Basic

Characteristics
of TCM
College of TCM,
Chongqing Medical
University
Luo Huali

Basic Characteristics of
TCM
1.The concept of the
Organism as a Whole
2. Diagnosis and
Treatment based on an
Overall Analysis of
Signs and Symptoms

1.The concept of the

Organism as a Whole

Organic whole means

entirety and unity.
1) the unity within the
body
Five viscera---six
bowels----tissues---

1.The concept of the

Organism as a Whole

2) The Unity between

the Human Body and
Nature
Eg. Spring---epidemic
febrile diseases
Summer---sunstrokes

1.The concept of the

Organism as a Whole

Autumn---dryness
Winter----cold-stroke
Eg. Solar-term

2. Diagnosis and Treatment based

on an Overall Analysis of Signs and
Symptoms

Bian Zheng ------analyzing

the
relevant information, signs
and symptoms collected by
the four methods of
diagnosis(observation,
listening and smelling,
inquiring, pulse taking and
palpation) of TCM,-----

2. Diagnosis and Treatment

based on an Overall Analysis
of Signs and Symptoms

------having a good idea of

the cause, nature and
location of a disease, and
the relationship between
pathogenic factors and
the vital Qi----summarizing them into

2. Diagnosis and Treatment

based on an Overall Analysis
of Signs and Symptoms

Shi Zhi----determining
Zhi
the corresponding
therapeutic method
according to the
conclusions of Bian
Zheng.
Zheng

The Theory of Yin-Yang

AND The Five Elements

Basic Concepts

Yin and Yang means the

two fundamental principles
or forces in the universe,
ever opposing and
supplementing each other.

The five elements

refers to wood,
fire, earth, metal
and water, each
having its own
special properties.

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

1. The Content of the Yin and Yang

Theory
1) Opposition and Interdependence of
Yin and Yang
Be considered as yang: heaven, outside,
movement, going out, day, heat, rising,
rapid pulse, functional movements, etc.
Yin: earth, inside, stability, coming in,
night, cold, falling, slow pulse,
nourishing substances, etc.

The opposition and

interdependence of yin
and yang is not static but
dynamic.

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

2)Waxing and Waning of Yin and

Yang, and the Transformation
between Yin and Yang
While yin wanes, yang waxes.
On the contrary, while yin waxes,
yang wanes. This dynamic process
is meant by waxing and waning of
yin and yang.

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and
Yang

i.e. Winter----spring----summer-----autumn
yang waxes, yin wanes---yang wanes, yin waxes

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

If the waxing and waning of the

yin and yang is a quantitative
alternation, then the
transformation of yin and yang is
a qualitative alteration.
E.g.. Daytime-------night

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and
Yang
Yin and Yang will
transform into their
opposite direction under
certain conditions or in a
certain stage of
development.

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang
2 Uses of the Theory of Yin and
Yang in TCM
1) To explain the Tissues and
Structure of the Human body
Upper-lower,
interiorexterior,
abdomenback,
lateral aspectmedia aspect, etc.

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

Five viscerastore but

not discharge essence
qi--static state---yin
Six bowelstransmit and
transform food into
essence qi but not store
it ---dynamic state---yang

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and
Yang

Five viscera: heart,

lung---yang
spleen, liver,
kidney---yin

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and
Yang
Meridians: yin
meridians,
yang
meridians
Qi and blood: Qi--yang , blood----yin

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

2 To explain the
Physiological Function of
the Human body
function pertains to yang
matter substance ---yin

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

3 To explain the
Pathological Changes of
the Human body
Vital-qi
yang qi
yin essence
Evil qi
yang-evil
yin-evil

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

4)To direct the diagnosis

and treatment
These types are yang:
exterior, heat and sthenia
On the contrary, interior,
cold and asthenia---yin

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

To direct the diagnosis

In observation of the
patients complexion:
Bright and vivid----dark
and gloomy

In smelling and listening:

a loud and clear voice----a low
and weak voice
In inquiring:
Fever, feel thirsty,
constipation---an aversion to
cold, dont feel thirsty, loose
stools or diarrhea

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

In pulse taking:

Floating, rapid, large,

slippery, full-----------deep, slow, small,
rough, empty

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

To direct the treatment

Excess of ( Overabundant,
preponderance yang
----hyperfunction of the organism
and heat manifestations , heat
syndrome caused by an excess of
yangsthenic heat syndrome
Drugs of Cold or cool
Heat
syndrome must be treated with
drugs cold in nature.

