Final Exam Prep Flashcards
Define “Stabilize and Bind”
To astringe or hold substance Stem loss of Body Fluids Qi or Blood
Which two categories of herbs are Stabilize and Bind herbs often combined with to enhance their function?
Usually combined with Qi and Yang Tonics to support function of Holding
Name 7 types of leakage that Stabilize and Bind herbs can be used with.
- Sweat,
- Lung Qi,
- Intestines,
- Jing Essence,
- Urine,
- Blood Menses,
- Vaginal Discharge
(Refer to chart)
What is the main taste of herbs that stabilize and bind?
Sour
Name the cautions for herbs that stabilize and bind.
Any excess pathogens or stagnations, Constipation, Excess Heat, Damp-phlegm
Describe the main functions of the Heart and Shen.
The Heart
- Governs Blood
- Regulates Pulse and Vessels
- Manifests in the Face
- Opens at Tongue & Controls Speech
The Shen:
- Reflected in Complexion/Eyes/Face
- Manifests in mental clarity, rational function of mental processes, and consciousness/awareness/lucidity
Controlled by Kidney Water
How is the Heart Shen different from the Liver Hun?
Liver is more motivational, intuitive, needs to keep moving because overwork or anything causing stasis can damage yin/blood stored in Liver
Hun - Ethereal Soul - lives in dream world and on the astral plane - said to survive our physical bodies
Healthy Hun is a visionary and has goals, a sick hun is stuck and can get angry or depressed
What are the primary disorders of the Shen?
Primarily sleep and insomnia issues
What are the main types of Insomnia?
Can’t fall asleep - difficult to settle
Easily wake up and can’t fall back due to agitated Yang from insufficient yin/blod to anchor/house the shen
Common in menopause, anxiety
Other issues - dreams (wandering hun), nighmares (Ht/GB xu), Sleep can also be disturbed by Food stag/alcohol
How are the types of Insomnia differentiated from each other in terms of signs and symptoms?
Blood / Yin Xu Type:
Palpitations, anxiety, forgetful, poor memory & concentration, diorientation, insomnia, restless, panic attacks
Tongue: Pale or Red, maybe red tip
Pulse: Thin, maybe rapid
Treat by nourishing and enriching Blood & Yin of Heart and Liver with seeds and nuts. Yin time is too short, Herbs are more neutral to avoid agitation with warm herbs
Heart Fire type Insomnia:
Manic behavior, bad temper, severe agitation
Tongue: Red, esp tip
Pulse Fast and Full esp at left cun mai
Yin time too late, most sweet and cold herbs to clear heat
Sedate heart and calm the spirit, clear fire
What are the characteristics of Substances that anchor, settle and calm the spirit?
Toxic and heavy (anchoring) and minerals or shells
Difficult to digest (take with sp/st tonics)
Only taken for short time (toxic)
What types of Organ disharmonies do Substances that anchor the shen treat?
Heart Fire, Liver Yang, Lungs for Lung Qi leakage, Stomach to downbear rebellious Qi
For the Category Herbs that Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit, what are the main properties?
Mostly sweet, moistening plants to nourish and augment the Heart and liver yin and blood and calm the spirit
What are the properties of Long Gu?
- Sweet
- Astringent
- Neutral
Channels:
- Heart
- Liver
- Kidney
What are the functions of Long Gu? What does it treat primarily?
- Settles Anxiety and Calms the Spirit
- Calms the Liver and anchors floating Yang
- Prevents Leakage of fluids (slightly astringing of sweat)
- Used topically for chronic non-healing sores and ulcers in calcined (duan) powdered form
Emotional distress and irritability due to Liver Yang, HT fire (vs. deficiency)
Really great for treating menopause
What are the properties of We Wei Zi?
- Sour
- Sweet
- Warm
Channels:
- Lung - Stops lung leakage/cough
- Heart - Quiets spirit (slight sedative)
- Kidney - Stops Kidney leakage
What are the functions of Wu Wei Zi?
