Course - Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine - Center For True Healing

09/12/2017 Course : Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine | Center For True Healing
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AUG 05 2013 THE ENERGETIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLD AND THE FLU
LEAVE A COMMENT
COURSE : FUNDAMENTALS OF
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
Day 13
MEDICINE
by Gene Chuah
This is a late entry for the class I attended a week ago (July 29). The final exam was on July
31st. I think I did okay!
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a cold and the flu? Well, on a
general level, most people know that when they have the chills and a runny nose, its a cold;
on the other hand, if theres a lot of fever and congestion, its the flu. This is correct! From the
Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, a cold is considered invasion by Wind-Cold, and
the flu is invasion by Wind-Heat. The key thing is that usually a cold progresses into the
flu, as the body bolsters its defenses to fight the pathogen, generating Heat as its main
weapon.
Below: Differences in Symptoms Between a Cold and the Flu
Symptom Wind-Cold Wind-Heat
Aversion to wind & cold wind & heat
Fever slight high
Sweating none/slight lots
Thirst none big
Nose runny congested
Nasal discharge thin, watery thick, yellow
Throat itchy bad sore throat
Cough slight strong
Tongue no change red (heat, fever)
Pulse slow (cold) rapid (heat)
Headaches usually occipital (Tai- can be throbbing, temporal,
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Yang), and not severe frontal, more severe
upper shoulder muscle body aches especially in upper

Aching/Stiffness
aches and stiff neck shoulders and neck
Sneezing yes -
Chills yes -
Below: Typical Progression of Cold into Flu
Normally, a cold turns into the flu, but one can also succumb to Wind-Heat directly, as in the
case of sunstroke and some infectious diseases. Most of the time Heat is generated by the
Wei (Defensive) Qi in order to kill the pathogen.
Fevers are a good thing, and in fact by using fever-lowering medications too much or too
soon, we are hampering the bodys normal immune response. Its a known fact that heat
prevents virus telomeres from binding, in effect stopping their spread. When there is too
much, however, it becomes a problem and is known as Pathogenic Heat. This Heat could be
generated either internally or from external sources. Pathogenic Heat needs to be removed
from the body, and this is what TCM doctors and acupuncturists are good for!
Patient Case Studies
In the next section we covered case studies of patients. This is the exciting part and where
everything in this course comes together in real-world-usage. Normally in patients the
symptoms of their illness will fit a pattern that tells us what the disharmony is, and we can
form a conclusion along the 8 Principles (4 Dimensions, really) :
Yin vs Yang | Cold vs Heat | Interior vs Exterior | Deficiency vs Excess.
Due to limited time, Ill only cover one case study.
Were going to refer to The 4 Energetic Imbalance Conditions so heres a handy diagram:
Also a good refresher of the 8 Principles from Day 12 is also in order.
Case Study: 50-year-old woman, menopausal.
Symptom Explanation Principle
Insomnia falls This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

asleep pretty easily
Deficiency. We can liken the Excess? Deficiency.
but wakes several
Yin to a blanket of sleep that
times in the AM
is too short, and the person Yin vs. Yang? Yang
wakes up too early because (weak Yin means
the Yin isnt enough to cover stronger Yang,
them for the full night. Yin is relatively).
the nutritive aspect necessary
for rejuvenating sleep (see Day
4).
Slight irritability. This is known flag for Liver Qi Cold vs Heat? Heat.
Stagnation. Heat is one of the
things that can trigger it.
Heart palpations When startled here is key, it Deficiency vs

when startled.
points to a Deficiency (a type Excess? Deficiency.
of straining due to tiredness);
heart palpitations of this type
are a known flag for Blood
Deficiency. Blood is needed to
ground the Shen (clear, sound
mind/consciousness). Organs
such as Heart and Kidneys are
also implicated in this type of
Deficiency.
Malar (partial) flush. Anytime its partial vs full, we Deficiency vs

know its Deficiency vs Excess? Deficiency.
Excess. A flushed face means
theres Heat. Of the 4 Yin vs. Yang? Yang.
Imbalance Conditions (see
chart above), only 2 are of the
Heat type: Yang Excess or Yin
Deficiency. Since partial =
Deficiency, We know this is a
Yin Deficiency (malar flush is
a known flag for this).
Feeling of heat in This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

the evening.
Deficiency. On the other Excess? Deficiency.
hand, feeling hot throughout
the day is a sign for Yang Yin vs. Yang? Yang.
Excess. After sunset, it is a
time of Yin and if one is
lacking in Yin, this is when they
feel Heat most.
Night sweats. This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

hand, excessive sweating
throughout the day is a sign for Yin vs. Yang? Yang.
Yang Excess.
Dry mouth and This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

throat.
Deficiency and Body Fluids Excess? Deficiency.
Deficiency (related, since Body
Fluids are considered Yin). Yin vs. Yang? Yang.
Thirst for small sips This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs
to moisten throat.
hand, big thirst is a sign for
Yang Excess. Yin vs. Yang? Yang.
Sore and weak Known flag for Kidney Yin Deficiency vs

lower back, relieved
Deficiency. Relieved by cold Excess? Deficiency.
by cold.
points to a Heat condition.
Interior vs. Exterior?
Interior (Kidneys).
Cold vs Heat? Heat.
Yin vs Yang? Yang.
Dry stools, Dry and tendency to Cold vs Heat? Heat.

tendency to
constipate point to Heat.
constipate, feels
Feels weak points to a Deficiency vs
weak after
evacuation. Deficiency (takes precious Excess? Deficiency.
energy to defecate). This is
either Yin Deficiency or Blood
Deficiency.
Dark scanty urine. This is a known flag for Heat. Cold vs Heat? Heat.
Heat burns up liquid and
makes it more concentrated
(thicker, darker).
Tongue: red, peeled This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

coat.
Deficiency. Excess? Deficiency.
Yin vs. Yang? Yang.
Pulse: weak, rapid. Weakness points to Deficiency vs

Deficiency. Rapid pulse is a Excess? Deficiency.
known flag for Heat, whereas
slow pulse is a known flag for Cold vs Heat? Heat.
Cold (think of the reptiles).
CONCLUSION
We already know that menopause = Yin Deficiency (from Day 6), and each of the
symptoms here confirms this, on their own anyways.
In making a TCM diagnosis, we piece together parts of the puzzle. In this case for instance,
we saw Heat as symptom on its own. It helped us narrow down from the 4 Energetic
Imbalance Conditions to 2 (the Heat-related ones, top 2 in the diagram). Since in this case
were seeing Deficiency and not Excess, we relate the Heat to Yin Deficiency and not Yang
Excess. In fact the other symptoms also pointed in that direction, helping us connect the dots.
Now looking at the 8 Principles (4 Dimensions), we conclude this patient as having the
following:
Yin vs Yang? Yang
Cold vs Heat? Heat
Interior vs Exterior? Interior (Kidneys)
Deficiency vs Excess? Deficiency
with the overall diagnosis of Kidney Yin Deficiency

which opens up the path for our treatment approach. To treat Deficiency, we tonify, and
its Kidney Yin in this case. Some ideas from the Interwebs here.
One renowned option : Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, also known as Liuwei Dihuang teapills
(simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: liwi
dhung wn) or Six Flavor Rehmanni.
JUL 27 2013 THE CHINESE HEALTH TROUBLESHOOTING SYSTEM : ITS

2 COMMENTS ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR HUA-TU-SUN
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE
Day 12
by Gene Chuah
Q: How do you eat an elephant?

A: One bite at a time.
We are all familiar with the phrase divide and conquer. Sculptors know this. They start with
a big piece, hack away big chunks, make sure all the proportions are correct, before refining
the features. Even modern Web browsers do this they preload a fuzzy image before
overlaying increasingly finer layers. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we go from general to
specific in making a diagnosis. There are several key ley lines in this troubleshooting
system, and they are the 8 Principles Of Pattern Identification. Pain, in relation to these 8
Principles, is also an indicator that can give us more clues to solve the puzzle (chart below).
Below: The 8 Principles Of Pattern Identification
(1) Yin (2) Yang

vs.
(see physical traits list below) (see physical traits list below)
(3) Cold (4) Heat

vs.
to treat: heat up to treat: cool down
(5) Interior (organs) (6) Exterior (limbs, skin)

vs.
to treat: harmonize organ(s) to treat: push out, expel
(7) Deficiency (8) Excess

vs.
to treat: increase, tonify to treat: reduce, sedate, detox
Below: Yin-Yang Physical Traits For Diagnosis
Yin Yang
chronic disease acute disease

(longer-term, usually at interior) (shorter-term, usually at exterior)
slow onset of symptoms sudden onset of symptoms
pale complexion flushed complexion
cold limbs & body hot limbs & body
likes heat, hates cold likes cold, hates heat
prefers hot drinks prefers cold drinks
likes to curl up throws clothes off
tiredness restlessness
sleepiness insomnia
introverted extroverted
quiet and still loud and hyperactive
obsessive, nervous, agitated, timid aggressive, angry, confrontational

(inward energy) (outward energy)
calculating and meticulous takes risks
frail strong/sturdy
shortness of breath heavy breath
dislike speaking over-talkative
reduced appetite excessive appetite
watery stools dry stools
frequent, abundant, pale urination scanty dark urination
Example:
+ nausea <- Excess
+ vomiting with strong force <- Excess
+ heartburn / acid reflux <- Heat
: this is Stomach (Interior)
Treatment: reduce Excess Heat in Stomach.
A wrong treatment is made when, rather than reducing something extreme (and bringing it
back into the middle of the scale), we instead make it even more extreme. For instance,
instead of reducing Heat, we increase it. This could happen if we dont identify symptoms
from the 8 Principles correctly. A bit of a misnomer actually, I would prefer calling them The 4
Dimensions, so lets also use this term.
Some examples of wrong treatments involving the Interior-Exterior dimension:

1. Fever-reduction medications -> lower fever -> impede Wei-Qi expelling-Heat -> drive
pathogen inwards instead of expelling outwards -> illness is worsened, becomes chronic.
2. Corticosteroids to treat skin issues (at Exterior) -> push Heat inward rather than expel ->
Liver damage (eventually).
Notes on some of these Dimensions:
Cold vs. Heat
A. Etiology (root causes):
1. External factors / pathogens (4 of the 6 Evils : Wind, Cold, Heat, Damp)
2. Diet (food & drink)
3. Emotions (from Day 10)
Anger -> Heat

Sadness -> Cold
Worry, Pensiveness -> Cold
Fear, Shock -> Heat -> Cold
Joy (Overexcitement) -> Heat
4. Overexertion (physical)
With physical overexertion, whichever level is lower (this chart above) than the
other, will be amplified (even lower). So someone with a Yin Deficiency will have
even less Yin and therefore relatively more overall Heat in their system.
B. Mixed patterns for Cold vs. Heat
Example: Heat in upper body, Cold in lower body.
Transformation of energy.
Example: Wind Cold -> Wind Heat (Wei Qi)
Example: Fevers -> burn out Qi -> Cold
C. True vs. False Cold & Heat
One type of energy may have a response or echo elsewhere of the opposite
energy. Do not be deceived, find the true or initial imbalance. Usually the energy
at the Interior is the true one while the Exterior is false.
Example: body core has high Heat, but limbs are Cold. Stagnation somewhere
blocking the flow to the limbs is correct here, but this may or may not be the root
cause; dig deeper; in any case Heat is the true problem here, not Cold (false).
Excess vs. Deficiency
A. Shows the strength/weakness of the bodys Qi OR presence/absence of the

external factor/pathogen (4 of the 6 Evils).
B. Expressed through the strength/weakness of the symptoms (how big or small).
C. Subtypes:
There may be clusters of symptoms which can be grouped under an Organ. As a

practitioner, once you know the general direction of your diagnosis, dig in deeper in that
direction to find confirmation this may entail asking the patient more questions to
confirm your hunch.
An example of the full vs. partial concept:

Yang Excess : full red face
Yin Deficiency : partial (cheeks only) / less red
Some examples on how to identify Excess vs. Deficiency:
Example: general weakness and fatigue <- Qi Deficiency

Example: strong, stabbing, sharp headaches <- Blood Stasis
Example: tinnitus constant seashore sound, especially at night <- Excess
Example: tinnitus constant whistling, high-pitched, strong buzzing <- Deficiency
One test to determine which type of tinnitus (Exc vs. Def) is the clap test. Clap next to
the patients ear. If the problem goes away temporarily, it is Deficiency (lacking and likes
additional energy); if it is aggravated, it is Excess (too much, dislikes more added
energy).
Whats outside amplifies whats inside. Environmental (external) factors will aggravate
any internal Excess.
Example: Shen disturbance aggravated in hot room <- Heat Excess
Example: rheumatoid arthritis aggravated on humid days <- Damp Excess
Pain, with the what and the when, is an additional tool to help us complete the picture and
zoom in on our target, particularly in regards to Deficiency vs. Excess and Cold vs. Heat.
Below: Mechanism Of Pain In Relation To (4 Of) The 8 Principles Of Pattern Identification
Deficiency Excess Cold Heat
dull, sharp, cramping,

Description burning
lingering excruciating spastic
Pressure relieved aggravated - -
Temperature - - relieved by relieved by
heat cold
slow,
Onset sudden - -
gradual
better with worse with

Rest - -
rest rest
worse with better with

Activity - -
activity activity
better lying better sitting

Position - -
down up
relieved by relieved by
relieved aggravated
hot food, cold food,
Food abdominal abdominal
aggravated aggravated
pain pain
by cold food by hot food
Bowel worse after relieved after

- -
Movement evacuation evacuation
Fu Organs in the spotlight!
In last Mondays class, of the Zang-Fu Organs, we covered the Zang (Yin) Organs. Now we
cover the Fu (Yang) Organs. Note that its a much smaller spotlight though.
Gallbladder : Minister of Justice
The Gallbladder is categorized as an Extraordinary Organ because it is hollow, like all

Yang (Fu) Organs, but also stores pure essence like all Yin (Zang) Organs.
1. Stores and excretes bile.

Bile is considered a surplus of the Liver, a pure essence. The Gallbladder assists in digestion
(bile helps digest fats via emulsification). It is mostly regulated by the Liver, but still works
quite independently.
In dysfunction, e.g. Damp Heat, there can be a bitter taste in the mouth due to excess bile
(accompanied by nausea).
2. Controls courage.
The Gallbladder is crucial in producing courage, particularly the type needed for making hard
decisions. Just as its Wood complement, the Liver, is responsible for vision and strategy, the
Gallbladder gives one the courage to act on the vision/strategy. In TCM, the Gallbladder is
like a judge who needs to make correct choices which the crowds may not like.
Pathology: Gallbladder Qi Deficiency will cause a shrunken ability to act, or timidity.
3. Controls the movement of the sinews.

