It’s almost a newborn’s rite of passage. A baby can’t escape having its looks scrutinized to determine what he/she got from whom: Grandma’s nose, Dad’s eyes, Mom’s mouth, Grandpa’s ears, and on and on.
What we rarely consider is that according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the baby also inherits their constitution from it’s parents: strengths and imbalance as well. When I have consulted with patients, it is not uncommon to hear things like, “I get migraine headaches just like my mom used to.” Or, “I remember my dad having the same exact lower back pain I’ve been dealing with.” Or, “My kids have horrible allergy problems just like I do.”
How is it possible that conditions like those mentioned above are passed on from generation to generation? After all, we’re talking about symptoms here, not looks and physical traits.
When you begin to understand where symptoms come from, one explanation becomes abundantly clear.
Let’s take a moment to remember that symptoms themselves are not a problem. They are a product of the underlying cause and they also serve as your body’s warning system. So for a certain symptom pattern to be passed on generationally, there must be a common underlying cause that triggers the outward symptom, and most often that cause is rooted in the meridian system.
When we look at the distribution of the meridian system, it becomes apparent that each of the meridians supply energy to specific organs and parts of the body.
By tracing the symptom back to its origin in the meridian system, examination often reveals that the parent and child may have the same pattern(s) of imbalance and will tend to develop a similar pattern of signs and issues.
Therefore, TCM believes that symptoms aren’t inherited, but rather the pattern that produces those symptoms. To continually treat the symptom is counterproductive in the long run. The most effective strategy is to correct the underlying cause (the meridian imbalance) and let the symptoms take care of themselves.
Receiving acupuncture at the Marlborough Wellness Center from the experienced practitioners there can help you and your family members find the way out of the inherited health issues!