Overwork is a common cause of illness in the West. Whether mental or physical, it always means that the person has exceeded their limits, that they lack rest or that there is an imbalance between their work, daily activities and leisure time. The balance between rest and activity directly affects Qi: every time we work or exert ourselves physically, we consume Qi, and every time we rest, we replenish it. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), overwork is mainly considered to be a cause of weakened Spleen / Pancreas Qi and Kidney Essence, but other organs can also be affected. Nowadays, many cases of persistent and chronic fatigue and lack of vitality are simply caused by a lack of rest. And the best remedy to remedy it is quite simply… to rest!

Working too long, under stressful conditions, always feeling rushed and wanting to perform at all costs inevitably lead to Qi exhaustion. This first affects the Qi of the Spleen / Pancreas which is responsible for the transformation and circulation of the acquired Essences, themselves at the base of the formation of Qi and Blood, essential to our daily needs. If the Spleen / Pancreas Qi is weakened and we do not rest, it will have to draw on the vital – and limited – reserves of our prenatal Essence (see Heredity) to meet our Qi needs. Overworking over a long period of time will weaken not only our precious prenatal Essence, but also the Yin of the Kidneys (which are the keeper and custodian of the Essences).

In the West, overwork is the most common cause of Kidney Yin Void. One of the functions of this Yin being to nourish the Brain, it will not be uncommon to hear overworked people complaining of dizziness, memory loss and difficulty concentrating. The Yin of the Kidneys also nourishes the Yin of the Heart on which the appeasement of the Spirit depends. Consequently, if the Yin of the Kidneys is weak, the Spirit will stir causing insomnia, restlessness, depression and anxiety.

Physical overwork can also be a cause of illness. TCM calls “the five fatigues” five physical factors that particularly harm a substance and a specific organ.

The five fatigues

• The abusive use of the eyes injures the Blood and the Heart.
• The extended horizontal position hurts the Qi and the Lungs.
• The prolonged sitting position damages the muscles and the Spleen / Pancreas.
• The prolonged standing position damages the bones and the kidneys.
• Abuse of physical exercise injures the tendons and the liver.

In everyday reality, this can be translated as follows:

• Straining your eyes all day in front of a computer screen weakens the Blood of the Heart and the Liver. Since the Heart Meridian goes to the eyes and the Liver Blood nourishes the eyes, people will complain of a general loss of sight (made worse by darkness) and feelings of having “flies” in their eyes. field of view.
• People who sit all day (often in front of their computer) weaken their Spleen / Pancreas Qi with all kinds of consequences on vitality and digestion.
• Jobs that require you to always be standing affect the kidneys and cause feelings of weakness or pain in the lumbar region, as the kidneys are responsible for both the bones and this area of ​​the body.

As much as a reasonable amount of physical exercise is beneficial and even essential for health, excessive physical exercise depletes Qi. Indeed, regular physical exercise stimulates the circulation of Qi and Blood and helps to keep muscles and tendons flexible. But when the exercise is done too intensely, it requires too much Qi intake and we have to draw on our reserves to compensate, resulting in symptoms of fatigue. The Chinese therefore favor gentle exercises such as Qi Gong and Tai Ji Quan which promote energy circulation without depleting Qi.