Yin/Yang
Yin and Yang are the principles used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to explain human physiological functions and pathological changes. Yin and Yang express a system of relationships, patterns and functions with regard to a dynamic equilibrium, however Yin and Yang only exist in relation to one another. Generally speaking, the relativity of Yin-Yang is manifested in one of two ways.
First, Yin and Yang can be mutually transformed under certain circumstances. For example, in the body, material refers to Yin, while functionality refers to Yang. The other manifestation of Yin-Yang relativity is Yin and Yang's unlimited divisibility. Two aspects of the Yin and Yang of something can be divided as the scale of classification is changed. Any aspect of Yin or Yang can also be divided into Yin and Yang. For example, the upper half of the body is considered more Yang while the bottom half of the body more Yin, yet the head is Yang compared to the chest and the feet are Yin compared to the legs. Yin is considered the feminine, while Yang the more masculine side of nature. Yin signifies female attributes, such as, darkness, passivity, cold, and moistness. Yang signifies male attributes such as light, activity, warmth, and dryness. Yin and Yang are opposite forces that, when balanced, work together. Nothing in this world is completely Yin or Yang. Everything has an internal, negative, quiet, or cold (Yin) aspect while also possessing an external, positive, active, or hot (Yang) aspect. Simultaneously, these two phases of one's being continually interchange and complement one another. When the Yin and Yang are in balance there is harmony in the universe and a healthy state of body, mind, and spirit. Any upset in the balance will result in natural calamities (such as tornadoes, droughts, and hurricanes), and disease in human beings.
In TCM the body is perceived as a balance of Yin and Yang. For instance, One's Yang or positive energy increases when one's Yin or negative energy decreases. TCM practitioners attempt to balance these two forces using modalities such as Acupuncture, Acupressure, and herbal medicine. For instance, when one is depressed, the forces of Yin are inevitably greater than that of Yang. Hence, the doctor would concentrate his or her efforts on enhancing the patient's Yang. If the reverse situation were true (Yang forces overshadow those of Yin), then the TCM practitioner would advocate nourishment of Yin with herbs and food, Acupuncture, Acupressure, and other natural means.
Five Elements (Wu Xing)
The theory of the five elements, just as the theory of yin and yang, is originated in antiquity in China. In Chinese, “Wu” refer to five categories of things in the natural world, namely wood, fire, earth, metal and water; “Xing” means movement and transformation, so the term “Wu Xing” or “Five Elements” actually refers to the movement and transformation of the five elements as well as their interrelationships. This theory was used to explain and analyze things and their changes in the natural world. The theory of the five elements, together with the theory of yin and yang informed basic philosophies which were later applied to the theoretical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
The theory of five elements holds that all things in the natural world are derived from wood, fire, earth, metal and water, so they all bear the basic properties of these five elements and maintain a harmonious balance through the activities of constant inter-promotion and inter-restraint among the five elements.
Since wood, fire, earth, metal and water are five categories of the main objects in the natural world, and they possess specific properties and depend on each other to exist, people in ancient China divided and explained the properties of things according to the characteristics of the five elements.
In this way TCM classifies, with the methods of categorization, inference and deduction, various things in the natural world as well as the viscera, organs and tissues in the human body respectively, into the categories of wood, fire, earth, metal and water according to their properties, thus formulating a structural system of the five elements with close interrelationship between the internal and external environments of the body. This structural system of the five elements mainly includes the five flavors, the five colors, the five transformations, the five kinds of qi, the five directions and the five seasons as well as the five zang organs, the five fu organs, the five sensory organs and five constituents (tendon, vessel, muscle, skin and bone), the five emotions, the five kinds of liquids, and the five states of pulse in the human body as illustrated in the following table:
Natural | Wu Xing | Human body | ||||||||
Note | Flavor | Color | Qi | Season | Zang | Fu | Sensory organ | Constituent | Emotion | |
Jue | Sour | Green | Wind | Spring | Wood | Liver | Gallbladder | Eyes | Tendon | Anger |
Zhi | Bitter | Red | Heat | Summer | Fire | Heart | Small intestine | Tongue | Vessel | Joy |
Gong | Sweet | Yellow | Dampness | Late summer | Earth | Spleen | Stomach | Mouth | Muscle | Contemplation (Worry) |
Shang | Pungent | White | Dryness | Autumn | Metal | Lung | Large intestine | Nose | Skin & hair | Grief |
Yu | Salty | Black | Cold | Winter | Water | Kidney | Urinary Bladder | Ears | Bone | Fear |
For example, spring, characterized by warm weather and resuscitation of all things, is similar to the properties of wood. So spring pertains to wood. The physiological characteristic of the liver is to function freely, quite similar to the properties of wood, so the liver pertains to wood as well.
Qi
Qi is an esoteric term that resists literal translation. In essence, it is defined as the circulating life energy that is thought to be inherent in all things. It is the energetic force that activates, enlivens and animates the body. Qi is received from the heavens, inherited from our parents and absorbed from the food and water we ingest. Qi is also absorbed through specific points in the skin used in the practice of Acupuncture. Acupuncture points exist along meridians that serve as circulatory pathways within the body connecting Qi energy to specific organ systems and the external surface.TCM provides a means to modify the flow of Qi through the insertion of Acupuncture needles at particular points of the body, or through administering herbs pertaining to one or more of the meridians or organs. The chief functions of Qi are to nourish, protect, and warm the organism. Hence, the function of various organs is expressed in terms of Qi. For instance, if one's heart Qi is inadequate, then the person will probably suffer from heart problems if the condition exists over a long period of time.
