Chapter two

Basic theory of TCM

How is the initiation of TCM?

From practice and experience A long history Huangdi Neijing (Huangdi’s Classic of Inte

rnal Medicine) The book summarizes the therapeutic exp

eriences and medical theories of that time period.

One of the classical books

The celebrated ancient Chinese doctors

Hua Tuo Late Eastern Han Dynasty Mafei San His prescriptions were astonishingly effective. He had prescribed different medicines to treat th

e same illness. Causes of illness roots internally ,so the purgati

ve works.

Zhang Zhongjing The Chinese medical sage “医圣”He specialized in the study of typhoid fever.

Contagions ;Contagious typhoid

The so-called typhoid at that time includes cholera霍乱 , dysentery痢疾 , pneumonia肺炎 , flu and some other acute contagious diseases.

A complete system of theories on pathology, diagnosis, therapy and prescriptions for typhoid fevers was founded by Zhang Zhongjing.

“Treatise on febrile and miscellaneous diseases”

Sun Simiao “One needle saved two lives.”( a tale) Pregnant woman “Prescriptions worth a thousand gold for e

mergencies” “A supplement to prescriptions worth a tho

usand gold”

Li Shizhen A great physician and pharmacologist

“An outline of herbal medicine”

The book, known as a brilliant achievement in TCM development, but also a momentous contribution to the world’s medicine and biology.

The essential characteristics of TCM

The concept of holism

The human body as an organic whole. The human body is composed of a number of

viscera, organs and tissues, which have their own respective functions.

Every functions is a component of the general activity, and inter-influence pathologically.

Treatment determination based on syndrome differentiation

Syndrome differentiation and treatment determination are inseparable in the process of diagnosis and treatment of disease, and embody the combination of theory and practice.

Syndromes differentiation

整体观念 Concept of holism/entirety; Holistic concept; Holistic philosophy

辨证论治Determination of treatment based in p

athogenesis obtained through differentiation of symptoms and signs

同病异治

treating the same disease with different therapies

异病同治

treating different diseases with the same therapy)

经络系统

system of meridians and collaterals

表里关系

exterior and interior relationship

整体观念贯穿于中医生理、病理、诊断、辩证和治疗的各个方面。

治疗的基本原则是补其不足，泻其有余。

The concept of holism runs through every aspect of traditional Chinese medicine including physiology, pathology, diagnosis, syndrome differentiation and treatment.

补其不足，泻其有余Basic therapeutic principle in TCM i

s to reinforce insufficiency/deficiency and purge/reduce excess.

What are yin-yang and the five-element doctrine?

Yin and yang are two aspects of the unity of opposite things.

Major concepts of yin-yang theory: Opposition of yin-yang Interdependence of yin-yang Wax-wane of yin-yang Transformation of yin-yang

阴胜则阳病

predominance/ excess of yin leading to disorder of yang disease;

阳胜则阴病 ?

阳胜则热

predominance of yin leading to heat syndrome/disorder

阴胜则寒 ？

阴损及阳？

阴阳俱损 ?

阳损及阴

impairment of yang involving yin

寒极生热，重阴必阳

Extreme cold generates heat and extreme yin changes/transforms into yang.

热极生寒，重阳必阴 ?

Relative balance between yin and yang

Application of yin-yang in TCM

Yin-yang and the structure of the body

Yin-yang and the physiological functions of the body

Yin-yang and pathological changes in the body

The application of yin-yang in diagnosis of disease

The application of yin-yang in treatment of disease

The five-element doctrinetheory/ doctrine of five elements (five

phases theory)

Wood fire earth metal water

They are the five indispensable materials in human life.

Used the theory to explain the whole physical world.

Inter-promotion; inter-restriction

To explain physiological and pathological changes in the human body, and the relation of the body to the external environment.

Characteristics of the five elements Five elements zang&fu viscera and other organs

Wood Liver;gall bladder

eye tendon anger

Fire heart;small intestine

tongue vessel joy

Earth Spleen;stomach

mouth muscle thinking

Metal lung ;Large intestine

nose skin sorrow

Water Kidney; urinary

ear Bone fear