Chapter 3: The causes for possible imbalances in our body. They can attack from outside or inside.
Three Categories
Pathogenic factors can be classified into three categories: Climatic (exogenous), Emotional (endogenous), and Miscellaneous.
Climatic Pathogenic Factors
The six climatic pathogenic factors attack the body from the exterior. The immune system (anti-pathogenic factor) fights back — for a period, there is excess of both Yin and Yang. If the body wins, the pathogen is eliminated; if the immune system fails, the pathogen enters the interior.
Emotional Pathogenic Factors
The seven emotional pathogenic factors: joy, grief, melancholy, worry, fear, shock, and anger. Emotions are necessary and make life interesting. But when felt in the extreme or over a prolonged period, they can attack internal organs causing lasting imbalances.
Miscellaneous Pathogenic Factors
Factors that are not climatic (exogenous) and not emotional (endogenous):
Pathogen Explorer
Which pathogenic factor (Wind, Cold, Heat, Damp, Dry, Summer-Heat) most affects you seasonally? What preventive measure will you take?