- Contains the leakage of Lung Qi and stops coughs
- Tonifies Kidneys, binds JING essences, stops diarrhea
- Inhibit sweating and generates fluids
- Quiets the spirit
What are the properties of Suan Zao Ren
- Sweet
- Sour
- Neutral
Channels:
- Gall Bladder
- Heart
- Liver
- Spleen
What are the functions of Suan Zao Ren? Who is it good for and what are the cautions?
- Nourishes the Heart Yin, Augments the Liver Blood, and Quiets the Spirit
- Prevents Abnormal Sweating
Great herb for sleep / calming and safe for pretty much anyone, long term. Children.
Yin Blood Xu type heart disorder
Only caution is that its a seed, careful with loose bowels
What are the characteristics of a Wind pathogen?
Swift, Changeable, Rapid, Violent and Impetuous Irregular Movement
All wind diseases Move the still and stop the moveable
How does internal wind differ from external wind in terms of etiology and presentation?
Internal wind origin is the Liver the External origin is the Lung and it manifests in the channels (which are considered exterior to the organs.)
Internal wind - dizzy, vertigo, headach, tingling, numbness, rigid/jerking, sinews, termbling, spasms, convulsions, seizures
External will see more Bi Syndromes (Wind-Damp, Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat)
What are the 3 main etiologies of Internal Wind? What are the symptoms associated with each type?
Blood Deficiency
Dizziness, Tremors, Tics, Twitches, Numbness, Blurred vision/Flowery spots, Pallor (PALE PALE PALE)
Extreme Heat
Fever induced seizures and convulsions - with heat signs, anger, red eyes, intense fast pulse
Fright wind in children
Yin Deficiency
Headache, dizzy, blurred vision, tinnitu, irritability, twitching, tremors, unconciousness, spasms, paralysis, hemiplegia, aphasia
What are the properties of Substances that Extinguish Wind and Stop Tremors?
Mostly cold, drying, some worm, most animal products, shells (heavy/containing)
Most go to the Liver channel
What are the Properties of Gou Teng? Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis?
- Sweet
- Cold
Channels: it’s a Jue Yin herb
- Pericardium
- Liver (Wind!)
What are the functions for Gou Teng? What is it used for?
- Extinguishes wind and alleviates spasms
- Drains Liver heat and pacifies Liver Yang
- Releases the Exterior
Treating internal wind - tremors, seizures, eclampsia, liver wind rising (headache, irritability, dizziness)
Great for Hypertensive syndrome
BUT ALSO exterior wind-heat (cold herb) syndromes with fever, headache, red else
Only use with heat.
Do not decoct longer than 20”
What are the orifices in Chinese Medicine? How many are there?
9 in total
- 7 of the head (ears, eyes, nose, mouth)
- -hould be clear, open so that you can see, hear, smell, taste – connect to your environment
- 7 of the head (ears, eyes, nose, mouth)
- 2 lower yin turbid orifices
Heart orifices are not physical, they are spiritual portals that give consciousness and clarity to the Shen
How can the Heart orifices be blocked? How might that manifest in the clinic (i.e., what are some examples of Blocked Orifice Syndrome?)
Typically become blocked by Heat or Cold Phlegm
Blocked Orifice Syndrome:
- Wind-fright (infantile convulsions usual seen in febrile diseases like meningitis)
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders (portals blocked, can’t communicate)
- Wind-stroke from angina, coronary heart disease
- Summerheat stroke (stupor)
- Febrile diseases on the Ying level affecting the PC (delirium, ranting and raving)
What are the properties of Aromatic Substances that Open the Orifices?
BRANCH treatment, used in emergencies only - most herbs she has never used, intensely scatter the Qi to wake them up
Go to the heart and liver channels
Aromatic, Spicy, Warm or Cold
How does Shi Chang Pu (Acorus) differ from other Aromatic herbs that open the orifices?
Milder – and would still be used in clinic
Most are very harsh / toxic and she doesn’t use them
Tricky ID, sweet spicy smell
Removes filfth - blocks damp phlegm
Use to open up orifices, like in allergies
What are the properties of Shi Chang Pu?
- Aromatic
- Acrid
- Bitter
- Warm
Channels Entered:
- Heart
- Stomach
What are the functions of Shi Chang Pu? What is it used for?