The sinews are the tendons and ligaments. Note the different roles of the Wood pair:
Liver -> Blood -> lubricates sinews
Gallbladder -> Qi -> creates movement of the sinews
Small Intestine : Minister of Reception
As mentioned in Day 9, the Small Intestine is responsible for separating the pure from the
impure. At the time of its activity (1pm-3pm), it is time to start winding down after the peak of
day, and to decide what can be done today and what should be left for tomorrow.
The Small Intestine enables us to prioritize, a quality of Fire Element. In dysfunction, e.g.
ADHD, one is unable to focus and cant pick out the needle from the haystack of other
distractions.
Stomach : Minister of the Mill
1. Enables rotting and ripening of food.
The Stomach is one big fermentation crock. It contains both Fire/Yang, as well as
Water/Yin, needed for fermentation. A common dysfunction of the Stomach is excessive Fire,
resulting in: quick hunger (burns food up too much without deriving pure essence), thirst, foul
smell (halitosis), bleeding gums (<- Yin Deficiency), and Rebellious Qi symptoms : heartburn /
acid reflux, vomiting, nausea.
Typical Stomach dysfunction: Stomach Fire, Stomach Yin Deficiency (both Heat).
The Stomach sends Yang to the Spleen, while the Spleen sends Yin to the Stomach; they
energetically balance each other out when healthy.
2. Controls transportation of food essences.

The Stomach works with the Spleen to provide food essences mainly to the muscles and
limbs. Chronic fatigue/weakness in the muscles/limbs is the first sign of weakness of the
Stomach.
3. Controls the descending of Qi.

See above diagram, blue arrows.
4. Is the origin of Body Fluids.

See diagram.
The Stomach is linked to the Large Intestine via an energetic channel. Imbalance can
produce bloating and gas.
Large Intestine : Minister of Transportation
The Large Intestine moves impure substances (dirt) downward and excretes them as
stool. The Large Intestine is associated with letting go while its Metal complement, the
Lungs, is associated with taking in.
As Emotions can affect Organs, someone who is afraid of letting go, will also experience
constipation. On the flip side, someone who has been abused will want to let go of the trauma
and will tend toward diarrhea.
Bladder (urinary) : Minister of the Reservoir
The Bladder is Qi-powered by the Kidneys. It is also one of the Organs involved in the Qi
transformation process (see diagram), separating pure from impure, and removes fluids
from the body in the form of urine.
In dysfunction, ischuria (urine retention) can be caused by Bladder Dampness (-> urinary
tract infection, UTI) or by Kidney Qi Deficiency (no pushing power).
Most of the pure essence/Qi refined by the Bladder goes upward to the Small Intestine.
San Jiao : Triple Burner/Heater/Warmer
1. Responsible for proper functioning of the 3 Jiaos.
The San Jiao regulates (1) body temperature, (2) movement of Body Fluids, and (3) the
passage of Qi among the 3 Jiaos. During its peak time of 9pm-11pm, it is important to be
laying horizontal (and asleep) in order for it to work best in cooling down the body (Yang ->
Yin) for a good nights sleep.
If the San Jiao fails to do its job, the body will face a serious, systemic problem (heat buildup
in some areas, lack of heat in others).
2. Is an avenue for Original (Yuan) Qi.
There are 3 avenues for the Yuan Qi, one of which is the San Jiao. The other 2 are: the
Kidney channels, and the Extraordinary Vessels (e.g. the Du + Ren, which are the
reservoirs for surplus Qi and Blood).
JUL 24 2013 WHY MEN ARE MORE HAIRY THAN WOMEN (GENERALLY
LEAVE A COMMENT SPEAKING); ANCIENT LORE EXPLAINS SEXUAL DIMORPHISM
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE
Day 11
by Gene Chuah
Why do men have more facial and body hair than women, generally speaking? And why does
facial and body hair start appearing in menopausal women (or so Ive been told)? In
Traditional Chinese Medicine, the answer lies in the distribution of Blood as a vital essence.
In women, especially of childbearing age, Blood is allocated toward the reproductive system
(situated in the Lower Jiao, or lower one-third of the body). Men, on the other hand, are more
Yang in nature, and remember that Yang tends to rise up (Yang equates to Heat as well, and
we know that heat rises up). So Blood that would have been allocated to the ovulation cycle
in women are used for growing beards and body hair, in men. Neat huh? For post-
menopausal women, however, since the Blood is not longer allocated to the baby-making
machinery, you can guess where it gets reallocated. [Note: Dwarven women from Lord Of
The Rings are an exception, they have beards just like the men.]
This also explains why most male mammals also have some kind of growth on their heads
antlers, horns, tusks, whiskers, manes, for instance. Come to think of it, most males in the
animal kingdom are more colorful, have more muscle mass, or have specific physiological
structures that the females do not have. This is called sexual dimorphism, and here are
more visuals. Of course, there are exceptions in the animal kingdom, where the male is a
total nobody in some species (e.g. spiders, and the triplewart seadevil).
Above: male (L) and female (R) deer.
Interestingly enough, Deer Antler (Chinese: ; pinyin: l rng) happens to be a Blood

tonic. This makes total sense if surplus Blood was used to create it, then it must be good
for replenishing depleted Blood! See what the Interwebs has to say on this topic.
TCM recognizes the hair to be an extension of the Blood. If ones Blood is nutritionally
complete and rich, the hair will be thick, lustrous and keep its color. If Blood is deficient, or if it
is somehow obstructed from properly flowing to and saturating the scalp, the hair will wither.
[source]
It should be noted, however, that head hair is governed by the Kidneys, while body hair is
governed by the Lungs, whereby Lung Qi drives Blood outward to the skin to nourish body
hair.
In yesterdays class, we covered all the Organs in greater depth. Prior to this point we had
discussed the Organs and their interactions, but never gave them their own spotlight. Now,
they get to be the stars of the show.
The Organs are grouped in Yin-Yang pairs by Element (see previous lessons), and the Yin
Organs are called Zang, while the Yang Organs are called Fu. When their wonder-twin
powers unite, together they are the unstoppable Zang-Fu ().
Again keep in mind that these Organs do not always correspond strictly to the physiological
organ, and in fact one of them, the Triple Burner (San Jiao) has no actual physical form or
location. In another example, the physical spleen, according to Western science, works as a
blood filter and is part of the immune system; however in TCM it is equated with digestion and
providing energy. The important thing is that this is a framework or model of understanding
that works. In an extreme example, even if someone has had their Gallbladder surgically
removed, the energetic equivalent of this Organ is still there and we can still work with it.
Wikipedia calls TCM Organs functional entities. So dont get confused if they dont
correspond literally to physical organs studied via the Western scientific method.
Heres the list of the Zang-Fu :
ZANG ORGAN (YIN) FU ORGAN (YANG)

Solid Organs that store vital / pure / essential Hollow Organs that receive, process and
substances. Yin because less active, and has dispense; can be like a gate or pump; Yang
dormant/potential energy. because more active.
Liver Gallbladder*
Heart Small Intestines
Spleen Stomach
Lungs Large Intestines
Kidneys Bladder (urinary)
Pericardium Triple Burner (San Jiao)
* Gallbladder is the exception on this list, and is considered an Extraordinary Organ

because it is recognized to be BOTH Zang and Fu (it stores essence, but there is also lively
movement through it). The other Extraordinary Organs are: the brain, marrow, uterus, bones,
and blood vessels.
Now on to the Organs. I will be reusing the directions-of-Qi charts I used from Day 6.
LIVER : The General / Chief of Staff
1. Maintains free/smooth flow of Qi (flowing & spreading).
a. Influences emotional state.

Remember that the Liver is the energetic fan, and that emotions are a type of energy (Qi).
So, the Liver plays an important role in keeping the Emotions moving remember that the
only bad emotion is a stuck emotion. The Liver helps to smooth out ones moods; without its
proper functioning, mood swings and irritability will manifest.
b. Influences digestion.
In the Control Cycle, the Liver (Wood) is the grandparent to, and influences, the Spleen
(Earth). When healthy, the Liver supports the Spleen in digestion, but in an imbalance
condition, it can negatively affect digestion. For instance, stress->frustration->anxiety
manifests in the Liver, causing it to overcontrol the Spleen, resulting in IBS.
c. Influences flow of bile.

In TCM, Bile is a surplus of Liver Qi, and a pure essence.
2. Stores the Blood

The Liver stores the Blood (it is like a sponge that fills with Blood especially at its peak of
1am-3am, during which time it is important to be laying down, preferably asleep. The Liver
regulates the volume of Blood and circulates it among the Organs.
3. Controls the sinews

Sinews = ligaments + tendons. This includes joint mobility, and in a sense the Liver is
important for mobility in general. Stiffness and numbness especially in the joints point to Liver
weakness. For instance, arthritis tremors are due to Liver + Gallbladder issues. Remember
that Wood is the Element of motion.
4. Manifests in the nails

In TCM, the nails (fingers, toes) are an extention of the Sinews, a surplus of Liver Qi. Nails
are an excellent diagnostic tool for the Liver. Specks in the nails, soft, brittle, easily broken
nails are a sign of Liver Blood Deficiency. To tonify your Liver, include this organ meat in your
diet.
5. Opens into the eyes

The Liver is in charge of vision. Blurry vision, floaters, night blindness, seeing stars are all
signs of Liver Blood Deficiency. Sensitivity to light, on the flip side, is a sign of Liver Qi
Stagnation (Excess).
6. Houses the Ethereal Spirit, or Hun

The Hun (Chinese: ; pinyin: hn; literally cloud-soul) (pronounceed hoon with an
upward tone as if asking a question) correlates to the Astral Body. It is second in command,
whereas the Shen is the highest spirit of consciousness in a person. Like the Shen, it is also
immortal, so it does not die with the physical body. The Hun is responsible for sleep and good
dreams. 11pm-3am, Wood Element Time, is when the Hun is working hardest, actively driving
and processing your nighttime dreaming. Note: some say that when you dream, you travel to
the astral world. Recurring almost-died-from-falling-but-awoke-with-a-start dreams are a
sign of Liver Blood Deficiency.
NOTE: Many traditional frameworks explain that the human body is actually made
up of several different bodies that occupy the same space, almost like layers.
Explore further here. It is the same idea in Chinese philosophy. For a more
detailed breakdown of the soul in TCM, take a look at this article by Giovanni
Maciocia. TO DO: map the Western planes/bodies to the Oriental spirits.
HEART : The Emperor
1. Rules the Blood and blood vessels

The human body can be thought of as a microcosm of a (Chinese) kingdom, with the Heart
(Emperor) at the center. The Emperor in ancient times was thought of as Gods
representative on earth, and this corresponds with the Heart housing the Shen, which is the
spirit, or consciousness, of the person. The ancient Chinese were concerned about keeping
out the evil invaders, and this corresponds to the bodys continually shielding itself from
external Evil Qi. Because the Shen is sensitive, an emotional root cause can unseat it
causing, for example, a Heart Blood Deficiency that results in insomnia, anxiety, poor
memory, and fright palpitations.
2. Manifests in the complexion.

The complexion reflects the health of the Heart.
e.g. Pale <- Qi & Blood Deficiency
e.g. Pale + dull <- Blood Deficiency
e.g. Purplish <- Heart Blood Stagnation (milder) or Stasis (worse)
e.g. Strong Red <- Heat in the Heart
e.g. Pinkish <- good health!
3. Opens into the tongue.

The Heart, with a balanced Shen, governs coherent speech. Through tongue diagnosis we
can tell the health of the Heart. For instance, if the tongue tip is red, it points to Heat in the
Heart, which usually means a disturbed, irritable Shen.
4. Houses the Shen.

But you knew this already since weve been talking so much about it in my past articles. Shen
(Chinese: ; pinyin: shn; means spirit, soul, mind, god, deity, supernatural being) is
pronounceed shurn with an upward tone as if asking a question, and without rolling the R.
Heart disharmonies caused by: could be anything because the Shen is sensitive.
SPLEEN : Minister of the Granary
1. Governs transformation & transportation
The Spleen transform Food into pure and impure essences.
From Li Dongyuan, A Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach (Piwei Lun), 1249:
The Stomach is called the sea of grain and water. Once food enters the Stomach, its
essential energy is moved upwards to infuse first the Spleen and then the Lung. In this
fashion, the command of spring and summer is being carried out, and the entire body
receives nourishment. This is due to the influence of clear heavenly Qi.
Once the ascending motion has reached its climax, this current shifts directions and flows
downwards toward the Bladder. In this fashion, the command of autumn and winter is being
carried out, and the waste becomes processed and the flavors will manifest. This is due to
the influence of turbid earth Qi.
The Spleen sends its nourishing energy (Qi) upwards to the Lungs and mind, as well as to
the muscles and limbs. Someone who is low in energy (you need muscle strength to move
around) probably has a weak Spleen. Other symptoms are: bloatedness/gas, soft stools,
weak concentration, poor appetite, nausea. This is usually equated with Spleen Qi Deficiency
-> poor digestion -> unburnt food -> Dampness -> lack of appetite/thirst.
2. Controls Blood.
a. Main Organ in Blood production.

Day 6 seems to agree.
b. Holds the Blood, keeps it in the blood vessels.

Remember that Qi is the mother of Blood Qi moves and holds Blood. The Spleen also is
also a key player in holding Blood, so with Spleen Qi Deficiency, this capacity is weakened,
resulting in things like menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding), hemmorhoids, varicose
veins or chronic bruising.
Blood in the stool is a sign of Heat in the Blood. Here is one vicious cycle that could happen
with Blood Heat:
3. Controls muscles and limbs.

This is true in the sense that the Spleen provides the fuel for the muscles, and it is the first
place to look to show Spleen weakness (Spleen Qi Deficiency). Weak muscles & limbs,
tiredness, and even eating disorders. Either extreme in eating behavior is Spleen dysfuntion
whether anorexia, or the opposite (overeating). Note the depleted muscles in anorexia. Its
all Spleen!
4. Opens into the mouth, manifests in lips.

The Spleen is the control center when it comes to the sensation of taste, allowing us to
differentiate among the 5 flavors. Illness or usage of antibiotics will hinder this (antibiotics kill
friendly gut bacteria as well). Lip color is a reflection of Spleen health. The usual rules apply:
e.g. pale <- Spleen and/or Blood Deficiency
e.g. purple <- Spleen Stagnation (Qi/Blood)
5. Regulates/controls the ascending Qi.

This relates to (b.) above. Holding power. Dysfunction: prolapse of the uterus, anus;
hemorrhoids, varicose veins, hernia, chronic diarrhea (<- rebellious Qi).
6. Houses the Thinking Spirit, or Yi.
Yi (Chinese: ; pinyin: y; means thought) is pronounceed ee with an assertive tone as if

theres an exclamation mark after it. Hunger for knowledge, food for thought these
phrases originated for a reason. The Spleen is also called the second brain, and in Chinese
there is a saying that a thought originates in the Spleen and culminates in the Heart (here
Heart, as Shen, represents the mind or consciousness). The Yi (intellect) enables cognitive
analysis and mental focus/concentration.
Dampness can affect the Spleen, resulting in Worry and Pensiveness (and vice versa, as
Emotions can also affect Organs). Like someone lost in a damp swamp, going in circles.
Spleen is Earth Element, which represents stability, family, home, love, caring and warmth.
Any harm to the Spleen damages the Yi, which affects the ability to learn. Due to the loss of
communal/tribal support in modern society, the Spleen is under threat and learning disabilities
are becoming more common, as are eating disorders.
Spleen disharmonies caused by : (1) congenital factors (2) foods that are cold, raw, sugary,
dairy, yeast, flour (3) excessive worry, pensiveness (overstudying), and (4) medications,
especially antibiotics.
LUNGS : Prime Minister / Foreign Minister
1. Rule the Qi and respiration.
a. Produce pure Qi from the air.

