The Six Climate-Related Pathogens-Wind

Wind pertains to spring, so more Wind-induced diseases occur in spring although Wind-induced diseases occur in other seasons. Disease-causing Winds have the following characteristics:

(1) Wind tends to move up and out. As a Yang pathogenic factor, it has light, ascending, floating, and opening/releasing properties, which tend to exit. Therefore, Wind often invades the exterior body, and induces diseases with symptoms in the skin, muscles, and head, including headache, running nose, respiration, and cold aversion.
(2) Wind tends to move restlessly, so Wind-induced diseases may change sites.
Wind Bi Syndrome pain may arise in different sites at different times. “Inner Movement of Wind Qi,” usually caused by special pathogens, may manifest as convulsions, spasms, limb vibration, and abnormal movement.
“Liver Wind,” combined with organ dysfunction, is an Inner Wind generally induced by external Wind. Liver Wind symptoms include dizziness and vertigo, where one may feel that the body or surrounding objects are moving.
(3) Wind changes without limits, so Wind-induced diseases may change without rules. Wind-induced diseases may appear quickly and recover quickly. For example eczema or itching skin may quickly change sites.
(4) Wind, the most powerful pathogenic factor, often opens the way for other pathogens. Therefore, in traditional Chinese medicine, Wind is called the leader of the six pathogens, or the first, most common among the six pathogens. Wind invasion may induce Wind-Cold syndrome, Wind-Damp syndrome, Wind-Dry syndrome, Wind-Heat syndrome, or other syndromes.

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