- Opens the orifices, dislodeges phlegm, removes filth and quiets the spirit
- Transforms turbid dampness, awakens the Spleen, and promotes movement of Qi
- Promotes Blood flow and reduces swelling
Phlegm-damp blocking sensory orifices – deafness, dizziness, forgetfulness, seizures, stupor (possibly allergies)
Chest/epigastric full, abdominal distention and pain
Internal AND topical for WCD Bi, trauma and sores
What do aromatic herbs do?
Penetrate anything turbid.
What are the main uses for Herbs that Expel Parasites? When do you take them? When do you avoid them?
Treat intestinal parasites like hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms
Take on an empty stomach, hungry
Avoid with fever or severe abdominal pain
What are the properties of Bing Lang / Areca Semen?
- Acrid
- Bitter
- Warm
Channels: (gotta go through the bowels)
- Large Intestine
- Stomach
What are the functions of Bing Lang?
What does it treat and why do people chew it?
- Kills parasites
- Promotes movements of Qi, Unblocks Bowels
- Moves Qi and Promoves Urination
- Treats Malarial disorders
Drains downward to expel tapeworm (etc)
Qi stagnation, food stagnation w/ abdominal distention, constipation, tenesmus
Edema due to damp
Mild stimulant.
What are the common signs and symptoms of Damp-Phlegm? Include Pulse and Tongue
- Cough with copious white sputum due to weak Spleen Transformation/Transportation
- Chest Oppression, Nausea, Vomiting
- Fatigue, Heaviness
Pulse: Slippery
Tongue: Thick, Slimy, White
What are the common signs and symptoms of Cold-Phlegm? Include Pulse and Tongue
- White or clear, thin, watery mucus
- Feel cold, maybe other exterior wind-cold signs
Pulse: Slow, sluggish maybe
Tongue: Moist tongue fur
What are the common signs and symptoms of Phlegm-Heat? Includes Pulse and Tongue
- Cough, rapid breathing, thick yellow or gluey white phlegm difficult to expectorate
- Fever
- Dry mouth
Pulse: Slippery, rapid
Tongue: Red body with yellow greasy fur
What are the common signs and symptoms of Wind-Phlegm?
- Faint/Collapse
- Loss of consciousness
- Convulsions/seizures
What are the common signs and symptoms of Phlegm turbidity harrassing the upper burner?
- Dizziness/Vertigo
- Chest Oppression
- Nausea, vomiting
- Vexation
- Menieres Disease/Labrynthitis
What are the common signs & symptoms of Phlegm Confounding the Heart Orifices?
Coma
Mental Derangement
Pulse: Slippery, wiry
Tongue: Thick, slimy fur
What are the common signs & symptoms of Phlegm lodged in the channels and limbs?
Goiter, Scrofula, Plum Pit Qi
Palpable nodules that are soft to the touch
Numb, painful limbs without blood deficiency
What would be the differences between hot and cold types of phlegm?
- Yellow vs. White Mucus
- Dry vs. Watery
- Thirst vs. No Thirst
- Fever vs. No Heat Signs
- Red Face/Tongue vs. Pale Face/Tongue
- Chest Pain (hot) or Edema (cold)
- Swollen Glands (Hot)
List the signs and symptoms of Hot type food stagnation? Cold type food stagnation?
Hot:
- Severe bad breath
- Feeling of distention in the abdomen
- Preference for cold food and beverages
- Aversion to hot food and beverages
- Tongue: yellow, greasy turbid coat
- Pulse: forceful, slippery
Cold
- Due to Sp/St deficiency or ingesting too much cold food
- Unclean taste in mouth/throat
- Nausea
- Spitting up clear fluids
- Feeling of distention in the abdomen
- Preference for hot foods, dislike cold types
- Tongue: white greasy turbid coat
- Pulse: weak and thin
What are the 6 Tastes? What are their properties?
