During the second and third lunar months, spring breezes gradually rise and willow branches sweep the embankments. It is ordinarily a fine season for outings and flower-viewing. Yet some friends find themselves quite troubled: the moment they step outside into the wind, tears stream down, and if the wind picks up even slightly, the tears flow uncontrollably, leading onlookers to assume they have suffered some grievance. Is this simply a case of eyes being overly "delicate," or is the body quietly sending a signal? In TCM clinical practice, this phenomenon is often closely related to the functional state of the liver, lungs, and kidneys — it is not merely an "eye problem."
Tears in the Wind: The Root Lies in the Contest Between "Wind" and "Tears"
The Huangdi Neijing states: "The five zang organs transform fluids… the liver produces tears."
Tears are originally a normal fluid that moistens the eyes and lubricates the orifices. Why, then, do tears flow the moment one steps outside into the wind? In TCM, wind is regarded as the chief of a hundred diseases; its nature is light and dispersing, and it readily attacks the upper part of the body. The eyes are located at the highest point of the head and face and are "clear orifices," making them most vulnerable to invasion by wind pathogens. When wind blows and the internal zang-fu functions are disharmonious, fluids cannot be properly secured and transform into tears that flow out with the wind. Clinically, tears streaming whenever one steps outside into the wind is seen most often in three types of constitutional patterns, each with a different underlying pathogenesis and, naturally, different approaches to care.
Insufficient liver blood, loss of control over the tear orifices. The liver opens into the eyes; when liver blood is abundant, the eyes are nourished and the tear orifices open and close appropriately. If one stays up late for prolonged periods, overindulges in worry and rumination, or damages blood through prolonged near vision, liver blood becomes depleted, the eye orifices lose nourishment, and the tear orifices become like a loosened gate. Such individuals not only experience tears streaming whenever they step outside into the wind, but often also have dry, gritty eyes, blurred vision, and a dull complexion. Care should focus on nourishing blood and softening the liver; in daily diet, one may appropriately consume mulberry, goji berries, pig liver, and similar foods. It should be noted that in such cases, one should not blindly use pungent, dispersing substances, as these may further deplete liver blood.
On the Foot Jueyin Liver Channel there is an acupoint called Taichong, located on the dorsum of the foot between the first and second metatarsal bones, in the depression anterior to the junction of the metatarsal bases; it is the Yuan-Source point of the Liver Channel. The Lingshu: Nine Needles and Twelve Yuan states: "When the five zang organs have disease, one should select from the twelve Yuan points." Taichong is closely related to the liver's functions of coursing and discharging and storing blood. In TCM theory, it is often used as an important acupoint for regulating the qi and blood of the Liver Channel and is also associated with the nourishment of the eye orifices.
Insufficient lung qi, insecurity of the defensive exterior. The lungs govern the skin and body hair and diffuse defensive qi to secure the body surface. If lung qi is weak, the defensive exterior weakens, and wind pathogens penetrate deeply and directly assail the eye orifices. Such individuals, while experiencing tears streaming whenever they step outside into the wind, are also often prone to catching colds, fear wind, experience spontaneous sweating, and may even have sensitive noses with sneezing. Care should emphasize boosting qi and securing the exterior; in daily diet, one may appropriately add astragalus, Chinese yam, jujube, and similar ingredients. Traditional TCM holds that the lungs correspond to autumn, but spring winds are strong, and those with insufficient lung qi should be especially careful to avoid wind at this time; when going out in the morning, it is advisable to wear a hat or scarf.
On the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra, is the Feishu (Lung Shu) acupoint on the Foot Taiyang Bladder Channel. Feishu is the back-Shu point of the lung and is a specific acupoint where the qi of the lung organ is infused on the back. TCM theory holds that back-Shu points are closely related to the physiological functions of their corresponding zang-fu organs; Feishu is therefore often mentioned in approaches to regulating lung-related issues.