You need clean air in order to produce strong Lung Qi. Polluted air will overburden the Lungs.
b. Control the upper Sea of Qi.

The Lungs are the main source of Qi in this region, providing Qi even for the Heart. They also
play a part in the energetic circulation through to the Lower Jiao, and if this flow is disrupted,
the upper part of the body will get overheated relative to the lower (as in the case of a coma).
Since Lungs govern the Upper Jiao, any deficiency will cause coldness in the Lungs and
arms. Here is an image from Day 6 to applies to this energetic circulation:
2. Control the 2 directions of Qi.
a. Descending.
Downward to Kidneys. Disharmonies: asthma, shortness of breath, cough (<- rebellious Qi),
shallow/faint voice.
b. Dispersing/circulating.
Outward to supply Wei Qi, warming the skin and muscles.
Lung Qi = mist, and as it disperses outward as Wei Qi = spray.
3. Control sweating via skin pores.

Sweating expels excess Heat generated by the Wei Qi. If Wei Qi is weak, it will be unable to
control the opening and closing of the skin pores, resulting in their random opening/closing.
This lets in pathogens, or causes spontaneous sweating (cold sweats, a waste of pure
essence), or disallows heat to escape by remaining closed (this can also lock in the
pathogen).
4. Move and adjust the water passages.

a. Descending. : sends Mist down to the Kidneys.
b. Dispersing/circulating. : keeps skin moist.
5. Control skin and body hair.
As mentioned earlier, Lung Qi sends Blood to the skin to nourish body hair (as opposed to
head hair which is nourished by the Kidneys).
6. Open into the nose.

The nose is the window to the Lungs, the throat is the door to the Lungs.
Problems with the nose usually points to the Lungs.
Lungs are also known as the tender Organ. In the role of Foreign Minister, they are the
interface between the bodys internals, and the outside world.
Problems with the throat (e.g. tonsilitis, sore/strep throat) usually points to the Lungs.
7. House of the Physical Spirit, or Po.
Po (Chinese: ; pinyin: p; literally white-soul) is pronounceed pho (aspirated P) with an

assertive tone as if theres an exclamation mark after it. It allows you to feel physical
sensations, e.g. skin pain. It dies with the physical body and is not eternal (unlike the Shen or
Hun). The Po is equated with physical presence and even confidence, if you will picture a
strong male elk or gorilla puffing up its chest to establish its dominance and physicality.
Puffing up ones chest needs a strong pair of Lungs for sure.
The anus is called Po Men (pronounced more like muhn) ( ), meaning the gate of
the Po, and remember that the Large Intestine is the Yang partner to the Lungs (both Metal).
The Large Intestines are related to excretion and letting out where the Lungs take in; they
are both considered to be the same energetic channel.
Lung Disharmonies caused by: (1) congenital factors (2) external pathogens (3) excessive
sadness, grief, worry (4) polluted air (5) poor posture, constriction, sedentary.
KIDNEYS : Minister of Power
1. Store Jing essence, dominant role in: birth, development, reproduction, fertility,
ageing/longevity.
2. Rule water metabolism. Control Bladder, urine.
3. Grasp Qi from Lungs.

One of the charts above, shows this.
4. Manifest in head hair. Premature balding, greying, if Kidneys weakened. Hair color is a
better indicator of Jing health than balding, since male baldness can vary by race or lineage.
5. Open into the ears. Hearing issues are Kidney-related. Hey, they happen to have the
same shape outline too (so do the ovaries and testes, which contain Jing). As Jing diminishes
in old age, loss of hearing creeps up as the Kidneys fail to nourish the ears.
6. Control the bones and teeth.

As Jing diminishes in old age, bones and teeth weaken (osteoporosis). Kidneys also nourish
the brain (as Jing matter, not the mind), head hair, bone marrow, uterus and testicles.
7. House the Zhi
Zhi (Chinese: ; pinyin: zh), is pronounced chir with a very short/flat vowel, no rolled R,
and assertive tone as if with an exclamation mark. Video how-to here (<- tone-neutral).
Jing, as pre-natal life-force essence, is needed for life, correlated with lifespan, and in dire
physical situations, is used up rapidly to "save" someone in danger. Think of it as dipping into
your life-savings in an emergency. Zhi relates to physical will, because when you are
determined to do something (physically), the Zhi mobilizes Kidney Jing to achieve what is
needed. There have been wartime stories of soldiers who suddenly had the superhuman
strength to throw multi-ton bombs overboard before they could detonate, and stories of
mothers who are able to lift cars off their babies -- these could be attributed to Zhi and
emergency Jing usage.
Kidney disharmonies caused by: (1) congenital factors (2) diet (too much salt) (3)
medications, especially chemotherapy (<- burns Yin) (4) chronic fear (stress) -> Kidney Yin
Deficiency (adrenaline is Yang which burns Yin).
JUL 17 2013 THE ORGANS WEEP THE TEARS THE EYES REFUSE TO SHED
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE Day 10
by Gene Chuah
The organs weep the tears the eyes refuse to shed Sir William Osler, 18th-century
physician.
We now explore the topic of mental and emotional disharmonies in Traditional Chinese
Medicine.
We often hear about the mind-body connection in new medicine; sometimes also the mind-
body-soul connection. In holistic healing, we do not treat the body and mind as separate
in fact one affects the other, and this is something that the Chinese have known for more than
2000 years. The key principle here is that there is no difference between mental and physical
illness!
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we recognize the 7 Emotions and how they cause disease
in the body. In TCM, its all about the energy (Qi), and there is functional (good) energy that
flows in the body (and in the aura, according to other systems like Pranic Healing). However,
this Qi can get stuck, become stagnant, and manifest as negative or polluted energy, which
can cause disease.
Each Organ is also correlated with a particular Emotion, and likewise, can accumulate the
stagnated energy of this Emotion if it is in excess, or due to dysfunction. This makes sense if
we think of the Organs as energy centers, which are attuned to a specific frequency or
wavelength of energy. (In traditional Indian medicine, this is a similar idea to the Chakras
(energy centers), each of which governs a particular related set of emotions or abilities;
ascending vertically from the primal to the refined.)
Breaking it all down :

(1) Emotions are a type of energy (different Emotions have specific frequencies).
(2) Qi flows through the body.
(3) Qi is energy.
(4) Each Organ is attuned to, and acts as a storehouse for, a specific Emotion.
(5) Excess / blocked / stagnated energy in an Organ manifests as disease.
Therefore, we can deduce that the following are true :

(A) Treating the Organ will help correct the associated Emotional imbalance, and
(B) Addressing the Emotion will help correct the associated Organ imbalance.
Simplified :
(A) Organ > Emotion
(B) Emotion > Organ
and in fact, this is recognized in TCM to be true (see Day 2)! For instance, someone
who faces a lot of frustration will experience a lot of Anger, and if they dont know how to
channel this Emotion (a type of energy), it will cause Liver Qi Stagnation, which in turn
disrupts the normal functioning of the Liver (causing other problems down the chain). The
converse is also true: someone who develops Liver Qi Stagnation, due to other factors not
related to Anger, will start to experience Anger more quickly because this energy is not able
to flow through their Liver, and it gets stagnated in excess (think traffic jam).
Here are the Organs and their corresponding Emotions :
Organ Emotions
Liver Anger
Heart Joy (overexcitement)
Spleen Worry & Pensiveness
Lungs Sadness
Kidneys Fear & Shock
In treating mental / emotional disorders, Traditional Chinese Medicine actually has more
options over conventional medicine, in the sense that :
(1) diagnosis is not locked-down and rigid, and
(2) treatment is possible for incurable conditions.
Lets take a closer look.
(1) Diagnosis is not locked-down and rigid
In conventional psychiatry, a patient is diagnosed for mental illness by looking at his or her
symptoms / behaviors, and then figuring out which label can be attached to the patient. The
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the guidebook used by
psychiatrists to label their patients. But does it mean that the cure is clear, since we know
their diagnosis? How is each diagnosis treated? Could it be that these labels are what
psychatrists use when they dont know whats really wrong with a patient? What about the in-
betweens, the patients who dont fall neatly into any one category?
Lets just take a look at some of these classifications: schizophrenia, anxiety, ADHD,
dementia, depression, dissociation, mania, bipolar disorder, psychosis, personality disorders.
Each one is just a name label with a set of symptoms! Each one is assumed to have no real
cure, and treatments are mostly drug-based, focused on suppressing symptoms and
disease management (that happens to be where the money is too).
Due to the rigidity of diagnoses in conventional medicine today, our treatment options are
limited. Why? Simply because you can have a set of symptoms, give it one name, but from
patient to patient, it could be different a root cause! There is an excellent article by Mike
Adams (with cached snapshot here) that explains this perfectly. He says, there is a curious
tendency in conventional medicine to name a set of symptoms a disease. My personal
opinion is that these disease names have a paralyzing effect on the readers mind and are
intented to obscure the true cause of the disease. What, she has Shingblingtons Non-
Necromicrotizing Sharkinoma? Oh dear, I guess the doctors know best then what pills she
needs. Disease names like these make people instantly shut off their brains and effectively
relinquish control of their own health since it is beyond them and no longer intuitive.
In TCM, however, things are not so cut-and-dry, and there is the recognition that each patient
is unique, that there are many factors that all work together to cause a set of symptoms or
dysfunctional behaviors. By looking at the whole picture in an open-ended but thorough
manner, the practitioner is able to piece all the clues together and find the Organ(s) affected,
as well as the root cause(s) of the disharmony. Again, there is no separation between
physical and emotional / mental issues; so insomnia, anxiety and hysterical mania are really
on the same scale and could have the same root cause (Heart dysfunction and/or stress),
pointing the way for a treatment approach. This freedom from locked definitions is a good
thing, because at the end of the day, we are treating the patient as a unique individual with
unique circumstances, and not merely pinning a one-size-fits-all label on them.
(2) Treatment is possible for incurable conditions
In TCM, there is no such thing as idiopathic disease. Because the symptoms form a
pattern and point to the root cause(s), we can treat it!
With mental / emotional illness, you can either treat the Organ or address the Emotion, or
even better, do both. One helps the other, leapfrogging the patient out of the pit. Lets go back
to the example of Mr. Angry. He has a demanding job and a demanding life. We dont know
which started first, his Liver imbalance or his anger issues, but we know that he has both.
Lets see how either approach helps :
(A) Treating the Organ : due to the excess Anger, the patients Liver is Stagnated.
Treating the Liver for Stagnation enables it to function better and to allow the energy of
this Emotion to flow more freely. Because the traffic jam is now unblocked, Mr. Angry
does not get angry as quickly, has more clarity of thought (anger can cause blind rage,
remember the Liver is related to vision), and is able to better deal with the everyday
situations that normally provoke him.
(B) Addressing the Emotion : everyone faces problems, that is the nature of existence
on this planet; nobody is exempt, but how we deal with problems is the key. Anger does
not come from external circumstances; it arises as a response from within. A good TCM
practitioner is also a lifestyle counselor, and will help the patient find solutions to the root
causes of emotional issues. Anger is usually a result of frustrated goals (blocked energy),
and there are ways of dealing with things. At a much higher level we could even say that
many of our problems are a result of our Ego asserting itself (Dr. Wayne Dyer) and a big
reason for our unhappiness and stress these days is because of our disconnection with
God / The Divine / our Higher Self, and our need to force things as a result of our feeling
inadequate as a result of this separation. Of course this is a big topic, but the point is that
Emotions can be addressed directly. Back to our example, by not giving in to Anger, the
patients Liver is no longer overwhelmed and is able to recover and process normally,
giving the patient clarity and peace. In TCM, we say that there is no such thing as a bad
emotion, only a stuck emotion.
As a recap, here are the points we covered in class (some overlap with what we talked about
above):
(1) There is no separation between the mental and the physical.
(2) Emotions originate from the Organs (stored in, created by).
(3) Between Organs and Emotions, cause and effect are interchangeable.
(4) Emotions can cause disease when they are (a) extreme in intensity, and (b) prolonged
in duration.
Now on to the next topic we covered in class :
Lifestyle Factors That Affect Health (Way of Life)
1. Overexertion
(a) mental & emotional overwork
(b) physical overwork
(c) physical exercise (excessive)
(d) insufficient sleep
(e) over-resting, too much sleep
2. Diet (nutrition, detoxification)

