WillSpirit!

The following post appeared first on my new blog on my acupuncture website. Right now that project is taking up most of my writing time. In order to keep WillSpirit alive, as I pen essays that seem at least tangentially related to this site’s various themes, I will post them here. Eventually, my schedule should open up to allow me to once again write pieces about topics unrelated to acupuncture.

We are made of the same stuff as redwood trees, waterfalls, and mountains. This is true on the physical level of matter, but also on the metaphorical level of spirit.

Though details differ, many cultures describe the world as comprised of basic elements. Early Chinese philosophers believed humans embody the same characteristics as nature and contain the same constituents. For instance fire is one of five natural elements in this tradition, and people who are fiery share some behaviors of flame: they appear heated, changeable, and radiant.

Western science offers a more elaborate picture, but it likewise identifies shared characteristics. For example, lithium, potassium, and sodium atoms all have one electron in their outer shell, and so undergo similar chemical reactions. Of course, in this view the ingredients of matter (sodium, oxygen, carbon, etc.) remain distinct from the components of psyche (e.g., ego, superego, id). No scientist talks about a ‘salty’ personality, though in day-to-day language we might.

Chinese medicine recognizes parallels between matter and psychology. We all know people who are exceptionally passionate, expressive, and changeable; from the Chinese perspective they contain substantial fire in their makeup. Other people might be more caring and attuned to others, with lives devoted to nurturance and love. In folk terms, we might speak of an ‘earth mother,’ and indeed, five element theory would identify abundant earth in such a person.

Ages ago Chinese physicians noticed correlations between elemental qualities in personality and symptoms suffered during times of illness. Passionate fiery types experience palpitations and flushing. Sweet earth people often gain weight and become diabetic (which literally implies too much sweetness). Such correlations between personality and symptoms are common.

Even so, Western biomedicine has failed to build a comprehensive framework linking character with bodily vulnerability. The ‘Type A’ personality is known to accrue increased risk of heart disease, but there is no corresponding descriptor for those who suffer arthritis, or muscle spasm, or colitis. Chinese medicine has done a better job in this area.

Human progress depends on recognizing patterns and using them to anticipate or change outcomes. Western biomedicine impressively details the physiology of the human organism, but Chinese medicine better correlates the body with the personality inhabiting it. By combining Western and Chinese approaches, we gain the benefits of both traditions.