In the light of the COVID 19 pandemic citizens around the world are learning to watch out for symptoms related to the virus. For therapists trained in TCM and for those that have not this unfortunate situation offers an oppurtunity to observe the fundamentals of TCM in action and why what Father Josepf Eugster recommends in his book is possibly correct.
The most common issues associated with novel coronavirus are respiratory symptoms, such as coughing or shortness of breath, a dry cough or tickle at the back of their throat. In the worst cases Covid-19 develops into a more serious illness featuring pneumonia.
A few days ago a study found 48.5 percent of participants experienced symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. This lead to the following statement “Clinicians must bear in mind that digestive symptoms, such as diarrhea, may be a presenting feature of COVID-19,” “And that the index of suspicion may need to be raised earlier in these cases rather than waiting for respiratory symptoms to emerge.”
Then after three days though the evidence is prelimanary clinicians report that some patients infected with the virus experience anosmia, or an inability to smell leading The American Academy of Otolaryngology recently to call for anosmia to be added to a list of screening tools for Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Now bringing in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the theory behind the five elements, our attention will immediately go to the metal element because the lungs and large intestine organs are connected with the element of Metal and this element regarding the orifices (cavities) is expressed at the nose and the sense of smell.
So though understandably doctors around the world are surprised of the symptom of anosmia yet expected the lung and digestive (diarrhea) symptoms, from a TCM view this is to be expected according to theories laid down long time ago.
Father Josepf in his book has a general complete and easy to apply treatment protocol that would cover the whole foot.
But there is also a second suggestion where he proposes (for any disturbed element) to work on the yin organ - lung, the yang organ - large intenstine, and the corresponding orifice - the nose in our case.
If you are wondering how did Father Joseph get to know about these TCM associations it was thanks to "a young man with a crew cut who showed up at a crowded reflexology seminar many years ago by the name Eugene Cheng."
You can read the whole story here and about the time he went to the Vatican to treat then Pope John Paul II.
but...
"After Cheng became involved, Father Josef's reflexology methods integrated principles of traditional Chinese medicine including the ancient theory of Yin and Yang and the five elements. Cheng points out that the human body must be seen as a unified entity. If one internal organ is troubled, it will affect the normal functioning of other organs. Consequently, therapy must take into account the entire body. People with eyesight problems, for instance, often see the best therapeutical results if the reflex zones for the liver and kidneys are massaged too."
So besides working as suggested when thinking in terms of elements (yin/yang organ and orifice) we can also use other information regarding the correspondances of elements to our advantage, so for the metal element at hand...
We can wear white, choose to sit towards the west and/or a dry wind, ground ourselves, for any unresolved issues on our chest to "weep them out", try some pungent/spicy food and beverages, work out our shoulder and upper body, recite with a strong voice and brush our skin especially the two meridans we discussed today.
I know (almost) everyone is now confined at home and our usual daily schedual is not usual any more. Quite the opposite, still it is of benefit to be asleep as normal because our organs receive their share of energy at specific times.
Yin organ- Lungs 3-5am
Yang organ – Colon 5-7am
Be safe everyone!
