Cold environments and human metabolism: A traditional chinese medicine perspective

The concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes the intrinsic connection between human beings and nature, positing that the human body undergoes distinct physiological changes in response to various natural environments. Cold, as a primary external factor in cold areas, necessitates the body’s autonomous adaptation to uphold optimal living conditions. The repercussions of cold on the body are both far-reaching and profound, with metabolic equilibrium adjustments playing a pivotal role. This article, rooted in the TCM principle of YinYang balance, delves into the metabolic intricacies and adaptive responses to the human body in cold environments. The effects manifest in heat-producing tissues, systemic substance consumption, the blood substance concentrations, liver function, and metabolic rhythms. The article subsequently presents TCM recommendations for maintaining health in cold climates. It concludes by advocating the exploration of metabolic homeostasis changes as a key avenue for investigating the metabolic traits s of populations in cold regions. We posit that such insights will enhance comprehension of the metabolic shifts in cold region populations and advance the evolution of regional medicine.