Chapter 11-4 Four Types of Human Diseases
When people feel unwell, their first instinct is often to seek medical attention. However, experience tells us that not all illnesses can be completely cured by doctors. Modern Western medicine can only temporarily suppress symptoms, and for some complex and mysterious "strange diseases", diagnosis itself can be quite challenging.
As someone who has accumulated considerable experience as both a "patient" and a "medication jar", having dealt with all sorts of ailments, I have summarized the various types of diseases encountered in daily life, apart from accidents or emergencies, into roughly four categories:
(1) Diseases of the Four Elements and Five Organs
Earth, water, fire, and wind constitute everything material, including our bodies. When these "Four Elements" that compose the physical body are affected by external or internal factors, they inevitably lead to "imbalance", resulting in illnesses. The "earth" element represents solidity and support, corresponding to the bones; imbalance in earth often manifests as weakness in limbs, hunched back, or general body pain. The "water" element represents moisture and aggregation, corresponding to bodily fluids; imbalance in water often leads to dry skin, eczema, cardiovascular issues, etc. The "fire" element represents warmth and temperature regulation; imbalance in fire can cause fever, chills, and other temperature-related illnesses. The "wind" element represents movement and respiration; imbalance in wind can lead to respiratory diseases such as colds, rheumatism, asthma, pneumonia, etc.
Diseases originating from the "Five Organs":
- The heart governs the mouth; illnesses originating from the heart manifest as body temperature irregularities, headaches, and dry mouth.
- The kidneys govern the ears; illnesses originating from the kidneys manifest as throat obstruction, abdominal distension, and deafness.
- The lungs govern the nose; illnesses originating from the lungs manifest as limb soreness, chest tightness, and nasal congestion.
- The liver governs the eyes; illnesses originating from the liver manifest as blurred vision and emotional disturbances.
- The spleen governs the tongue; illnesses originating from the spleen manifest as loss of appetite, abdominal distension, and fatigue.
The vast majority of diseases in daily life fall into the category of imbalances in the "Four Elements" and "Five Organs". Generally, they can be managed through medical treatment tailored to the specific symptoms, yielding noticeable improvements. Common minor ailments, such as colds and fevers, often resolve with rest and increased fluid intake, as the body's immune system activates. In fact, most fevers in children are a normal response of their immune system to fight off external pathogens, contributing to their overall health. For everyday minor illnesses, it's advisable to avoid intravenous (IV) fluids infusion or antibiotic interventions whenever possible, as they can compromise the body's natural immune defenses.
The psychological diseases caused by the "Seven Emotions"—joy, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear, and shock—and the subsequent physiological diseases they induce—heartache from joy, liver damage from anger, spleen disorders from worry and thought, lung ailments from grief, and kidney issues from fear—also belong to this category of diseases.
(2) Feng Shui Related Illnesses
According to Feng Shui theory, yin and yang dwellings are fundamental to a person's life, with yin dwellings (ancestral graves) being the root and yang dwellings (living homes) being the foundation. If the yin and yang dwellings are well-harmonized, the family's fortunes will prosper; otherwise, the household will decline, and various illnesses may arise. Some individuals with special abilities can diagnose illnesses by examining the Feng Shui of yin and yang dwellings, or they can trace back Feng Shui issues of these dwellings through the manifestation of illnesses.
Figure 11.5: Feng Shui of Dwellings and Illnesses (simplified)
Under normal circumstances, the Feng Shui of a yang dwelling (living home) has a chronic impact on the human body. This is especially true in high-rise buildings where theoretically the impact of Feng Shui is weaker compared to traditional single-story houses. In contrast, the Feng Shui of a yin dwelling (ancestral graves) has a much stronger and faster impact on the descendants, particularly when it comes to ancestral graves with traditional coffin burials. Serious Feng Shui issues such as ancestral graves being flooded, buried under sand and stones, tree roots entering the grave, or being penetrated by snakes or rats should be promptly corrected to avert misfortune and transform it into good luck.
