Adaptive Capacity and Volume of Distress
An Ancient Formula for Longevity and Good Health
There is nothing like a simple way to look at a complex problems.
For example, if your Volume of Distress overwhelms your Adaptive Capacity, you will probably get sick.
If you already have chronic health problems, what is the best way to find out what is left of your capacity?
What is causing you and your metabolism the most distress?
What are the most effective tools to restore your vitality?
Functional Medicine is very similar to Traditional Chinese medicine.
In fact it is often said that Functional Medicine is essentially Chinese medicine with a microscope.
They are both approaches to health care that look at system’s interactions for a root cause.
Functional medicine measures changes in your body’s primary adaptive systems, organs, and functions, often down to the molecule. Sometimes, it is important to rule out exactly what is happening - as fast as possible.
For that, it is good to have a microscope.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) looks at the internal dynamic of your major metabolic pathways and organ systems like a family. TCM also focuses a great deal on the Mental and Emotional experience and of each person.
This kind of ‘Big Picture’ thinking sometimes needs a metaphoric telescope.
Instead of measuring molecules, TCM sometimes looks through its far reaching and inclusive ‘telescope’ into your Innate Selves, many Minds, Spirits, Souls, and Ghosts - subtle influences that may be involved in a person’s inner struggle.
Traditional Chinese medicine comes from a culture that uses a lot of metaphors and symbolism, mostly to exaggerate and explore a specific context.
When terms like Spirits, Souls, and Ghosts are used, it is very easy to roll our heavy and bored literal eyes. In clinical practice, and in a person’s mindfulness practice, these terms are only meant to bring awareness to one’s personality characteristics, traits, and struggles and place them in a Spiritual context.
My teacher used to say, ‘The context is the content!’
Adaptive Resources and Erosive Influences - Fu Zheng Qu Xie
In this four word statement, Traditional Chinese Medicine has summed up the essence of healing.Â
Fu Zheng means to assist your adaptive resources and to bring yourself into a state of capacity and resolve.Â
Qu Xie means to remove erosive influences, pathogens, and uncooperative states of distress.Â
Your Adaptive Resources and Capacity
Your adaptive resources include sufficient sleep, water, nutrient dense food, close friendships, meaningful goals, creativity and silence. You can increase these resources by taking supplements, such as herbal medicines, vitamins and nutraceuticals (medicinal nutrients), or changing some of your lifestyle habits.
By learning about the needs of your body, mind, and emotional well being, you can begin to explore what builds your Adaptive Capacity.
Erosive Influences and Volume of Distress
Erosive influences include all of the obvious junk food, stimulants, and intoxicants that harm you physically, as well as being in a hurry, being in conflict, and being in relationships that are without harmony and love.Â
Even extremes of weather can be erosive if you are feeling a little weak and tired.
Learning how to assess your Mental and Emotional wellbeing, or how much Trauma may be lurking in your solar plexus, is often the first step in changing patterns and beliefs.
A Doctor is a Teacher of Common Sense!
The word doctor comes from the Latin term Docere, which means ‘to teach the wisdom from before.’
Can I ask you a somewhat personal question? Maybe two?
How is your Adaptive Capacity - physically, emotionally, and mentally?
If you made a list of everything that adds to your Volume of Distress, what needs to go for you to feel healthy and satified with life?
Is This Substack For You?
I find writing to be the best way to ensure that I am communicating clearly and precisely. Along with cooking for friends, writing is my happy place.
As a semi-retired professional, I have a lot of time to put the last 30 years into perspective. Also, I can finally teach what I want to, the way I want to.
For the next year or two, I will mostly be teaching Qing Zhi Bing - the Embodied Psychotherapy and Spiritual Recapitulation practices of Traditional Chinese medicine.
In Chinese, a Trauma experience can be called a Qing Zhi Bing. An Emotionally Disorienting Wound.
The term Qing Zhi Bing is also used as the name of TCM Psychology as a sub-specialty of practice.
Because of that, the fist 10 articles with be about Trauma, Neurology, Somatic Sense Awareness, and how chronic distress states can become chemically addictive.
I will also share some articles about Chronic Autoimmune Dysfunction, some recipes, and some musings and mumblings about why we are still asking why we are here.
I am hoping to build a community of new friends, students of health care and of life, patients seeking clarity, and peers that are all interested in discovering what helps the most people - and what may help each individual the most.
Why Become a Subscriber?
We all need feedback.
I love writing and am committed to publishing about 30 books as my next career adventure. If this publication offers you support, guidance, inspiration, and a few belly laughs, then I have succeeded.
My mission is to share what I have learned as widely as I can.
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Why become a Co-Founder?
As you can image, moving away from a career in medicine to a career as a writer is risky. I am making the shift gradually and proportionately to what I earn as an online content creator and part time digital nomad.
If you have the capacity and willingness to support a person like myself, in the endeavor of creatively supporting those in need, I would be grateful beyond words.
The longer term goal is publishing at least 30 books. That is what you are supporting, and that will be the outcome of your investment.
What to Expect as A Co Founder…
The subscriber perks, plus:
Regular Co-Founders and Special Guest Private Q&A/AMA Webinars
A copy of each Ebook when completed. Signed physical copies at 50% off discount.
Acknowledgment in the books that I publish while you are a founding member.
I look forward to meeting you in the next webinar!