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V prvem delu Nasvetov za dobro spanje smo se v glavnem osredotočili na interakcijo jina in janga, v povezavi s spanjem. Tokrat bomo več govorili o funkcionalnih sistemih, ki se v terminologiji kitajske medicine imenujejo zang fu 臟腑.
TKM poudarja tako strukturni organ (materialni del) kot tudi funkcionalne lastnosti (nematerialni del). Ko torej govorimo o določenem sistemu kot npr. ledvičnem, ne govorimo le o dveh strukturah fižolaste oblike, ki ležita v naši trebušni votlini. TKM združuje in povezuje funkcije v pet glavnih sistemov, ki so:
srčni: Cesar, glavni nadzor miselne aktivnosti, pristojen za cirkulacijo krvi.
Pljučni: Cesarjeva roka, nadzor pasivne obrambe, pristojen za izmenjavo plinov in cirkulacijo vode.
Jetrni: Poveljnik vojske, nadzor aktivnega napada v obrambi, pristojen za vzburjenje telesa in zalogo krvne energije.
Vranični: Zakladnik, nadzor nad kakovostjo krvi, sodeluje z želodčnim sistemom, pristojen za dotok in dostavo energije iz hrane.
Ledvični: Osrednja zaloga/knjižnica, nadzor nad bistveno zalogo energije, tako duševne kot iz hrane, pristojen za pomiritev, načrt rasti in obnavljanja telesa.
Nepravilno delovanje kateregakoli od teh sistemov lahko vodi v nespečnost. Najpogostejši razlogi pa so naslednji:
Mentalna stiska
Prekomerno razmišljanje in mentalna izčrpanost porabita več krvne energije in bistvene ledvične energije, kot ju lahko ustvari telo (obe sta energiji jin), kar vodi v splošno pomanjkanje srčne, vranične in ledvične energije jin.
Po drugi strani pa jeza in stres preveč razburita jetrni sistem, ki proizvede preveč energije jang. Ko telo vsebuje več janga kot jina, se jang ne more vrniti v jin (razlago lahko najdete v prvem članku). Če razložimo zelo poenostavljeno, jang predstavlja osebo, jin pa hišo te osebe. Če je hiša podrta ali je v njej preveč ljudi, se posledično oseba ne more vrniti domov in tam počivati. Zato se pojavi nespečnost.
Neprimerna prehrana
Prenajedanje, preveč pekoče, ocvrte, presladke ali mastne hrane lahko preobremeni vranični in želodčni sistem, kar oslabi primerno razgradnjo hrane in njeno dovajanje. Zaradi zastoja hrane se v telesu začnejo nabirati strupi. Najpogostejša strupa sta odvečni ogenj (jang) in onesnažena voda (jin). [Preberi več: TKM prehranski nasveti]
Težave zaradi neprimernega prehranjevanja lahko povzroči tudi, če uživamo preveč hladne in surove hrane ter premalo ogljikovih hidratov. Medtem ko preveč pekoče hrane obremeni vranični in želodčni sistem, ju s preveč hladne hrane in premalo ogljikovimi hidrati pravzaprav prikrajšamo. Za kako občutljivo in pretkano ravnovesje gre! Preden začnete zavijati z očmi in se pritoževati, vas prosim, da mi dovolite pojasniti to trditev. Glavno gorivo vraničnega in želodčnega sistema so ogljikovi hidrati, ki se kasneje razgradijo in se odvedejo v druge sisteme. Pomanjkanje energije vraničnega in trebušnega sistema torej pomeni pomanjkanje hitre in enostavne energije za celotno telo. V tem primeru mora telo uporabiti zalogo energije, kar na dolgi rok oslabi ledvični sistem. Normalna ognjena energija pa je glavno orodje za razstavljanje razgrajevanje hrane. Samo oglejte si, kako uspeva vaš vrt, in ugotovili boste, da bakterije in glive poleti uspevajo veliko hitreje kot pozimi. Preveč mraza torej povzroča nalaganje strupov in oslabi vnos energije iz hrane.
[Preberi več: Hrano je potrebno skuhati – tradicionalna kitajska medicina pojasni prebavni sistem] [Preberi več: Vaše telo je ekosistem, ne stroj]
Fizična šibkost
Prirojena šibkost, staranje ali hujša bolezen se kažejo v oslabljenih funkcijah in slabi zalogi energij. Če ponovno uporabimo primerjavo človeka in hiše, deluje, kot da je hiša slabo zgrajena, stara ali poškodovana v potresu. V TKM gre pri tem za razdor med srcem in ledvicami. Izčrpani jin/voda ledvic ne more vzdrževati srčne ognjene energije oz. energije jang, kar vodi v stanje, ki se imenuje "jin, ki se ne prilagaja jangu“.
Neravnovesje med delom in počitkom
Naše telo se pri optimalnem opravljanju določenih funkcij v določenem delu dneva ravna po biološki uri. Če ponoči predolgo bedimo in opravljamo napete dejavnosti, je to lahko enako težavno, kot če podnevi nismo aktivni ali nismo izpostavljeni zadostni sončni svetlobi. Pomemben je tudi čas prehranjevanja. Imeti moramo točno in primerno dobavo energije, ki prihaja iz hrane, ki kljub temu ne sme biti prevelika, da ne bi tako preobremenili prebavnega sistema, medtem ko počivamo.
