How's Your Internal Climate?

It's an absolutely picture-perfect day here in Houston -- a "Chamber of Commerce" kind of day where there's not a cloud in the sky, the humidity is low, and the temperature is below 80 degrees. There's even a slight breeze blowing, which keeps things feeling light and cool.

On days like this, it's hard for me to feel tired or sluggish. There's something about the crisp, clean air and full-throttle sunshine that awakens me. I'm sure I'm not alone in that sentiment.

As I was driving to my clinic this morning, relishing the amazing weather, I started thinking about something I learned during my training in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's the principle of the microcosm.

The ancient medical sages maintain that as humans living on Earth, we are PART of nature, not separate from it. We are not just IN the environment, the environment is in us. There really is no separation between what is happening inside our bodies and what is happening outside. We only THINK that there is a barrier.

Days like today only highlight that wisdom for me, and make me even more sure and certain about its veracity. And, because I practice the system of medicine from where this wisdom emanates, it makes me more certain about the treatments and therapies I prescribe to my patients.

When someone comes to me, I'm not trying to diagnose a disease. Instead, I'm listening and observing so I can understand what their internal climate is. Are they too hot (inflamed)? Are they cold and damp (poor circulation, slow metabolism)? Have they become too hot and dry (dehydrated), or overly humid (sluggish metabolism and excess mucus/fluid)? There are a host of other facets that go into this evaluation, but in the end it is always about the BIG picture. This way, the treatment can get to the root of the issue, and quick.

So, I want to ask you, how is your internal climate these days? Do you feel light, active, cool, and crisp, like today's beautiful Houston weather? Or, has heat, cold, damp, or dryness settled in and started causing imbalances that can manifest as poor sleep, digestive problems, skin conditions, hormonal imbalance, depression, anxiety, etc.?

The conventional medical model has a tough time with these concepts, and this is because science is all about DIVIDING things into smaller and smaller components in order to understand them. This obsession with separation and division means that, for the most part, science observes human phenomena as being separate from the natural environment in which they occur. Lab tests are done in a lab, and almost no account is taken of external environment, climate or other factors. In fact, the goal of scientists doing studies is to ELIMINATE as much outside influence as possible.

While this practice has obviously proven useful in many ways, and has led to many amazing discoveries, it has also caused us to largely forget that we are in and of nature, and that nature's intelligence still lives, breathes, and speaks through our bodies.

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Women's Healthcare, is a recognized expert in women's health, natural treatment of hormone imbalance, and fertility enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients.

Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.