Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views health as a state of balance and harmony within the body, mind, and environment. Disease occurs when a healthy balance is disrupted. TCM classifies the causes of disease into three main categories: Internal Causes, External Causes, and Miscellaneous Causes.

The TCM Approach

TCM focuses on identifying the root causes of imbalance rather than simply treating symptoms. By understanding how emotions, lifestyle habits, and environmental factors affect the body, treatment can be tailored to restore balance, improve resilience, and support overall health and well-being.

The more accurately we can identify the underlying patterns of disharmony contributing to disease, the more precise and effective your treatment plan will be.

1.    Internal Causes of Disease

In TCM, the emotions are considered one of the most important causes of illness. Emotions are of course, a normal part of life, but when they become excessive, prolonged, suppressed, or overwhelming, they can disrupt the flow of Qi (energy) and affect overall health. While we know there are many more emotions, the ancient texts classically identify seven emotions and how they affect the body. These are: anger, joy, worry/overthinking, sadness/grief, fear, shock and anxiety.

The Seven Emotions and Some Common Effects (not exclusive):

Anger, frustration, resentment:

• Headaches, tension, digestive issues, irritability

Joy (excessive excitement):

• Restlessness, insomnia, difficulty concentrating

Worry, overthinking:

• Fatigue, poor digestion, bloating

Sadness, grief:

• Low energy, shortness of breath, weakened immunity

Fear:

• Anxiety, urinary issues, exhaustion

Shock:

• Palpitations, anxiety, insomnia

Anxiety:

• Poor sleep, digestive disturbances, mental fatigue

2.   External Causes of Disease

External causes are environmental influences that invade the body when our protective energy is weakened. Common examples of these factors include colds, flu, allergies, and weather-related aches and pains. While external pathogens may trigger illness, TCM recognizes that a person's overall health will determine how strongly these factors affect them, and regular acupuncture treatments can help build resilience to minimize the effects of these factors.

3.   Miscellaneous Causes of Disease

Miscellaneous causes include lifestyle factors and other influences that can gradually disrupt health, including: diet, overwork (physical and mental), physical trauma, appropriate exercise. TCM aims to restore balance from life’s inevitable challenges and pressures.

Diet: Food is considered medicine in TCM. Poor dietary habits can weaken digestion and create imbalances. Examples include: excess sugar and processed foods, overeating or undereating, excessive cold or raw foods, irregular meal times.

Overwork and Lack of Rest:

Chronic physical or mental overexertion can deplete the body's Qi and Blood. In our society, one's value is often tied to productivity, resulting in a persistent need to overwork. This is a very common cause of disease that I see in clinic. Potential effects include: persistent fatigue, burnout, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, and weakened immunity.

Physical Trauma:

Injuries, accidents, surgeries, and repetitive strain can obstruct the flow of Qi and Blood, leading to pain, stiffness, and impaired healing.

Lack of Exercise or Excessive Exercise:

Too little movement can contribute to Qi and Blood stagnation, and on the contrary, excessive training without adequate recovery can deplete energy reserves and weaken the body.

By recognizing the role that emotions, lifestyle habits, and environmental influences play in health, TCM provides a framework for understanding why symptoms develop and how balance can be restored. Through individualized assessment and treatment, acupuncture and other TCM therapies may help support the body's ability to adapt, recover, and maintain overall wellness.

At Oaktree we often recommend wellness care for chiropractic and acupuncture. These are all reasons why!