The 2024 South Korean movie "Breaking the Tomb" tells the story of a Feng Shui master who alters a family's Feng Shui by relocating their ancestors' remains, thereby influencing the fate of the descendants. This reflects the remarkable consistency in the cultural practices of Feng Shui and Shamanism across Asian countries like China, Japan, and Korea. However, such cases are relatively rare.
I have personally had several profound experiences with the Feng Shui of yin dwellings. In the past, a landslide disrupted the "dragon vein" of our ancestral grave, deeply affecting the male members of the family. Several years ago, my grandfather appeared in my dreams seeking help when our great-grandmother's grave was disturbed by tomb raiders... And whenever we make small effort for our ancestral grave, we often receive positive response... In my opinion: if you believe in it, it exists; if you don't, it doesn't—but one should always maintain a sense of reverence.
Under normal circumstances, the Feng Shui of a yang dwelling (living home) has a chronic impact on the human body. This is especially true in high-rise buildings where theoretically the impact of Feng Shui is weaker compared to traditional single-story houses. In contrast, the Feng Shui of a yin dwelling (ancestral graves) has a much stronger and faster impact on the descendants, particularly when it comes to ancestral graves with traditional coffin burials. Serious Feng Shui issues such as ancestral graves being flooded, buried under sand and stones, tree roots entering the grave, or being penetrated by snakes or rats should be promptly corrected to avert misfortune and transform it into good luck.
The 2024 South Korean movie "Breaking the Tomb" tells the story of a Feng Shui master who alters a family's Feng Shui by relocating their ancestors' remains, thereby influencing the fate of the descendants. This reflects the remarkable consistency in the cultural practices of Feng Shui and Shamanism across Asian countries like China, Japan, and Korea. However, such cases are relatively rare.
I have personally had several profound experiences with the Feng Shui of yin dwellings. In the past, a landslide disrupted the "dragon vein" of our ancestral grave, deeply affecting the male members of the family. Several years ago, my grandfather appeared in my dreams seeking help when our great-grandmother's grave was disturbed by tomb raiders... And whenever we make small effort for our ancestral grave, we often receive positive response... In my opinion: if you believe in it, it exists; if you don't, it doesn't—but one should always maintain a sense of reverence.
(3 )Yin Illness
This refers to the condition commonly known as being "possessed" or "haunted", caused by the proximity, attachment, or possession of a spirit. In Taoist medicine, such illnesses are often diagnosed by feeling the "ghost pulse" (measured between the middle finger and the palm). The symptoms are usually acute and evident, including dizziness, headaches, alternating fever and chills, trembling limbs, rapid heartbeat, extreme weakness, severe vomiting, and diarrhea, or manifestations on the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, or skin. In children, it may lead to intermittent mental disturbances, loss of consciousness, a vacant stare, and an inability to be comforted or self-controlled. These symptoms often occur at fixed times, may be accompanied by a distinctive smell, cannot be diagnosed in hospitals, and have no corresponding medication.
To treat such an illness, one must understand that nothing happens without a cause; everything has its roots in some prior condition. The remedy must be appropriate for the specific symptoms. One may seek out a spiritual practitioner who can perform the necessary rituals. Depending on the situation, this might involve soul retrieval, lighting lamps, offering incense, placing memorial tablets, scattering grains, drawing talismans, or burning joss paper—various methods aimed at resolving the issue. If it is urgent and no suitable person is available to help, one can burn joss paper at night, sincerely repent, chant the names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, place statues, scriptures, or consecrated objects near the patient, and read sutras such as the Sutra of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, Heart Sutra, or Sutra of the Medicine Buddha, dedicating the merit to the patient's karmic creditors. If the symptoms occur intermittently at fixed times, it is better for the patient to recite these themselves. Meanwhile, during their normal periods, they should strive to strengthen their body, practice virtue and filial piety, and cultivate righteousness.
