How can dryness and Dampness exist at the same time? In this podcast you'll discover that these seemingly contradictory patterns occur together more often than you think. We explain how Dampness or Phlegm can transform into Damp-Heat that damages body fluids, or how turbid Dampness uses up normal body fluids causing Yin to become depleted.
We also discuss the difference between Yin deficiency and Empty Heat - two separate pathological conditions that are often confused - and how to recognize these on the tongue.
Rudolph's wife Bella must save Christmas but struggles with exhaustion, night sweats, heart palpitations, and anxiety after giving birth. TCM elf Mei Lin uses Gui Pi Tang herbal formula and acupuncture to restore Heart Blood and Spleen Qi. A heartwarming tale teaching postpartum blood deficiency treatment! 🎅🦌
Why do you wake up at night drenched in sweat when it's not even warm in the bedroom? In this episode we dive into a common but often misunderstood problem: night sweating due to yin deficiency. We start at the very beginning - what is sweating actually and where does it come from? Sweat is made from body fluids that come from your food and drink. In Chinese medicine we say that sweat is the fluid of the Heart, and that blood and body fluids are mutually exchangeable. That's why too much sweating is not good if you're already blood deficient - just think of those sauna sessions that deplete your yin even further.
The core: Yin and yang need to be in balance.
Enjoy listening:)
In this episode of TCM Lover, we explore the crucial differences between two major causes of spontaneous sweating: Qi deficiency and disharmony between Ying and Wei Qi. Learn why these patterns look similar but require completely different treatments.
We cover:
Understanding these distinctions is essential for effective diagnosis and treatment. With Qi deficiency, the factory is broken - you must tonify the organ. With Ying/Wei disharmony, the communication lines are disrupted - you must restore harmony and sometimes even induce therapeutic sweating.
In this episode we dive into the concept of Tai Yang Qi and discover that Tai Yang is much more than just the Bladder and Small intestine meridian. We learn how Ying Qi and Wei Qi work together to protect the body surface and what happens when Wind-cold attacks the body. We also discuss how different organs like the Heart, Lungs, Spleen and Kidneys all play a role in the production and movement of Tai Yang Qi.
This episode explores whether there's a difference between an external deficiency and a disharmony between Ying and Wei level in Chinese medicine. An external deficiency occurs when a pathogen invades a body with weak defensive Qi (Wei Qi), like soldiers who aren't properly fed and can't guard the borders effectively. A disharmony between Ying and Wei arises when the Wei Qi is weakened and can no longer control the Ying Qi properly, causing spontaneous sweating through the pores. This sweating can take place without the presence of an EPF.Are you still following? It doesn't matter so much whether you know the differences but rather that you understand the mechanism.Enjoy listening :)
"Is the Cun Measurement System Still Accurate?"
In your Chinese medicine training, you learn to locate acupuncture points using the traditional cun measurement system, where you use finger widths to measure distances from bony structures (landmarks). But does this 2000-year-old system actually still work for contemporary Western bodies? Australian research with 50 volunteers shows that body proportions no longer match: fingers and legs are proportionally larger than the traditional system predicts, meaning that measuring with your fingers may not lead you to the correct acupuncture point. The researchers therefore recommend using the proportional method more often, where you divide the actual distance between two fixed bony points into equal parts instead of relying on finger widths. As a student, it's important to learn both methods well and remain critical in your thinking about how you combine traditional wisdom with modern insights for the best treatment outcomes.
Discover how your Lungs control your water metabolism and why constipation in elderly people is often a Lung problem rather than just needing laxatives. Learn why Movicolon and similar medications only move the problem around instead of solving it, and how Lung Qi and Lung Yin work together to keep your bowels and urination functioning properly. I also explain how Yin deficiency can lead to edema and why breathing and movement are so important for healthy bowel movement
This week we zoom in on Lung Yin deficiency- You learn how loss of body fluids through sweating, blood loss or diarrhea can dry out the Lung, just like a plant that doesn't get water shrivels up. There are three forms of Lung Yin deficiency and we explain why smoking and alcohol can damage your fluids so much. And why do you actually get heat attacks and dry cough with a Yin deficiency? Time to understand this important pattern thoroughly!
Hey there! Welcome to a new episode of TCM Lover!
Last time we talked about what happens when the warming aspect of the Lung disappears. But today we're diving deeper into the moving aspect of Lung Yang.
Did you know that the Lung is responsible for dispersing fluids throughout your entire body? Like a fine mist they're sprayed to the areas under your skin. And when that movement gets disturbed? Then all kinds of things can go wrong.
In this episode you'll learn:
We discuss symptoms like a blocked nose, cold spots on your back, edema, a gray face with purple lips, and much more.
Do you know Lung Qi deficiency? There's more. This episode dives into Lung Yang deficiency - a pattern that goes way deeper than just shortness of breath. What happens when your lungs lose their warming power? Your qi contracts, cold solidifies in your lung lobes, and suddenly you understand why besides being constantly tired, spontaneously sweating and catching every cold, you're also feeling cold. We show how this ancient wisdom from the Yellow Emperor to Pu Fu-Zhou explains what you see in practice. Recognize that patient with cold between the shoulder blades, swollen face or endless runny nose? This podcast is for you.
This episode is about Zong Qi, also called Chest Qi or Great Qi, which arises from the combination of Gu Qi from the Spleen and air from the Lung. We discuss how Zong Qi nourishes the Heart and the Lung, controls the voice and promotes blood circulation. Weakening of Zong Qi causes three main problems: voice disturbances with soft voice and no desire to talk, failure of qi to move blood which gives a pale face or heart palpitations, and downward fall of qi which causes shortness of breath and extreme fatigue up to suddenly stopping breathing in severe cases. The most important principle: Zong Qi is essential for respiration, speech, heart and blood circulation, and when Lung Qi is too weak, insufficient Zong Qi can be formed.
