Hello dear Readers!

In this new wave of the Omicron variant of Covid 19, I have received many patients with sequelae of Fatigue. Have you ever wondered, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, what does this mean? Why can a disease that primarily affects the Lungs cause such extreme fatigue?

Let’s think according to the 5 Elements to better understand what is happening with our patients.

In Chinese Medicine we know that the Lung is the body’s biggest energy producer. This is because the Lungs is responsible for producing Defense Energy (Wei Qi) and Nutritive Energy (Yin Qi) through the union of Air and Food Energies (Gu Qi).

When the individual contracts Covid, the Lung will be affected even if there are no severe symptoms. The Omicron variant has been classified as a milder form of the disease (even though severe cases are still reported) and its main symptoms are mild upper respiratory system respiratory problems and fatigue.

Many patients report not being able to do simple things like talking on the phone, doing the dishes or playing the piano. And unlike the first version, what the patient reports is tiredness, not shortness of breath.

As the Lung is responsible for the body’s high energy production, when affected, it will try to correct its production and balanced functioning using the strength of its mother organ, that is, the Spleen. The Spleen, in turn, is responsible for capturing energy from food, and at first it will try to help the Lung in reestablishing their functions, however, with the average duration of the illness being 10 days, the Spleen becomes overloaded, not being able to perform its functions, among them, sending Gu Qi so that the Lungs work again.

Thus, fatigue is installed in the body, due to a low energy production and a low use of food.

Following the Spleen, the Stomach will be impaired. As the first viscera with a digestive function, the Stomach is responsible for breaking down food, maturing it and sending it to the Spleen to extract its essences. Since the Spleen will be weak and overloaded, it will not be able to carry out the reception of matter that comes from the Stomach.

Without reception by the Spleen, the Stomach diminishes its functions, as its work will not be efficiently used by the Spleen. With a deficient Stomach, the patient will have tiredness, lack of appetite, difficulty in digestion, intestinal malfunction, decreased production of Yin fluids by the Stomach, which will result in dry mouth, burning in the stomach and in more severe cases, persistent fever.

When the Stomach weakens, the entire energy-forming chair is broken, so the patient’s tiredness is severe. It is important, therefore, that the therapist knows how to evaluate and treat a post-Covid patient, not only strengthening his Lung, but also the Spleen and Stomach.

I suggest the following points:

• To strengthen the Lungs: Lu7, Lu9, CV17, in auriculotherapy, Lung point.
• To strengthen the Spleen: SP2, SP3, in auriculotherapy, Spleen point.
• To strengthen the Stomach: CV15, CV12, ST36 and SP6, in auriculotherapy, Stomach point.

Once the function of the Spleen is reestablished, which will be able to capture the energy of the Stomach and strengthening the Lungs so that it no longer steals the energy from the Spleen in excess, the patient will be able to resume normal energy production and the symptom of tiredness. and fatigue will resolve more quickly.

Hope it was helpful.

A big hug to everyone.

Fernanda Mara

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Good morning Readers!

Today I’m here to write a bit about a little talked function related to the Lung in Traditional Chinese Medicine: the Notion of Limits.

Let’s recap some functions of the Lung for Oriental Medicine:

• It is a power plant, capable of producing Wei Qi (defense energy) and Ying Qi (nutritive energy)
• It is the main connection of the body with the external environment, capturing the energy of air through breathing
• Controls breathing, skin and the passage of water
• Is responsible for smell
• Receive energy from the spleen

When we think of the Lung, we cannot ignore that it belongs to the Metal Element. Metal, in Chinese Medicine, is considered gold, the wealth found in the deepest part of the earth, and as we are talking about human beings, Metal is what is found in the most intimate part of us.

Observing its functions, we can say that the Lung captures the energy of air, joins it with the energy received from the Spleen and transforms it into energy that circulates in the most superficial region of the body, that is, in the Wei Qi, our defense energy, known as our immunity in Western Medicine. Therefore, we say that the Lung is responsible for our protection, not only of the skin, but also protection against factors that can make us sick (cold, heat, wind, dryness, humidity or perverse Qi).

However, whenever we study the classics of Chinese Medicine, we never associate an organ only with a physical function. All of them, without exception, have a psychic function. An easy-to-understand example is related to the Earth Element. Stomach and Spleen are responsible not only for the digestion of food, but also for the digestion of ideas. So it controls thinking, performing tasks, learning and reasoning.

The Lung would be no different. When we say that its energy rises to the surface and protects the being through the Energy of Defense (Wei Qi), we are talking about a force field that protects us from the factors of nature, but which also gives us the exact limit between what does us good internally and externally.

When the Lung is strong, we can give ourselves healthy limits, not accepting destructive criticism, toxic or abusive relationships, self-esteem is strong and we are able to know what we are able to tolerate, even in adversity, without letting ourselves get sick.

When the Lung is weak, we let ourselves be offended, we put up with people and situations that make us disbelieve ourselves, we feel weak and incapable and we become sad, not forgetting that sadness is the feeling that relates to the Lung when we talk about 5 Elements.

In other words, the Lung is the organ that gives us the sense of LIMIT. How far can we go, what can we tolerate? A two-way street. Both what comes out of us in relation to the other and the other coming to us.

In order to remain strong, well positioned in the face of life, to impose our limits without going over the other and without letting the other affect our life, the Lung must be strong. For this, breathing exercises, meditation, Qi Gong, Acupuncture and Therapeutic Food are indicated.

In acupuncture, some points are recommended to strengthen the Lung, they are: LU7, LU9, BL13, BL42. In auriculotherapy, the Lung points must be placed.

In Therapeutic Food, the individual must be aware if he is consuming at least one neutral food  to the metal element, per day, according to the table found in the link:

https://www.facilitatingacupuncture.com/therapeutic-food-tables/

Remember when the Lung is weak and we no longer have limits, our deepest, purest inner self becomes sick. And we can become severely ill. The same will happen with our patients.

Reflect and strengthen your Lung every day. With limits, we will all live longer, healthier and happier.

I hope you enjoyed.

A big hug!

Prof. Fernanda Mara

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