Acupuncture, Oriental and Chinese Medicine Logged in as Guest
Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine - Class 01
Introduction to the fundamental principals of Chinese medicine
By: David Botton

Theory of Yin / Yang


Yin and Yang


Definition

  • philosophical conceptualization
  • generalizes the two opposite principles within and amongst phenomenon


Common Relationships (yin/yang)

  • dark/light
  • interior/exterior
  • female/male
  • water/fire
  • slow/fast
  • cold/hot
  • damp/dry
  • solid/hollow
  • downward/upward
  • passive/active


Application

  • analysis of anatomy (yin/yang)
    • viscera/bowels
    • back/front
    • lower/upper
    • interior/exterior
    • bones, tendons / skin, body hair
    • blood / qi
  • physiological activity (yin/yang)
    • downbearing/upbearing
    • inward/outward
    • interaction of blood/qi
    • interaction of organs/channels
  • pathological change
    • inbalance results in disease
  • diagnosis
    • basis for eight-principles
    • yin
      • interior
      • cold
      • deficiency (vacuity)
      • pulse
        • slow
        • sunken
        • rough
        • vacuous
        • fine
    • yang
      • exterior
      • heat
      • excess (repletion)
      • pulse
        • rapid
        • floating
        • slippery
        • replete
        • larger and surging
        • treatment and medication


are infinitely divisible

  • Every yin or yang phenomenon itself can be divided to yin and yang
  • there are relative degrees of yin and yang
    • three yin subdivisions
      • tai yin
        • Greater Yin
      • shao yin
        • Declining Yin
      • jue yin
        • Lesser Yin
    • three yang subdivisions
      • tai yang
        • Greater Yang
      • yang ming
        • Extreme Yang
      • shao yang
        • Scanty Yang


are inter-transforming

  • = mutual convertibility
  • is a qualitative change yin -> yang or yang -> yin


are interdependent

  • = rooted in each other
  • neither can exist in isolation
  • detriment to yin affects yang, detriment to yang affects yin


are inter-consuming-supporting

  • they are in a dynamic cycle of
  • production of yin consumes yang
  • yang consumes yin in its activities
  • is a quantitative change


are in opposition

  • = counterbalance
  • everything has two sides
  • each side usually in struggle to control the other
  • deficiency of one results in excess of the other

(c) 2005 All Rights Reserved - David Botton