[Preberi več: Cirkadiani ritmi in telesna ura kitajske medicine (1/2)] [Preberi več: Cirkadiani ritmi in telesna ura kitajske medicine (2/2)] [Preberi več: Zajtrk je zares pomemben - pravita tako TKM kot sodobne znanstvene raziskave]
Na splošno lahko nespečnost povzroči mnogo dejavnikov, ki jih večinoma povezujemo z razpoloženjem in mentalnim stresom, prehrano ter pomanjkanjem življenjskih energij. Te povzročajo notranje motnje, otežene cirkulacije ter neravnovesje jina in janga. Pri tem je najbolj poškodovano srce, lahko pa nastanejo tudi nesoglasja v sistemih vranice, ledvic, jeter, žolčnika in trebuha.
Naslednjič bomo govorili o zdravljenju nespečnosti s TKM in o tem, kaj lahko storite, da bi izboljšali svoj spanec. [Preberi več: 9 nasvetov za boljši spanec]
Sleep tips: TCM approach (2/2)
In our last section of Sleep Tips, we mainly focused on the Yin and Yang interaction related to the sleep. This time we will cover a little more about our functional systems, known as Zhang Fu 臟腑 in Chinese medicine terminology.
TCM emphasizes the structural organ (materialistic part) as well as the functional properties (non-materialistic part). So when we talk about a certain system, let’s say Kidney, we talk about more than just two bean-shaped structures inside our abdomen. TCM integrates and connects functions into 5 main systems, namely:
Heart: The Emperor, main control of mind activity, in charge of blood circulation.
Lung: The Emperor’s Hand, control of passive defense, in charge of gaseous exchange and water circulation.
Liver: The army General, control of active attack in the defense, in charge of the body’s excitement and the storage of blood energy.
Spleen: The Treasurer, control of the blood’s quality, work together with the Stomach system, in charge of the intake and delivery of energy from food.
Kidney: The Central Reserve/ Library, control of the essence energy storage both from congeniality and diet, in charge of the calming action, blueprint of growth and repairment of the body.
Each of these systems' impairment could lead to insomnia. Generally, the following causes are the most common:
Mental distress
Excessive thinking or mental exhaustion consumes more blood energy and kidney essence energy than the body can generate (both are Yin energies), leading to general deficiency of Heart, Spleen and Kidney Yin energy.
Anger and stress on the other hand, over-excite the Liver system creating too much Yang energy. Whenever the body has more Yang than Yin, then the Yang cannot return to Yin (please go back to part one for explanation). Simply put: Yang is a person, Yin is the person’s house. Either the house is broken, or there are too many people in it, the result is that the person cannot return to the house and rest. Therefore, insomnia happens.
Improper diet
Overeating, eating too much hot and spicy food, deep-fried food or too sweet/greasy food can overload the spleen and stomach systems, which impairs the proper breakdown and delivery of food. The retention of food will cause toxin accumulation. The most common toxins are excessive fire (Yang) and polluted water (Yin). [Read more: TCM Dietary advice]
Another condition that results from improper diet is indeed eating too much cold and raw food and too little carbohydrates. While too much hot and spicy will overload the Spleen and Stomach, too much cold and too little carbs actually deprives them. What a delicate and tricky balance! Before you rolli your eyes and say ‘oh my god’, please let me explain. The main fuel for Spleen and Stomach are carbohydrates which are later broken down and delivered to other systems. The deprivation of Spleen and Stomach energy also means the deprivation of fast and easy energy of the whole body. The body is then forced to use the storage energy and in the long run, it will weaken the Kidney system. As for the normal fire energy, it is the main tool for breaking down and decomposing food. Just look at your garden and you will find those bacteria and fungi work much faster in summer than winter. Again, too much coldness will also cause toxin accumulation and weaken the energy intake from food.
[Read more: Cook your food - digestive system explained in Traditional Chinese medicine] [Read more: Your body as a Garden]
Physical weakness
Congenital weakness, aging or major illness all result in impaired functions and poor supply of energies. Using the man and house metaphor again, in this case the house is built poorly, it got old or was damaged in an earthquake. In the TCM terms, it is the disruption between heart and kidney. The depleted kidney-Yin/water will not be able to nourish the heart-Yang/fire, leading to the condition known as “Yin not accommodating Yang”.
Imbalance between work and rest
Our body follows a biological clock to perform certain functions at certain time with the optimal efficiency. Staying up late, engaging in exciting activities at night can be just as problematic as being immobile or not being exposed to sufficient sunlight during the day. The time of eating is also important. We need to have prompt and proper energy supply from food, but not too much to overload the digestive system while we should rest.
[Read more: Circadian Rhythms and the Chinese Medicine Body Clock (1/2)] [Read more: Circadian Rhythms and the Chinese Medicine Body Clock (2/2)] [Read more: Breakfast is indeed important- said both TCM and modern scientific research]
Generally, insomnia can be induced by many factors, mostly associated with mood and mental stress, diet, vital energies deficiencies. These cause internal disturbances, non-smooth circulations and an imbalance of Yin and Yang. The main lesion is in the heart, and may also accompany spleen, kidney, liver, gallbladder and stomach disharmonies.
Next time, we will cover how TCM practitioners manage insomnia and what you can do to improve your sleep. [Read more: 9 Tips to promote sleep]