CHINESE MEDICINE THEORY. These symbols visually represent progressions and interactions of Yin and Yang.

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1 CHINESE MEDICINE THEORY 3 Core Theories 1. and 2. The Five Elements 3. Qi These symbols visually represent progressions and interactions of and. These concepts permeate Chinese philosophy and medical theory and form the foundation for the whole of Traditional Chinese (& East Asian) Medicine. East vs. West Western Philosophy: a statement can be true, or can be false, but never both. Eastern Philosophy: a statement can be true, false, both, or somewhere in between. Every false statement has an element of truth, and vice versa. YIN AND YANG 隂 Character indicates hill and cloud, or the shady side of the hill. 陽 Character indicates sun, over the horizon, and rays of light, or the sunny side of the hill. - theory is based on the philosophical construct of two polar complements, call and. These complementary opposites are neither forces nor material entities. Nor are they mythical concepts that transcend rationality. Rather, they are convenient labels used to describe how things function in relation to each other and the universe. (Kaptchuk; The Web that Has No Weaver) Trigrams from Book of Changes Also known as Yi Jing or I Ching A solid line represents A broken line represents When 3 of these symbols are stacked, there are 8 possible combinations, known as the 8 trigrams. theory developed from observations of natural phenomenon, particularly the cyclic progression of day and night. and are two stages of a cyclical movement, one constantly changing into the other, such as the day giving way to night and vice versa (GM) Light Sun Brightness Activity Heaven Round Time East South Left Darkness Moon Shade Rest Earth Flat Space West North Right Day Activity/Light/Sun Night Rest/Darkness/Moon Sun Heaven Round Heaven Calendar Time Earth Farmland Flat/Space Sun rises in East Left (Chinese used a compass facing South) Sun sets in the West Right

2 The alternation of and is the motive force of change and development (GM) Day Summer ( within ) Night Winter ( within ) Spring ( within ) Autumn ( within ) - States of Density symbolizes more immaterial. symbolizes more material. For example water is, and steam is ; or wood is, and fire is. fire dispersion/transformation water condensation Immaterial Produces Energy Generates Non-Substantial Energy Expansion Rising Above Fire Material Produces Form Grows Substantial Matter Contraction Descending Below Water Every phenomenon has both a and a aspect, and every aspect can be further divided into and aspects, ad infinitum. Every phenomenon is or relative to some other phenomenon. contains the seed of, and the seed of. 2. Interdependence: and are rooted in each other One cannot exist without the other. and are mutually engendering: each requires the other for sustenance, conceptually and physically. 3. Mutual Consuming: and counterbalance each other and are constantly in flux, forming a dynamic balance. A deficiency of one naturally leads to an excess of the other. An excess of one will weaken the other. There are 4 possible states of imbalance: 1. Excess 2. Excess 3. Deficient 4. Deficient This counterbalancing functions as a treatment also: heat is treated with cold, excess is treated by draining, etc YIN YANG RELATIONSHIP The Four Aspects of the - Relationship 1. Opposition 2. Interdependence 3. Mutual Consuming 4. Intertransformation 4. Intertransformation: and are mutually convertible and can transform into one another in certain circumstances. Transformation between and requires certain conditions and a certain amount of time. 1. Opposition: and are divisible but inseparable

3 YIN YANG AND THE BODY Each body structure or surface can be categorized as or (of course, this is always relative). Superior (above Inferior (below waist) waist) Exterior Inferior Posterior/Back Anterior/Frong Lateral Medial Head Body Function Structure Skin and Muscles Organs Qi Blood and Body Fluids Defensive Qi Nutritive Qi Back & Front: The back is where channels and energy flow. channels protect the body from external pathogens, can be used to strengthen, strengthen resistance to external pathogens, and treat pathogens that have already invaded the body. The front is where channels and energy flow. channels are used to nourish and tonify. Head & Body: The head is where the channels either begin or end. channels meet and flow into each other on the head. energy (in excess, like heat & fire) tends to rise to the head red face and eyes. The head is easily affected by pathogens like heat and wind. The body is relatively more, and more easily affected by pathogens like Cold and Damp. Exterior & Interior: The skin and muscles are exterior and pertain to. The exterior protects the body from external pathogens. Internal organs are interior and pertain to. The interior provides nourishment to the body. Above & Below the Waist: Above the waist pertains to and below the waist to. This is often used in assessing skin diseases. Lateral & Medial: channels flow on the lateral surfaces of the body, while channels flow on the medial surfaces. & Organs: The 12 primary (Chinese) internal organs are divided into and categories. organs are hollow and have the function of transforming, digesting, and excreting. organs are solid and have the function of storing. organs are constantly active, and communicate with the exterior. organs store vital substances (Qi, Blood, Body Fluids, Essence week 3). Lung Spleen Heart Kidney Pericardium Liver Large Intestine Stomach Small Intestine Bladder Triple Heater Gallbladder Function & Structure: Every organ, both and, has within it both and aspects. Structure and substance are more, while function and physiology are more. The substances, such as Blood, Essence, or Fluids contained within an organ pertain to, while the movement and processing of those substances relates to. The relationship between an organ s structure and function illustrates the mutual engendering of and. For example: the function of the Spleen is to extract Qi from food, this Qi is used to form Blood, and Blood is the