(a) overeating (overindulgence)
(b) malnutrition (it happens even in North America due to soil depletion in conventional
agriculture, and overprocessing of foods)
(c) imbalanced eating habits (eating at wrong times)
(d) toxins in diet (hormones, pesticides, antibiotics, additives, GMOs, etc.)
3. Weak constitution
4. Sex (frequency, esp. for men)
5. Excessive childbearing (depletes Kidneys, Jing)
6. Trauma / injury / accidents
7. Exposure to poisons (environmental), parasites (mold, fungus, yeast, bacteria, viruses)
8. Ageing
In regards to frequency of sexual activity for men (ejaculation), in TCM we have a table
listing the recommended maximum frequency depending on age. It is best not to exceed
these limits, in order not to prematurely exhaust your Jing (as discussed in Day 4) :
Age Good health Average health
20 2x / day 1x / day
30 1x / day every 2nd day
40 every 3 days every 4 days
70 every 30 days not recommended
It should also be noted that there are ancient Eastern frameworks that help men optimize
their sexual energy. The Indian Tantra and Taoist Sexual Alchemy are some examples.
JUL 09 2013 FEELING LOST AND DIRECTIONLESS IN LIFE? YOU MIGHT NOT BE
2 COMMENTS SLEEPING AT THE RIGHT TIME
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE
Day 9
by Gene Chuah
FORMAT UPDATE: Due to time constraints, from this point on I wont be covering
every detail I learned in class, but will be writing these articles in a more
generalized way. They are not meant to be a replacement for class notes, but
more of an introduction for readers new to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
This Chinese Organ Clock here below is my new best friend.
Initially I wanted to title this post Why Its Important To Sleep At 10pm but I thought that
sounded too boring (the answer to the title will be explained, read on). But really, this article is
about going to bed on time, because there are SO MANY reasons why its important for your
health and optimal functioning. Its not about how much sleep you get, but also at what time
you sleep and wake, because, try as you might, your body simply knows what time it is. Dont
ask me how, but we were designed this way, and after all, we are part of nature, part of the
Universe, and undeniably tied to its cycles.
The graveyard shift is so-called, for good reason. In fact, many studies show that long-term
night-shift workers are at higher risk for many diseases.
Your body is made up of several subsystems, each dependent on the others. They all work
together like clockwork. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, they are called Organs, and may-or-
may-not correspond to actual organs in the physiological sense. According to the Chinese
Organ Clock, each Organ has a peak time during which the body focuses on it, sending
more Qi and Blood to it, and it becomes saturated with this Qi and Blood in order to do its
main processing activity. Some of these Organs require that you be in bed (laying horizontal!)
and asleep; other Organs provide you with optimal energy for physical activity.
Other than having its peak time, each Organ also has its low time which is the exact
opposite side of the clock, i.e. 12 hours away. This is when the Organ is at its weakest
because Qi and Blood levels are at their lowest in the Organ.
Peak-time and low-time are actually one way of diagnosing and pinpointing a problem Organ.
We covered many examples of this in yesterdays class and the one before it. There are 2
key patterns here :
1. During Peak Time, an Organ that is weak/dysfunctional will not be able to handle the surge
of Qi and Blood, and there will be Excess-related issues. Imagine a river that is not ready to
handle a strong surge of water it overflows its banks.
2. During Low Time, an Organ that is weak/dysfunctional will be overly depleted by the low
levels of Qi and Blood, and there will be Deficiency-related issues. Imagine a river that is
already so small and dried up it cannot tolerate a drought.
Depending on the time of occurence of these symptoms, and the type of symptom (Excess
vs. Deficiency), we can pinpoint the Organ that is weak/dysfunctional, and that helps us
correctly diagnose and put together our treatment plan.
METAL TIME
3AM 5AM : Lungs (Yin Organ)
5AM 7AM : Large Intestine (Yang Organ)
Best time to wake up is in this zone. The Lungs are connected to the Large Intestines via
an energetic channel. They are both related in the sense of input and output, the Lungs take
in while the Large Intestines let out. The Lungs are also connected to the Skin (see chart from
Day 7), and in fact you will find that many traditional Chinese people wake up during this time
to do breathing (Lung!) exercises (even singing) and tapping/slapping their entire body to
stimulate their Skin. This is also good for healing Asthma, which is an excess/stagnation
condition. This zone is also a good time to defecate (yes, poop). You need to throw out the
garbage to make room, before you can take in the new. Dont worry about making this work, if
youre sleeping at 10pm and waking at 5am, this will happen naturally and automatically.
Even at 5am, when the time zone for Lungs has ended, you can still do the breathing
exercises due to the energetic link between these 2 Metal zones.
EARTH TIME
7AM 9AM : Stomach (Yang Organ)
9AM 11AM : Spleen (Yin Organ)
Best time for breakfast, and it should be a big one too. Because the Spleen is linked to
cognitive ability (clear thinking while working), it is important that you eat a good breakfast
when the Spleen is at its most active and ready to give you its benefits.
FIRE TIME
11AM 1PM : Heart (Yin Organ)
1PM 3PM : Small Intestine (Yang Organ)
Best time to work. Fire Element represents productivity, like an engine chugging away, as
described in Day 8. The Heart is also associated with self-expression. 11AM-1PM (Heart
zone) is the peak time of day, and is the peak time for productivity and self-expression. At
1PM-3PM, its Small Intestines zone, and just as this Organ is responsible for separating
the pure from the impure, this is the start of the winding-down after the peak, to decide what
can be done today and what should be left for tomorrow. This is a good time for a (lighter)
lunch and also a good time for a nap (the Latin Americans have the right idea with their
siesta!).
WATER TIME
3PM 5PM : Bladder (Yang Organ)
5PM 7PM : Kidney (Yin Organ)
Time to start cooling down (energetically) or you will hurt yourself (engine overheats?). Yin
is growing at this time, cooling the body. 5PM-7PM as Kidneys peak during this time, they
grasp Qi from the Lungs and Heart (from Day 6). Kidneys, which represent physical
strength/ability, are strongest at this time and this is actually the best time for exercise.
MINISTERIAL-FIRE TIME
7PM 9PM : Pericardium (Yin Organ)
9PM 11PM : San Jiao (Triple Burner) (Yang Organ)
(We havent yet talked about Ministerial Fire, this is not a term we used in class, but I got it
from other TCM sources. I assigned it the color purple arbitrarily.)
This is BEDTIME! Many traditional belief systems including Indian medicine, recognize 10PM
as the best time for bed. The San Jiao (Triple Burner/Heater) is responsible for regulating
energetic temperature (heat vs. cold) among the 3 Jiaos; at this time, to cool down the body.
Its work is made easier if it doesnt have to fight gravity, which means you should be in bed
and horizontal in this time zone. The 7PM-9PM zone is interesting the Pericardium in
TCM is thought of as the Royal Guard which guards the Emperor (Heart), and is the door to
intimacy, the home, love, safety, the opening of the heart, and sex. So this is family time, or
time for love, before bedtime.
WOOD TIME
11PM 1AM : Gallbladder (Yang Organ)
1AM 3AM : Liver (Yin Organ)
This is the time to recharge through sleep. Wood Element pertains to vision, goals, and
courage. The Gallbladder is tied to courage; the Liver to vision, pioneering, adaptability,
exploration, new beginnings (Day 7). Steven Covey (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective
People) calls it sharpening the saw. Since the Liver stores Blood at its maximum capacity in
this zone, its important for you to be asleep and dormant at this time. If you miss out on Liver
Time on a regular basis, you will end up feeling lost, aimless and clouded.
Now on to a new topic we covered in yesterdays class
Pathogenic Factors : The Six Evils
1. WIND
- sudden changes of symptoms
- constant migration of symptoms
- upward and outward movement
- tends to attract other pathogenic factors
2. COLD
- Yin pathogenic factor which consumes Yang of body
- contraction and stagnation
3. HEAT/FIRE
- burning and upward direction
- swelling, ulceration, inflammation, even pestilence
- invasion by fire creates movement, stirs up wind, creates disturbance of Blood (think
firestorm)
- consumes healthy/true Qi and impairs body fluids
4. DAMPNESS/PHLEGM
- heavy, turbid/thick, lingering
- viscosity (stickiness), stagnation
- obstructs Qi circulation
- tends to move downward
5. DRYNESS
- consumes body fluids
- interferes with descending function of Lungs
6. SUMMER HEAT
- extreme heat
- upward direction
- often complicated by dampness
JUN 25 2013 WHICH ELEMENT ARE YOU? WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, METAL OR
2 COMMENTS WATER?
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE
Day 8
by Gene Chuah
Yesterdays class was the most spirited so far. The energy level, excitement and participation
were the highest theyve ever been since we started. It was a time of deep introspection and
discoveries about ourselves and others. We talked about life and death, growing and letting
go, how each person has distinct and unique qualities, and self-realization / self-awareness.
Before we discuss the Five Elements as personality types, lets first describe the properties of
each Element, some of them revisited from the last class.
Image from acupuncturebyshannon.com showing how the 5 Elements relate to the seasons :
The beauty of each of these Elements that each and every one of them is needed. There is
no one better than another; each one has a role to play. Also, in the Generating Cycle,
where we traverse Wood -> Fire -> Earth -> Metal -> Water, each phase is necessary and
must ripen before the next phase can be started.
Again here is the list of the main correspondences of the 5 Elements, from Day 7 :
WOOD
Keywords: birth, baby, crying, youth, fighting the world, adolescence, seed bursting through
shell, growth, change (rapid), impulsive, excitement, unaware, violence, exploration,
aggression, raw, rebellious, impressionable, excess, new beginnings, development, curiosity,
resilience, innocence, learning, freshness, feistiness, adaptability, idealism, freedom (new
breaking from old), revolution.
The Liver is quick to respond, has the qualities of Wood.
Spring cleansing for the body happens in Spring, detoxifying the Liver is important during this
time. Many plants that sprout in spring like Dandelion and Stinging Nettle are good for the
Liver.
FIRE
Generally age 30-40. Keywords: achievements, aspirations, creativity, productivity, joy,
laughter, unity, understanding, passion, brightness, desire, excitement (with awareness),
awareness.
Coffee (Bitter) roasted (Fire) > goes to Heart. Too much also hurts the Heart (palpitations,
high blood pressure, murmurs).
Bitter foods in general affect the Heart (whether positively or negatively).
EARTH
Blessed routine element; generally age 40-60. Time to enjoy fruits of the harvest/labor.
Midlife crisis tends to happen here because Earth is at equilibrium in both Yin and Yang
components. In this case Yin represents the routine of being settled, while Yang is still
present to drive the energy of change (perhaps a career change?).
An apt picture is that of a monastery with singing/chanting and sweet incense (see chart).
Keywords: grounded, stable, settled, centered, maturity, family-oriented, responsibility,
accountability, serving the community.
METAL
Typically age 60-70. Keywords: somber (sadness of Lungs), harsh, realizations,
retrospection, looking inward (beginning to), asking the questions What have I
accomplished/missed/lost?, letting go (of illusions, leaves in Fall), Who am I?, excellence,
sharp/polished, clarity, minimalist, authentic (without fluff/layers/illusions/masks), cold, cutting,
a reality check. Metal, like Water, are the spiritual stages. One way that Metal corresponds
to the color white is because the roots of underground bulbs are white. Pungent taste
corresponds to Metal because these bulbs/roots (onion, garlic, ginger) are pungent too.
Eating these foods expels Sweat from the Lungs. The associated emotion is grief, and we
can picture the sobbing / heaving of Lungs while crying. Crying is the release, and I think of
Metal as the element of catharsis or letting go.
WATER
Age: typically 70+. Keywords: rest, withdrawal, acceptance, surrender (no resistance),
enlightenment, stillness, being vs. doing, and death. Even though Water represents death, it
also represents the womb of new beginnings (remember that the next in sequence is the
restart of the cycle at Wood). There is water from the uterus at birth it marks the end/death
of a cycle (pregnancy, life in the womb) and it also nurtures new life. Embryos are surrounded
by water, and one view is that life began in the oceans.
Life Stages
There is a poetic beauty to this cycle, as applied to the life stages of a person. In youth, there
is exuberance, excitement, expansion and drive, with plenty of energy for anger if blocked or
frustrated (Wood). Then they mature in their career or lifes path, and are productive, like a
fire burning or an engine chugging away (Fire), and doing so with gusto (an aware kind of
excitement, not the raw, naive type in Wood). They reach the pinnacle of their productivity in
mid-life, and are now stable and can reap the fruits of their labour and settle in to a blessed
routine, with room to help/serve others, including their family (Earth). After the top of the hill,
its downhill, and with this realization comes some sorrow, perhaps regret while looking back
and asking the hard, cutting questions (Metal). Now this is where things get interesting, and
this is where I will be adding a lot of my own insights. Of course, to you, theyre outsights, but
thats only cos youre on the outside.
On the pessimistic side, the Metal stage of life represents losing what you used to have
(youth, health, energy, anything important to you). But remember, we said that there is no
Element that is better than the others, or worse. So, pessimistic as Metal sounds, what is the
good side? Metal phase is really the start of enlightenment. Dr. Wayne Dyer says it ever so
sweetly and succinctly in his film, The Shift From Ambition To Meaning. Basically (Im mostly
paraphrasing him but also adding my own thoughts), the real motivation behind ambition is
the fear that we are insufficient and incomplete until we acquire or attain _______ (fill in the
blank). Everything we do in life can be distilled down to these two basic motives, Love and
Fear. When you were in the womb, everything you needed was provided for you. It was the
ultimate time of peace and all-encompassing Love. After you were born in to this world,
somehow you forgot this connection, and the cares of the world started weighing you down.
You became preoccupied with defining yourself through (1) what you own, (2) what youve
achieved, and (3) what people think of you. You took on an E.G.O. (edging God out).
Somehow you started thinking that you are separate from the Divine Source of Love (God),
the same source that provided for you in the womb. You forgot that you were made in the
image of God, which means that a part of God is always within you (remember that God
breathed life into Man; that breath is Spirit). You succumbed to fear, and decided to take
charge of your own life. The Metal season is a time of looking inward, just as a tree loses its
leaves in fall, we still recognize that the tree is still alive if you were to cut a cross section
(although I forbid you to), you would see that the tree is full of life and vitality in its core being,
even though it has lost its leaves. This applies to you as well. You are the Soul. You are not
your possessions, treasures, achievements or friends. You are already connected to
everything in the Universe in spirit, so you never really lose anything you dont already have.
(Dr. Dyer goes on to say that all you need is to bring it about, and that you dont attract what
you want, but rather you attract what you are.)
The Metal stage has its own beauty because it may not necessarily have to apply when one
hits age 60; in fact it applies when we reach a point in our life when we feel we have lost
something that (we thought) defines us (Five Elements applies as much to microcosms as it
does to macrocosms). When you are able to make peace with yourself, to see yourself as
you truly are (a beloved child of the Universe/God), even in the process of losing your
_______ (fill in the blank) which was so precious to you (Smeagol had the same problem),
when you you are able to let go of all your leaves, attachments, excess layers of illusion,
baggage, you are ready for the next stage.
Which brings us to Water, the element of completion, acceptance, enlightenment. It could

mean death, but it could also mean a time of rest before the rebirth. Time for the land to lay
fallow. This stage is really a stage of union with God (thats really what enlightenment is).
When we have cast off all our excess baggage, illusions and attachments, we find peace and
bliss here. When one is at peace with themselves and others, having said whatever would
otherwise have been left unsaid, without any regrets to leave behind, one is ready to pass on.
The Water stage is different from the others because it is about being while the other
phases are about doing.
These stages do not strictly correspond to the suggested chronological age ranges; one
could be young and still have gone through the cycles whether in terms of soul realization
(attaining enlightenment before physically dying), or on a microcosmic scale. Heres a
working example. As a teen, I had a nice racer bicycle whose parts I enthusiastically
upgraded over 2 years, and I even gave it a nice custom paint job with fancy decals (which
made people think it was a more expensive bike) (Wood). I enjoyed riding it around and
gained some recognition for having a cool bike (Fire). My bike and I were best of pals, and it
took me places on a regular basis (Earth). One day, I lost it to some bike thieves. Of course I
went through the pain of loss, but was able to let go and realized that I had become too
attached to it in an unhealthy way, and realized that the theft was a blessing in disguise
(Metal). Eventually I was at peace with it (Water). Later on, I got a new bike (back to
Wood)
And now, on to our personality types! Which one are you?
The Five Elements as Personality Types and Archetypes
WOOD | The Pioneer

Keywords: leader, entrepreneur, visionary, authentic, direct, sight (Liver corresponds to
eyes), goal-oriented, action-oriented, wants to be first/best, thrives on competition, seeks
challenges, maverick, rebel, ambitious, driven, quick, flexible, committed, high libido.
Dysfunctional: anger, stress, frustration, aggression, judgemental, impatient, rude, hard on
self, intolerant, selfish/egotistical, rigid.
Physical ailments: pain, migrating pain due to Wind, headaches, migraines (high-strung),
muscle spasms, PMS, blurry vision (burned Yin), night blindness, sensitivity to light (Liver-
related), TMJ, grinding teeth (Liver Wind), high blood pressure / hypertension (also Liver, an
outward expanding type of pressure).
FIRE | The Wizard

