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Written by Scott Tamas
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Friday, 30 July 2010 |
Chinese medicine has many ways of looking for disease etiology. By looking at symptoms and syndromes the nature and courses of treatment become apparent.
The Six Exogenous Pathogenic Factors are considered causes of disease, which comes from nature. These are based on what ancient chinese could see or experience in their daily lives: heat, cold, damp, dry, damp heat (or summer heat) and wind.
All of the have both real and metaphorical properties based in their roles in nature. For example wind can be a cause and a way to categorize a disease. A cool breeze blowing on someone sleeping may cause a stiff neck. Pain that changes location is also said to be wind-pain because in nature wind is always moving. A person standing in water will be attacked by dampness. Someone who has edema, without physically being in a damp area, is also said to suffer from dampness. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 August 2010 )
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Written by Scott Tamas
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Thursday, 19 March 2009 |
Observation of the Tongue
As the tongue is closely related to qi and blood of the Zang-fu, it is important to inspect the tongue for changes in the patient's health. The tongue has three main areas that need to be inspected: the lingual surface (top), the bottom of the tongue and the tongue coating.
There are two main ways of dividing the tongue for diagnosis. The first method, mostly used for diagnosing spleen diseases, is by dividing it into thirds. The front third (Shangwan), the middle third (Zhongwan) and the root of the tongue (Xiawan). The more common way to divide the tongue is by the regions that correspond to the Zang-fu organs. The tip of the tongue belongs to the heart and lung, the sides to the liver and gallbladder, the center to the spleen and stomach and the root to the kidney. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 23 March 2010 )
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Written by Scott Tamas
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Sunday, 11 January 2009 |
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One of the central pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the theory of Zang Xiang. The ancient Chinese scholars believed that there are five ruling organs in the body: Heart, Lungs, Liver, Spleen and Kidney. Each organ corresponds to one of the five Chinese elements and by combining the two theories we can track their functions and the progress of diseases. The theory of Zang Xiang also studies the psyological, pathological and emotional conditions of organs and their external manifestations. Their interconnectedness and affects on other aspects of the body such as, vital substances (blood, bodu fluid and qi), tissues, emotions and senses. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 August 2010 )
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Written by Scott Tamas
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Tuesday, 06 January 2009 |
In ancient chinese culture it was believed everything in the world was made up of five elements called, Wu Xing( 五行). Wu refers to the five fundamental substances, while Xing means their movements and changes. In western culture the four elements, earth, wind, fire and water are separate and unchangeable. In chinese theory, each of the five elements promotes the growth of another element, thus each has a child and a parent relationship with another element.
Each element has its own properties which were later applied to the Zang organs in order to explain their interaction. This was a huge leap forward in thinking for classical thinkers, mostly influenced by Daoism. This can still be see in the martial art, Xing Yi.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 August 2010 )
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Written by Scott Tamas
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Thursday, 01 January 2009 |
The theory of Qi is the fundamental source of all knowledge on Qi to Chinese thinkers, philosophers and doctors throughout history and has profoundly affected the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The original character for Qi (氣), is made of two parts. The first is (气) meaning vapor, steam or gas. The second is (米) meaning uncooked rice. By combining the two parts, the meaning of qi is that it can be ethereal, or something existing without substance but possessing observable properties. At the same time qi can be as dense and material as rice. This also indicates qi is a substance (vapor) deriving from a course one (rice), just as steam is produced by cooking rice.
A common misconception is that qi is just used to mean a spiritual energy akin to electricity. Qi is often used to reference something's function as opposed to the object itself. An example is heart-qi. Heart-qi refers to the beating of the heart , or the propelling of blood through the vessels. If the heart has enough qi it will beat at a steady. eaven rhythm. If the heart does not have enough qi, it will have palpitations and irregular contractions. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 August 2010 )
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