The term “ Spring Wind “ typically refers to the increased windiness that is characteristic of the spring season. This is a result of the imbalance between retreating winter air masses and emerging warmer air masses. Personally, I am not a big fan of wind; it kind of drives me crazy and messes up my hair. But in Chinese medicine, Wind is an external yang pathogen with a more nefarious nature, known to penetrate internally and wreak havoc on the central nervous system, known as Evil Wind Feng Xie. According to Chinese medicine viewpoint, internal wind is the fundamental cause of all neurological disorders; whereas Western medicine counterpart attributes these disorders to auto-immune disorders, dopamine deficiency, and viral infection. Uncoincidentally, because spring season is upon us, I have encountered many “ wind-related “ patterns of disharmony recently, including Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Bell’s Palsy.
The concept of Wind used in the context of Chinese medicine is truly vexing to the Western medicine community, precisely because it has no equivalent in allopathic medicine. This illustrates one of the inherent differences embedded in these two medical systems. Eastern medicine’s understanding of the human organism is contextualized within the bigger framework of the whole, namely Nature. Human physiology is a microcosm of the cosmos, governed by the same laws of nature, no different than the way a tree is impacted by the natural elements of sun, wind, and rain. Put simply, if the wind blows and the person is not well anchored substantively, this will result in shaking of the body and involuntary movement of the limbs. Conversely, Western medicine offers a more reductive approach focusing on the destruction of myelin, the protective covering around nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, which disrupts nerve signals, leading to nerve damage resulting in spasm, tremor, numbness and tingling.
As much as these two contrasting approaches are seemingly incompatible, the truth is quite the opposite. Scientific research has increasingly substantiated the neuroprotective and therapeutic mechanisms of Acupuncture, demonstrating its potential efficacy in conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. At the same time, Disease-Modifying Therapies DMTs are used effectively as a frontline treatment to slow the progression of Multiple Sclerosis. The integration of Acupuncture with Western medicine represents a synergistic approach that combines the strength of both systems, aiming for comprehensive patient care.
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