The Eight Principles refer to the eight categories of syndromes: Yin, Yang, Exterior, Interior, Cold, Heat, Deficiency, and Excess. The differentiation based on these Eight Principles is one of the most fundamental methods of diagnosis and treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In the Qing Dynasty, Cheng Zhongling mentioned in “Medical Insights”: “The essence of … Read more
Aiyu Xiangtang Author: Liu Duzhou During the Ming and Qing dynasties, some outstanding physicians, such as Zhang Jingyue, Cheng Zhongling, and Jiang Bihua, extracted the two principles of Yin and Yang from the Six Meridians diagnosis to govern the differentiation of exterior-interior, cold-heat, and deficiency-excess, which was highly valued and welcomed by physicians at that … Read more
This article is sourced from the “Medical Education Network”. Understanding the Eight Principles of Diagnosis is equivalent to stepping into the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Moreover, those who understand the Eight Principles are more adept at moxibustion. The Eight Principles of Diagnosis are based on the “Huangdi Neijing” (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) and … Read more
Sometimes, readers come to ask me about pulse diagnosis. I have noticed that a common question is how to distinguish between Xuan Mai (string-like pulse), Jin Mai (tight pulse), and Xi Mai (fine pulse). It seems this is a frequent concern for beginners in pulse diagnosis. Today, I will share my thoughts on this. First, … Read more
The slippery pulse (hua mai) is a pulse type that is very easy to grasp, resembling a string of beads distributed between the cun, guan, and chi positions. Sometimes, it appears as a continuous string of beads traversing these positions. The renowned Li Shizhen described it in detail in his work Bin Hu Mai Xue, … Read more
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pulse diagnosis is a critical method for assessing the health of an individual. The pulse can be categorized into various types, including 浮脉 (fú mài) (floating pulse) and 沉脉 (chén mài) (sinking pulse). Each type provides insights into the body’s condition and underlying imbalances. The 浮脉 (fú mài) is typically … Read more
Outline of the Ten Methods of Observation In general, observation diagnosis begins with the division of body parts, followed by the observation of complexion. To understand the subtlety of the five colors, one must know the outline of the ten methods. The ten methods are: floating, sinking, clear, turbid, subtle, intense, scattered, gathered, moist, and … Read more
The differentiation of deficiency and excess can identify the strength of the body’s vital energy and the severity of pathogenic factors. Deficiency refers to the weakness of vital energy, which is the fundamental substance for the physiological activities and maintenance of the body’s organs, such as insufficient qi (气), xue (血), and jinye (津液); excess … Read more
Four, Yin and Yang Yin and Yang are the overarching principles of the Eight Principles of Diagnosis. In diagnosis, all diseases can be divided into two main aspects, Yin and Yang, based on the pathological nature of the clinical symptoms. Therefore, the “Su Wen: On the Correspondence of Yin and Yang” states: “A … Read more
Summary of the Eight Principles: What do Yin, Yang, Exterior, Interior, Cold, Heat, Deficiency, and Excess mean? The Eight Principles—Yin, Yang, Exterior, Interior, Cold, Heat, Deficiency, and Excess are the main components of TCM diagnosis. Through clinical practice, utilizing the four diagnostic methods, we analyze and summarize the disease conditions according to the progression of … Read more