(Surprising increase of dizziness spells)

During the past 10 days, an increasing number of people have visited my clinic, complaining about nausea, stuffed ears, ringing in ears, and other related physical problems. In Oriental medicine, dizziness comes from a variety of causes. One of them is Meniere’s syndrome. Simply put, it comes from excessive changes in emotions. It often brings a stiff right or left neck. In other words, the problems are likely to occur to people who lack proper sense of balance. Excessive emotional excitement may attack the digestive organs such as the stomach or bowels, causing various types of dizziness. In any case, those who have experienced it can understand how unpleasant it is.

(Does weather have anything to do with it?)
Why are we seeing so many cases of dizziness at this time? I have to say that weather is really playing a big role in causing physical problems such as these.
This year, summer seems to have gone so quickly that no lingering heat was bothering us too much. Comfortable weather came and made us put away electric fans away. Then the hot summer returned all of a sudden about 10 days ago, compelling us to start using air conditioners again. The heat bothered us during the daytime only. But such rapid changes in weather are prone to physically excite us and to affect especially the upper parts of our bodies, where headaches or stiff necks are likely to occur.

(Wetness is to blame)
This year’s heat carries with it heavy wetness, which affects our digestive organs such as the spleen and stomach. These digestive organs seek dryness. In such dry places as Hawaii, even tremendous amount of meat seldom sits so heavy on the stomach. Thus, it is definitely undeniable that wetness, overeating, and mental stresses cause the functions of digestive organs to weaken. Wet weather often brings about exhaustion and uncontrollable sleepiness. I think many people have experienced it. Moreover, hot and wet weather exacerbate various physical problems such as an empyema, sty, pimples, and many other pus-carrying troubles. This proves that weather has close cause-and-effect relation with our physical conditions

(My brother makes his debut))
My brother is also running an acupuncture clinic. For decades he has strenuously been researching the relation between weather and our bodies. I pay him deep respect for his continued effort. Early in October, he will publish an unusual type of book based on his research. It is titled Daikei Kishougaku Nyumon (Introduction to Meteorology). Its idea is based on the theory that weather plays a major role in detecting the cause of diseases, which helps us to find dependable therapy for them.

(A new type of influenza)
Yesterday, I happened to see him preparing a feature TV program on the new type of influenza. Although it is already known that biologically its virus does not change easily, questions remain as to why it is more likely to attack children and why it claims lives even among people in good health. Many other related questions remain unsolved.
Mr. Rempu Fujimoto, my great mentor in acupuncture, warns that the influenza we see today is known as a hot-temperature disease. It seeks heat and wetness and very quick to “invade” where its favorite conditions exist. It is likely to attack lively kids or grown-ups carrying too much heat (maybe due to insufficient consumption of vegetables) somewhere in their bodies. Moreover, it is said the current influenza often causes pneumonia. In Oriental medicine, the lungs are considered a most favorable place for the virus.
Mr. Rempu Fujimoto, a noted clinician, taught us about this fact, which made me think that no words are more reliable than those of therapists who attend very seriously to patients day after day.
My brother was motivated to write this book by what Mr. Fujimoto had said, “I suggest that you to begin to research on meteorology.” Thus, Mr. Rempu Fujimoto is a great mentor for both myself and my brother. We are very grateful to him.

As I give my thought to my brother’s success, I always see my mother smiling happily somewhere, for that is what my mother wanted him (my brother) to do.