After reclaiming her own health, Yueling Ma has been helping other to become healthy by applying her knowledge and experiences. Along the way, she refined the core of the Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) theory into four key areas. First and foremost, human body is a system and it should be treated accordingly. Each part and each organ of our body interacts with each other, only when they are in harmony, we will be healthy. Secondly, everybody needs adequate Qi (vital energy) and blood flow. When a person does not generate enough Qi and blood, he/she is vulnerable for all kinds of diseases. Third, human system needs a proper functional network to transport Qi and to discharge waste and such a network is called Jingluo (energy channel or meridian) in the TCM terms. Although neither Qi nor Jingluo is visible to naked eyes or microscope, they exist in our body when we are alive and they play a vital role for our wellbeing. The TCM theory believes all health issues are caused by inadequate Qi and blood flow, and blocked channels. Forth, human system needs proper internal temperature in order to function properly. Internal temperature is a concept used in the TCM and Yueling applies this concept to our modern era and she believes that a lot of diseases are the results of cold internal environment.
The human body is a precise system that needs adequate Qi and blood, functional energy channels and a proper internal temperature. These are the keys behind a healthy human system. When any one part is not at the proper state, one’s health is at stake. Our diet plays a critical role for our physical well-being. Food provides the raw materials for our body to generate Qi and blood; food also plays a critical role for our internal temperature. In fact, the TCM classifies foods into five categories: hot, warm, neutral, cool, and cold (will discuss this next time). If a person consumes a lot of cool/cold food over a long period of time, (s)he tends to have a low internal temperature. Yueling believes that people today are more vulnerable to low internal temperature and poor network condition than before due to the availability of many off-season and cross region foods, the extensive use of air-conditioning and refrigerator, and the lack of physical activities.
A picture of a tree can illustrates the above concept well. All the elements that affect how a tree looks are under the ground. Think about what happens to the tree when there is not enough fertilizer or water, or the lateral roots are cut off, or when the temperature is too low. Relating this back to human bodies, how we feel and how our body functions are affected by the factors that we do not see, the Qi and blood, the channels and the internal temperature. Even though we can’t see them, our diet and habit will impact the Qi and blood flow, internal temperature and the channel, and ultimately, the overall health. This is the Theory of Health and will serve as the foundation for the Way to True Health.
