"Lamig" and "Pasma" (Heat and Cold Energy Imbalance )

There is no English or Medical Term  or equivalent to the Filipino state of being or condition called "Lamig or Pasma", the closest I can interpreted it is "heat and cold energy imbalance" just to put an English title to this article. 

An example of "lamig" phenomenon

I am a believer of this phenomenon, it is something medical science cannot explain, I personally experienced being "Pasmado",  knowledge and application of the principles of balancing heat and cold energy helps in curing the symptoms of my "lamig and pasma". Pasma is very Filipino Folk Medicine, whereas Lamig or cold wind, we learned from the Chinese/Oriental Medicine, they are usually synonymous and go hand in hand. 

Some of the symptoms of pasma and lamig are severe recurrent migraine, sweaty palms, numbness and pains, hand tremors, body pains and stomach pains, could be similar with symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus, Thyroid Dysfunction, Neurological/nervous dysfunction and sometimes unexplained feeling of illness. It is all about balancing heat and cold energy,  for example during cold season we have to take more of hot food like chicken soup or porridge to balance the heat in the body , avoid watery fruits such as watermelons, apple, citrus since they are "cold foods" or in case you like to eat them make sure to drink at least a hot tea after to minimize the cold energy. During summertime eat cold foods like fruits in season usually abound are cold foods like watermelons, green salads. To give you an analogy it is something you do not do to a glass from freezer is to put hot water of course it will break due to reaction to extreme temperatures, our body is like that also it could experience a state of shock with immediate exposure to two extreme temperatures. 

What are remedies available if you have Pasma or Lamig?

My Holistic Doctor friend recommend that you take Omega3 or Fish Oil 1000mg at least twice a day, this will balance the cold energy in the body, this is the secret of cold water fishes for surviving in the cold deep sea, ice cold waters like the salmon.

One of the effect of too much cold energy or Lamig is extreme and recurrent headache, fish oil (rich in Omega3 fatty acids) relieved the symptoms.

AVOID DRINKING COLD WATER: Non-negotiable if you suffer from pasma, it is a matter of getting used to it. If you love eating cold foods such as citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, dalandan  or calamansi ( Philippine lemons), watermelons, apples, green salads, fresh vegetable or fruit juices,  make sure to drink a hot tea like ginger tea or green tea afterwards to balance the cold energy.

Have a regular massage, since accumulation of Lamig (cold wind) in the body cause our cells and tissue not to expel the toxins and waste products in the body, once accumulated, it cause a heavy feeling and body pains, the therapists called it nodules, lamig or pasma, or hangin, they can actually feel a nodular mass of unexpelled tissue waste products, massage help to loosen up and relax our muscles and help our skin release those tissue waste products giving a feeling of relief.

Me having back rub and full body massage

Ventosa (Moxibustion) is also a great way but you need an expert in doing this because extra care must be considered. It is also called cupping, using glass cups to suction the toxins and cold energy accumulated by the body, a follow up massage is necessary after doing this.

Me having a relaxing ventosa (stress buster)

Acupuncture:

I don't know how but my acupuncturist knows that there is a meridian point somewhere below the knee to release the heat from the body, after my acupuncture my body sweat all over  during sleep as if, it  breaths and release those air/heat/steam accumulated in the body and I feel lighter. 

Me having an acupuncture

Eat the right food for the season, cold for the hot season and hot food for the cold season, I tried it and work to correct my pasma, since I used to eat a lot of fruits and veggies and cold water, I experienced body pains and stomach discomfort, my holistic doctor  friend told me its too much cold foods so I took his advice, omega fish oil, hot chicken soup, porridge and a regular massage and stop drinking cold water and it's gone! he said it works to all his patients too.

Food for balancing heat energy due to "lamig", I prepared myself

Miso soup

Chicken soup

Chicken rice porridge

Pasma refers to a "folk illness" unique to the Filipino culture. As such, it has distinct signs, symptoms, perceived causes and treatments which are recognized in the folk medicine of the Philippines, but these are not described in medical textbooks, discussed in medical schools, or generally recognized by contemporary medical science.