The TCM Dictionary is massive, so the fastest way to find something is to search. As an
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better. The dictionary combines terms, definitions, medications, and acupuncture
prescriptions.
dai yang
Synonyms: upcast yang.
damage
Injury of any kind, e.g., damage to liquid.
damage by the five taxations
Diseases of qi, blood, sinews, and bones caused by imbalance of work and rest. The Inner Canon states, "Prolonged vision damages the blood; prolonged lying damages qi; prolonged sitting damages the flesh; prolonged standing damages the bones; and prolonged walking damages the sinews. These are the five forms of taxation damage." See taxation.
damage to both qi and yin
Synonyms: dual vacuity of qi and yin.
damage to fluids
Reduction of liquid and humor by the action of heat or fire occurring in internal damage miscellaneous disease when yin humor is depleted as a result of enduring illness, excessive loss of blood, excessive urination, or overuse of water-disinhibiting (diuretic) medicinals. It includes damage to liquid and the more severe form, damage to yin.
damage to liquid
A disease pattern resulting from major depletion of fluids following high fever, excessive sweating in externally contracted heat (febrile) disease or from severe vomiting and diarrhea. Signs include thirst with desire to drink, dry throat, lips, tongue, nose, and skin, and a dry red tongue.
Medication: Clear heat and moisten dryness; engender liquid and increase humor. Commonly used medicinals include adenophora/glehnia (Adenophorae seu Glehniae Radix), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Solomon's seal (Polygonati Yuzhu Rhizoma), scrophularia (Scrophulari
damage to the fetus by toxic medicinals in pregnancy
Lumbar pain, sagging in the abdomen, and signs of stirring fetus after consumption of toxic medicinals in pregnancy.
Medication: Resolve toxin and quiet the fetus. Make a strong decoction of licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix), black soybean (Glycines Semen Atrum), and bamboo leaf (lophatherum) (Lophatheri Folium) and take in frequent small doses. See also stirring fetus.
damage to the liver by anger
damage to the lung by the dryness qi
Synonyms: dryness qi damaging the lung.
damage to the network vessels of the lung
A condition manifest in expectoration of blood; caused by severe or enduring cough.
damage to the thoroughfare and controlling vessels
Synonyms: emptiness of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels.
Any of various patterns such as menstrual irregularities, lesser-abdominal pain, lumbar pain, flooding and spotting, habitual miscarriage, or infertility attributable to excessive sexual activity, excessive childbirth, or various evils. The thoroughfare vessel is the sea of blood, whereas the controlling vessel governs the fetus; both are intimately related to the liver, kidney, qi and blood.
damage to yang
Damage to yang qi; it may be a)~due to use of cold bitter medicinals, or sweating, or diarrhea during the course of disease; b)~due to direct strike by cold evil or prevalence of internal cold yin qi, described in Elementary Questions as "When yin prevails, yang ails"; c)~due to sudden joy that causes the heart spirit to float astray and qi to be easily worn and dissipated, causing heart palpitations, fearful throbbing, abstraction, and insomnia.
damage to yin
Synonyms: humor desertion.
Loss of body fluids. Scorching of yin fluid by hyperactive yang.
Loss of fluids more severe than damage to liquid, generally occurring in the later stages of externally contracted heat (febrile) diseases when the patient's general condition is poor and characterized by a desiccated, peeling, or mirror tongue that is dull crimson in color. The throat and mouth, lips, nose, and skin are dry although the thirst is not pronounced. There are also signs such as dry bound stool and short voidings of scant urine. In severe cases, there may be clouded spirit and tetanic reversal.
damming method
damp
damp cholera
Synonyms: summerheat cholera.
Cholera. The principal feature of cholera is simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea. However, desire to vomit without vomiting and desire to defecate without diarrhea constitutes dry cholera; hence the term damp cholera serves the purpose of differentiation. See cholera.
damp cough
Cough due to contraction of dampness evil giving rise to damp phlegm that congests the lung. Damp cough is characterized by cough with copious phlegm, joint pain, heavy limbs, swelling of the face and limbs, and inhibited urination.
