This pattern is affiliated with autoimmune disorders (blood, chi and yin deficiencies), harmful or unmanageable stress, and the impact of violent movies and computer games on the mind. Causes include chronic anxiety or worry, prolonged periods of intense concentration; overexertion, drug abuse and excessive stimulation of the senses by…

This pattern is affiliated with anaemia, poor memory, ‘brain fog’ and the early stages of developing atherosclerosis and CVD. Heart blood deficiency can be a precursor to heart blood stagnation (atherosclerosis) as blood nourishes chi and chi moves blood. It is very common in people who spend long hours…

This is a serious condition that develops over a long period of time. It is affiliated with too much overwork, emotional problems, PTSD in the advanced stage; and abuse of stimulants including diet pills, explosive workout supplements, and methamphetamine. Heart yang collapse can require emergency treatment. In complete collapse…

This pattern is affiliated with arrhythmia, bradycardia and PTSD and is caused by prolonged stress, excessive coffee and smoking, amphetamine / cocaine abuse, diet pills and shock or fright. In heart yang deficiency blood circulation is not promoted and shortness of breath aggravated by exertion will manifest. Heart yang…

This pattern is affiliated with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colonic mucosa and is caused by overconsumption of hot (this is an energetic quality not food temperature) and greasy foods, or chronic sadness and anxiety. If these causes are combined, the pattern is worse. These factors…

This pattern is common in middle-aged and older people. It is a chronic condition of phlegm in the lungs caused by over-exertion and poor diet over a long period of time which has impaired the spleen’s function of transforming and transporting fluids. In TCM the spleen produces phlegm and…

The factors that cause this pattern are stress, relentless pressure and overwork in combination with unhealthy compensatory behaviours, such as smoking for stress management or high-pressure business lunches with excessive consumption of hot (this is an energetic quality not actual temperature), spicy and greasy foods. These affect the spleen’s…

The lifestyle factors contributing to this pattern include high stress levels and worry over finance or deadlines; constant pressure, overwork, an unhealthy diet, and sleep deprivation. This affects the spleen’s ability to transform and transport fluids which then forms phlegm. As your spleen is a major organ involved in…

This pattern is caused by exposure to climatic wind and heat, but also by central heating or other artificial sources of heat in workplaces such as kitchens or foundries. Symptoms: Cough, fever, aversion to cold, sore throat, stuffed or runny nose with yellow mucus, headache, body aches, slight sweating,…

This pattern is the common cold. In Chinese medicine it is due weakness of the body’s chi in relation to pathogenic factors such as exposure to wind and cold. This pattern can also be caused by too-cold air-conditioning weakening the body’s chi; or activities such as working out inside…