Decline of kidney yang, failure of warming function. The kidneys govern water and control the two excretions; kidney yang is the root of the body's yang qi. When kidney yang is insufficient, the power of steaming and transforming is weak, water metabolism becomes disordered, and fluids rise to the eyes to form cold tears. Such individuals experience tears streaming whenever they step outside into the wind; the tears are clear and thin, worsen with cold, and are often accompanied by soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, aversion to cold, cold limbs, and frequent nocturia. Care should be directed toward warming and supplementing kidney yang; in daily diet, one may appropriately consume warming foods such as walnuts, chives, and mutton. Clinically, some elderly individuals with tears in the wind belong to this pattern, but this cannot be generalized; a diagnosis and plan must be determined by a licensed TCM physician after pattern differentiation.
On the lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra, is the Shenshu (Kidney Shu) acupoint on the Foot Taiyang Bladder Channel, the back-Shu point of the kidney. The Nanjing states: "Yin diseases manifest on the yang [back], yang diseases manifest on the yin [front]." Back-Shu points are the sites where zang-fu qi is infused on the back; Shenshu corresponds to the kidney's functions of governing water and grasping qi, and is often mentioned in TCM health-preservation principles and methods.
Common care, converging on the same goal. Regardless of the pattern type, those who experience tears streaming whenever they step outside into the wind should pay attention to eye protection. Spring winds carry much sand and dust; when going out, one may wear windproof glasses or sunglasses to reduce direct cold wind exposure. At the same time, avoid prolonged eye use; every so often, close the eyes to rest, or gaze into the distance at greenery. Massaging periocular acupoints such as Jingming, Cuanzhu, and Taiyang should be done according to a specific plan determined by a licensed TCM physician based on individual constitution; one should not apply force arbitrarily. In diet, pungent and stimulating foods easily stir heat and generate wind, and should be moderately restrained.
Why Do Some People Need Warming Tonification and Others Clearing and Draining for the Same Symptom?
Tears streaming whenever one steps outside into the wind may appear to be the same symptom, yet behind it may lie entirely different constitutional codes. Some improve with warming tonification, while others improve with clearing and draining — this is precisely the subtlety of TCM's "treating the same disease with different methods." Clinically, one must first distinguish whether deficiency or excess predominates: deficiency patterns are mostly due to insufficiency of liver blood, lung qi, or kidney yang, while excess patterns may involve concurrent wind-heat or liver fire. If tearing is accompanied by red eyes, excessive eye discharge, and photophobia, it may be wind-heat harassing upward; in this case, warming tonification is not appropriate — rather, one needs to disperse wind and clear heat.
During the care process, one should also pay attention to the influence of emotions. In individuals with liver qi stagnation, the qi mechanism is not free-flowing, fluid distribution becomes disordered, and tears streaming whenever one steps outside into the wind also easily occurs. Such individuals often have greater emotional fluctuations, are prone to sighing, and experience distension and fullness in the chest and hypochondrium. Harmonizing the emotions and engaging in appropriate exercise, such as walking or practicing taijiquan, can help improve symptoms to some degree. But remember: any conditioning method should be undertaken after consulting a licensed TCM physician, and one should not apply it oneself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between tears streaming whenever one steps outside into the wind and dry eye syndrome?
A: Dry eye syndrome is mainly characterized by dry, gritty eyes and insufficient tear secretion; tears in the wind involve normal or even excessive tear secretion but a failure of retention. The two have different pathogenesis, and the approaches to care also differ.
Q: Why do some people benefit from goji berries and others from astragalus for the same wind-induced tearing?
A: Goji berries tend to nourish blood and suit those with insufficient liver blood; astragalus tends to boost qi and suits those with weak lung qi. Different constitutions naturally have different care priorities — this is precisely the embodiment of TCM pattern differentiation.
Q: Is wind-induced tearing in the elderly always due to kidney deficiency?
A: Kidney qi gradually declines in the elderly, and the kidney yang deficiency pattern is indeed common, but insufficient liver blood or weak lung qi cannot be ruled out either. A comprehensive judgment must be made in light of systemic manifestations; it cannot be generalized.
Q: Does wind-induced tearing require long-term care?
A: Constitutional conditioning is not accomplished in a day, but there is no need for excessive anxiety either. Paying extra attention during the windy spring season, combined with dietary and lifestyle adjustments, will generally lead to gradual improvement. If symptoms continue to worsen, it is advisable to consult a licensed medical institution.