The aetiology of Wind-stroke is very complex as this condition, although it occurs suddenly,
"brews up" over many years. There are four main aetiological factors.
Overwork, Emotional Stress and Excessive Sexual Activity
Working long hours under stressful conditions without adequate rest, emotional strain and
excessive sexual activity, all lead to deficiency of Kidney-Yin. A combination of these three
factors is the most common cause of Kidney-Yin deficiency in industrialized societies.
Deficiency of Kidney-Yin often leads to deficiency of Liver-Yin and the rising of Liver-Yang.
Liver-Yang, especially in the elderly, often gives rise to Liver-Wind. Liver-Wind causes
apoplexy, coma, mental cloudiness and paralysis, and the tongue is Moving, Deviated or Stiff.
There is also an interaction between internal and external Wind as the latter may stir up the
former.
Irregular Diet and Physical Overwork
Eating irregularly or eating excessive amounts of fats, dairy foods, greasy, fried foods and sugar
weakens the Spleen and leads to Phlegm, which predisposes to obesity. Eventually, Phlegm often
combines with Fire to form Phlegm-Fire. Phlegm causes numbness in the limbs, mental
cloudiness, slurred speech or aphasia, and a Swollen tongue with a sticky coating.
Excessive Sexual Activity and Inadequate Rest
Excessive sexual activity combined with inadequate rest weakens the Kidney-Essence and leads
to Marrow deficiency. Marrow fails to nourish Blood and, eventually this may lead to stasis of
Blood. Stasis of Blood causes stiffness and pain in the limbs and a Purple tongue.
Physical Overwork and Inadequate Rest
Physical overwork, such as excessive lifting or excessive exercise and sport activities, weakens
the Spleen, the muscles and the channels. The pre-existing internal Wind exploits the deficiency
of Qi and Blood in the channels to penetrate them. On the other hand, exposure to external Wind
interacts with the internal Wind in the channels and this leads to paralysis of the limbs.
These four aetiological factors and their interactions are summarized in Figure 27.1Figure 27.1.
Thus, the pathology of Wind-stroke may be summarized in only four words:
WIND - PHLEGM - FIRE - STASIS
These are the four pathogenic factors involved in the pathogenesis of Wind-stroke. They may not