Introduction to TCM
Basics of TCM
• Yin-Yang | Five Elements
• Zang Organs | Fu Organs
Classification of Antineoplastic Herbal Medicines
Characteristics of Herbal Medicines
• By Auscultation & Olfaction
• By Inspection
Theories of Channels (Meridians) and Collaterals
Reference: A Modern View of the Immune System
Differentiation of Syndromes
• 8 Principles | 6 Channels 4 Stages
• Syndromes of Zang-Fu Organs
• Exogenous | Pestilential | Emotional
• Pathogenic Factors
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The Yin-Yang Theory
The Yin Yang theory holds that all phenomena consist of two opposite
aspects, yin and yang, which are variously defined as: up and down,
left and right, light and dark, hot and cold, stillness and movement,
substance and function, etc. The movements and changes of yin and
yang give impetus to the development of everything or in the words of
the Suwen, "Yin and yang are the law of Heaven and Earth, the outline
of everything, the parents of change, the origin of birth and
Yin and yang represent two opposite aspects of every object and its
implicit conflict and interdependence. Generally, anything that is
moving, ascending, bright, progressing, hyperactive, including functional
disease of the body, pertains to yang. The characteristics of stillness,
descending, darkness, degeneration, hypoactivity, including organic
disease, pertain to yin.
The nature of yin and yang is relative. According to
Yin-Yang theory, everything in the universe can be divided into
the two opposite but complementary aspects of yin and yang and so
on ad infinitum. For example, day is yang and night is yin,
but morning is understood as being yang within yang, afternoon
is yin within yang, evening before midnight is yin within yin and
the time after midnight is yang within yin. As the Suwen states,
"Yin and yang could amount to ten in number, be extended
to one hundred, to one thousand, to ten thousand and ever to the infinite."
The Basic Content of Yin-Yang Theory
The Application of Yin-Yang Theory to the Field of Traditional Chinese Medicine
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE?|
Photo © Image DJ Image Dictionary
With over 3000 years of experience, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has
remain one of the many fascinating areas in ancient Chinese culture.
First known to be documented in the Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine,
TCM is believed to have been practised in as early as 475 to 221 B.C.
The field of working knowledge of TCM stretches from anything related to
general healthcare practice to the philosophy of the mind, the logic of life,
religion, and even to as far as cosmology and astronumerology. This is why
in order to thoroughly understand the concepts behind TCM, one must be
comprehensive in learning and embracing the Chinese culture as a whole.
Just as Douglas Hoff put it when he explained about accupuncture, "The systems
of TCM uses the concepts of elements and meridians and are completely immersed
in the Asian cosmology which takes shape through the religions." The meridian-brain mechanism,
the fundamental working concept of acupuncture, in which the pain block from the message
that the needle or burning cone of herbs gives to the point of stimulus,
was only found centuries later by the West through science and technology.
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR – OCTOBER 2012
Thank you for visiting this TCM and acupuncture information website.
If you have previously been to this website, you might have
noticed that some of the pages on ancient historical ideas and
holistic thinkings related to Chinese metaphysics are temporarily taken offline.
This is because I have recently started to revamp the whole website
so as to reflect a more current perspective on the interpretation
of some of the fundamental concepts as well as to include
some of the latest information in the area.
But if you have just found this website for the very first time, I welcome you again and
wish you could find what you require and, hopefully, you could also be benefitted
from reading the articles I published on this website.
Please be patient and do come and check out this website frequently as it's being revamped.
Raymond Cheng, PhD DPA FRSA FRSPH
March 28, 2014.
IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER|
This website is published, edited and designed by Raymond Cheng, PhD DPA
and reflects only and only his personal views and opinions
in his individual capacity.
The information available at this website is not intended
directly or by implication to either diagnose or treat any
medical, emotional, or psychological condition or disorder.
It is also not intended to create a physician-patient relationship
between you and I or between you and The Commentary Limited.
The information here is not a substitute for advice and treatment provided
by your physician or by another healthcare professional.
It is always recommended that consultation with local healthcare providers
be obtained for any of your specific health or medical concerns.
Furthermore, any products that can be purchased (yet you can see I don't have much
to sell here) through advertisers' banners or through links to other websites
are not either explicitly or implicitly given any warranty or endorsement
by me, my colleagues, The Commentary Limited or any of its associated businesses.