Qigong Meditation and Traditional Chinese Medicine Weight Loss Methods (Part 1): Traditional Chinese Medicine's Understanding of Obesity
**III. Qigong** **Stillness** **Qigong**
Using a seated posture and focusing the mind on the "Gongsun" acupoint (Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian) for weight loss exercises for one month
Afterwards, all practitioners experienced benefits. After three months of focused concentration, not only did they lose weight, but their original weight also decreased.
Symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia also disappeared. This method is simple and easy to perform.
Obese individuals should sit upright with their hands, palms up, stacked on top of each other at the base of their thighs, and their whole body should move naturally.
Relax, close your eyes and lips slightly, and practice abdominal breathing. Breathe slowly, deeply, and evenly. (Except during menstruation and menstruation.)
Besides, in general, one should focus their attention on the lower dantian acupoint. For gynecological patients, focusing the attention on the perineum and lower dantian acupoint is recommended.
Inhale while contracting the anus, exhale while relaxing the anus, and visualize the stale air being expelled from the perineum through the thighs, calves, and Yongquan point (on the sole of the foot).
Patients with hypertension should, according to the principles of Yin and Yang and deficiency/excess, focus their attention on the following acupoints: Dadun, Yongquan, Lower Dantian, and Mingmen.
Acupoints can be focused on alternately; those with weak spleen and stomach should focus on Zhongwan and Zusanli acupoints; those with neurasthenia should focus on...
Massage the Yongquan and Xiadantian acupoints, releasing and opening them with each breath. To conclude, rub your palms together until warm, then gently massage along the facial muscles.
Massage and apply pressure to prevent wrinkles after weight loss. Practice three times a day for 30 minutes each time.
Clock. During exercise, the diet should be low in fat, low in sugar, and high in protein. Eat when hungry, and don't eat or eat less when not hungry.
In conclusion, the application of Qigong for weight loss has a certain clinical basis, and its methods mainly include...
It involves practicing breathing exercises, combined with certain postures and massage techniques, to adjust one's mind and focus.
Applying acupressure or similar techniques locally can regulate the body's endocrine function, thereby controlling digestion and absorption.
It involves functions such as excretion, and consistency is required to achieve weight loss. Qigong weight loss not only...
It is effective, has few side effects, and is simple and easy to use, so it is expected to be more widely used in the future.
Chapter Eight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Weight Loss
Obesity is a syndrome. In addition to an increase in the amount of fat in the whole body or a specific part of the body, obesity is characterized by...
In addition, obese patients also experience impaired glycogen metabolism, fat metabolism, endocrine disorders, and physiological changes.
A series of changes in various aspects, including bodily functions. Therefore, the purpose of weight loss is far more than simply...
Instead of simply reducing body weight, we should have a new understanding and a new holistic perspective on obesity and weight loss.
The new holistic view holds that obese individuals are in a state of functional obesity, and that treatment for obesity...
For obese individuals, the best adjustment methods and plans should be chosen to adjust their functional state.
It should be in a normal functional state, and its ideal functional state should be maintained as much as possible.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers obesity a functional state, a "symptom" of obesity. Obese individuals, along with their physical condition...
A series of changes in the body, such as weight exceeding the normal range, body fat content, subcutaneous fat
Increased body fat content, larger waist and hip circumference, etc., can all be considered a functional state of obesity.
If we statistically analyze and organize these parameter changes and characteristics, we can obtain the fertilizer...
The specific quantitative manifestations of obesity-related functional states. In terms of quantitative changes, obesity-related functional states...
The concept of "state" has unified the understanding of obesity in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in terms of quantitative standards.
However, we remind dieters that the causes of obesity differ from person to person.
However, the changes in parameters and the "symptoms" exhibited by different obese individuals also vary.
Therefore, different obese patients may have similarities in their obese functional state, but also...
There will be many differences, and the functional state of obesity in the same obese person at different times will also vary.
There are certain differences.
Current weight loss methods, such as low-calorie diets, behavioral modifications, and exercise, are all...
From the perspective of the body's negative energy balance, these methods, while capable of achieving weight loss...
Yes. However, once treatment stops, the weight loss will rebound. Traditional Chinese medicine, on the other hand, is...
Weight loss or obesity can be treated by using a holistic approach based on syndrome differentiation.
Starting from the body, it has no obvious side effects, and can both resolve the functional state of obesity in dieters and...
It can prevent weight rebound after dieting and also address the treatment of stubborn obesity.
Therefore, using traditional Chinese medicine's diagnostic and treatment methods for weight loss is a relatively ideal method.
**I. Understanding of the Etiology and Pathogenesis of Obesity in Traditional Chinese Medicine**
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the main cause of obesity is phlegm and dampness, which may also be accompanied by qi deficiency.
Blood stasis, yang deficiency, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine literature contains numerous records of this, detailing the etiology and pathogenesis of obesity.
