Poliomyelitis is a case in point as paralysis follows the febrile stage when Heat dries up the
fluids and leads to malnourishment of muscles, sinews and channels. It will also be observed that
in those suffering from multiple sclerosis, the disease is often aggravated by a febrile disease.
However, not every type of Atrophy Syndrome is caused by Heat.
The "Simple Questions" also describes a type of Atrophy Syndrome due to invasion of
Dampness in the Bright-Yang channels.2(525) This is a very common type of Atrophy
Syndrome.
The six main aetiological factors are as follows.
Wind-Heat From a Warm Disease
A Warm disease is due to invasion of Wind-Heat when the pathogenic factor is particularly
virulent and infectious. Although every Warm disease is due to Wind-Heat, not every invasion of
Wind-Heat is a Warm disease. Such a disease is due to an infectious pathogenic factor which
enters via the nose and mouth, and is particularly strong. Measles and poliomyelitis are examples
of Warm diseases (see Chapter 34).
Wind-Heat from a Warm disease is therefore particularly strong, invades the body rapidly and
has a strong tendency to dry up the body fluids and the Yin. It enters via the nose and mouth and
affects the Lungs and Stomach. After the initial stage, it quickly changes into interior Heat
burning the Yin of Lungs and Stomach. The drying up of fluids leads to malnourishment of
muscles, sinews and channels and therefore paralysis. Poliomyelitis is an example of this
pathological process as, in fact, the paralysis appears after the febrile stage.
External Dampness
External Dampness is a very important and common aetiological factor especially in the British
Isles where the weather is so damp. Chapter 44 of the "Simple Questions" says:
When the air is very moist and the person has a predisposition to Dampness, the
moist air will invade the body and settle there. If the person also lives in a damp
place, his or her muscles are invaded by Dampness and this will lead to
numbness and then Atrophy Syndrome.Dampness is contracted from living in a damp house, or being exposed to damp weather for long
periods; it invades the muscles and sinews and, in time, causes them to wither and become
paralysed.