Theory & Clinical Reasoning
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The Breath as Clinical Method: A Practical Guide
“May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows?’Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power;’Tis moved again, and sends forth air the more.” Dao De Jing, Chapter 5 The Neijing establishes the principle that the same forces governing the cosmos operate within the human body. The image of the bellows,…
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Shaoyin – Keeper of Mysteries of the Universe
A key to understanding Chinese medicine lies in the foundational concept of the human body as a microcosm of the universe. This correspondence between cosmic forces and human anatomy and physiology is articulated in a beautiful passage of the Neijing, Lingshu chapter 71: Heaven is round, the earth is square. Man’s head is round, his…
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What are the 6 Classifications of Disease?
The 6 classifications of disease of the Shanghan Lun are composed of 3 Yin 3 Yang1, each mentioned by name in correlation to certain disease characteristics and specific therapeutic methods. For example in line 1 there is the outline of a Tai Yang pathology: “In disease of Tai Yang, the pulse is floating, the head…
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Where do we draw the line?
I have written an article for a blog of a colleague and friend of mine who specializes in the treatment of vulvodynia. The topic of discussion is the clinical use of the acupuncture point CV1, which has been previously discussed on her blog in terms of ethical and practical application. I decided to approach it from…
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Thoughts on the Yang Ming-Tai Yin dynamics
The dynamics of Yang Ming and Tai Yin conformations embodies the Yin-Yang dynamics of opposing forces which support, complement and depend on each other. The Yang Ming is the only internal conformation among the 3 Yang conformations. The nature of Yang is to rise and expand, however in the Yang Ming the Yang converges and…
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A Key to the Understanding of Yin and Yang
We are familiar with the description of Yin and Yang as relatively opposing, complementing and mutually nourishing forces. Usually depicted in form of defining charts such as: Yang Yin day night external internal active restful Clinically, there is an abundance of insights stemming from this theory. The Chinese theory of Yin-Yang is an understanding of…
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Discussion on: Opening, Closing, Pivot
The terms “opening, closing, pivot” are mentioned in the Nei Jing, in reference to the qualities of each of the six conformations. These terms are important to the theoretical understanding of the dynamics of each individual conformation, as well as the dynamics of the relationships between the conformations. In this article, I would like to…
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Understanding the 6 conformations model – Part 2: The Yin conformations
The 6 conformations model describes the dynamics necessary for the healthy physiological function of our body. Each conformation represents a different dynamic, responsible for a wide array of roles. The core of the 6 conformations model, is embedded in the title of the text, Shang Han Lun – Treatise of Cold Damage. This book is…
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Understanding the 6 conformations model – Part 1: The Yang conformations
The Shang Han Lun (傷寒論, Shānghánlùn) is widely considered as one of the most significant books in the development of Chinese medicine, and an important component for the understanding of Chinese medicine thought. However, there is a vast misconception of its contents, a misconception revealed even by the difficulty in translating the title of the…