In Part 1 of this post, we shared the power of your digestive system and its connection to the Earth element. Cooperation is essential for proper digestion; however, many people experience weight gain, fullness without eating, burping, acid reflux, and other digestive issues. Often, these issues relate to a function disorder, which can’t be seen on a physical test. That’s because these symptoms—which we refer to as the body’s messages—begin at the level of Qi. When Qi is blocked or cannot flow smoothly and freely, we experience that imbalance on the physical level.

Your strength and immunity rely on your Stomach and Spleen Qi and how well they function. In a bubble, the Stomach and Spleen function like the Earth where anything can be dumped in and processed, no matter what else happens. But unfortunately, our modern lifestyle has turned us away from Nature. We lose the essence and capabilities of proper digestion. There are three main culprits of function disorders—emotions, cold, and dampness.

EMOTION

Emotion is the first thing that can create a function disorder, especially constant worry and overthinking. There are many reasons for worry—the stock market is down, your children are in college, your parents are aging. The list can go on and on. With constant worry and overthinking, many people experience appetite loss. Emotion can damage the organs’ function.

Today, many people experience food intolerances and allergies. Your Stomach should be able to digest everything. Allergies are not a food problem; lifestyle and emotions create the conditions for Stomach and Spleen function disorders.

COLD

In Chinese medicine, cold is considered a pathogen. The body’s organs do not like cold; they love warmth—especially the Stomach. If the body is always cold or is fed a steady diet of cold, raw, or fried foods, it will never be able to reach its highest potential.

Cold can be expressed as either temperature or essence. While temperature can be felt, essence cannot be seen. When it is cold outside and you leave your skin exposed, or you eat iced drinks, cold foods, raw vegetables, or a steady diet of dairy and heavy meats, you are inviting cold essence into the body. Your body then has to use more Qi to warm and then process the food and drink, as well as warm your skin.

If cold makes everything slow down in Nature, what does it do inside your body? The exact same thing. People who continually have cold extremities have cold trapped inside their bodies, mostly in the Stomach. Weight gain and knee problems are also signs of cold in the body. All pain as well as tumors, fibroids, and cancer, as well as seasonal allergies are associated with cold. In addition, many metabolic functions are affected by cold and seriously impact health, leading to autoimmune diseases among others.

Many people ski without hats and gloves in the winter and wear shorts while running on a cold or windy day. Consider how much energy you have to spend to protect your body. Why are you wasting energy and challenging Nature? When you support your body with warm foods and you bundle up in the elements (cold and wind), you are conserving your Qi and giving your body another opportunity to rest. We want our Qi to flow, and flow freely. When Qi flows freely, disease cannot enter.

DAMPNESS

Dampness is non-materialized, and relies on cold. On certain days, you can eel dampness in the air. This is invisible essence and Qi that performs in a visible way. Dampness can create a function disorder in the body, which can lead to various symptoms. If your body does not have cold inside, dampness cannot get in.

Dampness can present as an infection or itchiness. The location where your body is constantly itchy is damp, too. Dampness can also accumulate as fat that is difficult to lose no matter how or what you try. Another sign of dampness is a thick, white coating on the tongue. No matter how long you brush, the coating returns. Some people ave a thick coating and bad breath, and notice that brushing does not help, even temporarily. If your body has cold inside, dampness can easily get in and wreak havoc. Find a way to release the dampness.

Learn more about Cold and Dampness in this Blog post: How Does Cold Enter the Body?

Try this recipe today: Golden Corn Soup with Arugula

The Dragon Stands Between Heaven and Earth

Take the time to learn our standing meditation, The Dragon Stands Between Heaven and Earth. This powerful meditative posture can help you build your energy, so you can begin to heal.

Excerpted from Grand Master Lu’s newest book: Answers Lie Within: Embracing the Body’s Wisdom

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