Due to my own constitution, along with some of my family members, we were often troubled by this illness for a period of time. After experiencing it a few times, I became quite experienced. In my case, the symptoms would come on suddenly and were very pronounced, and I could clearly sense them. For instance, once I was taking photos in a cemetery and accidentally disturbed someone; before I even descended the mountain, my eyes were swollen shut. Another time, I didn't attend a relative's funeral because I was taking care of Xiao-ai. At the moment of the funeral, even though I wasn't present, I suddenly felt a chill down my spine, collapsed, and had severe diarrhea for several days with a persistent low fever. However, after the necessary rituals were performed, I quickly recovered without any medication and felt completely relieved.
If you have experienced this kind of illness, it indicates that your constitution is prone to attracting it. There is a higher likelihood of recurrence of similar symptoms in the future. Therefore, it is advisable to focus on building physical strength, cultivating spiritual practice, performing acts of kindness, and accumulating virtuous deeds.
(4) Karmic Diseases
These are illnesses caused by past accumulated negative karma or current life's negative karma ripening, resulting in bodily ailments. They often manifest as chronic or malignant diseases, such as skin conditions, cancer, and various autoimmune disorders. Conventional treatments like medication and surgery only provide temporary relief. Some patients experience recurrence shortly after surgery, finding no permanent solution, leaving doctors helpless.
In Taoist medicine, it is believed that no external affliction can occur without an internal cause. For example, recurring mouth ulcers may be linked to harmful speech (verbal karma); blood disorders might be connected to unethical gains or a heavy burden of killing karma; cervical spine issues could arise from a narrow-minded, overly competitive attitude towards relationships or money; recurring gynecological or uterine issues might be related to a history of abortion; unexplained spots on the face or body might be caused by suppressed and depressed thoughts, leading to micro-circulation problems. These conditions can be seen as immediate karmic retributions in this life, often manifesting as chronic illnesses. Resolving the root causes could lead to their resolution, but severe karmic debts may prove challenging.
There's another type of karmic illness related to familial ties, somewhat akin to "Quantum Entanglement" among relatives. Our bodies exhibit "holographic" characteristics: above the chest (including arms) corresponds to elders, from waist to thighs to peers, and below the knees to descendants. Poor relations with elders might cause numbness in the upper body; issues with peers or spouses, or their illnesses, may lead to discomfort from thighs to waist; unresolved relationships with siblings may cause numbness in the hands; discord with descendants below the knees can result in inexplicable pain. These conditions also follow the principle of "male left, female right". with confrontations manifesting as frontal afflictions and hidden struggles as posterior ones.
Remarkably, all karmic diseases tend to self-heal once a person achieves enlightenment and awakening. If you know someone like this, seek wisdom, positive energies, and similar experiences abound. Engage in virtuous deeds, maintain inner peace, connect with nature, relax more, and practice activities like exercise, Qigong, meditation, and Tai-chi to alleviate symptoms.
Many diseases in the world often accompany individuals throughout their lives, making it difficult to clearly classify them into specific types. The diseases described above are not entirely independent but often interrelated. One disease may involve 2-3 categories simultaneously. For example, some yin-related illnesses or karmic diseases often have a physiological basis. Patients who are physically weak, lacking in yang energy and blessings, are often prone to attracting spiritual debts or to experiencing the maturation of karmic consequences.
In addition, there are very few individuals who, as disciples of folk or celestial beings, have connections with immortals or gods, often enduring "Five Harms and Three Lacks" from a young age. These individuals may suffer from various illnesses since childhood that hospitals cannot diagnose, or they may experience chronic weakness, fatigue, and drowsiness. As they grow older and their bodies strengthen, and when their spiritual opportunities mature, they can communicate with their celestial connections and self-heal after taking on their missions. Those who descend from gods, Buddhas, or immortals typically do not suffer these early trials but endure various tribulations in career, life, health, and emotions, undergoing hardships before being entrusted with great missions.
Of course, such individuals are extremely rare, and they often require a greater degree of self-sacrifice, which is not something to be envied. However, society needs them, whether to lead progress, expel evil, uphold justice, or protect the masses. For us ordinary people, it is enough to cultivate ourselves and live a simple, honest life.
