12. I Heal My Own Body : Treating Before Disease Occurs (Zhi Wei Bing)

Over 2,200 years ago, the supreme classic of Oriental medicine, Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), introduced the concept of Wei Bing (未病) — literally “pre-disease” or “incipient illness.” In Western medicine terms, it refers to syndromes or symptoms whose exact causes are unknown, such as unexplained fatigue, headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, neck and shoulder pain, cold hands and feet, numbness in limbs, abdominal bloating, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, chronic cough, foreign body sensation in the throat, insomnia, allergies, erectile dysfunction, irregular menstruation, and others. It may also include borderline hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, obesity, and fatty liver when symptoms are mild.

This condition is sometimes referred to as sub-health status or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. When combined with other factors, it can progress into chronic disease.

The main contributing factors are poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress.

The most significant dietary issues are skipping breakfast, consuming refined foods such as white rice, white flour, white sugar, fried foods, preservatives, and excessive intake of trans or saturated fats. Lack of exercise drastically reduces gene expression for insulin secretion, and in middle-aged and elderly people, rapid muscle loss decreases metabolic capacity. Chronic stress causes hormonal and metabolic imbalances, which may trigger or worsen disease.

When the balance of Jing-Qi-Shen (Essence-Energy-Spirit), the foundation of natural healing power, is disturbed, the “pre-disease” state transitions into manifest illness. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 80% of the global population is in this pre-disease condition.

Though people may experience discomfort, clinical tests often return normal or reveal no identifiable cause, leading to easy neglect and missed early intervention.

The Huangdi Neijing states:
“A skilled physician treats illness before it manifests; he does not wait to treat established disease (上工治未病，不治已病).”

Oriental medicine uses various diagnostic methods from different perspectives to analyze the many causes and mechanisms of pre-disease, often explaining them metaphorically through natural phenomena and prescribing healing methods. I plan to share these insights in detail going forward.

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Dr. Jin-man Kim, director of Peace Oriental Clinic