Keywords: clown, comedian, actor, extrovert, talkative, joyful, excited, jolly & lively. Some
examples: Robin Williams (especially when hes doing stand-up and getting all red), Eddie
Murphy, Jim Carey. Also applies to Fidel Castro and Hitler.
Dysfunctional: narcissistic, manic, hysteria, loud, tactless, foolish, irresponsible, suicidal,
high anxiety.
Physical ailments: insomnia, palpitations, heart issues, skin rashes, redness, mental
disorders, addictions (including psychoactive drugs), constipation.
EARTH | The Peacemaker

Keywords: altruistic, social worker, empathic, serving the community, responsible,
backstage worker, shuns the limelight, pleasant, stable, supportive, sweet, caring,
predictable, nurtring, the martyr, Mother Earth. Remember that Earth is in the center (see
Correspondences chart), just as the mother is the center of a family. Has a relationship with
food. Some examples: Albert Schweitzer, Jane Goodall, Oprah.
Dysfunctional: worrying (e.g. about the kids), worrying themselves sick, overcarrying the
weight as a subconscious ulterior motive to create dependency (see below, The Loneliness
of The Earth), possessive, clingy (Earth likes to accumulate, collect), having lots of friends
due to insecurity, overthinking, dependent, busy arguing with themselves, self-doubting.
Physical ailments: digestive issues, bloating, edema/distension, eating disorders
(dysfunctional relationship with food), overweight/underweight, insatiable or poor appetite,
slow metabolism, soft muscles, lympathic problems, soft lumps, swollen glands, varicose
veins, slow healing of cuts, bruise easily, lethargy, hemorroids, prolapse of organs, sadness,
feeling unappreciated & lonely.
METAL | The Alchemist

Keywords: calculated, organized, logical, likes definitions & boundaries, cut & dry, militaristic,
driven by rules, structure, discipline, admires authority, perfection, precise, accurate, cold
efficiency, robotic. Careers: engineers, soldiers/police, accountants, ballerinas, bankers,
computer programmers.
Dysfunctional: autocratic, rigid, self-righteous, overbearing, strict, formal, impersonal,
distant, close-minded, regimented, conformist, sadness/grief due to suppressing emotions
and not feeling human / not enjoying life (no juice/fun).
Physical ailments: dryness overall and of skin, hair, nose, throat, asthma, allergies, stiffness
of joints, nasal-sounding voice, constipation (mentally as well), poor circulation, anemic/pale,
sinus issues, autism. On the other hand, due to their regimented nature, Metal people can
also have robust health (good habits/routine).
WATER | The Philosopher

Keywords: self-contained, introspective, self-sufficient, like a cat that always lands on its
feet, adaptable, adjusts to situations quickly, smooth, smart, articulate (comes from self-
acceptance), clear, self-aware, self-assured (no self-doubt), they flow, independent,
perceptive, balanced, inquisitive, curious, seeking knowledge/understanding, prefer to stay
anonymous, mysterious. Some examples: Albert Einstein, Indiana Jones.
Dysfunctional: detached, aloof, inaccessible, isolated, lonely, unforgiving, suspicious,
manipulative, chameleon-like. Polar opposite of Wood which is direct and authentic. They are
the one in your school yearbook that nobody knows much about.
Physical ailments: infertility, sexual/libido issues, impotence, spinal / lower back issues,
problems with bones, teeth, prostate; loss of hearing and memory.
The Loneliness of The Earth

We talked about a pattern that Earth people, especially women, fall into. Coincidentally, it was
also an issue addressed in Dr. Dyers film. Because women tend to be expected to play the
role of mother and be the central figure that keeps a home together, they may feel constricted
by this and question their self-worth. It becomes a question of who would I be if I didnt have
this role? On a personal note, Ive seen this in families. The mother/wife feels unappreciated,
and in some cases even takes on more than her fair share of the responsibilities by not
delegating / teaching the kids to share some of the housework; this is done with a
subconscious ulterior motive of reinforcing their role and thus their self-worth, since they
(erroneously) believe that their worth depends on their role. And yet they feel this emptiness
and yearning to be recognized as a whole person, regardless of the role they have been
identified with. The solution, again, is what we discussed earlier: to let go of the attachment to
their role, and realize that at the core they are already complete, appreciated, and of infinite
worth. As Dr. Dyer says (again I paraphrase), they should recognize that in addition to (or
despite?) their role as wife and mother, they are equally entitled to contribute something
special to this world, to sing the song they were meant to sing (my words).
Fun With The Elements
During a class break we had fun categorizing Lord Of The Rings races (thanks Rachel, Ron
and Pantea) :
WOOD: Men
FIRE: Gandalf (not a race, I know)
EARTH: Hobbits
METAL: Dwarves
WATER: Elves
When I got home, I categorized some countries/regions as well:

WOOD: The USA
FIRE: Latin America
EARTH: Switzerland, Asia, any country with a community-oriented culture
METAL: Germany!
WATER: Britain, Canada
Do you know which Element you are?
UPDATE 2013-07-18 :
Here is how I categorized the characters from Kung Fu Panda. It will make sense if you
watch Dreamworks Secrets Of The Furious Five which explains the origins of each character.
Mantis : WOOD
The world went by too slow for Mantis.
Crane : FIRE
Started as a janitor, but through dilligence to his work, Even his hat was full of confidence.
Monkey : EARTH
Find the one thing that you were denied so long ago Compassion.
Tigress : METAL
This game requires discipline, precision, a still hand and a steady heart.
Viper : WATER
My deceptive dancing defies your poison-proof armor.
Po the Panda (the Dragon Warrior) : EARTH and FIRE
JUN 19 2013 THE 5 ELEMENTS AND THE PASSING OF THE SEASONS

3 COMMENTS
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
Day 7
MEDICINE
by Gene Chuah
Five Elements Theory (Wu Xing) is another important model in TCM, alongside the Yin-Yang
Model, for understanding observable phenomena in the universe. I think of it as the rise and
fall model where everything goes through 5 phases, and repeats the process, perhaps after
a rebirth. Each phase corresponds to one of the 5 Elements, and each has a unique set of
characteristics different from the others. Five Elements Theory has deep wisdom that can be
applied to many things, including the lifecycle of stars (astronomy), organ interactions, and
the rise and fall of empires.
The name Five Elements is somewhat of a misnomer, as element implies something that is
static. The truth is that this model has both static and dynamic aspects. Some other names
that have been suggested are: Five Phases, Five Movements, Five Activities, and Five
Agents. In any case, each phase is represented by an element, and they are : Wood ( m),
Fire ( hu), Earth ( t), Metal ( jn), and Water ( shu).
Taken from another angle, the Five Elements can be translated as follows (Needham):
Wood : solidity, workability
Fire : heat, combustion
Earth : nutrition
Metal : solidity, congelation, moldability
Water : liquidity, fluidity, solution
In another variation (Cosmological Sequence), the Earth element is placed in the center.
The 5 Elements can be traversed in 4 Sequences:

A. Generating Sequence (Promotion/Creation/Supporting) [node+1, node-1 if insulting]
B.1. Controlling Sequence (keeps in check, but also gives benefit to) [node+2]
B.2. Overcontrolling/Overacting Sequence (grandparent abusing grandchild) [node+2]
C. Insulting Sequence (grandchild disrespecting grandparent) [node-2]
Generating (Sheng) Sequence (and yes it goes by other names) :
Diagram from sacredlotus.com showing Generating, Controlling, Overacting, and

Insulting Sequences :
Some of the main correspondences of the Five Elements :
WOOD FIRE EARTH METAL

Yin Organ LIVER HEART SPLEEN LUNGS
Yang Organ Gall Bladder Small Intestine Stomach Large Intestine
Yin-Yang Lesser Yang Utmost Yang Balanced Lesser Yin
Seasons Spring Summer End of season, or Fall

Transition/change
Climate Wind Heat Dampness Dryness
(pathogenic)
Time First half of day; Second half of day; Afternoon/evening, First half of
Dawn Noon/afternoon or Transition night
Compass East South Center West

Directions
Movement Outward (expansion) Upward Center/neutral Inward

(ascending) (contraction)
Nature Birth; Growth Transformation Harvesting

sprouting/germination blooming/blossoming maturation/fruiting fall/reaping
Human Birth Growth Maturity, Decline,

Development Transformation Aging
Color Green Red Yellow White
Taste Sour Bitter Sweet Pungent/spicy
Sounds Shouting Laughter Singing Weeping/crying
Sense Organ Eyes (sight) Tongue (speech) Mouth (taste) Nose (smell)
Body Tissue Sinews, tendons, Blood vessels Muscles, flesh Skin, body hair
ligaments
Emotion Anger Joy Worry/pensiveness Grief/sadness
Tongue Sides Tip Center Posterior of tip

Location
(diagnosis)
Descriptions of the Five Elements
WOOD
Keywords: birth, baby, crying, fighting the world, adolescence, seed bursting through shell,
growth, change (rapid), impulsive, excitement, unaware, violence, exploration, aggression,
raw, rebellious, impressionable, excess, new beginnings, development, curiosity, resilience,
innocence, learning, freshness, feistiness, adaptability, idealism, freedom (new breaking from
old), revolution.
The Liver is quick to respond, has the qualities of Wood.
Spring cleansing for the body happens in Spring, detoxifying the Liver is important during this
time. Many plants that sprout in spring like Dandelion and Stinging Nettle are good for the
Liver.
FIRE
Generally age 30-40. Keywords: achievements, aspirations, creativity, productivity, joy,
laughter, unity, understanding, passion, brightness, desire, excitement (with awareness),
awareness.
Coffee (Bitter) roasted (Fire) > goes to Heart. Too much also hurts the Heart (palpitations,
high blood pressure, murmurs).
Bitter foods in general affect the Heart (whether positively or negatively).
EARTH
Blessed routine element; generally age 40-60. Time to enjoy fruits of the harvest/labor.
Midlife crisis tends to happen here because Earth is at equilibrium in both Yin and Yang
components. In this case Yin represents the routine of being settled, while Yang is still
present to drive the energy of change (perhaps a career change?).
An apt picture is that of a monastery with Singing/chanting and Sweet incense.
Keywords: grounded, stable, settled, centered, maturity, family-oriented, responsibility,
accountability, serving the community.
Remaining Elements to be covered in next class (I dont write these subtopics in the same
order they were presented in class). We ran out of time.
Examples of the Overacting Sequence (from textbook) :
The Liver overacts on the Stomach and Spleen: if Liver Qi stagnates, it invades both the
Stomach, impairing its function of rotting and ripening, and the Spleen, impairing its function
of transforming and transporting. In particular, when Liver Qi invades the Stomach, it prevents
Stomach Qi from descending, which causes nausea, and it prevents Spleen Qi from
ascending, which causes diarrhea (see Day 6 for Organ Qi directions).
The Heart overacts on the Lungs: Heart Fire can dry up the Lung fluids and cause Lung Yin
Deficiency.
The Spleen overacts on the Kidneys: when the Spleen holds Dampness, this can obstruct
the Kidneys function of transformation and excretion of fluids.
The Lungs overact on the Liver: Lung Heat or Phlegm Heat may be transmitted to the Liver.
The Kidneys overact on the Heart: if Kidney Yin is deficient, Empty Heat forms and this can
be transmitted to the Heart.
Examples of the Insulting Sequence (from textbook) :
The Liver insults the Lungs: Liver Qi can stagnate upwards and obstruct the chest and
breathing. Liver Fire may also obstruct the descending of Lung Qi and cause asthma.
The Heart insults the Kidneys: Heart Fire can infuse downwards to the Kidneys and cause
Kidney Yin Deficiency.
The Spleen insults the Liver: if the Spleen retains Dampness, this can overflow and impair
the free flow of Liver Qi.
The Lungs insult the Heart: if the Lungs are obstructed by Phlegm, they can impair the
circulation of Heart Qi.
The Kidneys insult the Spleen: if the Kidneys fail to transform fluids, the Spleen will suffer
and become obstructed by Dampness.
Examples of Pathology in Generating Sequence (from textbook, with some

improvements) :
These can be summed up into 4 categories:

1. Mother not nourishing Child element (Deficiency)
2. Mother over-nourishing Child element (Excess)
3. Child taking too much from Mother element (Deficiency)
4. Child taking too little from Mother element (Excess)
The Liver (mother) affecting the Heart (child): this happens when the Liver fails to nourish the
Heart. Specifically, when Liver Blood is deficient, it often affects Heart Blood, which becomes
deficient; palpitations and insomnia ensue.
The Heart (child) affecting the Liver (mother): if Heart Blood is deficient, it can lead to
general deficiency of Blood, which will affect the Liver storage of Blood. This causes scanty
periods or amenorrhoea.
The Heart (mother) affecting the Spleen (child): the Mind of the Heart needs to support the
mental faculties and capacity for concentration, which belong to the Spleen. Another aspect
of this relationship is in Heart Fire deficient being unable to warm Spleen Yang and leading to
cold feeling and diarrhea. Ultimately however, the physiological Fire of the Heart is itself
derived from Kidney Yang.
The Spleen (child) affecting the Heart (mother): the Spleen makes Qi and Blood and the
Heart needs a strong supply of Blood. If the Spleen does not make enough Blood, the Heart
will suffer, and palpitations, insomnia, poor memory and slight depression will ensue.
The Spleen (mother) affecting the Lungs (child): if the Spleens function of transformation
and transportation of fluids is impaired, Phlegm will be formed. Phlegm often settles in the
Lungs and causes breathlessness and asthma.
The Lungs (child) affecting the Spleen (mother): the Lungs govern Qi and, if Lung Qi is
deficient, Spleen Qi will be affected causing tiredness, no appetite and loose stools. In
practice, Spleen Qi and Lung Qi deficiency often occur together.
The Lungs (mother) affecting the Kidneys (child): Lung Qi normally descends toward the
Kidneys, which hold it down. Also, the Lungs send fluids down to the Kidneys. If Lung Qi is
deficient, Qi and fluids cannot descend to the Kidneys, causing breathlessness (Kidneys
unable to receive Qi) and dryness of the Kidneys.
The Kidneys (child) affecting the Lungs (mother): if Kidney Qi is deficient it will fail to hold Qi
down; Qi will rebel upwards and obstruct the Lungs causing breathlessness.
The Kidneys (mother) affecting the Liver (child): Kidney Yin nourishes Liver Yin and Liver
Blood. If Kidney Yin is deficient, Liver Yin and/or Liver Blood will be come deficient and give
rise to tinnitus, dizziness, headaches and irritability. This particular relationships is one of the
most important and common in clinical practice.
The Liver (child) affecting the Kidneys (mother): Liver Blood nourishes and replenishes the
Kidney Essence. If Liver Blood is deficient over a long period of time, it can contribute to
deficiency of Kidney Essence, causing dizziness, tinnitus, poor bone development and sexual
weakness.
Summing Up The Cycles :
Each Element can be out of balance in one of 6 ways :

