This class breaks down The weather is getting cooler, and with less irritability, one can quietly read and practice calligraphy. Recently, I seem to have gained some insights into ‘虚’ (Xu) and ‘实’ (Shi). This week, let’s discuss ‘虚’ and ‘实’. ‘虚’ is a large mound. The Kunlun mound is referred to as Kunlun Xu. … Read more
XuShiHanRe What are they and what are their characteristics? The four seasons of Yin and Yang are the foundation of all things. Thus, the sage nurtures Yang in spring and summer, and nurtures Yin in autumn and winter, to follow its roots, therefore, they rise and fall with the growth of all things. To go … Read more
Xū (虚) refers to emptiness, derived from the character 虍 (hǔ, tiger skin) and 丘 (qiū, mound). The original meaning of Xū is a desolate area governed by a tiger (土, earth). The character 丘 represents two people fleeing back to back, symbolizing the discord of human hearts (土, heart). The character 虍 is composed … Read more
Xu (虚) and Shi (实) refer to the nature of pathological changes and are extremely important in differential diagnosis. Thus, Xu indicates supplementation, while Shi indicates purging, which are essential methods for diagnosis and treatment; supplementation leads to Shi, and purging leads to Xu, which are the inevitable results of accurate diagnosis and treatment. However, … Read more
1. Standards for Differentiating Xu and Shi The primary criterion for distinguishing between Xu (deficiency) and Shi (excess) is the pulse. A strong pulse indicates Shi, and one that is weak indicates Xu. The differentiation between Shi and Xu based on the strength of the pulse is very clear and accurate. In the context of … Read more
Qie zhen (切诊), or pulse diagnosis, is one of the most common and fascinating diagnostic methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). What is being felt during this process? It is the pulse. But how can palpating the pulse reveal the levels of qi (气) and xue (血) in the body, as well as the trajectory … Read more
Everyone is quite familiar with blood stasis. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it refers to the obstruction of qi and blood in the meridians, causing stagnation in a specific area. This is known as blood stasis. From the perspective of Western medicine, it is characterized by thick blood, narrowed blood vessels, and … Read more