Deficiency and Excess: Is it a lack or an overabundance? Why the prescription changes even for the same cold

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Hello everyone. This is Yuyu Kampo.

Yesterday, I talked about Yin and Yang, a way of looking at things in pairs. Today, I will turn that perspective into a form you can use for assessment.

It is 'Deficiency and Excess' (Kyo-Jitsu). Is it lacking, or is it too much? This single axis greatly influences the choice of Kampo prescriptions.

Deficiency is a lack, Excess is an overabundance

The meaning of the words is exactly as they sound.

Deficiency (Kyo) refers to a state where the body's strength is insufficient. Qi and blood are lacking, and the body is being overwhelmed by external burdens.

Excess (Jitsu) is a state where there is too much. The physical strength itself is maintained, and the source of the illness is clashing with the body's strength. Alternatively, it means excess substances have accumulated in the body.

What is important here is that 'Excess' does not mean 'good.' Just like yesterday, this is not about good or bad. Excess is just Excess, and it causes discomfort as blockages or heat.

Deficiency and Excess are both a constitution and a state of the day

There are two ways to look at Deficiency and Excess.

One is the inclination a person naturally has. People who are born with physical strength, are sturdy, sensitive to heat, and assertive are considered to be prone to Excess. Conversely, those who are slender, easily tired, sensitive to cold, and have a small appetite are prone to Deficiency.

The other is the state at that particular time. Even those who usually have an inclination toward Excess will lean toward Deficiency after a major illness or during a period of overwork. This is why the same treatment you used when you were young may no longer suit you.

And as we age, most people slowly shift toward Deficiency. This is not a decline, but a natural transition.

Even for the same cold, the prescription changes

Deficiency and Excess appear most clearly at the onset of a cold.

For someone with physical strength who suddenly develops a fever with chills, does not sweat, and has stiffness in the neck and shoulders, the name of Kakkonto comes up for this state. It is a direction of strongly dispersing and driving out the source of the illness.

On the other hand, for someone who does not usually have much physical strength, sweats easily, and gradually feels unwell, Keishito is discussed in this case. It is a direction of supporting and balancing the body rather than strongly driving things out.

Even for the same "onset of a cold," the chosen remedy differs. This is what it means to look at things through the lens of deficiency and excess.

You may have had the experience of "Kakkonto not working." It might not be that it didn't work, but rather that the direction was not right. If you apply a strong dispersing effect to someone with a deficiency, it can actually deplete their physical strength.

Maoto is considered a prescription that leans further toward the excess side, and its main ingredient, Ma-huang, is known as a crude drug with a strong dispersing power. That is why it is handled with caution for those whose physical strength is low.

Clues for deficiency and excess

As a general tendency, the following points can be mentioned.

Those who tend toward excess

• Sturdy build and prone to gaining muscle

• Sensitive to heat and recover quickly even after sweating

• Loud voice and assertive

• Prone to constipation and has a firm abdomen

• Symptoms appear suddenly and strongly

Those who tend toward deficiency

• Slender build and easily fatigued

• Sensitive to cold and become exhausted when sweating

• Quiet voice and find it burdensome to talk when tired

• Prone to loose stools and the abdomen is easily chilled

• Symptoms persist gradually

There are also many people who cannot be clearly categorized as either. This is sometimes called an "intermediate pattern." Many people fall somewhere in between.

To supplement or to drain

Once the deficiency or excess is determined, the direction is set.

For deficiency, we supplement. This is the direction of adding what is lacking.Juzen-taiho-to (Juzen-taiho-to) is a prescription that even includes 'greatly supplement' in its name.

For excess, we drain (sha). This is the direction of removing what is in excess.Bofu-tsusho-san (Bofu-tsusho-san) and Dai-saiko-to (Dai-saiko-to) are prescriptions discussed on this side.

And this is the crucial point: if you mistake the direction, things will not align. If you use a draining prescription for a deficiency, you will further deplete the already low energy. If you use a supplementing prescription for an excess, you will further intensify the blockage.

The reason why 'I'll try drinking this because it seems good for my body' rarely works in Kampo is because of this structure.

※ Kampo medicines vary for each individual depending on their constitution (sho) and symptoms. To choose the right Kampo medicine for yourself, please do not rely on self-judgment and be sure to consult a pharmacist or doctor knowledgeable about Kampo. Also, if symptoms are severe or persist for a long time, please visit a medical institution first.

Today's small health practice: Question your own inclination

What I would like you to do today is something a little unusual.

If you think, 'I have a lot of physical strength,' please question once whether your current state is actually like that. Are you not using your younger self as a standard?

Conversely, the same applies to those who are convinced that they are 'frail.' If you are eating and sleeping well, you might be closer to the excess side than you think.

Deficiency and excess are not fixed statuses. They shift with the seasons, age, and how busy you are that month. Looking at which side you are leaning toward today is more useful than a self-diagnosis you made in the past.

Tomorrow, we will look at the other axis, 'cold and heat' (kan-netsu). Whether to warm or to cool. When combined with deficiency and excess, your judgment will become much more three-dimensional.

May your daily life be even a little more energetic and comfortable.

Yuyu Kampo

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