There are devices that can measure the electro-conductivity of Qi in the channels, or at specific Acupuncture points, that can help determine when energy is concentrated in one part of the body or if it is deficient in another. Furthermore, Qi works in the same manner as Yin and Yang in that if it is excessive or scarce in a part of the body, then that particular region is prone to illness. On the other hand, Qi, unlike Yin and Yang, can become blocked, and the stagnation of energy will also cause discomfort.
Jing
Jing is the essence of the living body as it oversees the transformation of a being from a fertilized egg, to an embryo, fetus, infant, child, adolescent, and finally into an adult. In TCM theory, Jing consists of matter that exists within the nervous system, bone marrow, and reproductive substances such as hormones. Thus, it also governs our ability to reproduce. Since Jing is not as easily generated as other bodily fluids, it must be preserved. In fact, according to TCM, Jing conservation is intricately related to longevity and the anti-aging process. Jing disorders are often severe problems involving growth and development, inherited disorders, and infertility.
The Meridian System
In Chinese medicine, it is believed that Qi or energy travels through the body by way of channels on the body surface. These channels, called "meridians," run through the body and nourish the tissues. They form a network and link the tissues and organs into an organic whole. The Meridian System is an interconnection of pathways for Qi and blood flow between the circulatory, nervous, and lymphatic systems. Its apparent manifestations are similar to that of the nervous system. However, the meridian system is far more complex, as it transports both basic circulatory substances such as blood, and less tangible substances such as Qi energy. Acupuncture points are placed along the Meridians that give access to energy streams. The meridians act to circulate Qi and blood throughout the body, nourish the organs, maintain the body's harmony, and protect against and prevent disease. For some especially sensitive people, their meridian systems can even be detected with x-rays.
Energy constantly flows through these pathways. When pathways become obstructed, deficient, excessive, or just unbalanced, the Qi that runs through the meridians is like a dam that backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts the flow in other parts. This causes illness, as Yin and Yang are thrown out of balance. Chinese medicine restores the balance of Yin and Yang in the body by manipulating the Qi in the body along the Meridian system.
TCM Etiology
Deficiency and excess, stagnation and imbalance constitute the principal terms used in Chinese medicine to explain etiology and pathogenesis. Deficiency refers to the diseased condition of the patient due to decreased Qi (energy) in the body. For example, vertigo caused by fatigue or anemia, or a shallow and pale complexion and excessive thirst due to dehydration are examples of deficiency.
Excess refers to the manifestation of symptoms produced when the body is attacked by the pathogenic factors, and the struggle between the pathogen and body's own defenses. Some examples of excess are high fever, pneumonia due to viral infection, diarrhea caused by improper and unclean food, and constipation resulting from indigestible food.
Yin, Yang, deficiency and excess are also applied to the functioning of the various organs. For example if one's heart Yang is lacking or heart Yin is immoderate, over the long term, one is more likely to suffer from palpitations or other heart conditions.
Stagnation is the state of blockage caused by the inability of Qi, blood, or other bodily fluids to circulate in the body. Some examples of blockage are distention caused by Qi stagnation, pain due to blood stasis, and edema caused by stagnant bodily fluids. Some symptoms due to stagnation in the body would include cramps when one's blood flow is irregular, bloating when one's Qi flow is hindered, and inflammation when one's bodily fluids are immobile.
Finally, imbalance refers to the condition of disequilibria between Yin and Yang within the body. The imbalance of Yin and Yang within one's organ is likely to affect the condition of the whole organism, as the body is closely joined by the meridian system.
TCM Diagnosis
In order to develop an accurate picture of a patient's whole being, the TCM practitioner will use the traditional methods of diagnosing their patients based on the four examinations:
Looking
Through inspection, the TCM practitioner will determine the patient's overall constitutional state, physical appearance and complexion, and the state of the patient's spirit.
The practitioner will examine the patient's tongue to gather information about the state of the internal organs. The tongue is considered the mirror of the body. Harmony and disharmony are reflected in the tongue's color, moisture, size, coating and the location of abnormalities. The practitioner will look at the color of the tongue, its size and shape, the color and thickness of its coating or fur, location(s) of abnormalities, and moistness or dryness of the tongue body and fur. These signs reveal not only overall states of health, but those correlated to specific functions and disharmonies, especially in the digestive system. A normal tongue is pinkish red; neither too dry nor too wet; fits perfectly within the mouth; moves freely; and, has a thin white coating.
Listening/Smelling
Through auscultation and olfaction, the practitioner will listen to the quality of the patient's voice, listen for the five tones, determine the five odors, etc. The sound of the patient's voice, breathing, coughing (if present), and the sounds that express pain and discomfort reflect the state of Qi. Verbal expression and response to questions reflect the state of the patient's spirit.
Questioning
Through inquiry, the practitioner will take a complete health history, asking numerous questions about current complaint(s), relevant medical history, general symptoms, and the presence of internal or external pernicious influences.
Palpating
The TCM practitioner's physical examination includes analysis of the pulse and palpation of the abdomen and/or meridians. Pulse diagnosis is based on the principles of Qi and blood flow circulating in the body. The practitioner takes the pulse on the wrist along the radial artery. Pulses are evaluated at superficial, middle and deep levels. The strength, rate, rhythm, and size of the pulse express the conditions of the internal organs. The left side pulse represents the function of heart, liver, and kidney (Yin) while the right side represent the function of lung, spleen, and kidney (Yang).