1. it is deficient and fails to nourish its Child (GIVES TOO LITTLE)
2. it is in excess and over-nourishes its Child (GIVES TOO MUCH)
3. it is deficient and is insulted by another (Insulting Sequence)
4. it draws insufficiently from its Mother causing her excess (TAKES TOO LITTLE)
5. it draws excessively from its Mother element causing her deficiency (TAKES TOO MUCH)
6. it is in excess and overacts on another (Overacting Sequence)
On another topic Body Fluids :
The Spleen is a crucial originator of Body Fluids which include nasal mucus, sweat, tears,
saliva, gastric fluids and bile.
The Kidneys regulate the mist in the Upper Jiao (Heart + Lungs) (remember that the
Kidneys are the source of Water and Fire).
Predominant Yang can be caused by external factors like stress, which burns Yin and thus
depletes Body Fluids (Yin Deficiency). On the other hand, Body Fluids can be in excess (e.g.
due to Kidney Yang Deficiency), causing excessive mucus/phlegm. This in turn can affect the
mind/Shen, e.g. mental fogginess.
Sweat is actually considered a pure Body Fluid and should not be wasted (sweating is a
necessary evil). Excessive sweating (e.g. from too many Hot Yoga or sauna sessions back-
to-back) will burn up valuable Sweat which ultimately will burn up Kidney Yin. Another way of
saying this is: if you already have a Kidney Yin Deficiency, avoid excessive sweating!
The quality of Sweat is different during the Day vs. at Night. Day Sweat is more Yang (more
diluted), whereas Night Sweat is more Yin (thicker, cooler). However Night Sweats are not the
norm, and are indicative of Yin Deficiency (insufficient Yin to keep the Yang in check, which
opens pores an expels Sweat). This is destructive to health in the long term.
Body Fluids have 2 subtypes :

1. Jin : more Yang, thinner, clear, nourishes, moistens, skin, muscles (exterior), Day Sweat
2. Ye : more Yin, thicker, lubricates organs, nourishes bones, brain, Night Sweat
Overall, Body Fluids are considered Yin (e.g. relative to Qi, and because theyre
wet/cooling). In Yin Deficiency, all Body Fluids can be in shortage. Dehydration happens
from the outside->in. For example, excessive sweating will start to pull Yin from Blood,
causing Blood Yin Deficiency, which in turn will deplete Jing. Insufficient water intake can
cause this (starting with Jin-Ye depletion). Night Sweats are called thief sweats because
they steal from the Blood, then from Jing.
Recap: difference between Yang Excess and Yin Deficiency :

Yang Excess: Day & Night Sweats
Yin Deficiency: Night Sweats, hot flashes
Disharmonies of Body Fluids
1. Deficiency: dryness of tissues: mouth, eyes, etc.

2. Accumulation (excess): edema, phlegm, etc.
MAY 28 2013 REBELLIOUS QI: REBEL WITH A CAUSE

2 COMMENTS
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
Day 6
MEDICINE
by Gene Chuah
Its natural law. To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. What goes up must
come down. Things that get blocked, dont stay blocked for very long. If something is pent up,
it will explode at some point. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Rebellious Qi is basically any
energy flow that breaks out of the established pattern. But were not talking about James
Dean, being a rebel just for the sake of it. Purposeful rebels are not always a bad thing.
Gandhi was one. Mother Theresa in many ways was one too. Even Jesus in his time, was
such a rebel that they killed him. And the Rebel Alliance definitely had The Force with them.
But before we can rebel, we need to understand the establishment. All organs and organ
groups (common pairings or sets in TCM) have established directions of Qi flow. Lets take a
look at the 5 main organs: the Spleen, Lungs, Kidneys, Heart and Liver. Keep in mind that
most of the time, Rebellious Qi is disruptive; however the point is that there is always a
reason (purpose?) that it came about. Seeing the correct flow of things helps us understand
why or how Rebellious Qi might arise. Time to break out the drawing tablet and make some
pretty pictures:
1. SPLEEN Established Qi direction: Upward
Notes:
Carbs (esp. refined) are bad for weak Spleen.
Weak Spleen: stagnation, bloating.
Healthy Spleen: clear mind, focused (energy goes upward to mind)
Dont be puzzled, the Stomach is in this diagram but compared to the Spleen, it is somewhat
secondary. The Stomach is responsible for initial processing of food, and sends its products
to the Spleen for finer processing. The Spleen (again, recall that we really mean function of
the intestines) has a bigger role overall in TCM.
Notice the Rebellious Qi here in orange.
2. LUNGS Established Qi direction: Downward and Outward
Notes:
Qi of Lungs (from breathing) powers the Kidneys.
Poor air or breathing leads to weak Wei (Defensive) Qi. Symptoms: cold hands, recurring
colds, spontaneous cold sweats on slight exertion; pores too weak to remain closed.
Conversely, with good breathing and air quality, Wei Qi is strong.

The Lungs & Kidneys are correlated in health. One affects the other. In good health, one is
able to have full inhalation and exhalation.
Cough is considered rebellious Qi. Weak incessant coughing usually due to weak Lungs or
poor air quality. In this case Kidneys are unable to grasp the Air Qi from Lungs (could be
weak Kidneys too). In many cases coughing is purposeful: to unblock the Lungs.
Allergic asthma: main symptom is whistling sound when breathing. This is due to phlegm in
the nasal passages.
Allergens in TCM are considered Wind Heat. They burn up fluids of the Lungs (Yin). This
makes sense considering saline nasal spray, nose drops or the Neti Pot are effective
treatments for most breathing allergies. Saline = salt and Salt = Yin, which counteracts the
Yang-burn.
3. KIDNEYS Established Qi direction: Upward and Downward
Notes:
Lungs deliver mist/vapor/moisture to Kidneys to be harmonized energetically (e.g. more
hot or cold).
Kidneys send Water to Lungs if theyre dry, or Fire to strengthen. Kidneys send to the Heart in
the same fashion; this is to regulate the energetic temperature of these organs.
In old age, weaker Kidneys affects urination (takes longer to start and stop), particularly for
men.
4. HEART Established Qi direction: Downward
Notes:
Heart needs to move Qi downward as an outlet. Otherwise if blocked somehow, one
symptom is heart palpitations. If this is triggered by only slight exertion, then look to Heart Qi
Deficiency as the culprit. Blocked Heart Qi can also result in insomnia. Since the Heart
houses the Shen (spirit), too much Heart Heat can cause anxiety (spirit is restless).
5. LIVER Established Qi direction: Outward and Upward
Notes:
The Liver is the Energetic Fan. No you silly, Im not talking about a Toronto Maple Leafs
spectator. The Liver, although one of the Yin Organs, has a Yang energy to it because it is
constantly moving energy, particularly the energy of emotions. The Liver allows you to move
on from one emotion to another. Liver Qi stagnation is equated with frustration, irritability and
anger. Heres the interesting thing: in TCM, the 7 emotions each has a corresponding Organ.
Too much of one emotion will affect the corresponding Organ. Conversely, dysfunction of an
Organ can result in the manifesting of its corresponding emotion. Cause and effect can
happen in either direction (see my previous blog post on this phenomenon). This means that
you can treat the Organ by lessening the emotion, but it also means that you can treat the
emotional issue by treating the Organ.
Back to the Liver: main causes of Liver Qi Stagnation are: stress, inability to express yourself
(e.g. under oppression), frustration. Without an outlet, a pent-up explosion of anger will occur.
Constant sighing is a sign of Liver frustration (i.e. anger).
For more on the 7 Emotions of TCM, see this snapshot taken from shen-nong.com.
Combined view for Lungs, Heart, Kidneys
So far weve focused on each Organ and its directions for Qi flow. Above heres a combined
view of the ones that intersect.
Overall Qi as a function of age
Overall Qi levels rise and fall over a lifetime. If ones Kidneys are already weak in childhood,
they will also face Kidney-related issues in old age. One of the symptoms is difficulty in
inhaling fully. In mid-life, however, things shift and if there is difficulty in exhaling fully, it points
to Lung and Spleen issues. Conversely, a sign of good health is when one can inhale and
exhale fully.
Pathologies of Qi
1. Deficiency of Qi
Can usually be pinpointed to an Organ.
* Tiredness <-- Spleen, Lung, Kidney Qi Deficiency (the Qi-generating Organs!)
* Tiredness, slow digestion, soft stools <-- Spleen Qi Deficiency
* Shortness of breath, spontaneous cold sweating <-- Lung Qi Deficiency
* Paleness, heart palpitations (on slight exertion) <-- Heart Qi Deficiency
2. Qi Sinking/Collapsing (Extreme Qi Deficiency)

Oh boyoes! In extreme Qi Deficiency, you get a collapse. The house falls because its
foundation is gone. Symptoms: prolapse of organs, pathological hemorrhoids, chronic cold
diarrhea. In serious cases, expect fainting, unconsciousness, or even coma. Without energy,
there can be no spark of life.
3. Qi Stagnation (excess)
To recap from Day One: Excess will cause blockage or stagnation, which leads to pain. Think
traffic jam. This can manifest (1) in an energetic channel, causing local pain, or (2) in an
Organ, causing pain (e.g. Lung Qi stagnation -> chest constriction) or internal/systemic
problems (e.g. Liver Qi stagnation causing frustrated emotions).
Excess/blockage/stagnation can actually be caused by a Deficiency farther up the chain. For
example: Spleen Qi Stagnation (maybe due to Weak Spleen) reverses normal upward Qi flow
from Spleen, causing bloating/distension.
Sometimes Excess can also be caused by a sudden (external?) disruption, for example
stubbing your toe. A Yang reaction happens in response to the sudden Qi
blockage/stagnation.
4. Rebellious Qi
Any Qi that flows against, or is different from, the established/regular order/pattern, is
considered Rebellious Qi. As mentioned, most of the time it is out of place or disruptive, but
it can also be beneficial in the sense that sometimes it initiates an unblocking or a change
that is needed (albeit uncomfortable at first). Sounds like Marin Luther King Jr, no?
Now that weve covered enough on Qi, we move on to another Fundamental Body
Substance, Blood.
Blood Basics
From sacredlotus.com:
* Blood is denser form of Qi (more Yin).
* Blood is inseparable from Qi.
* Qi moves (pushes) Blood; Blood is the mother of Qi.
* Qi gives life and movement to Blood, but Blood nourishes the Organs that produce Qi.
When we speak of Blood in TCM we can mean the physical kind that flows in blood vessels,
as well as the energetic kind that flows in Qi channels. Blood and Qi are interdependent; one
needs to be strong for the other to be strong, and vice versa.
Pathologies of Blood/Qi:
* Qi weak, Blood strong > heart attack (Qi cant push Blood)
* Qi stagnant > Blood Stagnation/Stasis
* Qi+Blood Deficiency (usually go together)
* Blood Deficiency > dizziness, lack of mental focus, premature greying/baldness
* Blood Deficiency <-- shallow breathing <-- Lung dysfunction
Creation of Blood
This looks very similar to our Qi Synthesis Flowchart from Day 5, but one key difference is the
role of the Heart. The Heart makes the Blood circulate in its vessels, but we knew that
already. What we didnt know was that in TCM, the Heart is the Emperor who gives the Blood
its red color by stamping it with his official seal using red ink. He approves mightily.
Pathologies of the Heart:

* coldness <-- Heart Qi/Yang Deficiency
* low energy <-- Heart Qi Deficiency
* poor appetite <-- Heart Qi Deficiency
* pale complexion <-- Heart & Blood Qi Deficiency
The Spleen is the main Orgain in Blood production (see flowchart). The Spleen is also the
governor for Ying (Nutritive) Qi (contrasting with Lungs which govern Wei (Defensive) Qi).
Yin Qi is considered part of the Blood. Blood, as well as Ying Qi, are important for the
nourishment of internal organs. Too much mental stress weakens the Spleen, which causes
a vicous cycle (see Day 5). Adding stress as a factor here goes something like this :
Stress -> Spleen damage -> weak Spleen -> crave & eat Sweet foods -> more Speen
damage -> tiredness, brain fog, inability to cope -> more stress -> repeat cycle.
Quick recap of the circadian rhythm, or Chinese clock in TCM: the Liver stores Blood at
night, e.g. it is active and processing at 1-3am. The Liver is responsible for the quality and
quantity of Blood. There is an excellent interactive Organ clock here, with (static) screenshot
here.
Functions of Blood
1. Nourishes the body

Blood circulates, transports substances and nourishment to organs, skin, muscles, tendons,
sinews, ligaments, orifices, etc.
Pathologies:
* Dizziness <-- lack of nourishment of Shen from the Blood
* Poor eyesight, floaters, night blindness <-- weak Blood (/Liver)
* Numbness of limbs <-- Blood Deficiency, or Blood not flowing in its channel; contrast this
with Western (mis-diagnosis) of nerve dysfunction
* Numbness/tingling due to sleeping without turning <-- Blood Stagnation <-- Qi Deficiency
2. Moistens body tissues

