Many Faces of Wind Pathology: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Healing

The Yellow Emperor asked: “Wind evil invades the human body, sometimes causing diseases of heat or cold, sometimes leading to conditions like Repletion Heat, Cold Accumulation, Pestilence Wind, or Wind-related Debilities. Wind can even infiltrate the Five Organs and Six Bowels. Since the symptoms vary, so do the disease names. I am uncertain how to explain this, and I wish to hear your insights on the matter.”
Qi Bo replied: “Wind evil often lingers within the skin, causing abnormal openings and closings in the pores. This disrupts the flow of the meridians and prevents the defensive Qi from circulating outward. Wind, being swift and ever-changing, will either cause the pores to open and leak Yang Qi, bringing chills, or cause them to close, trapping the Yang Qi within and resulting in heat and restlessness. Such a condition can lead to a loss of appetite from cold or muscular wasting from fever. This is known as Cold-Heat Disease.

If the wind enters via the Yangming meridian and travels up to the eyes, in the case of an obese person with dense skin, the wind cannot escape, thus accumulating heat inside—this becomes Heat in the Middle. The patient may experience yellowing of the eyes. On the other hand, a thin person with loose skin may allow the Yang Qi to leak out, becoming susceptible to chills—this is Cold in the Middle, accompanied by spontaneous tears.

Wind also invades via the Taiyang meridian, spreading along its channels and triggering swelling and abscesses in the flesh. When the defensive Qi is obstructed and unable to move freely, the skin becomes numb, and the patient experiences no sensation of pain or itching. This is called Pestilence Wind.

When the Nutritive Qi is corrupted by heat, the blood becomes stagnant and impure, leading to the destruction of the nasal septum and the decay of the skin, resulting in ulcers. This is Pestilence Wind Disease, caused by wind and cold entering the meridians and accumulating within, leading to severe long-term illness.”

The Yellow Emperor then asked: “What are the clinical manifestations of wind diseases affecting the Five Organs, and how should we diagnose them?”
Qi Bo responded: “For Lung Wind, the symptoms are excessive sweating, aversion to wind, pale complexion, frequent coughing, and shortness of breath. The condition worsens in the evening. Pay attention to the area above the eyebrows; often, there will be a white coloration. For Heart Wind, symptoms include sweating, aversion to wind, a dry and burning sensation in the lips and tongue, irritability, and redness of the face. When the condition is severe, the speech may become slurred. Check the tongue, which may appear red.

For Liver Wind, expect excessive sweating, aversion to wind, frequent sadness, a faint bluish complexion, dry throat, irritability, and sometimes aversion to women. Check under the eyes, as there may be a bluish tint. Spleen Wind presents with sweating, aversion to wind, fatigue, weakness in the limbs, a slightly yellow complexion, and a lack of appetite. Observe the tip of the nose, which may appear yellow. For Kidney Wind, look for excessive sweating, facial swelling, inability to straighten the back due to pain, a dark complexion like charcoal, and difficulty urinating. Check the jaw, which may appear dark.

In cases of Stomach Wind, there is often sweating in the neck, aversion to wind, difficulty swallowing, abdominal bloating, and possible diarrhea after consuming cold foods. The patient may appear emaciated with a bloated abdomen. Head Wind presents with headaches, excessive sweating, aversion to wind, and symptoms that worsen a day before the wind changes. The pain subsides slightly when the wind starts. For Leaky Wind, the patient sweats excessively, and clothing becomes soaked. They may also experience breathlessness and a constant aversion to wind. Their skin is dry, they are easily thirsty, and they can’t tolerate exertion. Finally, Damp Wind presents with excessive sweating, damp clothing, dry mouth, and general body aches and chills.”

The Yellow Emperor nodded: “Well explained!”