Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Five Organs and Six Bowels

Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Five Organs and Six Bowels

Five Organs: The heart (xin), liver (gan), spleen (pi), lungs (fei), and kidneys (shen). Six Bowels: The gallbladder (dan), stomach (wei), small intestine (xiao chang), large intestine (da chang), bladder (pang guang), and san jiao (triple burner). The organs and bowels are both internal organs, but their distinctions are: The five organs store essence and … Read more

Phlegm-Dampness Originating from the Spleen, Liver, Kidney, and Stored in the Lungs

Phlegm-Dampness Originating from the Spleen, Liver, Kidney, and Stored in the Lungs

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is a saying that phlegm originates from the pí (spleen), comes from the gān (liver), is rooted in the shèn (kidney), and is stored in the fèi (lungs). Many people often have some phlegm in their throats; some cough up a lot, while others feel the need to clear … Read more

The Formation of Phlegm-Dampness: Understanding Its Origins

The Formation of Phlegm-Dampness: Understanding Its Origins

The formation of phlegm-dampness follows a process: first, there is dampness, which accumulates into fluid, and then condenses into phlegm. This process occurs step by step. Phlegm can be categorized into visible and invisible forms. Visible phlegm includes the phlegm we can see, such as white, yellow, or green phlegm. White phlegm indicates cold, while … Read more

Application of the Five Elements Theory in Clinical Practice: Examples Worth Collecting

Application of the Five Elements Theory in Clinical Practice: Examples Worth Collecting

Click the blue text to follow us Editor’s Note: The Five Elements Theory is an important component of the theoretical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), encompassing the concepts of “generating” and “overcoming” relationships. The so-called generating relationship refers to mutual promotion, while the overcoming relationship indicates mutual restriction. In clinical practice, this principle can … Read more

Lecture 35: Syndrome Differentiation of Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis

Lecture 35: Syndrome Differentiation of Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis

[Syndrome Differentiation] Chapter Two: Syndrome Differentiation of Disease Nature Section Five: Simultaneous Disease of Qi and Blood Lecture 35: Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Syndrome Question: What is Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis syndrome? Answer: It refers to a syndrome where both Qi stagnation and Blood stasis coexist. The obstruction of Qi flow leads to … Read more

Pulse Patterns of Qi Deficiency and Qi Stagnation

Pulse Patterns of Qi Deficiency and Qi Stagnation

Qi deficiency and Qi stagnation may sound contradictory. Qi deficiency refers to insufficient Qi, while Qi stagnation indicates an excess of Qi, which are exactly opposite; how can they occur simultaneously?It is not difficult to understand. The most fundamental function of Qi is to promote movement. In addition to pushing tangible substances such as blood, … Read more

Qi Stagnation in the Spleen

Qi Stagnation in the Spleen

When the “Qi” in our body does not function properly, we become ill and uncomfortable. Qi stagnation refers to a pathological state where the flow of Qi is obstructed and stagnant. Qi stagnation is primarily caused by emotional distress, or by the obstruction of phlegm, dampness, food accumulation, heat, and blood stasis, which affects the … Read more

Understanding the Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Understanding the Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine

In the world, both tangible and intangible things are associated with the theory of the Five Elements, which we refer to as Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. With the Five Elements, there are naturally relationships of mutual generation and mutual restraint, allowing the world to develop and maintain balance. Do you know what the … Read more

Understanding the Five Organs through the Five Elements

Understanding the Five Organs through the Five Elements

1. The Five Elements represent five colors in the cycle of the four seasons. Historical records indicate that pictographs were the earliest form of writing created by humans. These characters were drawn to depict the physical characteristics of objects. For example, the character for “moon” resembles the crescent shape of the moon. In ancient times, … Read more

The Theory of Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The Theory of Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine

1. The Five Elements1. Origin of the Theory of Five Elements:The Theory of Five Elements is the essence of traditional Chinese culture, referring to the movement of five fundamental substances: Wood (growth, gentleness, smoothness), Fire (warmth, rising, brightness), Earth (transformation, support, acceptance), Metal (cleansing, refinement, contraction), and Water (coolness, nourishment, downward flow).Ancient Chinese people recognized … Read more