The system is relatively complete, and mainly includes the following aspects.
> **1.** **Dietary** **Factors**
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that obesity is mostly caused by uncontrolled eating habits, particularly a preference for rich and fatty foods.
Over time, this damages the spleen and stomach, hindering the distribution of their vital energy and making it difficult to digest food, leading to its accumulation.
In the body, it is converted into fat, which fills the body and leads to obesity.
> **2.** **Body** **Constitution** **Factor**
As early as the "Huangdi Neijing" (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic), it was recorded that: "At birth, people have both strength and gentleness, both weakness and..."
Strength has its limitations, its strengths and weaknesses, its yin and yang. This illustrates that everyone's innate physical qualities are significantly different.
The same applies to obesity; many obese patients have a family history of obesity, some due to genetics.
Obesity may be caused by certain illnesses in one's parents.
> 3. **Gender** **Factor**
>
Comparatively speaking, there are more obese women than obese men. What are the reasons for this?
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the most important factor is related to kidney qi. A woman's "tiankui" (menstrual blood) is exhausted at 49 (the age of 49), and her kidney qi is depleted.
When the kidneys are weak and the kidney qi is insufficient, it becomes difficult to transform qi and circulate water, causing phlegm, dampness, and turbidity to accumulate in the body and turn into fat.
> 4. **Age** **Factors**
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "at the age of forty, one's yin energy is halved, and one's daily activities decline." This refers to a person's...
After the age of forty, various bodily functions begin to decline, coupled with reduced physical activity and increased dietary intake.
An unbalanced diet can lead to dysfunction of the spleen and stomach, impaired water metabolism, and increased internal production of phlegm and dampness.
This can lead to obesity.
> 5. **Emotions** **Wills** **Factors**
Emotional imbalance can affect many organs; anger damages the liver, causing it to lose its ability to regulate Qi; worry and anxiety damage...
The spleen is incapable of transporting and transforming fluids and absorbing the essence of food. These factors can all hinder the body's ability to reduce turbidity and fat.
The body's ability to function is weakened, leading to obesity.
> 6. **Labor** **Rest** **Factors**
Unhealthy lifestyle habits can also affect health and lead to obesity. Traditional Chinese medicine believes...
Therefore, "prolonged lying down injures qi," which can lead to qi deficiency; "prolonged sitting injures muscles," as the spleen governs muscles, and spleen deficiency and qi deficiency are both detrimental.
This can cause stagnation of Qi, disordered digestion and metabolism, leading to the accumulation of fat and obesity.
> 7. **Disease** **Causes** **Factors**
Obesity is a disease in itself; it can be a disease on its own. But in most cases...
It could be a trigger for other diseases, or a result of many diseases, so it could be a cause.
It could also be a result. Diseases of various organs can be linked to obesity. (Spleen)
The stomach is the sea of water and grain, the source of qi and blood. When the spleen is weak, its function of transportation and transformation is impaired, making it difficult for the essence of water and grain to rise upwards.
When the lungs are not functioning properly, they cannot effectively distribute the essence of food and water throughout the body, nor can they regulate the water passages.
If the bladder is not properly regulated, water retention will occur internally, potentially leading to obesity; kidney qi deficiency, insufficient kidney qi, and kidney yang deficiency...
Weakness and deficiency prevent the body from warming and transforming cold water; spleen and kidney yang deficiency leads to impaired distribution of essence, resulting in the internal generation of dampness and phlegm, thus forming obesity.
Obesity; the liver and kidneys share a common origin. Insufficient liver qi leads to impaired liver function, preventing the liver from transforming turbidity and lowering lipids, and the kidneys from...
Eliminating water retention and dampness can lead to obesity if phlegm and dampness remain internally; a deficiency of heart qi can impair the circulation of blood and qi.
As the flow slows, turbid fats become difficult to transport and absorb, easily leading to disease. In short, impaired function of the five internal organs...
Dysfunction of the internal organs can lead to obesity or trigger other related diseases.
In summary, regarding the mechanisms of obesity formation, traditional Chinese medicine believes that obesity is related to phlegm syndrome,
The condition is most closely related to factors such as dampness and qi deficiency. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment for obesity often focuses on tonifying qi, strengthening the spleen, and resolving dampness.
The treatment focuses on clearing phlegm and dampness. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment includes compound herbal formulas, clinically proven prescriptions, prepared Chinese medicines, and single-herb remedies.
Various treatments are available.
**II. Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Weight Loss**
The use of traditional Chinese medicine for weight loss is mainly based on the principle of combining disease differentiation and syndrome differentiation, and treatment.
Treatment focuses on addressing both the symptoms and the root cause, eliminating dampness and phlegm, clearing damp-heat, soothing the liver and relieving depression, strengthening the body's resistance and consolidating its foundation, and replenishing qi and nourishing the body.
Methods such as bloodletting regulate the body's metabolic balance, achieving weight loss through holistic adjustment.