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

Excess of Overabundant,
preponderance yin ----cold
syndrome caused by an excess
of yincold-sthenia
syndrome(or interior cold of
excess type)
Drugs with a
warm-heat nature
Cold
syndrome should be treated with
drugs warm in nature.

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

The deficiency of yang brings

on symptoms of external
cold-----deficiency cold
syndrome----drugs of warm
and invigorating nature
should be used.

Section 1
The Theory of Yin and Yang

The deficiency of yin leads to

endogenous heat-----asthenic
heat syndrome----drugs of
nourishing yin should be
used-----the method of treating
the syndrome of excessive yang
as caused by yin deficiency by
tonifying and nourishing the
kidney.

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

1 The characters of five elements

1 Wood inclining to be
harmonious and flourishing
Wood is used to represent the liver.
The growth of a tree is employed to
represent the physiologic tendency
of the liver for harmony and
flourishing rather than restraint.

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

2 Fire has the flaring

nature
The burning nature of fire
is used to exemplify the
flaring characteristics of
the pathogenic changes
due to abnormal fire.

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

3 Everything in nature grows

out of the Earth
Earth represents the spleen,
which is the source of nutrition
for building up the body,
providing material basis for vital
function, just as the earth is the
source of everything in nature.

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

4 Metal
The lung-qi should be clear and
descending
The lungs corresponding to metal.
The lung-qi should be clear and
descending rather than rising.
Symptoms and signs just like
cough, shortness of breath or
asthma, etc. will occur.

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

5 Water flowing downward.

The natural phenomenon that
water always flows downwards
is used to modify the
downward figures of
pathologic manifestations of
illness due to excessive
moisture.

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

2 Relations of five elements

1)Inter- generation
Generation replies production
and promotion.
i.e. Water generates wood ,and
Wood generates fire.
Generating ----being generated
Mother----son

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

2)Inter restriction
Restriction refers control or
restraint.
i.e. Wood
Metal restricts wood, and
wood restricts earth.
Restricting----being restricted

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

3)Subjugation
It means excessively
restriction.
Eg. Metal
wood
earth

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

4)Reverse restriction
It refers to a reversal of
inter-restriction and is
another manifestation of a
disturbance of the normal
harmony between
matters.

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

3.the application of the theory

of five elements in TCM
1) explaining the correlations
between the five viscera
Eg1. The vital essence of the
kidney nourishes the liver.-----water generates wood

Section 2
The Theory of Five
Elements
Eg2.The spleen
transforms and
distributes food
essence to replenish
the lung.-----earth
generates the metal

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

Eg3 .Spleen plays a role in

transporting, distributing and
transforming nutrients and
promoting water metabolism
and may prevent the overflow
of the water of the kidney.--earth restricts water

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

2) explaining the pathological

influences between the five viscera
subjugating
Eg. Fire
metal

Wood
reversely
metal

restricting

iIlness of mother-organ involving

son-organ
iIlness of son-organ involving
mother-organ( )

Lung trouble

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

3)Diagnosing and treating

diseases
If hypofunction is found in the
son-organ, the mother-organ
should be tonified; if
hyperfunction is found in the
mother-organ, the son-organ
should be treated with purgation.

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

Reinforcing earth to generate

metal(strengthening the
function of the spleen to
benefit the lung)
Replenishing water to nourish
wood(nourishing the essence
of the kidney to benefit the
liver)

Section 2
The Theory of Five Elements

Supporting earth to restrict

wood(supplementing the function
of the spleen to treat
hyperactivity of the liver)
Strengthening water to control
fire(replenishing the essence of
the kidney to treat hyperactivity
of the heart)