The concept of Qiqing (七情, Seven Emotions) is one of the fundamental theories in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is a unique aspect of TCM psychology. The origin of Qiqing is found in the Neijing (《内经》, Inner Canon) with its theories of the “Five Emotions” and “Nine Qi.” During the Song Dynasty, Chen Wuze in … Read more
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), many diseases are diagnosed using the Eight Principles (八纲辩证, bā gāng biàn zhèng), which include Yin-Yang, Interior-Exterior, Deficiency-Excess, and Cold-Heat. Each of these principles has different implications for diagnosis. For instance, Yin-Yang is the core of the Eight Principles, with the other six categories encompassed within it. The judgment of … Read more
The Eight Principles: Exterior, Interior, Cold, Heat, Deficiency, Excess, Yang, Yin. Among these, Exterior, Heat, and Excess belong to Yang, while Deficiency and Cold belong to Yin. Therefore, Yin and Yang are also referred to as the overarching principles of the Eight Principles. Zhang Jingyue’s concept of “Two Principles and Six Transformations” is particularly … Read more
![What Do Choppy and Slippery Pulses Indicate? | Daily Reading of the Huangdi Neijing [Day 220]](https://tcmland.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cb01e594-e82c-4474-86af-d1e7f7c7544f.png)
Original Text from the Huangdi Neijing Su Wen · Discussion on the Essentials of Pulse Chapter Seventeen (27) For all abnormal pulses, if the pulse is choppy, it indicates an excess of Yang Qi; if the pulse is slippery, it indicates an excess of Yin Qi; an excess of Yang Qi results in heat without … Read more
Lesson 20: Pulse Diagnosis Qie Zhen (切诊), one of the “Four Examinations” in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a diagnostic method where the physician uses their hands to palpate the patient’s pulse and other areas to understand the condition and differentiate the disease patterns. Qie Zhen is divided into Mai Zhen (脉诊) and An Zhen … Read more
If we equate the skin perforating branches with “Sun Luo (孙络)”, it will lead the subsequent research on skin perforating branches into a wrong path.The blood vessels supplying the skin are called skin perforating branches. Everyone understands the blood vessels supplying the skin; anyone who has studied middle school biology knows this. However, the concept … Read more
Question 1. What are the concepts of mutual generation and mutual restraint? Answer: Mutual generation (相生, xiāng shēng) is a term from the theory of the Five Elements, referring to the relationships of generation and restraint among metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Ancient Chinese believed that these five substances have a mutually nurturing and … Read more
Five Elements Wood Fire Earth Metal Water Five Stars Jupiter Mars Saturn Venus Mercury Five Directions East South Center West North Five Spirits Qinglong (Azure Dragon) Zhuque (Vermilion Bird) Qilin (Unicorn) Baihu (White Tiger) Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) Five Seasons Spring Summer Long Summer Autumn Winter Six Qi Wind Heat/Fire Humidity Dryness Cold Five Promotions Birth … Read more
Table of Correspondences of the Five Elements, Organs, Colors, and Tastes from the Huangdi Neijing Five Colors Green Red Yellow White Black Signs of Death in Five Colors Color appears green like grass, indicating death Color appears red like blood, indicating death Color appears yellow like bitter orange, indicating death Color appears white like withered … Read more
Why is the average lifespan of modern people only seventy to eighty years, with most dying from diseases? Why has the expected lifespan of people today decreased by nearly one-third compared to ancient times? Who has stolen these precious forty to fifty years of life from us? In my long medical career, I have encountered … Read more