Soft, supple skin and hair for instance. As one ages, their overall Qi as well as Blood health
declines, and body tissues are not as moist; as we age, we tend to dry up. Menopause is
actually a form of Yin Deficiency, exhibiting symptoms like vaginal dryness. Excess Heat can
also be to blame. Dry sinews tear easier (prone to sports injuries, for instance). Another
symptom of weak Blood is dry eyes (feels like sand).
3. Mental activity
When Blood is strong in terms of quality and quantity, one is mentally calm, happy, and able
to focus (Shen is balanced). Blood grounds the Shen (spirit), housed in the Heart.
Pathologies include anxiety, insomnia, sadness, disturbed dreams. Remember that the
Spleen (intestines) is crucial in Blood creation? The new science shows that there is gut-brain
connection. Studies performed by Dr. Wakefield and duplicated by others, prove this. Google
this topic here, they tried to shut this whistleblower down so its worth exploring both sides (be
careful, one side is motivated by money, not truth).
Disharmonies of the Blood
1. Deficiency due to poor diet, trauma/shock causing loss of blood, or Organ dysfunction (e.g.
Spleen, or Lungs).
2. Heat in the Blood. Symptoms: fever, excessive sweating, red complexion, insomnia,
disturbed dreams/hallucinations, mental restlessness/illness (bipolar, manic-depressive), skin
conditions (ulcers, carbuncles, furuncles), meningitis->psoriasis, cold sores (this one is a
misnomer, should really be heat sores). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy cause excessive
Heat in the Blood (very damaging). Other causes: too much coffee, red meat, spicy foods,
alcohol, even toxic emotions. We could say that Blood Excess Heat = Toxin Overload
(physical or emotional). Also, lack of sleep or sleeping out-of-cycle long-term will cause Heat
in the Blood.
3. Blood Stasis: its not moving! Symptoms: usually sharp, strong/stabbing pain. If the case of
Heart Blood Stasis, heart attack is the result, or angina pectoris (chest pain <-- obstruction or
spasm of the coronary arteries). In the brain, Blood Stasis could be caused by blood clotting
<-- brain aneurysm. This is very dangerous because the brain in TCM is considered one of
the Jing-carrying substances as well.
Etiology (causation): excess Cold. Here is how this typically progresses: extremities get cold
first --> pain > numb (no Blood flowing) > Cold has conquered > turn blue or bluish-
purple > lose a limb, oh noes !!
Now on to our next Wonder Substance, or as the proper folk like to say, Fundamental
Substance the oft-mentioned but never-fully-explained Shen, or spirit.
Shen (spirit)
I actually know someone Chinese with this name. The actual word in Pinyin is Shn and the
vowel sounds more like the one in stern than in men. Hear it at Google Translate and to
see the Chinese character. Yes folks, its true, we each are a trinity of Mind, Body and Spirit,
a fact recognized in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The Shen also represents vitality, consciousness and mental health. In TCM it resides in the
Heart, is housed (grounded, nourished) by the Blood. Shen is responsible for wisdom,
creativity, emotional intelligence, insight, intuition, sixth sense, and awareness of ourselves as
distinct from the environment. The Shen enables one to be aware of (and choose to follow)
social norms. This reminds me of a concept I studied in Psychology, self-monitoring.
If the Shen is disturbed in a person (e.g. due to trauma), it will not be grounded, and in
extreme cases can be dispersed or even temporarily displaced. The results vary:
restlessness, anxiety, mindlessness, confusion, even terror or insanity.
Shen enters the body upon conception, and leaves during death. It is eternal, being Spirit; it is
the part of us that never dies (law of conservation of energy: energy can be neither created
nor destroyed, but can be transferred) and many belief systems subscribe to the idea of
reincarnation. Whatever you believe, the concept of Shen is essential in TCM because it
explains and helps predict many things. Shen is considered pure (Yang) energy and because
it is so pure, is easily disturbed.
Now for the fun (but possibly scary) part we learned how true the adage the eyes are the
window of the soul is, with the concept of sanpaku (Japanese word, meaning 3 whites of
the eyes). Its a big topic but Ill let you research it yourself here in words or in pictures (each
worth a thousand words). Now wait a minute, why is the eye on the US dollar bill a sanpaku
eye?
Some Other Items We Discussed In Yesterdays Class
* The Brain is known as the Sea of Marrow and contains Jing like the Kidneys and spinal
cord.
* Diabetes in TCM is not classified as a Blood dysfunction, but overall Yin Deficiency.
* Too much sleep is unhealthy because it creates Yin Excess > Dampness. As compared to
too little sleep which has the opposite effect, burning of Yin (mentioned in Day 4).
MAY 14 2013 PUT ON YOUR DEFENSIVE QI, ITS COLD OUT!

LEAVE A COMMENT
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
Day 5
MEDICINE
by Gene Chuah
Put on the full armor of Wei Qi so that you can take your stand against Evil Qis
schemes.
What is this miraculous Jing essence we talked about in last weeks class? Jing is actually
just one of the several types of Qi (synonyms: Ki, Chi, Prana, universal energy, The Force)
coursing through our bodies. In the latest class yesterday, we went into further detail on the
other types of Qi in the human body, and the flowchart, or map, of its creation and end
products (defensive and nutritive Qi).
First, continuing on Jing. This Pre-Natal Essence, whose level is determined at birth, is stored
in the Kidneys, and is responsible for: body growth, reproduction, development (vital in
growth of genitalia, bones, teeth, hair) and constitutional strength especially at birth. The
quality and quantity of Jing that you have also determines your lifespan and strength of your
immune system. Insufficient Jing can cause issues like absent or underdeveloped genitalia.
Your Jing level (quantity, quality) is influenced during conception and pregnancy, by 3 types of
factors : (1) Chronic (e.g. smoker parent(s)), (2) Acute (e.g. emotional shock during
pregnancy), and (3) Environmental (e.g. time of day, season, astrology at birth).
Jing actually has 2 subtypes. Now heres where the naming gets a bit tricky, but its really
simple if you use my made-up names. See table below :
Correct Jing (Pre-Natal

Yuan Qi (Original, Primary Qi)
names Essence)
Genes
made-up Yin Jing Yang Jing
names
How More Yin than its More Yang than its twin, moves faster;
theyre
twin; moves slower. helps move Jing and circulate it through the
different channels; think of it as the transporter (its
still Jing though).
Both are actually Pre-Natal Essence (just different polarities)

stored in Kidneys, endowed at birth, with finite quality/quantity
determined at conception/pregnancy; responsible for growth,
How
reproduction, development, health maintenance etc.; direct
theyre
correlation with immune strength and lifespan; consumed at a low
similar
baseline rate unless facing physical overexertion; is needed for life
to continue. Also consumed via: pregnancy, lactation, and
ejaculation.
Now on to our most exciting Qi Synthesis Flowchart :
Pretty self-explanatory isnt it? A picture is worth a thousand words (granted, this is a
picture with words in it). This diagram is actually an amalgamation from what I learned in
yesterdays class plus other TCM material I gathered from around the Web.
A word on True Qi (Zhen Qi). Related concepts: Good Qi, Correct Qi, Upright Qi, Righteous
Qi, and Central Qi (see this snapshot discussion). In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is a
continuous war between Good and Evil that happens in all our bodies. Evil Qi is usually
equated with the external elements, and you need a surplus of Good Qi (True Qi) in order to
overcome Evil Qi (continually invading from the outside) in order to maintain good health. So,
a cold draft at night is definitely one of Evil Qis henchmen, better make sure you defend
against it. Defend with what? Thankfully your True Qi has 2 components : Defensive Qi (Wei
Qi), and Nutritive Qi (Ying Qi). You could think of one as the Ministry of Defense and the
other as the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment. Defensive (Wei) Qi
is your knight in shining armor, ready to defend your body against the orcish hordes.
Defensive Qi is more Yang compare to Nutritive Qi, which is Yin in contrast. Think of Nutritive
Qi as the citizens of the kingdom, peacefully going about their lives, building, trading, cooking,
cleaning and pursuing the arts. They wouldnt know a thing or two about warfare and in fact
they are more dormant during the daytime (the Yang half of the day), during which Defensive
Qi is more active. At night when you go to sleep, the balance shifts from Defensive to
Nutritive Qi so your body can heal itself and do all sorts of nifty things like regenerating your
cells. Which is why it is important to make sure you are protected from the elements when
you go to sleep at night because your army is asleep and you are more vulnerable to
attack. That open window bringing in a draft will make you catch a cold much easier, even if
youre too slow to catch a cold.
Take note that in fact, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, this kingdom allegory of the human
body is actually used, and was documented in the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperors
Classic of Internal Medicine) as follows :
Also, an important note here regarding the Organs. Youll notice that I used the uppercase O
for Organs. From this article on, Ill be adopting this naming scheme where TCM organs will
have the uppercase (e.g. Spleen, Stomach, Kidneys). This is to differentiate them from the
*real* physiological organ documented in modern medicine (non-TCM). The reason there is
this is distinction, is because very often in TCM the Organ doesnt not correlate 1-for-1 with
the actual organ in function and even physical appearance and location. For instance, we
know that in modern medical terms, the spleens main function is to filter the blood and
participate in the immune system. However in TCM, the Spleen performs the function of the
intestines. This a very important concept to grasp when studying Traditional Chinese
Medicine. The key thing is that we are using models that describe the processes and
subsystems of the body, and these models are indeed very accurate in describing how the
body works, and how to correct health imbalances as a practitioner. TCM is not concerned
about the minute details of physiology who cares what atoms make up the molecules that
make up the proteins that make up the hormones that send messages to notify some
transglobuleraseic lammunotamic fluid about its zygonomitrous underundulamations? Its too
easy to fall into this trap of empirical reductionism and not see the forest for the trees.
Sometimes less is more.
Now back to Evil Qis plotting and his plans for world domination. Defensive (Wei) Qi works
hard to keep you protected from him, and when the battle heats up, your body literally heats
up too. This is because Wei Qi is Yang (warm, energetic) in nature, and in order to win, more
Wei Qi is allocated by the body to the battlefield (at the expense of Nutritive (Ying) Qi).
Defensive Qi works mostly around the skin and muscles, and includes responses like
vasodilation, vasoconstriction, shivering, and fevers, whereas Nutritive Qi works mostly in the
bodys interior, particularly the Organs. Yes, fever is a classic example of a fierce, hot Yang
battle going on, and in fact, the stronger ones immune system, the more intense the battle
(higher fever, worse symptoms) but it is all over quickly, as opposed to a long-drawn-out
illness. Sweating during a fever is seen in TCM as the bodys way of expelling the pathogen;
the pores let the evil out.
Incidentally lately in the world of modern medicine there has been a renaissance of letting
fevers run their course instead of bringing them down immediately. This is a good thing, and
rightly so there has been some deeply entrenched scaremongering about fevers causing
brain damage, but the incidence of this extremely low, and only happens when the
hypothalamus is malfunctioning (extremely rare) (e.g. due to infection), causing a runaway
fever. Having a good fever and sweating it out will often cure a patient, whereas patients on
fever-lowering medications (very common OTC drugs) take much longer to get better. Take a
look at these pro-fever articles.
If Evil Qi should get past the Wei Qi defense though, it can hide in the body and continue to
cause problems (an infection in modern terms). In serious cases, this pathogenic evil heat
permeates Ying (Nutritive) Qi yes, it becomes part of the body Qi (e.g. hepatitis, HIV).
It is important to make hay while the sun shines when it comes to cultivating Defensive
(Wei) Qi. It is best cultivated Daytime vs. Nighttime, and Summer vs. Winter. This makes
sense as during the Day we are awake an able to proactively take care of our health (good
food, exercise, etc.). Also, during the Summer months, it is easier to grow fresh food and get
plenty of sunshine to build up your Qi reserves before grumpy Old Man Winter comes
around again. Be careful, hes a good friend of Dr. Evil Qi!
Other cool things we learned in yesterdays class (in no particular order, and I may jump
around) :
The Kidneys are a source of both Fire and Water. The Ming Men, located between the
Kidneys, is the gate of vitality or gate of fire. Together with the Kidneys, both Jing (Water)
and Yuan Qi (Fire) are distributed to the body in the needed proportion.
An Acupuncture point, Du 4, corresponds to the Ming Men. It is located on the back, on the
latitude 3 finger-widths below the belly button. Together with some other Acu points on the
same latitude, they are great treatment points for Kidney Yang Deficiency. Use moxa
(moxibustion) for these points. Especially useful for treating low fertility. The uterus tends to
be cold; fertility issues in general are due to lack of heat (both physical heat and TCM Yang).
You need warmth to incubate new life; moxa and herbs have been very successful in treating
infertility especially in China where there is widespread acceptance and practice.
Each of the 12 main Acupuncture channels has a Yuan Source Point, through which Jing can
be brought in. Typically this is used when an Organ needs it; the channel that feeds the
Organ is selected for needling on the source point. Think of these Yuan Source Points as
faucets and the Meng Men as a pump.
Shen, or spirit, resides in the Heart. Emotional or physical trauma can unseat the Shen and
cause a person to be in a disoriented/wandering state (he hasnt been himself ever since).
In extreme traumatic situations (shock), Jing can be lost from the Kidneys as if they were
wrung out, and Shen can be dispersed in some cases this is a permanent loss. This
helps explain comas, and cases where someones head hair turns grey in a very short span
of time.
The placenta contains a lot of Jing. Animals in nature eat it after giving birth, to regain lost
Jing. Some human mothers are doing this as well (Google: Placentophagy).
There is also a growing awareness in the medical field that after birth, the umbilical cord must
not be cut until at least 2 minutes has passed. See these articles. There is still blood and
stem cells being pumped through the umbilical cord after birth (and in fact some proponents
vouch for not cutting it at all, and letting it fall off naturally). The benefits extend beyond the
early neo-natal period and babies delivered this way are healthier (more stem cells and
immunoglobulin through the blood, stronger immunity). Here is a photo that was making its
rounds on Facebook, showing how the umbilical cord changes over time as it loses blood to
the baby (if not cut too early):
There is research to back this up see this study, Mankinds first natural stem cell
transplant.
One interesting revelation: stem cells contain Jing. There is a connection between placental
stem cells and anti-aging. Remember that Jing correlates to lifespan, and that it is endowed
at birth? Both the placenta and umbilical cord are also rich sources of stem cells, and it looks
like this precious resource of Pre-Natal Essence has led to all sorts of commoditization
around it. See also : placenta cord banking. Is it worth more to the mother eating it or selling
it? How much is a year of your lifespan worth?
The quality of Gu Qi (Food Qi) is dependent on the suitability of the food or drink to the
individual, as well as the healthy functioning of their Spleen.
Spleen Yang is needed to burn food. With Spleen Qi Deficiency, the stool will be soft/runny
(diarrhea), and the patient will be tired. My analogy is incomplete combustion a cold
engine will produce a stronger smell of wet gasoline due to not enough burn.
Sweet-tasting foods feed Spleen Yang. However, too much Sweetness and/or the wrong kind
(refined sugars) will wreck the system and cause a vicious cycle by weakening the Spleen,
which in turn results in excess Damp (obesity, tiredness, brain fog). A weak Spleen will cause
one to crave Sweet foods, perpetuating the vicious cycle. In TCM, rice is a good kind of
Sweet food, supplying good Spleen Yang. In TCM, Sweetness corresponds to carbohydrates
it may not have to be actually sweet-tasting to be classified as Sweet (hence the
classification of rice). Its no surprise that rice is a staple in traditional diets, particularly Asian
diets. The body prefers a certain regularity when it comes to diet. Traditional Asian diets are
quite constant rice along with side dishes, usually prepared the same way (some
variations like steaming, boiling, stir-frying, but mostly a wet style as opposed to baking,
roasting, frying). The ingredients may vary, but its not as big of a swing as, say pizza one
day, pasta another, then steak on yet another day.
The Guardian of Wei Qi is the Lungs; the Guardian of Ying Qi is the Spleen.
Signs of low Wei Qi : cold limbs, weakness, low energy, susceptible to colds/flus. Signs of
sufficient Wei Qi : redness, sweatiness.
Not all Evil Qi is external; some can originate from within. For instance, excessive anger or
worry can manifest as disease (psychosomatic causes).
Eat Yang foods for breakfast to boost Defensive (Wei) Qi (a Yang energy). Conversely, eat
Yin foods before bed to boost Nutritive (Ying) Qi (a Yin energy).
4 Functions of Qi :
1. Transforming (think of electricity powering a microphone)
2. Transporting/Moving (physical+mental : voluntary+involuntary actions)
3. Holding (youll be surprised what starts falling out when Qi levels are lower, e.g. in old age)
4. Protecting (via Defensive Qi, as discussed above)
5. Warming
When the Heart (where the Shen or Spirit resides) is at peace, one is able to speak their mind
clearly. The flip side is stuttering, incoherence or even mental illness. Also, too much
pathogenic heat at the Heart can disrupt the Shen and cause mental illness.
The San Jiao or Triple Warmer is an Organ that regulates heat by moving warmth between 3
main vertical regions :
A. Chest, Lungs, Heart (more Yang)
B. Spleen, Stomach, Liver
C. Kidneys, Bladder, Intestines, Uterus (more Yin)
The Heart benefits from Zong Qi (Gathering Qi). With good Zong Qi (see Qi Synthesis
Flowchart above), the heart beats stronger, more rhythmically. Correlated with cardio
strength, and can be cultivated. A marathon runner is able to extract Zong Qi more efficiently
than an armchair dweller.
The Spleen is directly related to our capacity for thinking and concentration. See this
excellent snapshot page from tcmstudent.com for the Functions of the Spleen.
MAY 07 2013 WHY BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL LEADS TO EARLY DEATH, AND
LEAVE A COMMENT WHY WOMEN AGE FASTER THAN MEN
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE
Day 4
by Gene Chuah
God is fair, and everything is a trade-off.
Men, save your seed! That was one of the many valuable lessons we learned from
yesterdays class. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, you are endowed with a fixed amount of
life force at birth. At the moment, there is no known technique for adding to this savings
account it was created for you during conception by your parents contributions using a
portion each of their own life-force, and also determined while you were in the womb (your
mom chipped in big-time). Called Pre-Natal Essence, or Jing, this vital energy determines
your lifespan, because it is always being used up in the best case of good health, only at a
trickles pace, but in the worst case (always burning the midnight oil, daily stress,
overexertion, poor diet, lack of exercise, toxin burden, excessive grief etc.), you will be
burning Jing as a much higher rate and this, to put it simply, will be the death of you (so
thats how the saying came about).
A quick recap of my Day 3 entry I had mentioned burning Yin, where Yin is the
nurturing/soothing force that helps balance the aggressive, active fire of Yang however in
modern society we are burning up Yin much too fast. Pre-Natal Jing Essence is one of the
Yin factors that gets burned up in the fires of excessive Yang. Thankfully there is non-Jing
energy that we can use to keep this fire in check. Its called Post-Natal Qi (which in turn
contains Yin and Yang polarities, Yin being useful here), which you can acquire daily from
food, drink, and the air. Think of this as your checking account. A quick step into the world of
Pranic Healing reveals to us that there are actually 4 sources of Qi (also known as Prana) :
(1) Solar (2) Air (3) Earth, and (4) Tree Prana. If you are honoring your body and in harmony
with the laws of nature (living healthy in all aspects), then this Post-Natal life-force is like a
daily paycheck that will keep you out of debt and keep you from dipping into your precious
Jing savings account. Other types of non-Jing Yin substances are Blood (TCM concept), body
fluids, and Yin forces that reside in the organs. Yang fire burns any type of Yin though, so
youd better have plenty of Yin to spare and to shield precious Jing with.
Why is it so important not only to get enough sleep, but to also (ideally) sleep when it gets
dark, and rise at dawn, like our ancestors did? If we look at the earths day and night cycle, it
looks something like this :
Ebb and flow. During the Day, Yang is the predominant force. This is quite evident daytime
is hotter, has more activity (even if you choose to sleep, the birds and bees will be abuzz),
and has a high energy level compared to Night which is cooler, quieter, and low-energy, even
dormant. Day and Night need each other; if the Earth stopped spinning, one side of the planet
would get fried while the other would be frozen.
Now heres the poetic (but true) part. Since we are a microcosm within the macrocosm of the
Earth, this cycle also applies to us, and it needs to coincide with the larger day/night cycle of
the Earth. After all, we are Yin relative to our planet, so it makes sense that we should submit
to its laws. If youre not taking the time to throttle down and relax at the end of the day, and
if you live a Yang-excess lifestyle (too much noise/activity, not enough quiet/rest), then you
will be burning up Yin in an attempt to maintain balance. When Yin is weak or insufficient,
your Yang energy will not be kept in check and will flare up when youre trying to sleep,
causing tossing & turning, insomnia, or even nightmares :
This is not too bad until you keep pushing it and eventually run out of spendable, Post-Natal
Yin-Qi and start burning up Pre-Natal Jing Essence. So remember to take it easy (a parting
wish common to Western society but unheard of in traditional Asian culture). Theres also a
phrase in Chinese that my father used to quote to me, translated thus: early to sleep, early to
rise, the body is healthy. Easier said than done, I know it boils down to whether or not you
want premature death.
Coincidentally, honoring the day/night cycle is also known to the Western mind via the
Circadian Rhythm which says that 10pm to 6am is actually the ideal time-block for sleep.
Now on to our next exciting topic. Why does it seem that women mature faster (think teens)
than men, and why does it appear that women age faster too? You know the thing about
younger women and older men. And people do say men seem to age better. Surprise
surprise, according to TCM, women run on 7-year cycles while men run on 8-year cycles.
Now if not for offsetting factors one of them that men lose Jing through ejaculation
men are supposed to outlive women.
Hmm I had always suspected that women are overclocked compared men, so this now
makes sense. Given the same energy, a higher-frequency wave (women) travels less far than
a lower-frequency one (men) :
Of course, again, we know that this is not the only factor because women end up living longer
than men. But this picture shows us, for example, that a woman has reached her 5th
milestone at age 35, while a man reaches it at age 40, given the same expenditure of energy.
God is fair. In many ways, women run circles around men, and we all know it. Here is the list
of gender trade-offs that we touched on in class :
Men Women
Age slower, but have shorter lives Age faster, but have longer lives
Free from having to give birth Give birth, using up Pre-Natal Essence (Jing)
Orgasms use up Jing Orgasms are free
Age better Develop faster
But 7/8-year cycles of what? Every cycle, each person gets an infusion of Jing (from the
Kidneys, where Jing is stored). Think of it as a big withdrawal from your savings account
every 7 or 8 years. You use this money differently depending on your age. In your younger
years, youll be using it for growth (the second cycle is puberty), but in later years, the
withdrawals are smaller, and youre using it mostly as fuel to maintain your body. I didnt get a
clear answer on this in class, but I imagine it to be more of a smoothened sawtooth wave
rather than a pure sine wave, diminishing over time (note to self: needs further research).
I can imagine that all this may not come as good news to both men and women reading this,
but it is what it is. For the men : some of you may remember this Internet meme. I guess its
not too far off from the truth in the sense that this is not a free transaction. Now before you
come at me with the pitchforks, also know that in TCM there is a recommended schedule (to
be covered in a later class) for men so that you dont burn up your Jing too fast, which
means, abstinence isnt the rule (in case you were concerned).
Also, some people are endowed with more Jing from the get-go (in terms of quantity as well
as quality) (millionares, we call them), explaining how some women can have 20 kids and still
be more than fine. Not all is lost, however; even if you started out with a small Jing bank
account, you can still do a lot and go far by generating and living off good Post-Natal Qi with
a healthy lifestyle, according to our instructor. Related idea : parable of the talents.
Heres whats written in the Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine) (I
plucked this off somewhere; needs verification) :
Female Jing Cycles of Seven
A womans Kidney energy becomes prosperous at seven years of age (17).

