Yin/Yang, 5 Element Theory Flashcards
4 Basic Characteristics of Chinese Medicine
- Holism
- Perpetualism
- Differentiation of Patterns and Determination of Treatment
- Theory, Methods, Formula, Herbs
HOLISM 1
- The Human Being as an Organic Whole
A. All parts of a human are related and interconnected
- all anatomy and physiology
- mind and body
B. Five Zang Organs form the center of the whole - through the jing-luo (channels and collaterals) they are connected to all the other parts of the body
HOLISM 2
- Humans and the natural world/environment are interconnected and related
- comprised of same material
- humans live within and are dependent upon the natural world [herbs given in summer can differ from herbs given in winter]
- directly and indirectly affects the physiology of humans
“Humans are connected to Heaven and Earth, and the sun and moon affect them”
PERPETUALISM
All things in the Universe, including human life, health and disease, are in a constant state of movement, transformation, and development. [as a clinician, seeing tendencies]
DIFFERENTIATION OF PATTERN and DETERMINATION OF TREATMENT: Bian Zheng Lun Zhi (meaning)
bian: differentiate
zheng: pattern
lun: determine
zhi: treatment
“Zheng”
(DIFFERENTIATION OF PATTERN and DETERMINATION OF TREATMENT)
Zheng: pattern [“syndrome” e.g. spleen deficiency]
- a manifestation of human sickness indicating the nature, location, and/or cause of sickness
- primary type of diagnosis in CM
- main thing which guides treatment in CM
- unique to CM
- holistic
- highly individualized
Two-Step Process
(DIFFERENTIATION OF PATTERN and DETERMINATION OF TREATMENT)
1st: Differentiate the pattern (bin zheng)
- collect info about the patient
- use CM theory to analyze this info and differentiate the pattern (cause, nature, and location of the disease)
2nd: Determine treatment (lun zhi)
- based on pattern, determine treatment methods
Diagram of:
DIFFERENTIATION OF PATTERN and DETERMINATION OF TREATMENT
- Bian Zheng
- Lun Zhi
- Apply Treatment
- Observe results and assess accuracy of diagnosis and treatment.
Use this info to guide further pattern differentiation.
Back to 1.
Disease vs. Pattern
(DIFFERENTIATION OF PATTERN and DETERMINATION OF TREATMENT)
Disease vs. Pattern (bing vs. zheng)
- Disease: - a specific kind of morbid condition - Ex: HTN, CAD, bronchial asthma, melanoma, etc.
- CM also labels and bases treatment on diseases, but emphasis is generally placed on differentiation and treatment of “pattern”
“Same disease different treatment, different disease same treatment” – [same disease different pattern, different disease same pattern]
THEORY, METHOD, FORMULA, HERBS
Fundamental Methodology of Chinese Medicine
A- Theory (li) - intake, analysis, diagnosis [differentiate the pattern]
B- Method (treatment methods) - determine treatment methods based on (li) theory
C- Formula - choose appropriate formula according to the methods [e.g. herb formula, no cold drinks, acu points]
D- Herbs - select herbs and dosages to fit patient’s condition (specifics of whatever treatment is to be used) [modification of the formula; formula specifics]
YIN YANG
Philosophical construct used to:
- describe phenomenon
- categorize phenomenon
- analyze phenomenon
- understand phenomenon
Properties not “entities”
All phenomenon have Yin Yang characteristics
Yin Yang as Taiji
Two opposite yet complimentary and interdependent “properties” – [everything in the Universe]
4 Aspects of Yin-Yang Relationship
- Opposition of Yin and Yang
- Interdependence of Yin and Yang
- Mutual Consumption of Yin and Yang
- Inter-transformation of Yin and Yang
OPPOSITION of Yin and Yang
*Everything in nature has two opposite aspects
- yin and yang
*Struggle with, control, and restrict each other [if there’s no yin to restrain yang, yang goes out of control, vice versa]
*Yin and Yang oppose and control each other to MAINTAIN BALANCE - in nature - in the human body
INTERDEPENDENCE of Yin and Yang
Neither can exist in isolation
- dependent on each other e.g. up, down; hot, cold; night, day; etc
- human body: front, back; substance [yin], function [yang]
MUTUAL CONSUMPTION of Yin and Yang
State of Constant, mutual consumption, maintaining a state of dynamic balance by continuous adjustment of their relative levels
- functional activities (yang) consume substance (yin)
- generating substance (yin) consumes energy (yang) [e.g. to make the blood consumes energy]
[“they eat each other up” e.g. candle yin is being consumed by yang]
INTER-TRANSFORMATION of Yin and Yang
Yin and Yang change into each other
- yang transforms to yin
- yin transforms to yang
- night to day; summer to winter; etc
*Occurs when conditions are right: “extreme yin will necessarily produce yang, and extreme yang will necessarily produce yin.. Severe cold will give birth to heat, and severe heat will give birth to cold”
Clinical examples: yin excess transforms to yang; yang excess transforms to yin