- *Bitter** - Downward draining, Drying
- *Acrid/Spicy** - Move & Circulate
- *Sour** - Astringing and Absorptive
- *Sweet** - Tonify & Strengthen
- *Salty** - Purge Downward and Softens
- *Bland -** Leech out dampness and promotes urination
What flavor or taste can you use to guide an herb to a particular channel or organ?
Bitter - Heart
Acrid - Lungs
Sour - Liver
Salty - Kidney
Sweet - Spleen / St
Bland - Kidney?
What are the 4 Qi (nature/temperature) of herbs? What does each do?
Hot
Warm
(Neutral)
Cool
Cold
Balances Yin and Yang - treat heat with cold. Etc.
What are the Interior/Exterior organ pairs?
- Lu / LI
- St / Sp
- Ht / SI
- UB / KD
- PC / SJ
- GB / LV
What are the Six Division Pairs
Tai Yang - Large Intestine Stomach
Yang Ming - Small Intestine Urinary Bladder
Shao Yang - San Jiao Gall Bladder
Tai Yin - Lung Spleen
Shao Yin - Heart Kidney
Jue Yin - Pericardium Liver
What are the 6 Evils? Where do they come from and How do they manifest?
- Wind - Chief of 100 diseases, moves and changes quickly, impacts upper body, Lungs, and Exterior
- Cold - Congeals, blocks & obstructs, feel better with heat, produces clear, watery discharges
- Heat - Rises upward pathologically, Dries, Moves Quickly, Produces Colors & Odors. Anything that accumulates will create Heat
- Summerheat - Only Seasonal Pathogen, Symptoms same as Fire Often combines with Damp
- Dryness - Drying to yin-fluids, Often Secondary to Fire
- Dampness - Heavy, sinking, the lower body (Upper Body & Lung more phlegm), Wet discharges & accumulations
External pathogens or weather / environmental
Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, Wind-Damp —- Block the exterior
What are the types of Bi Syndrome? What are their characteristics?
- Wind-Bi – Aka Moving Bi
- Cold Bi – Stagnating, painful, relieved by heat
- Heat Bi – Hot, red, inflamed, relieved by cold
- Damp Bi – Fixed, heavy aching, maybe swollen
Usually one or two dominate a Wind-Cold-Damp or Wind-Heat-Damp pattern
What are the types of Lin syndrome? What are their characteristics?
- 1.Qi Lin/Re Lin (Hot type)
- 2.Shi Lin/Sha Lin (Stone/Sand)
- 3.Gao Lin (cloudy/milky/unctuous)
- 4.Xue Lin (bloody)
- 5.Lao Lin (Taxation fatigue - Only Deficiency, the rest are excess)
List the main sign and symptoms of any Exterior Disorder
- Chills & fever silmultaneously
- Headache
- Stiffneck
- General muscle aches
- Floating pulse
- With or without sweating
List the main signs and symptoms of a wind-cold repletion pattern. What is the treatment principle for this pattern?
Chils and fever- chills predominant/aversion to cold
Headache
Muscle aches
Clear or white secreations
Floating and TIGHT pulse
No sweating
Treatment: Induce SWEATING to release pathogenic influence and open the exterior
List the main signs and symptoms of a wind-cold vacuity pattern. What is the treatment principle for this pattern?
Chills and fever - chills predominent with MILD SWEATING.
Headache, aversion to wind, body aches, clear secreations
Floating and WEAK pulse
Treatment: Stabilize the Exterior to dispel wind cold pathogen by Harmonizing Wei and Ying
What is the primary caution for the category release the exterior?
Only release the exterior — if the pathogen is located interiorly it isn’t appropriate
What are the main signs and symptoms for wind-heat invasion? What symptoms differ from wind-cold patterns? Which are the same?
Fever and chills - the same, but Fever is more prominent here
Sore Throat (different)
Body Aches
Mild Sweating
Floating and FAST pulse (vs. Tight)
Yellow secretions (color, vs clear)
Red skin rashes
Eye inflamation
Interior Replete (Excess) Heat, also called Qi Level or Yang Ming Stage heat is characterized by signs and symptoms called the “4 Bigs”. Please list the 4 Bigs.
- Big Fever
- Big Thirst
- Big Sweat
- Big Pulse