It is targeted. It does not have the side effects of Western medicine and weight loss drugs, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.
It does not cause adverse reactions such as diarrhea, nor does it induce sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity or depression. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment...
Treatment for obesity can not only help with weight loss, but also regulate blood lipids, lowering blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
It has low blood pressure and improves heart function, among other benefits.
**III.** Obese individuals can be treated according to different symptoms.
In the early stages, obesity is mainly characterized by excess patterns, while in the later stages it is more often characterized by deficiency patterns, belonging to the category of excess in the superficial aspects but deficiency in the underlying nature.
The disease primarily affects the spleen and stomach in the middle jiao (middle burner), but may involve the liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, gallbladder, and other organs. (Root)
According to traditional Chinese medicine theory and the patient's symptoms, obese individuals can be classified into the following types for diagnosis and treatment.
> **1.** **Stomach** **Intestine** **Accumulation** **Heat** **Type**
Symptoms: Obesity, excessive appetite, bitter taste in the mouth, bad breath, dry mouth, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, and constipation.
Constipation, scanty and dark urine, sometimes accompanied by abdominal distension, irritability, red tongue with yellow coating, and slippery and rapid pulse.
Treatment principle: Clear stomach heat and promote bowel movement.
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Prescription: Tiaowei Chengqi Decoction (Rhubarb 12g, Licorice 6g, Glauber's Salt 12g), or Qingwei Decoction.
Powder (6g Rehmannia glutinosa, 9g Angelica sinensis, 9g Paeonia suffruticosa, 3g Coptis chinensis, 3g Cimicifuga foetida).
If the patient has excessive appetite and lethargy, abdominal distension due to food stagnation, flushed face, dry tongue, yellow tongue coating, and a slippery, forceful pulse, use Baohe (保和) formula.
Pills (Hawthorn 15g, Medicated Leaven 9g, Pinellia 6g, Poria 12g, Tangerine Peel 6g, Forsythia 9g)
Add or subtract 9 grams of radish seed, or use Zhishi Daozhi Pill (15 grams of rhubarb, 9 grams of immature bitter orange, and 10 grams of scutellaria baicalensis).
The formula consists of 6 grams of malt extract, 12 grams of Poria cocos, 3 grams of Coptis chinensis, 12 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, and 12 grams of Alisma plantago-aquatica, used to promote digestion, eliminate food stagnation, clear heat, and promote diuresis.
**2.** **Spleen Deficiency with Dampness Retention Type**
Symptoms: Obesity, abdominal discomfort, poor appetite, fatigue, sallow complexion, and so on.
The patient experiences heaviness and fatigue in the limbs, loose stools, thin and clear vaginal discharge, a pale and swollen tongue with a white and greasy coating, and a soft and slippery pulse.
Treatment principle: Strengthen the spleen, eliminate dampness, and replenish qi.
Prescription: Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder (Ginseng 9g, Poria 15g, Atractylodes Macrocephala 12g, Licorice 9g)
(12g of yam, 9g of white hyacinth bean, 9g of lotus seed, 15g of Job's tears, 9g of cardamom, and 6g of platycodon root).
If you experience headache, chills, heaviness and pain in the body, sticky mouth, clear and copious urine, loose stools, or other symptoms, please seek medical attention.
For those who are thirsty but have no desire to drink, have a pale tongue with a white, greasy coating, and a thready, slow pulse, add 9 grams of Atractylodes lancea, 6 grams of Citrus reticulata peel, and Erythrina variegata bark.
9 grams, Alisma plantago-aquatica 12 grams; if there is fever, sweating on the head but no sweating all over the body, pale yellow complexion, and yellow urine,
For patients with foul-smelling stools, burning sensation in the anus, pale tongue with a yellow, slippery coating, and a soft, rapid pulse, add heat-clearing and dampness-removing herbs, and cardamom.
6 grams of apricot kernels, 6 grams of talc, 15 grams of lygodium spores, 12 grams of Stephania tetrandra, 9 grams of Poria cocos peel, and 12 grams of Poria cocos peel.
9 grams of Erythrina bark and 6 grams of dried tangerine peel.
> **3.** **Liver** **Stagnation** **Qi** **Stagnation** **Type**
Symptoms: Obesity, irritability or depression, dizziness, headache, bitter taste in mouth, dry throat.
Women with scanty menstruation or amenorrhea, premenstrual breast tenderness, red tongue tip and sides, thin yellow tongue coating, and wiry pulse.
Treatment principle: Soothe the liver and regulate qi, promote qi circulation and eliminate dampness.
Prescription: Xiaoyao San (Bupleurum 6g, Angelica sinensis 12g, Paeonia lactiflora 12g, Atractylodes macrocephala 9g, Poria cocos)
(12g Poria cocos, 15g Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 3g Mentha haplocalyx, 3 slices of fresh ginger).