Full & Empty Conditions

Question 1

External pathogenic factor (Definition):

Answer 1

Climatic factors from ENVIRONMENT that invade the body’s exterior.

…Can become internal

Question 2

External pathogenic factors (6)

Answer 2

1. Wind
2. Cold
3. Damp
4. Summer-heat
5. Dryness
6. Fire

Question 3

Internal pathogenic factor (definition):

Answer 3

INTERNALLY generated (emotional disharmonies/imbalances in organ networks) OR the transformation of an external pathogenic factor

Question 4

_____ can bypass the exterior stage and become an internal pathogenic factor immediately.

Answer 4

COLD

◦ Invasion of Cold in the Stomach
◦ Invasion of Cold in the Intestines
◦ Invasion of Cold in the Uterus

Question 5

FULL conditions defined by:

Answer 5

The presence of a pathogenic factor** (with enough upright qi to fight it)

AKA “replete”, excess

Question 6

Mixed Full/Empty conditions:

Answer 6

The presence of a pathogenic factor AND deficient upright qi*

Question 7

Full conditions tend to manifest _____.

Answer 7

ACUTELY

( May remain acute, or become chronic in nature )

Question 8

Upright (Zheng) Qi:

Answer 8

Body’s *resistance to pathogenic factors. ~Immune system
Includes all types of qi + essence, blood

Question 9

EMPTY conditions:

Answer 9

Deficiency of upright qi* (NO pathogenic factor)

◦ Tend to manifest more mildly
◦ Pain more “achy”
◦ Typically chronic
◦ Net loss/drawdown, doesn’t happen overnight

Question 10

Primary pathologies of QI (4):

Answer 10

1. Qi Deficiency (Vacuity)
2. Qi Stagnation
3. Qi Sinking (Fall)
4. Qi Rebellion (Counterflow)

*Internal pathogenic factors

Question 11

“Vacuity is treated by ______”

Answer 11

SUPPLEMENTATION

Question 12

QI STAGNATION (definition & causes):

Answer 12

Blockage or disturbance in the free flow of Qi in the body.

Due to:
◦ Emotional strain (most common**)
◦ Irregular eating habits
◦ Excessive work OR lack of exercise

Question 13

QI STAGNATION (chief symptoms):

Answer 13

Distention (internal pressure). “Pain and distention with sensations of oppression”. Localized + non-specific, often moves from place to place

PLUS:
◦ Mental depression
◦ Frequent sighing
◦ Mood swings
◦ Pulse: WIRY*
◦ Tongue: normal / slightly red on sides

LIVER QI stagnation very common.

Question 14

Qi SINKING (Fall):

Answer 14

Qi deficiency* WITH PROLAPSE OF THE VISCERA - uterus, rectum, stomach…

Question 15

QI COUNTERFLOW (Rebellious Qi):

Answer 15

Qi Dynamic reverses (for a specific Zang-Fu organ). Flowing in the *wrong direction!

Stomach most common.

Question 16

Primary pathologies of BLOOD (3):

Answer 16

◦ Blood Deficiency (Vacuity)
◦ Blood Stasis (Stagnation)
◦ Blood Heat

*Internal pathogenic factors

Question 17

BLOOD DEFICIENCY (definition & causes):

Answer 17

Not enough blood! / Blood lacking quality

A deficiency of qi* may lead to a reduced capacity for the body to produce blood

◦ Poor production of blood (via spleen “movement & transformation failure”)
◦ Loss of blood / bleeding

Question 18

BLOOD DEFICIENCY (chief symptoms):

Answer 18

◦ Sallow/PALE complexion & nails
◦ Dizziness
◦ Floaters
◦ Palpitations
◦ Insomnia
◦ Numbness of extremities
◦ DRY skin, lusterless hair
◦ Tongue: PALE
◦ Pulse: THIN

Question 19

BLOOD STASIS (definition & causes):

Answer 19

Local stagnation of blood**; usually due to other pathogenic factors including: qi stag., cold, heat, injury, phlegm etc.

