RLung
rLung (wind) is very basically associated with the mind and energy in the Tibetan perspective. Many of the illnesses classified as “psychosomatic” in the West have a strong rLung character. Although wind is generally cool and is therefore related to “cold” diseases, its flexibility is also capable of fanning the fire. As a result, it is a contributing factor to many illnesses. Although the bodily energies are always present in the entire body, the main location of rLung is in the heart, as well as in the lower portion of the body (below the navel).
rLung is described as being:
rough/coarse,
light,
cold,
subtle,
hard/firm and
mobile/flexible.
The six qualities of Wind maintain the body and keep other humors in balance. But when Wind became imbalanced body start to manifest its symptoms: dryness (rough) of the skin and body in general, physical and mental lightness and restlessness, sensitivity to cold and cold body limbs, the mind becomes fragile and sensitive (subtle), Wind`s quality of hardness manifest as lumps, tumors and swellings and person becomes unstable (mobile).
Since wind is rough and light by nature, similar conditions exacerbate it. Excessive intake of bitter, light, or rough foods or non-nutritious foods, cold drinks; excessive sexual activity, irregular eating or sleeping, persistent hunger on empty stomach, severe diarrhea, vomiting or blood loss, exposure to cold wind, excessive grief, depression, forced retention or expulsion of stool, sperm or urine and so on lead to Wind humor imbalance.
We can recognize that the modern lifestyle have a lot of Wind unbalancing factors. People have very busy lifestyle with lots of activities throughout the day, leaving no time for proper rest or food. Instead of proper warming meal, people have tendency to have quick fast food, which fills the stomach but does not give appropriate amount of nutrition to the body. People stress themselves throughout the day, they have constant agitation, hypertension and impatience, which lead to insomnia, depression, rapid emotional changes and physical and emotional fatigue.
The general function of balanced rLung energy are the regulation of respiration and movements; actions of the body, speech and mind; the smooth flow of bodily constitutions (moves blood through veins and arteries); the delivery of waste products (mucus, wastes, spittle, etc.); sharpening of all sense organs; and sustaining the body.
There are general five types of Wind:
Life-sustaining rLung is located in the crown of the head and moves through the throat and chest regions. It helps in the swallowing of food and drink, regulates breathing process, expels saliva, activates sneezes and burps, sharpens the memory and sensory organs, holds the mind and powers concentration. It offers the physical basis for the mental continuum and is therefore the “interface” of the body and mind, which it holds together. It also advances the ingested food through the esophagus to the stomach.When Life-sustaining rLung flows freely, all parts of the body and mind work as they are intended and wellbeing and freedom from diseases result. However, if there are blockages in energy channels, Life-sustaining rLung can be prevented from reaching all parts of the body and then diseases set in such energy-deficient areas. When the flow of energy is restored, diseases leave the body in the way they entered, as Life-sustaining rLung pushes out negative energy.
Ascending rLung is located in the chest region and moves through the nose, tongue and throat. It projects the speech and provides (physical) strength, complexion, skin colour, diligence, supports initiative, furnishes strong charisma, as well as sharpens the memory.
Pervasive rLung is located within the heart, especially in the so-called “life channel” and it pervades through all bodily systems. It is responsible for the lifting and placing of legs while walking, stretching and contraction (of limbs and digits), opening and closing of body orifices. Most activities that involve movement are reliant on pervasive rLung.
Fire-accompanying rLung is located in the stomach and moves throughout the gastro-intestinal tract. It helps to digest food, to separates nutrient from waste product and to mature essential bodily constituents.
Descending rLung is located in the region of rectum and moves through the large intestine, the urinary bladder, the genital area and the thigh. It is responsible for the ejaculation and retention of the semen, menstrual blood, stool, urine and fetus.
Five types of Wind are also associated with five main poisons of the body: close-mindedness, desire-attachment, anger, pride/ greed and fear/ jealousy respectively.
General signs and symptoms of wind disorder:
Pulse: empty and floating, with changing rate or skipped beats
Urine: clear and bluish, with large bubbles and no steam, sediment, or smell
Tongue: dry, reddish and rough
Mental and nervous factors: vertigo, irritability, insomnia, sighing and yawning
Surface of the body: chills, cracked skin, a sensation of being bound, goose bumps, pain on wearing clothes, and a feeling of the skin being torn away
Neuromuscular symptoms: cramps in the extremities, impaired flexion or extension of the limbs, soreness as of beaten up, and frequent stretching
Pain: in the neck, chest, or temples, diffused or intermittent pain, sharp pain on moving, and pain on the wind point (C7, T5 and T6).
Other indications: astringent taste in the mouth, tinnitus, lassitude, nausea without vomiting, abdominal rumble, and flatulence
Aggravation of the above occurs in the early morning, late afternoon, and after digestion.
If the intake of meat, alcohol, molasses, old butter or ghee, or any hot food and drinks improves the patient`s condition, or if the patient`s condition improves after undergoing a generic treatment of wind disorder, then a wind condition is indicated. Likewise, if the patient`s condition is made worse by exposure to cold, eating cold foods, excessive sexual intercourse or strenuous exercise, lack of sleep, etc., this also suggest a wind disorders.
Lifestyle and diet
The patient should wear warm clothes, and always keep waist and feet warm, reside in warm, dry and pleasant places that is free of disturbance and enjoy the company of pleasant and supportive people. The diet should be nutritious but easely digestible.
Wind humor is increased by a long pure vegetarian diet, which is lack of oily quality, by prolonged raw diet and fasting. Because those types of diet have an excess of cold and difficult to diegest food and lack of warming, oily and grounding qualities the Wind humors rises up. For a short period of time, in appropriate time and with fitting body constitution or diseases (fasting is adviced to do only in spring and autumn) those types of diet can be beneficial for health. Otherwise it is rise up Wind and distinguish digestion fire.
For vegetarians adding such foods as different variety of nuts, cold pressed vegetable oils, or animal oils like ghee, eating nutritious vegetable soups with addition of seaweed, different green leaves and spices; drinking warm milk; little deserts and warm alcohol will be helpful in reducing Wind imbalance. For non-vegetarians additionally eating meat broth is adviced.
