Ba Gang (Eight Principles) Diagnosis - Interior/Exterior & Heat/Cold

Question 1

Ba Gang / Eight Principles

List:

Answer 1

Interior
Exterior
Hot
Cold
Excess
Deficiency
Yin
Yang

Question 2

Interior / Exterior

Meaning:

Answer 2

Indicates the location of the disharmony, not the cause. For example, diseases caused by an exterior pathogen may begin in the exterior, but in time may affect the interior.

Question 3

Exterior Conditions

Describe Types:

Answer 3

Disorders affecting skin and muscles, caused by exogenous pathogen (that have acute onset).

Those affecting the channels (can be acute or chronic).

Question 4

Exterior Condition

Definition:

Answer 4

Condition where the body is invaded by an external pathogenic force. Presents in the body as chills.

Question 5

External Pathogens

List:

Answer 5

Wind
Heat
Cold
Damp
Dry
Summer Heat

Question 6

Wind-Cold

Describe:

Answer 6

External syndrome denoted by more chills than fever.

If there are no chills than it’s not an exterior pattern.

Question 7

Typical pulse for exterior patterns:

Answer 7

Floating

Question 8

Why do exterior patterns typically have a floating pulse?

Answer 8

Floating pulse is reflective of defensive qi coming to the surface to fight off pathenogenic forces.

Question 9

Wind-Cold

Sub-categories:

Answer 9

Excess Wind-Cold

Deficiency Wind-Cold

Question 10

Excess Wind-Cold

Defining Characteristic(s):

Answer 10

No sweating

Question 11

Deficiency Wind-Cold

Defining Characteristic(s):

Answer 11

Sweating

Question 12

Why the presence/absence of sweating with Excess Wind-Cold?

Answer 12

There is no sweating with Excess Wind-Cold as the pores are contracted with cold syndrome.

Question 13

Why the presence/absence of sweating with Deficiency Wind-Cold?

Answer 13

There is sweating with Deficiency Wind-Cold as there is insufficient qi to keep the pores closed and body fluids inside; qi is exhausted, resulting in leakage.

Question 14

Wind-Heat

Describe:

Answer 14

External syndrome denoted by more fever than chills plus a sore throat.

There is no Deficiency Wind-Heat category, only excess.

Question 15

How can you confirm whether Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat (frequency of chills and fever are indeterminate)?

Answer 15

Ask about thirst. Presence of thirst would indicate heat.

Question 16

Bi Syndrome (Obstruction Syndrome)

Describe:

Answer 16

Where exogenous pathogens (Wind, Damp, Cold) penetrate the channels and obstruct the circulation of Qi causing pain.

Question 17

Wind/Wandering Bi

Describe:

Answer 17

Characterized by pain that migrates from joint to joint; pain tends to be sore and aching.

Question 18

Cold/Painful Bi

Describe:

Answer 18

Characterized by severe excruciating pain in the affected joints with limited range of movement.

Question 19

Damp/Fixed Bi

Describe:

Answer 19

Characterized by heavy aching with possible swelling and numbness in the joints and limbs.

Question 20

Heat Bi

Describe:

Answer 20

Characterized by red, swollen, painful joints that are warm to the touch.

Question 21

Interior Condition

Types of Disorders:

Answer 21

Disorders that affect the qi and blood, internal organs, bones and marrow.

Question 22

Internal Disorders

Causes:

Answer 22

Exterior pathogens that have penetrated into the interior (exterior that has become interior).

Exterior pathogens directly affecting the interior.

Internal (emotional) or miscellaneous cause.

Question 23

How are exterior syndromes defined?

Answer 23

Presence of chills. If there are no chills then it’s not an exterior syndrome.

Question 24

How are interior syndromes defined?

Answer 24

If it’s not exterior, then it’s interior.

Question 25

Signs of 1/2 Exterior - 1/2 Interior Syndrome?

Answer 25

Alternating chills and fever.

Question 26

Heat / Cold

Meaning:

Answer 26

Indicates the basic nature of the imbalance. Easiest of the diagnostic principles because they are defined by color, temperature, and sensation.

Question 27

Cold

Characteristics:

Answer 27

Desire for warmth; can be relieved by warmth
Pale/blue
Typically slow or tight pulse

Question 28

Heat

Characteristics:

Answer 28

Warm to touch
Redness or yellow; all the yellows such as yellow tongue coating, yellow discharge, yellow urine.
Rapid pulse

Question 29

Types of Heat

List:

Answer 29

Excess heat

Empty heat

Question 30

Excess Heat

Description:

Answer 30

Caused by Yang excess

Question 31

Main signs of Excess Heat

List:

Answer 31

Fever (sometimes), thirst, red face, red eyes, constipation. Urine is scanty and dark.

Pulse: Rapid and full
Tongue: Red body with yellow coating

Question 32

Excess Heat

Cause(s):

Answer 32

Too much hot energy food

Long-term emotional distress

Question 33

Empty Heat

Description:

Answer 33

Heat caused by Yin deficiency

Question 34

Main signs of Empty Heat

List:

Answer 34

Afternoon fever or feeling of heat in the afternoon, dry mouth, dry throat at night, night sweats, fever in 5 hearts, dry stools, scanty dark urine, mental restlessness and fidgeting, vague anxiety.

Pulse: Floating/Empty and Rapid or Thin and Rapid
Tongue: Red body (in severe cases peeled), with no coating

Question 35

Empty Heat

Cause(s):

Answer 35

Common cause if Kidney Yin deficiency as kidneys are the foundation of all yin energies in the body.

Stress, excessive sexual indulgence, overwork, smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse.

Question 36

Types of Cold

List:

Answer 36

Excess Cold

Deficiency Cold

Question 37

Excess Cold

Description:

Answer 37

Arises from excess of Yin.

Question 38

Main signs of excess cold

List:

Answer 38

Chilliness, cold limbs, no thirst, pale face, abdominal pain worse on pressure but improved by heat, desire for warm drinks, loose stools, profuse clear urine.

Pulse: deep, full, and tight
Tongue: Pale with thick white coating

Question 39

Excess Cold

Cause(s):

Answer 39

Invasion of Exterior Cold into interior

Liver channel: swelling/pain in scrotum

Question 40

Deficiency Cold

Description:

Answer 40

Caused by deficiency of Yang

Question 41

Main Signs of Deficiency Cold

List:

Answer 41

Chilliness, cold limbs, dull-pale face, no thirst, listlessness, spontaneous sweating, loose stools, profuse clear urination

Pulse: Deep, slow, or weak
Tongue: Pale with thin white coating. May be wet and swollen

Question 42

Deficiency Cold

Cause(s):

Answer 42

Yang Qi is too weak to warm the body. This is usually related to deficiency of Yang of Kidney, Spleen, Heart, or deficiency of Lung Qi