Also itself an important pathogenic factor! can become the cause of further disharmonies

Question 20

BLOOD STASIS (chief symptoms):

Answer 20

◦ PAIN - fixed location, stabbing
◦ Masses & swellings
◦ Bleeding - associated w/ dark purple color*
◦ “Soot black” complexion
◦ Pulse: wiry, choppy, firm

Question 21

BLOOD HEAT (definition & causes):

Answer 21

TOO MUCH HEAT in the blood. Caused by “heat toxin” entering the blood due to:
◦ Ext. contracted febrile diseases/misc. diseases
◦ Blood stasis
◦ Etc.

Question 22

BLOOD HEAT (chief symptoms):

Answer 22

◦ “Frenetic movement” of the blood /hemorrhage
◦ Maculopapular eruptions
◦ Irritability, restlessness, delirium
◦ Fever, thirst
◦ Insomnia
◦ Pulse: Rapid, wiry
◦ Tongue: CRIMSON

Question 23

INTERNAL COLD (definition & causes):

Answer 23

Cold affecting the internal organs.

Two types:
1. FULL COLD - transformation of external cold, typically more acute/severe
2. EMPTY COLD - Yang deficiency (“furnace going out”)

Question 24

INTERNAL COLD (chief symptoms):

Answer 24

◦ “Crampy” pain alleviated by warmth
◦ Feeling of cold / cold limbs
◦ No thirst
◦ Thin clear discharges
◦ Bright white complexion

Question 25

INTERNAL HEAT (definition & causes):

Answer 25

Heat affecting the internal organs. State of excess Yang* due to:

◦ Emotional stagnation/stress
◦ Diet
◦ Transformation of external heat

(Can coexist w/ cold and combine with dampness etc.)

Question 26

INTERNAL HEAT (chief symptoms):

Answer 26

◦ Sensation of heat in the body
◦ Red face
◦ Thirst
◦ Mental restlessness*
◦ Tongue: RED
◦ Pulse: surging, excess, rapid

Question 27

FIRE (definition & symptoms):

Answer 27

A MORE EXTREME VERSION OF HEAT w/ more intense & emotional symptoms - moves up* and can damage yin fluids

Due to:
◦ Excess hot foods/alcohol
◦ Emotional stress
◦ Smoking

Question 28

INTERNAL WIND (definition & symptoms):

Answer 28

Aka “liver wind”.
Characterized by involuntary movements* and always related to a LIVER disharmony
◦ Tremors, convulsion
◦ Tics
◦ Dizziness
◦ Vertigo
◦ Loss of consciousness

Question 29

INTERNAL DAMPNESS (definition & causes):

Answer 29

An excess of moisture/fluid, which disrupts normal organ function. “Heaviness”, “Dirtiness”, “Stickiness”, many organs may be affected.

Due to:
◦ SPLEEN QI deficiency**
◦ Invasion/transformation of EXTERNAL dampness

Question 30

INTERNAL DAMPNESS (chief symptoms):

Answer 30

◦ Fullness in abdomen
◦ Feeling of heaviness
◦ “fuzziness”/brain fog
◦ Lethargy
◦ Turbid urine/discharge
◦ Muscle aches
◦ Sinus problems
◦ Tongue: STICKY coating
◦ Pulse: “slippery” or “soggy”

**Can turn into phlegm

Question 31

INTERNAL PHLEGM (definition & causes):

Answer 31

The viscous, turbid, pathological accumulation of fluids** Thicker form of dampness. Obstructive.

Visible/substantial AND Invisible/insubstantial

Primary cause = SPLEEN QI DEFICIENCY

May also become a cause* of more serious diseases (along w/ blood stasis)

Question 32

INTERNAL PHLEGM (chief symptoms):

Answer 32

[ Similar to dampness… ]
◦ Oppression of the chest
◦ Expectoration of phlegm
◦ Nausea
◦ A feeling of heaviness
◦ Feeling of “fuzziness” of the head
◦ Dizziness
◦ Tongue: swollen body, sticky coating
◦ Pulse: “Slippery”

And more: Phlegm is WIERD! and difficult to remove: tends to become chronic

Phlegm HEAT & Phlegm COLD patterns