This episode covers two related Lung syndromes: the Lung as upper source of water, and failure of the upper body to control the lower body. We explore how the Lung regulates waterways through its spreading and descending functions, and what happens when external pathogens block the Lung or when Lung Qi becomes too weak to move fluids. The second part explains how weak Lung Qi fails to control the bladder and intestines, leading to bedwetting, incontinence, and emptiness constipation. Both syndromes share the same root cause: failure of the Lung's descending function. Key principle: Qi is the commander - when qi is too weak to move downward, fluids get stuck and control over the lower body is lost. Treatment focuses on strengthening Lung Qi and restoring its descending function.
For TCM students and practitioners
When Your Balloon Slowly Deflates
Do you feel constantly tired? Do you catch a cold every month? Do you sweat spontaneously without doing anything? Then you might be dealing with Lung Qi deficiency - one of the most common patterns in Chinese medicine.
In this podcast we dive into the pattern where your Lung can't do its work properly anymore. The Lung regulates your breathing, produces your Qi together with the Spleen, and spreads your Wei Qi for your defense against illnesses. When these functions weaken, you notice it in everything: shortness of breath with small effort, a weak voice, spontaneous sweating, and constantly getting sick.
You'll learn to recognize why some people always wear a scarf, why they need to rest after climbing one flight of stairs, and why their voice gets softer and softer as the day progresses. Lung Qi deficiency is like a balloon that slowly deflates.
We discuss the mechanism behind this pattern, the combination of symptoms to watch for, how to distinguish it from other patterns, and practical lifestyle advice for people with Lung Qi deficiency.
Perfect for TCM students who want to understand Lung pathology, or for practitioners who want to better recognize and help their patients.
The Magical Dance of LU-5 & SP-9
Ever wondered why some acupuncturists use just two needles and get better results than others who turn you into a pincushion? Today we're diving into one of Chinese medicine's most beautiful secrets: the powerful point combination of Lung 5 and Spleen 9.
These two points together form a kind of "reset button" for your Qi system. Imagine your body is an orchestra where everyone's playing out of tune - one musician too loud, another too soft, and the conductor is nowhere to be found. LU-5 and SP-9 are like two experienced musicians who team up to get everything back on track. They make sure qi rises where it should rise, and descends where it should descend.
What makes this point pair so special is that they don't just address their own organ, but bring the entire Tai Yin system - your Lungs AND your Spleen - into harmony. The result? An elegant, minimalist treatment that's often more effective than complicated protocols.
The Multi-Faceted Spleen - Blood Guardian
The Spleen does more than digest - it's also the security guard that keeps your blood neatly inside your blood vessels. When your Spleen weakens, blood can escape: downward (bloody stools), into your skin (bruising), or upward (nosebleeds). Worrying and stress weaken your Spleen directly, which is why stressed people often get unexpected bleeding. It usually starts innocently with digestive problems, but as your Spleen gets weaker, it eventually can't hold your blood either. Think of a woman with long periods after childbirth or a manager with nosebleeds during meetings - both Spleen problems. Chinese medicine sees the connection: restore your Spleen and both your digestion and bleeding improve together. It's not about fighting separate symptoms, but addressing the underlying weakness.
Why does a bloated belly feel "too full" when it actually comes from a lack of Spleen Qi? The Spleen works as the manager of your digestive factory - when weak, it causes blockages and stagnation instead of smooth flow. "Grain and water movement failure" means food gets stuck rather than moving through your system properly. Center Qi depression traps energy in the middle warmer, making everything feel heavy and pulled downward. Different patterns emerge: solid food remnants that won't move or Water-Damp that becomes sticky and thick. A vicious cycle develops where eating less actually makes the Spleen weaker, which worsens digestion even more. Real examples like Maria's stress-induced evening bloating and Peter's lunch-skipping show how timing and lifestyle trigger these complaints. The solution isn't eating less but restoring the Spleen's transformation function through regular, warm meals and addressing the root weakness.
The previous podcast we talked about the Spleen. Discover the powerful combination of SP-3 and LU-9 - two Yuan points that restore the Tai Yin (SP and LU) system when this system is deficient. From loose stools and after-dinner fatigue to shortness of breath and spotting between periods: learn when and how to use these points for Qi deficiency. Includes real case study and crucial needling techniques.
The Spleen and Raw Food: Challenging TCM Assumptions
Episode Description
For decades, TCM practitioners have warned against raw food, claiming it damages Spleen Qi and causes digestive problems. But what if this foundational teaching is wrong?
In this episode, we examine groundbreaking research that challenges one of Traditional Chinese Medicine's most widely accepted beliefs. When researchers tested the "raw food damages the Spleen" theory on 41 participants, the results were shocking.
Traditional TCM symptoms of Spleen Qi deficiency include fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, weak limbs, and a swollen tongue with tooth marks. While these symptoms are real, the automatic assumption that raw food causes them may be oversimplified.
The research suggests we need more nuanced, individualized approaches rather than blanket dietary restrictions.
Sinking Spleen Qi: When the Ascending Force Fails
Sinking Spleen Qi is a form of Spleen Qi deficiency where the ascending function of the Spleen weakens or completely fails. Instead of sending/holding Qi and organs upward, everything sinks downward.
Recognizable symptoms are organ prolapse (uterus, intestines, anus), frequent urination with urgency, chronic diarrhea and a heavy sinking feeling in the lower abdomen. Mentally you see depression, concentration problems, soft voice and a bent posture.
Main causes are chronic overwork, prolonged stress, persistent illness or living in damp conditions. Constitutional weakness also plays a role. The Spleen slowly exhausts itself until the ascending force completely disappears.
Want to know more? Listen to this podcast.