Differentiation of Syndromes According to Qi, Blood, Fluids
Qi Patterns
Blood Patterns
Jin Ye (Fluid) Patterns
Combined Patterns
Qi Patterns
1. Deficient Qi
Deficient Qi indicates that there is not enough Qi to perform a required function in the body. Each organ can have a deficiency and the signs and symptoms will vary with each. The Lungs and the Spleen are easily and often affected in Qi Deficiency because of their important role in Qi production, but any organ can be affected.
Causes
- Mal-Nourishment
- Illness
- Old Age
- Weak Constitution
Some Examples...
Lung Qi Deficiency Symptoms
- Breathlessness
- Weak Voice
- Spontaneous Sweating
Spleen Qi Deficiency Symptoms
- Loss of Appetite
- Loose Stools
- Fatigue
- Normal or Pale and Swollen Tongue
Heart Qi Deficiency Symptoms
- Palpitations
Kidney Qi Deficiency Symptoms
- Frequent Urination
- Possible Lower Back Pain and Weak Knees
- Possible Poor Memory
2. Sinking Qi or Collapse
This is where the Spleen Qi can no longer hold substances or certain internal organs in place. This is usually seen as prolapse of the rectum and prolapse of the Uterus. Sinking Qi usually results from Spleen Qi Deficiency, and is more severe.
Causes
- Spleen Qi Deficiency
Common Symptoms
- A sensation of "dragging" or bearing down
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
- Mental Depression
- Prolapse of Organs (Stomach, Uterus, Intestines, Vagina, Bladder, Anus)
- Empty Pulse
3. Stagnation of Qi
This is where the normal movement or flow of Qi is impaired. When Qi stagnates in a particular Organ, there may be pain and/or impairment of that Organ's function. Compared to Blood Stagnation, Qi Stagnation is a moving pain, whereas the pain from Blood Stagnation is fixed in nature.
Causes
- Qi stagnation can be due to traumatic injury or internal causes.
Common Symptoms
- Pain in the Area of Stagnation
- A Feeling of Oppression
- Distention and Bloating
- Depression, Irritability, and Other Emotional Disturbances
- Wiry Pulse
- Possible Purple Tongue
4. Rebellious Qi
All of the organs in the body have a normal direction of Qi flow. Rebellious Qi is when the flow of Qi is moving in a direction other than the intended direction.
The Normal Direction of Qi Flow
| Organ | Normal Flow | Rebellious Flow | Symptoms |
| Stomach | Downwards | Upwards | Belching, Hiccup, Vomiting, Nausea |
| Liver | Upwards | Excessive upwards (Yang or Fire Rising) |
Headache, Dizziness, Irritability |
| To Stomach (Attacks or Invades) |
Nausea, Belching, Vomiting | ||
| To Spleen (Attacks or Invades) |
Diarrhea | ||
| To Intestines | Dry Stools, Alternating Constipation and Diarrhea | ||
| Downwards | Burning Urination | ||
| Lungs | Downwards | Upwards | Cough, Asthma |
| Kidneys | Downwards | Upwards | Asthma |
| Heart | Downwards | Upwards | Agitation, Insomnia, Mental Restlessness |
Blood Patterns
Blood Deficiency
Usually caused by Spleen Qi deficiency (SP provides raw materials). When Blood becomes deficient, the Heart and Liver are especially affected. (Ht governs Blood, Liver stores Blood)
Main Symptoms of Heart Blood Deficiency
- Sallow or "dull white" complexion
- Poor memory
- Insomnia (problems falling asleep)
- Dizziness and Numbness
- Blurred vision
- Pale Lips
Pulse
- Fine or Choppy Pulse
Tongue
- Pale and possibly slightly dry. The tongue will be thin in severe chronic cases.
Additional Symptoms
Gynecological
- Amenorrhea and scanty periods
Mental and Emotional
- Depression, anxiety, apathy, lack of spirit
Chronic Symptoms
- Dry tongue, dry skin, and dry hair
Severe Symptoms
- Dryness of Blood can engender interior Liver Wind which can lead to skin problems such as dry and itching skin, eventually leading to muscle tics and tremors.
Blood Stagnation (Stasis)
Blood Stagnation is where the normal flow of Blood has become obstructed.
Stagnant Blood can occur in the channels (usually due to trauma), or in the internal Zang Fu (Yin Yang) Organs, mainly in the Liver, Heart, Uterus, Intestines and Stomach. Heat in the Blood also eventually causes blood to stagnate/congeal, as does Internal Cold.
General Symptoms of Blood Stagnation
- Stabbing fixed pain
- Dark complexion
- Purple lips and nails
- Dark blood and clots if there is bleeding
Tongue
- Red purple if there is Heat
- Blue purple if there is Cold
- Possible purple or red spots
Pulse
- Wiry or choppy pulse
Jin Ye Patterns
Imbalances Involving Body Fluids
Fluid Deficiency
Deficient fluids can result from Heat or dry atmospheres, also from Deficient Blood. Symptoms are of dryness.
Stagnation of fluids occurs when Yang fails to transform and transport fluids. Fluids then accumulate to form Dampness.
Symptoms depend on which Organ has Qi or Yang Deficiency and where the Fluids have accumulated. Spleen is often affected or underlying cause.
Dampness distressing the Spleen produces such signs as: fatigue, cloudy and heavy head, nausea, copious sputum, heavy limbs.
Edema can be caused by:
- Lung Qi Deficiency
This affects the Upper Body - Spleen Qi Deficiency
This affects the abdomen and 4 limbs - Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pitting Edema in the lower body
Dampness may congeal into Phlegm (Mucus)
There are two kinds of Phlegm:
- Substantial Phlegm
Such as mucus in the Lungs - Insubstantial Phlegm
Such as swellings, nodules, goiter, and Kidney, Bladder, and GB stones
Qi and Blood Deficiency and Stagnation
Qi Stagnation over a long period of time can lead to a situation where the Qi can not move the Blood, this causes the Blood to stagnate or congeal. This is commonly caused by patterns such as Liver Qi Stagnation, due to emotional issues.
If Blood becomes deficient, it eventually also causes Qi to become deficient. If the deficient or injured Qi fails to move the Blood, stagnation of Blood will occur. This pattern is common after childbirth, hemorrhage due to trauma, or excessive menstrual bleeding.
In the case of trauma, Blood and Qi often stagnate in the location of the physical trauma. Stagnation can occur in both the channels and the internal organs depending on the severity of the injury.
