called myofascial trigger points was pioneered by Dr. Janet G. Travell (1901–1997), a physician who specialized in chronic muscle pain.

For the first time, muscles of the neck—such as the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, and scalenes, along with the cervical vertebrae (C1–C7)—were accurately described. His work laid the foundation for modern anatomical understanding and remains fundamental in diagnosing conditions like neck stiffness today.

🧠 What Is a Herniated Disc? A herniated disc, also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, is a condition in which the soft, gel-like center of a spinal disc (nucleus pulposus) pushes out through a tear or weakness in the outer layer (annulus fibrosus). This protrusion can compress nearby spinal nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness, especially in the neck, lower back, arms, or legs.

When the human body is exposed to chronic emotional stress without proper release or therapeutic resolution, critical hormonal systems become imbalanced. This imbalance may result in physical symptoms such as weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, and digestive issues, as well as mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and emotional burnout.

“You wake up with flaky, tight, and irritated skin. You applied moisturizer before bed, yet your face feels like sandpaper by morning. Sound familiar? While most people blame the weather or cosmetic products, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sees something far deeper — signs of internal imbalance manifesting on the skin.”

Waking up to puffy eyes can dim your confidence and signal underlying fluid imbalance or inflammation. Incorporating targeted foods and herbal brews into your diet can promote fluid homeostasis, support lymphatic drainage, and calm inflammation—both from a Western biomedical standpoint and through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Here are seven top recommendations to include in your daily routine.

You step onto the stage, your heart hammering in your chest. The spotlight’s glare overwhelms your vision, and dozens of expectant eyes fix upon your trembling form. In that electrifying moment, every fiber of your being screams for escape. Your legs feel like jelly, quivering uncontrollably beneath the weight of your fear. As the audience holds its breath, you find yourself asking: What mysterious force within your brain and body drives this visceral reaction?

No sharp pain. No burning. Just a heavy silence. A part of your body seems to swell out of existence visible, yet strangely absent from your awareness. This quiet swelling isn’t just about fluid. It’s about something deeper: a signal from within, waiting to be heard. Let’s take a deeper look from history to biology, from modern science to traditional wisdom, to understand what’s happening when your foot swells… but you barely feel it.

Best Practices for Avoiding Post-Meal Drowsiness 1. Eat smaller, more frequent meals to reduce digestive load. 2. Chew thoroughly to ease stomach burden and support Spleen Qi. 3. Take a gentle walk (10–15 minutes) post-meal to promote circulation and Qi movement. 4. Ensure sufficient nighttime sleep to prevent brain fatigue during the day. 5. Include foods that support digestion and Spleen function, such as oats, pumpkin, black sesame, and jujube dates.

“Have you ever woken up to find your fingertips mysteriously numb—everything feels awkward and lifeless, and you wonder, ‘Will this ever go away?’” Imagine rising in the morning, reaching for your cup of tea, and discovering that your fingertips are numb, your grip weak, and your coordination off. These unsettling sensations trace their origins to the earliest anatomists of antiquity and remain a common complaint in clinics today.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sweat is not merely waste—it is the essence of Yang, vital for supporting key organs like the Heart and Kidneys. Unexplained night sweats, particularly during sleep, indicate Yin Deficiency—when the body lacks the cooling, nourishing force to restrain inner fire. This allows Yang energy to erupt unregulated, causing excessive sweating.

The systematic recognition of obsessive-compulsive symptoms dates back to 19th-century European psychiatry. In 1838, French psychiatrist Jean Esquirol was the first to use the term “obsessions” to describe persistent, intrusive thoughts. He classified them under the broader psychiatric category of “monomania”, referring to an intense preoccupation with a single idea or behavior.

"Your Memory Runs on Blood: Why Forgetting Might Mean You're Nutrient Deficient" “Forgetfulness Isn’t Just Forgetting — It’s the Body...

Fear is a universal emotion — and paradoxically, the most frightening of all. It evolved as a protective mechanism, helping us survive in the face of danger. But when fear grows unchecked, when it becomes detached from real threat and begins to haunt every corner of the mind, it transforms from a survival tool into a silent destroyer. That is the essence of Panphobia, or the fear of everything.

In both Western anatomy and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the human skin serves not only as a physical barrier but also as a battlefield — the first frontier where our body defends itself against external threats. When viewed through the lens of TCM, the skin transforms into something far more poetic: a city wall guarded by the Lung Channel, its energetic generals, and a vigilant army of protective Qi.

“Your tongue is not just a muscle. It’s a mirror.” In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the tongue is more than just a body part used for speech and taste. It’s a diagnostic window — reflecting the health of your heart, spleen, stomach, liver, lungs, and kidneys.

Lactose intolerance is not a true allergy, but rather a digestive condition. Here's how it works: Lactose is the natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. Lactase is the enzyme in your small intestine that breaks lactose down into glucose and galactose for absorption.

Belching—also known as burping—is a normal physiological process. It can arise naturally or be triggered by dietary habits and digestive disorders. Both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provide valuable yet distinct perspectives on this common occurrence.