Her menstruation appears as the ren (sea of yin) channel flows and the chong (sea of
blood) channel becomes prosperous at the age of 14 (27).
Her Kidney qi reaches a balanced state, and her teeth are completely developed at the
age of 21 (37).
Her vital energy and blood are substantial, her four limbs are strong and the body is at
optimal condition at the age of 28 (47).
Her peak condition declines gradually. The yang ming channel is depleted, her face
withers and her hair begins to fall out at the age of 35 (57).
Her three yang channels, tai yang, yang ming and shao yang, begin to decline. Her face
complexion wanes and her hair turns white at the age of 42 (67).
The ren and chong channels are both declining, her menstruation ends, her physique
turns old and feeble, and she can no longer conceive at the age of 49 (77).
Male Jing Cycles of Eight
A mans Kidney energy is prosperous, his hair develops and his teeth emerge at the age
of eight (1x 8).
His Kidney energy grows and is filled with vital energy, and he is able to let his sperm out
at the age of 16 (28).
His Kidney energy is developed, his extremities are strong, and all of his teeth are
developed by the age of 24 (38).
His body has developed to its best condition, and his extremities and muscles are very
strong at the age of 32 (48).
His Kidney energy begins to decline, his hair falls out and his teeth begin to whither at the
age of 40 (58).
His Kidney energy declines more, the yang energy of the entire body declines, his
complexion becomes withered and his hair turns white at the age of 48 (68).
His Liver energy declines as a result of Kidney deficiency; the tendons become rigid and
fail to be nimble at the age of 56 (78).
His essence and vital energy is weak, as are his bones and tendons. His teeth fall out
and his body becomes decrepit at the age of 64 (88).
More nuggets we picked up in yesterdays class :
Menopause is classified as a Yin deficiency.
In order of Yang to Yin, its : vodka, red wine, white wine, then beer. Beer has both Yang and
Yin components. Too much beer causes a beer belly due to excess Damp.
Yang-excess and Yin-deficiency are similar, in that Yang overpowers Yin. However, in Yang
excess, Yin is near the normal absolute; in Yin deficiency, Yang is near the normal absolute.
Both conditions are similar but because Yang-excess is higher-energy, the symptoms,
although similar, are greater in magnitude. Some differences though : Yang-exc gulping vs.
Yin-def sipping (thirst), Yang-exc heat symptoms throughout the day, but Yin-def mostly in
evening and night. For both conditions: rapid hunger, thirst, constipation, sweating, irritability,
scanty/dark urine, preference for coolness. Hmm, this gets me thinking in Western society
we say someone is cool maybe because they are really full of Yang fire (a positive trait in
Western society) but are also balanced with coolness (a calm demeanour?) the
magnitude of their Yin reflecting on the magnitude of their Yang?
The flip side of the coin are the cold conditions : Yang Deficiency and Yin Excess. Similar
symmetry relative to each other; general symptoms are : feeling cold, low energy, needing to
sleep longer, poor circulation, poor digestion, anemia, paleness, soft stools or diarrhea, no
thirst, abundant urine, preference for warmth. Yin Excess is more rare but symptoms are
more serious and usually involve pain (Qi blockage).
Kidney beans are good for the kidneys. For both kidney Yang, Yin, and Jing. The doctrine of
signatures seems to apply here.
Continuing from last week, the 4th principle of Yin and Yang is its constant transformation.
For example, in the food chain, grass is Yin, eaten by a deer, which is Yang relative to it. The
deer is Yin to a lion, which is more Yang. When the lion eats the deer, it is satiated and
becomes more Yin, feeling relaxed (also 3rd principle of mutual consuming-supporting). But
when the lion dies, it becomes Yin, providing nourishment to Yang decomposing bacteria (its
Yang energy also gets released to Heaven, or back to Source). So as we can see, Yin and
Yang are constantly being transformed, its balance continually shifting within any one actor.
This principle also applies to ones actvities during their daily cycle which ties into the
importance of winding down the day as mentioned earlier (shifting gears, not Yang all the
time).
Best time to exercise is around 5pm when Kidney Qi is strongest. Kidney supports physical
strength. This is similar to the Base Chakras function in Pranic Healing. Ive also read about
the 5pm peak from other articles on circadian rhythm.
Qi energy in TCM organs follows a specific direction each organ has a prescribed
direction. For the Stomach, it is downward. During an imbalance, if it flows upward, it is
considered rebellious and nausea is a symptom.
Different foods are cooling (Yin), warming (Yang) or neutral. An imbalance in your diet will
cause you to become closer to one pole, which will also affect your behavior (e.g. aggressive,
high-energy vs. calm, low-energy). Cultural diets in most cases support (cause?) cultural
expectations of behavior. However sometimes youll have people whose inborn traits make
them a misfit in their society (anti-war vegan at a UFC barbecue or punk rocker born to Zen
priests?). Well whaddaya know meat is Yang, and vegetables are Yin. Which culture eats
more of each?
Jing energy is vital for health in old age think of it as your pension fund. Jing-poverty in old
age means weakened teeth and bones. The kidneys store Jing so any kidney impairment will
also affect Jing supply.
Jing is considered a Yin energy. If you think of a seed, it is dormant (yet has great potential).
It is small. It belongs to the earth. All Yin qualities. It should also make sense that semen is
Yin (in fact it is), as it also is a type of seed, and it carries Jing essence. Semen is also carried
in an external pouch designed with the main purpose of cold storage and Cold == Yin.
Also, tying back in to the Pranic Healing world, the lower chakras (Base, Sex chakras) are
considered lower energetically and are of lower vibration/frequency. Being lower is also a
Yin quality.
What a great class !!
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Below: Differences in Symptoms Between a Cold and the Flu

Symptom Wind-Cold Wind-Heat

Aversion to wind & cold wind & heat

Fever slight high

Sweating none/slight lots

Thirst none big

Nose runny congested

Nasal discharge thin, watery thick, yellow

Throat itchy bad sore throat

Cough slight strong

Tongue no change red (heat, fever)

Pulse slow (cold) rapid (heat)

Headaches usually occipital (Tai- can be throbbing, temporal,

upper shoulder muscle body aches especially in upper

Below: Typical Progression of Cold into Flu

Patient Case Studies

Due to limited time, Ill only cover one case study.

Also a good refresher of the 8 Principles from Day 12 is also in order.

Case Study: 50-year-old woman, menopausal.

Symptom Explanation Principle

Insomnia falls This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

Heart palpations When startled here is key, it Deficiency vs

Malar (partial) flush. Anytime its partial vs full, we Deficiency vs

Feeling of heat in This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

Night sweats. This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

Dry mouth and This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

Sore and weak Known flag for Kidney Yin Deficiency vs

Cold vs Heat? Heat.

Yin vs Yang? Yang.

Dry stools, Dry and tendency to Cold vs Heat? Heat.

Tongue: red, peeled This is a known flag for Yin Deficiency vs

Yin vs. Yang? Yang.

Pulse: weak, rapid. Weakness points to Deficiency vs

with the overall diagnosis of Kidney Yin Deficiency

JUL 27 2013 THE CHINESE HEALTH TROUBLESHOOTING SYSTEM : ITS

Q: How do you eat an elephant?

Below: The 8 Principles Of Pattern Identification

(1) Yin (2) Yang

(3) Cold (4) Heat

(5) Interior (organs) (6) Exterior (limbs, skin)

(7) Deficiency (8) Excess

Below: Yin-Yang Physical Traits For Diagnosis

chronic disease acute disease

slow onset of symptoms sudden onset of symptoms

pale complexion flushed complexion

cold limbs & body hot limbs & body

likes heat, hates cold likes cold, hates heat

prefers hot drinks prefers cold drinks

likes to curl up throws clothes off

quiet and still loud and hyperactive

obsessive, nervous, agitated, timid aggressive, angry, confrontational

calculating and meticulous takes risks

dislike speaking over-talkative

reduced appetite excessive appetite

watery stools dry stools

frequent, abundant, pale urination scanty dark urination

Some examples of wrong treatments involving the Interior-Exterior dimension:

Notes on some of these Dimensions:

Cold vs. Heat

A. Etiology (root causes):