Written by: Anthony Di Virgilio
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes
Learning about the six tissue states has changed not only how I work as a holistic psychotherapist, but my life on a personal level. This unique perspective of illness offers insight into how the physical state of our body and the behaviors we do each day affect our health on every level - including mental, emotional, social, and energetic/spiritual. By understanding and bringing awareness to these tissue states, we empower and grant ourselves the opportunity to make changes that help restore balance and wellness.
The Past
Let’s go all the way back to the year 1900. A doctor by the name of Joseph M. Thurston published The Philosophy of Physiomedicalism. This medical tome compiled information from a range of doctors and healers that, over many years of practice, discovered the physical and energetic patterns of disease. These patterns could be identified by observing the symptoms of an illness, as well as the status and functionality of the organs and various other systems within the body (such as the immune, nervous, musculoskeletal, and lymphatic systems). Through the accumulated data and research, Thurston was able to identify six tissue states of illness, and through this understanding, was able to treat a wide range of health issues.
Over the last 100 years, this concept has been adopted by renowned herbalists Matthew Wood and Sajah Popham, and although Thurston’s concepts remain the same, their names have changed to become more accessible to a modern audience. The six tissue states are viewed as imbalances of excess or deficiency across three physical categories.
Temperature
The first category is Temperature, in which you see the tissue states of Heat Excitation and Cold Depression. These two states represent not only the temperature of the tissue, but also the metabolic rate, energy generation, and speed of the tissue/organ’s function.
With Heat Excitation, just like a flame, you see tissues and organs that are inflamed, hot in temperature, overactive, and agitated, and the overall vital force/energy tends to move upwards. According to Wood and Popham, symptoms may include: restlessness, psychological stress, anger, irritability, burnout, fever, redness, swelling, stomach ulcers, acid reflux, and hyperthyroidism, to name a few.
With Cold Depression, you see a general coldness, lack of tissue and organ function, reduction of response and activity, deterioration, suppression, and an energy that is downward baring. Think about the changes occurring in nature during winter and you’ll have an understanding of Cold Depression. According to Wood and Popham, symptoms may include: fatigue, brain fog, emotional depression, pale skin, cold hands and feet, reduced/slower organ function, hypothyroidism, and in more extreme cases, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Moisture
The second category is Moisture, in which you see the tissue states of Dry Atrophy and Damp Stagnation. These two states represent not only the moisture level of the tissue, but also the density.
With Dry Atrophy, just as you would see in a desert, the tissue and organs are malnourished, withered, dehydrated, weak, hardened, and lose functional strength. According to Wood and Popham, symptoms may include: nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, adrenal fatigue, dry eyes, rough skin, dry/brittle hair, cracked nails, constipation, tension in the musculoskeletal system, joints that crack and pop, and skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis.
With Damp Stagnation, just as you would see in a swamp, the tissues, organs, and vessels become waterlogged, boggy, swollen, flabby, clogged, and sluggish, and your body’s ability to assimilate nutrients and eliminate waste becomes majorly compromised. This is a state where liquids within your body congeal and thicken, resulting in phlegm, mucous, bacterial growth, and thick, “toxic” blood. According to Wood and Popham, symptoms may include: expressionless/dull/apathetic demeanor, flat affect, lethargy, lack of motivation and willpower, edema, a puffy face, pale skin, dark circles under the eyes, clogged sinuses, eczema, headaches, slow digestion, swelling in the lymph nodes, reduced immune system, chronic infections, swollen joints, and joint pain.
Tone
The third category is Tone, in which you see the tissue states of Wind Tension and Damp Relaxation. These two states represent the level of constriction of the tissue, organ, and other systems within the body, such as the nervous system, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal.
With Wind Tension, the tissues, and in particular the nervous system, becomes wound up, tight, constricted, and spastic - and just like the wind, it is subject to sudden, sporadic, symptomatic changes that alternate between extremes. According to Wood and Popham, symptoms may include: a nervous, tense, and highly “alert” demeanor and mental state, frequent and sudden changes from sympathetic nervous system to parasympathetic, neuromuscular tension, alternating fever and chills, diarrhea with constipation, indigestion, and symptoms of the muscle tissue, such as spasms, cramping, knots, rigidity, and convulsions.
With Damp Relaxation, the tissues become so lax that they lose integrity and are no longer able to properly contain and hold fluids. As the tissues leak fluids and secretions, they begin to lose their tone and elasticity, becoming saggy and prolapsed. According to Wood and Popham, symptoms may include: a dull and uninspiring mind, slowness and lack of sharpness in thought, chronic postnasal drip, constant sinus drainage, itchy watery eyes, sore throat, urinary incontinence, excessive and unwarranted sweating, excess menses, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, leaky gut, and frequent urination and diarrhea.
The Future
In the coming weeks and months I’ll be doing a deep dive into each of the six tissue states. I’ll go into more detail about the interconnectedness and causes of these states, how and why your physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual/energetic health are impacted, and suggestions to bring these states back into balance.
Thanks for reading!
