
Traditional Chinese Medicine:Excess is as Harmful as Deficiency
공유하다
A Deep Interpretation of "Excess is as Harmful as Deficiency": The Wisdom of Balance in Traditional Chinese Medicine
The phrase "Going too far is as bad as falling short" (过犹不及, guò yóu bù jí) originates from The Analects of Confucius, emphasizing thatexcess and deficiency are equally problematic, and the key lies in moderation. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this principle permeates health preservation, diagnosis, and treatment, reflecting the core philosophy of "yin-yang balance" and the "doctrine of the mean."
I. "Going Too Far Is as Bad as Falling Short" in TCM Theory
1. Yin-Yang Imbalance: Both Excess and Deficiency Cause Disease
TCM holds that health is a state of dynamic balance between yin and yang. Any excess or deficiency disrupts this equilibrium:
Excess Yang (过热, rè guò) → Inflammation, irritability, high blood pressure (requires cooling).
Yang Deficiency (阳虚, yáng xū)→ Cold intolerance, fatigue, weak immunity (requires warming).
Excess Yin (阴盛, yīn shèng)→ Edema, phlegm-dampness (requires draining dampness).
Yin Deficiency (阴虚, yīn xū)→ Dry mouth, insomnia, dry skin (requires nourishing yin).
Example:
Excessive exercise (too much Yang)→ Depletes qi and fluids, leading to weakness.
No exercise (Yang deficiency)→ Stagnant qi and blood, poor metabolism.
2. The Five Elements: Overstimulation Can Be Harmful
Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) must remain in balance. Overemphasizing one element disrupts the system:
Excess Liver Qi (Wood overacting)→ Anger, headaches (requires soothing the Liver).
Weak Liver Qi (Wood deficiency)→ Depression, timidity (requires nourishing Liver blood).
Over-tonifying the Spleen (Earth) → May weaken the Kidneys (Water), causing edema.
Example:
Chronic spicy food consumption (stimulates Fire) → May damage the Lungs (Metal), leading to coughs and dry skin.
II. "Going Too Far" in Health Preservation
1. Diet: The Five Flavors Must Be Balanced
The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine states:
Sour (Liver), Bitter (Heart), Sweet (Spleen), Spicy (Lungs), Salty (Kidneys).
But overindulgence in any flavor harms the corresponding organ:
Too much spicy (Lungs)→ Dryness, constipation.
Too much sweet (Spleen)→ Phlegm-dampness, obesity.
Too much salty (Kidneys) → Edema, hypertension.
Too much sour (Liver) → Muscle cramps.
Too much bitter (Heart) → Blood deficiency.
Modern equivalents:
High sugar intake → Diabetes (Spleen damage).
High salt intake → Hypertension (Kidney strain).
2. Exercise: Moderation Is Key
Excessive exercise→ Depletes qi, damages joints ("Prolonged walking harms tendons, prolonged standing harms bones").
No exercise → Stagnant qi, poor metabolism ("Prolonged lying weakens qi").
Best practices:
Tai Chi, Qigong—gentle movements that follow the "middle way."
3. Emotions: The Seven Emotions Must Be Regulated
In TCM, emotions are linked to organs, but excess causes disease:
Excessive joy (Heart)→ Mental distraction, even manic laughter.
Excessive anger (Liver)→ High blood pressure, headaches.
Excessive worry (Spleen)→ Indigestion, insomnia.
Excessive grief (Lungs)→ Shortness of breath, low immunity.
Excessive fear (Kidneys)→ Frequent urination, nocturnal emissions.
Modern equivalents:
Chronic stress (overthinking) → Stomach ulcers (Spleen damage).
Chronic anxiety (excessive worry) → Depression (Lung qi stagnation).
III. "Going Too Far" in Treatment
1. Herbal Medicine: Dosage and Duration Matter
Overtreatment:
Long-term use of bitter-cold herbs (e.g., Coptis) → Damages Spleen Yang.
Excessive tonifying (e.g., deer antler) → Causes heat, insomnia.
Insufficient treatment:
Too low dosage → No effect, delays recovery.
TCM principle:
For severe diseases, treat until 60% recovery; for moderate diseases, 70%... Do not overtreat and harm the body’s vitality." (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic)
2. Acupuncture: Stimulation Must Be Balanced
Overstimulation→ Depletes qi, may cause fainting.
Insufficient stimulation→ No therapeutic effect.
IV. Application in Modern Life
1. Work & Rest→ Overworking depletes qi; complete inactivity causes stagnation.
2. Weight Management → Extreme dieting harms the Spleen; overeating creates dampness.
3. Common Mistakes:
Excessive moxibustion → Damages yin.
Overhydration → Weakens Kidneys (water toxicity).
V. Conclusion: How to Practice the "Middle Way"?
1. Listen to your body → Adjust when signs like inflammation, fatigue, or indigestion appear.
2. Follow natural rhythms→ Eat regularly, sleep well, avoid extremes.
3. Personalize health strategies→ Different constitutions need different approaches (e.g., warming for Yang deficiency, cooling for Yin deficiency).
The essence of "Going too far is as bad as falling short" is a reminder: Health is not about extremes, but dynamic balance.