4 substance that nourishes the structure of the Spleen. Qi & Blood: Qi has functions of warming, protecting, transforming, and raising. Blood has functions of nourishing and moistening. Defensive Qi & Nutritive Qi: Defensive Qi circulates in the exterior (skin & muscles), protects and warms the body, and is more. Nutritive Qi circulates in the interior (organs), nourishes the body, and is more. YIN YANG APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE Opposition: and qualities are also found in symptoms and are guides in clinical practice. Fire Heat Restless Agitation Dry Excess Hard Excitement Rapid Non-substantial Transformation Water Cold Quiet Depression Wet Deficient Soft Inhibition Slow Substantial Conservation Fire & Water: Balance between Fire and Water is essential to smooth functioning of the body s processes. Fire is associated with the Heart, which houses the mind. As a element, fire provides warmth to the organs and the spark to fuel physiological processes. Fire is also associated with the Ming Men (Gate of Life) fire, which is associated with the Kidneys. Water is associated with the Kidneys. Water is a element and functions by moistening and cooling the organs and tissues. Fire and water interact continuously, creating a balance of their functions. Excess fire tends to flow upwards, manifesting in the upper body as headaches, red eyes, red face, or thirst. Excess water tends to flow downwards, and manifests in the lower body as edema, excessive urination, or incontinence. Heat & Cold: Heat manifests as redness and a feeling of warmth. Cold manifests as paleness (or cyanosis) and a feeling of cold. Restless & Quiet: is active and can manifest as excess movement, such as restlessness, agitation, and insomnia. is still and can manifest as quiet behavior, immobility, and sleepiness. Dry & Wet:, as the warming quality, is associated with dryness. Dryness of the eyes, throat, or skin indicate excess (or deficient ). is associated with wetness. Watery eyes, runny nose, and wet skin conditions indicate excess (or deficient ). Excitement & Inhibition: Excess is associated with hyperactivity, such as rapid heartbeat. Excess is associated with hypoactivity, such as slow heartbeat. Rapid & Slow: When a person has excess, their movements and speech are rapid. A person with excess will have slow movements. pathogens move quickly, appearing and changing rapidly. diseases move slowly and change gradually.

5 Substantial & Non-Substantial: is active and responsible for movement and flow of energy. When is insufficient, or excess, Qi and fluids fail to move then become stagnant. Stagnation over time leads to substantial masses or growths. Transformation & Conservation: organs are associated with conservation and storage, organs are associated with transformation and change. Symptoms According to Acute Chronic Rapid Onset Gradual Onset Rapid Changes Slow Changes Heat Cold Restlessness Listlessness Throws Off Covers Likes to be Covered Likes to Lie Likes to Curl Up Stretched Hot Limbs & Body Cold Limbs & Body Red Face Pale Face Loud Voice Quiet Voice Coarse Breathing Shallow Breathing Thirst No Thirst Scanty-Dark Urination Pale-Profuse Urination Constipation Loose Stools Red Tongue Pale Tongue Strong Pulse Weak Pulse Excess An excess of overwhelms leading to symptoms of cold, dampness, etc Excess An excess of overwhelms and consumes body fluids leading to symptoms of heat, dryness, etc Deficiency An insufficiency of allows to grow out of proportion. Although there is a normal quantity of, it is relatively excess. This causes symptoms of Heat. This must be treated by nourishing and clearing deficiency Heat. By increasing the, the will naturally come back into balance. Deficiency An insufficiency of allows to grow out of proportion. This causes symptoms of Cold and watery symptoms. Balanced Health: When and are in balance, they are parts of an inseparable whole. It is only when or are out of balance that their individual qualities become distinguishable. Symptoms are a sign of imbalances of ; a lack of symptoms is a sign of balance of -.

6 YANG-TYPE CONDITIONS Deficiency Excess Principle Symptoms Mild, afternoon fever High fever Night Sweats Feeling hot all day 5 heat/palm heat Hot all over Thirsty with desire for small sips Thirsty for lots of cold drinks Dry mouth & throat at night Constant dry mouth & throat Complexion Red cheeks/ Malar flush Whole face red Tongue Red tongue w/ little coat or peeled Red tongue w/ yellow coat Pulse Rapid, thin, empty pulse Rapid, full pulse YIN-TYPE CONDITIONS Deficiency Excess Principle Symptoms Feeling cold Feeling cold Dull pain, relieved w/ pressure Sharp pain, aggravated w/ pressure No thirst Desire for warm drinks Listless, apathetic Complexion Pale-dull Bright white or bluish Tongue Pale tongue, swollen Pale tongue w/ thick slimy coat Pulse Slow, deep, weak Full, deep, tight