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Vnetje je naravni telesni odziv ob okužbi, poškodbi ali neravnovesju, ki spodbudi telesni imunski sistem, da se začne proces zdravljenja. Običajno slednje vodi do homeostaze, kar predstavlja povratek k normalnemu telesnemu stanju, vendar se včasih naš imunski sistem potem ne umiri; to privede do prekomerne imunske reakcije, kot so alergije ali astmatični napadi.
Običajno lahko vnetje povzroči rdečico, bolečine, otekanje, morda tudi občutek vročine. Nekateri ljudje doživijo vnetja samo po poškodbi, nekateri pa na žalost to prenašajo vsak dan. Zdaj razumemo, da lahko dolgotrajno telesno vnetje vodi do bolezni. Včasih se sprožitveni celični mehanizem, ki običajno služi kot obramba proti nečem ‘škodljivem’, odzove preburno in se ne prekine (Chen, Linlin et al. “Inflammatory Responses and Inflammation-Associated Diseases in Organs.” Oncotarget 9.6 (2018): 7204–7218.PMC). Bolezni, kot so artritis, astma, Crohnova bolezen, sindrom razdražljivega črevesja, multipla skleroza, fibromialgija, revmatoidni artritis, herpes in številna druga, so kronična neravnovesja ali vnetne bolezni.
Vnetje v tradicionalni kitajski medicini
Tradicionalna kitajska medicina (TKM) nudi drugačen pristop k zdravljenju vnetja. Ta starodavni sistem zdravljenja gleda na telo na povsem drugačen način kot sodobna medicina. Ker se je razvila pred tisoče leti, so takratni zdravniki postavljali diagnoze na podlagi opažanj narave in njenih interakcij s človeškim telesom. Bolezni so pogosto klasificirali kot ali vroče ali hladne. Veter, vlažnost in suhost so videli tudi kot možen razlog za bolezen.
V tradicionalni kitajski medicini sta dve merili energije: jin in jang, ki sta prisotna v vsem. Jin predstavlja mrzlo, vodo, temo, zaviranje, dol itd.; jang predstavlja vroče, ogenj, svetlobo, stimuliranje, gor itd. Da bi bilo vse pod nadzorom, morata biti obe energiji uravnovešeni in nadzorovani. Naš telesni sistem potrebuje ogenj/vročino, da vzdržuje normalno telesno temperaturo in da vsak del telesa dobro deluje. Vendar če je ogenj premočan, bo to povzročilo vročino, okužbo ali vnetje. Na Kitajskem je ogenj 火, vnetje je 炎. Kot lahko vidite, 炎 ima dva 火, kar pomeni preveč ognja ali odvečno vročino.
[Preberi več o jinu in jangu: Dao in TKM] [Preberi več o jinu in jangu: Zimski solsticij: razumevanje in zdravstveni nasveti]
Odvečna vročina je lahko posledica stresa, pretežke prehrane in prehranjevanja z napačnimi vrstami živil ter ekstremno visokih temperatur okolice.
Kako zmanjšati in preprečiti vnetje?
Obvladujte stres - trenuten ali dalj časa trajajoči stres lahko zavira normalno telesno cirkulacijo, kar povzroči kopičenje toksinov (odvečna vročina). [Preberi več: Obvladovanje stresa: Kako zmanjšati, preprečiti in prenašati stres]
Jejte redno, počasi in mirno - naše telo potrebuje stalno polnjenje energije, zato naj ne bi preskakovali obrokov. Telesu dovolite, da prebavi in absorbira energijo iz hrane. [Preberi več: Riž - izvor energije Qi]
Izogibajte se ‘goreči’ hrani - pečena, ocvrta in obsežno procesirana hrana zadržuje vročo energijo, ki je bila uporabljena za njihovo pripravo - to znotraj vas ustvarja več vročine.
Zmanjšajte vnos rafiniranega sladkorja in mlečnih izdelkov - ti namreč zadržujejo in ustvarjajo vlažnost, ki bi lahko znotraj telesa zadržala več ‘vročinskih toksinov’.
