Most of the time we don’t need a doctor to tell us we are sick. Typically there are clues that tell us, such as fever, sore throat, nausea, upset stomach, joint pain, and so on that tell us we are not feeling well. In fact it’s these very symptoms that encourage us to visit our doctor and ask questions. But what about the time in between illness, are we really healthy, and how can we tell?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine we ask a number of questions related to your health to create a health-map, which determines the balance of your body’s systems. Take for instance perspiration, some people perspire all the time, some only when it’s very hot or their physical activity is very demanding. Other people find themselves perspiring only on their head, hands, chest or feet, and some perspire at night. There isn’t space in this evaluation to go into what each of those perspiration scenarios mean, but each one says something about your health and in which direction the balance scales are tipped.
The questions below are to get you to think about your own body and the way it functions. Grab a pen and paper and spend a moment with yourself answering these questions. You might just learn something about yourself!
1. Temperature changes
(Please do not put a thermometer in your mouth, this is a question about how you feel in your own body.) Do you run hot or cold? A good way to think about this is, do you wear the same amount of clothes as everyone else or do you like to put on loads of clothes, or turn up the AC in the middle of winter? Do you seem to be doing the opposite of everyone else? Perhaps a particular part of your body gets cold such as your hands, feet, abdomen, or spine.
2. Persperation
Do you sweat? At what times do you sweat? Spontaneously? When you are doing something physical like exercise? At night when sleeping? Never?
3. Thirst
Do you have thirst? Thirst for ice cold, room temp, or hot drinks? You never get thirsty and don’t like to drink anything ever. You drink but can only drink in small sips. Think your level of thirst, the temperature you tend to prefer your beverages, and what type of beverage you consume the most of in a day.
4. Digestion
Any digestive problems? Upset stomach, pain before or after eating, gas, bloating, acid regurgitation, vomiting, nausea, heartburn, itchiness in a particular spot on your body after eating?
5. Appetite
Do you get hungry? Do you have a strong or weak appetite? Do you notice your appetite changing depending on your moods or level of activity? Do you find yourself never to be hungry, but eat because you know it’s about time? Do you get weak if you don’t eat or find it difficult to concentrate or think?
6. Urination
Is the volume of what you drink about the same volume as you void? Is your urine dark yellow and/or smelly? Do you urinate at night and if so, how many times? Any pain or difficulty when urinating?
7. Bowel Movements
How frequently do you have a bowel movement, number of times per day or week? Are your bowels fully formed, loose like diarrhea, soft and difficult to wipe clean, or dry and hard? Are you bowel movement easy to push out or difficult? Is there any pain either before or after the bowel movement? Do you feel complete after a movement?
8. Sleep
How many hours do you typically get in a night? Do you wake-up rested? Is it difficult to fall asleep? Difficult to stay asleep, do you find yourself waking up during the night and why? Do you have disturbing dreams or nightmares frequently?
9. Energy
Do you have energy to get you through the day? Do you feel tired or fatigued? Do you continually wish you had more energy? On a scale of 1-5, five being the best level of energy and one being the lowest, how do you rate yourself?
10. Emotions & Stress
How do your emotions tend to run in a day? Are you experiencing a heavier load of irritation, anger, anxiety, frustration, sadness, worry, or grief than usual? Are you stressed out all the time? Do you find yourself laughing uncontrollably, especially as giggles that just come out every time you or someone else speaks?
Extra Questions:
11. Pain
Do you feel pain anywhere in your body? Does it restrict your movement, activity, or lifestyle? Does it impair your ability to work? Do you get headaches? Where is the pain located? What factors aggravate the pain and make it worse? What factors alleviate your pain? Does touch make the pain worse or better? Does weather such as cold & damp or hot & dry affect your pain? What is the quality of pain—for example, stabbing, burning, numb, dull aching, etc.? On a scale of one to ten, ten being excruciating and one feeling no pain, where do you rate your pain?
12. Female Menstruation
Do you deal with PMS, cramps, irritability, emotional mood swings, sore breasts, constipation/diarrhea, bloating? Is your cycle regular (every 26-32 days) or irregular?
Understanding the Free Health Evaluation
After you have answered the questions, compare your answers to the ones below.
Normal body temperature tends to run with the seasons—you’re cold when the weather is cold, hot when the weather is hot. You put on layers and pull off layers in relationship to the weather. Your hands and feet have good circulation and you don’t have a problem getting them warm. This isn’t a question about thermometer readings, but if you do, know that normal temperature varies for a woman in her follicular and luteal phases.
Perspiration happens when you are in hot weather, working out physically, or have eaten something warming such as soup or a glass of wine.
Thirst—you get thirsty or stay hydrated in a day. Your preference is for room temperature or slightly cool water most days, but not ice cold or hot.
Digestion—your digestion does not capture your attention; meaning you don’t bloat, have gas, upset stomach, acid regurgitation, heartburn or any unpleasant sensations after eating.
Urination—you have a steady stream and it’s not difficult to push out. Also the volume is relatively the same as you put in. You can sleep through the night without having to get two or more times to urinate.
Bowel Movements—at least once a day, fully formed, easy to wipe clean, and you feel complete.
Sleep—easy to fall asleep, easy to stay asleep. You wake up feeling rested.
Energy—higher in the morning, might be a small lull in the afternoon, and returns to a steady pace in the evening. You can get the work you need to do done without a lot of sugar or caffeine to make it happen.
Emotions/stress—fairly even. Even if things are stressful, you can handle the job without getting frustrated or angry. You are okay with the emotional tides that come and go and for the most part there aren’t many big waves.
Pain—what pain? If you don’t have pain, congratulations! It’s great to feel great.
Menstruation—Regular 26-32 monthly cycle. No cramps or very mild cramps. No PMS or none that your partner notices. Blood color is good fresh red at the beginning and no clots.
If you ready to change your health, living healthier and happier, call to set up your Acupuncture Healthcare appointment today.
Best of health,
Sarah Halverstadt, L.Ac.