Jejte blago kuhano zeleno zelenjavo - listi rastline v naravi pomagajo pri absorbiranju vročine in ustvarjajo senco. TKM verjame, da je telo miniatura narave, ob tem pa naj bi uživanje vseh vrst živil pomagalo telesu pridobiti vse vrste energije. [Preberi več: Hrano je potrebno skuhati – tradicionalna kitajska medicina pojasni prebavni sistem]
TKM zdravljenje za kronično vnetje
Za nekoga, ki je diagnosticiran s kroničnimi stanji, kot so artritis, astma, Crohnova bolezen, sindrom razdražljivega črevesja itd., je potreben bolj sistematičen pristop. Samodiagnozo z zdravljenjem, ki ni nadzorovano, lahko spremlja tveganje ali celo škoda. Prav tako so nekatere možnosti zdravljenj težko izvedljive na lastno pest ali pa nekatere potrebščine niso tako razpoložljive. V tem primeru je boljša, varnejša in učinkovitejša možnost, da se obrnete na strokovnjaka.
How to Reduce and Prevent Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, injury or disharmony. The Inflammation triggers the body’s immune system to start a healing process. Normally this leads to homeostasis, a back to normal body, but sometimes, our own immune system does not switch off, this is when we have over reactions like an allergy or an asthma attack.
Usually, inflammation can cause redness, aching, swelling, perhaps a sensation of heat. Some people experience inflammation only after injury, and others sadly endure this every day. We now understand that long term inflammation in the body can also cause illness. Sometimes the trigger cell mechanisms usually used in defence to something “harmful” occasionally over react and don't switch off ( Chen, Linlin et al. “Inflammatory Responses and Inflammation-Associated Diseases in Organs.” Oncotarget 9.6 (2018): 7204–7218.PMC). Illness such as arthritis, asthma, Crohn’s disease, Irritable Bowel syndrome, MS, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, herpes and many more are chronic disharmonies or inflammatory illnesses.
Inflammation in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a different approach to treating inflammation. This ancient healing system views the body in a very different way from modern medicine. Because it developed thousands of years ago, doctors made their diagnoses based on observations of nature and its interactions with the human body. Diseases were often classified as being either hot or cold. Wind, dampness and dryness were also seen as possible causes of disease.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are two energy measurements: Yin and Yang; which is present in everything. Yin represents cold, water, dark, suppress, down, etc; Yang represents hot, fire, light, stimulate, up, etc. Both energies need to be balanced and controlled in order to keep everything in order. In our body, our systems need fire/heat to keep our body temperature normal and operate every part of the body well. However, if the fire is too strong, that will cause fever or infection or inflammation. In Chinese, fire is 火, inflammation is 炎. As you can see, 炎 has two 火, means too much fire or excess heat.
[Read more about yin and yang: Dao and TCM] [Read more about yin and yang: Winter solstice: Insights and healthcare tips]
Excess heat can be caused by stress, too heavy of a diet, and eating the wrong kinds of foods, and extreme environmental heat.
How to reduce and prevent inflammation?
Manage stress- Ongoing or long term stress could obstruct normal circulation which accumulate toxin(excess heat). [Read more: Stress Management: How to Reduce, Prevent, and Cope with Stress]
Eat regularly, slowly and peacefully- Our body needs a regular recharge of energy so you should not skip meals. Allow the body to digest and absorb the energy from food. [Read more: Rice- the origin of Qi energy]
Avoid “fiery” food- baked, fried and heavily processed food retain the heat energy that was used in their preparation, and that creates more heat inside you.
Reduce refined sugar and dairy products- these sustain tends to create "dampness” that could trap more “heat toxin” inside the body.
Eat lightly cooked green vegetables- the leaves of plants help to absorb heat and create shades in nature. TCM believes that the body is a miniature of nature, so by eating all types of food helps the body to receive all types of energy. [Read more: Cook your food - digestive system explained in Traditional Chinese medicine]
TCM treatment for chronic inflammation
For someone who is diagnosed with chronic conditions like arthritis, asthma, Crohn’s disease, Irritable Bowel syndrome, etc, a more systemic approach is needed. Self-diagnosis with treatment unmonitored could bring risks or even harm. Also, some treatment options are difficult to perform on your own or some materials are not very readily available, in this case, looking for a professional is a better, safer and more effective option.