Medication: Transform dampness and dispel phlegm using formulas such as Priceless Qi-Righting Powder
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, SP, and ST. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), LU-9 (Great Abyss), SP-3 (Supreme White), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), CV-22 (Celestial Chimney), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and LI-4 (Union Valley
damp depression
One of the six depressions. Stagnation of dampness usually arising when dampness causes qi to stagnate. Damp depression is characterized by generalized pain and heaviness, heavy clouded head, fatigue and lassitude, somnolence, thin slimy tongue fur, and a pulse that is sunken, rough, and moderate. Episodes are brought on by yin-type (dull wet) weather. If damp depression is accompanied by heat and prevents the heat from thrusting through to the outer body, the pattern is called dampness trapping hidden heat; if it affects movement and transformation of the spleen, it is called dampness encumbering spleen yang.
Medication: Eliminate dampness and resolve depression. Use Damp Depression Decoction, Dampness-Eliminating Decoction, or Stomach-Calming Powder. See six depressions.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP and ST. Select SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LI-4 (Union Valley), PC-6 (Inner Pass), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge); needle with even supplementation and drainage and moxa, if appropriate. For dampn
damp diarrhea
Synonyms: soggy diarrhea; throughflux diarrhea.
Diarrhea attributable to dampness qi damaging the spleen. The stool is either watery or sloppy and evacuated several times a day. The tongue fur is slimy and the pulse soggy.
Medication: Transform dampness and harmonize the center using formulas like Dampness-Eliminating Decoction or Stomach-Calming Poria (Hoelen) Five Decoction. If there is heat, Fifth and Sixth Heavenly Stem Pill can be used.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, ST, SP, and back transport points. Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), CV-4 (Pass Head), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and CV-9 (Wat
damp impediment
Synonyms: fixed impediment.
An impediment pattern arising when wind, cold, and predominantly dampness invades the channels and joints. Damp impediment is characterized by heaviness of the limbs, stubborn numbness of the skin, pain in the joints of fixed location triggered by yin-type (dull wet) weather.
Medication: Treatment is based primarily on dispelling dampness, and secondarily on dissipating wind and expelling cold, and supplementing the spleen and moving qi, using formulas such as Dampness-Eliminating Impediment-Alleviating Decoction.
Acupuncture: Main points: ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and SP-5 (Shang Hill). Needle with drainage and add moxa, or use warm needle technique. Cutaneous needling and cupping may also be used. See impediment for selection of points according to affect
damp leg qi
Leg qi characterized by severe swelling from the foot to the knee, attended by numbness, heaviness, and limpness of the lower limbs, inhibited urination, slimy white tongue fur, and a soggy moderate pulse. Damp leg qi is attributed to water-damp congesting the channels.
Medication: Diffuse congestion and expel dampness. Use Cockcrow Powder and variations. Where damp-heat is prevalent with signs such as thirst, reddish urine, slimy yellow tongue fur, and soggy rapid pulse, treat by clearing and disinhibiting with formulas such as Fa
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP, ST, and GB. Select ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), SP-5 (Shang Hill), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring), GB-39 (Suspended Bell), ST-41 (Ravine Divide), and Eight Winds. Needle with drainag
damp lichen
Lichen (skin conditions characterized by slight elevation of the skin, watery discharge, scaling, and itching) arising as a result of wind-damp-heat invading the skin. Damp lichen is characterized by redness, ulceration, itching, a feeling of worms creeping in the skin. Scratching causes exudation of watery discharge and gradual spread of the sore.
Medication: Eliminate dampness and kill worms. Use Dampness-Eliminating Stomach-Calming Poria (Hoelen) Five Decoction as oral medication and Cnidium Seed Powder mixed with sesame oil.
Acupuncture: Select ouch points, GV-14 (Great Hammer), BL-12 (Wind Gate), BL-40 (Bend Center), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), LI-4 (Union Valley), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), and HT-7 (Spirit Gate). Needle with drainage. For pronounced itching, add Itch
damp lumbar pain
damp malaria
summerheat malaria.
Malaria attributed to water-damp collecting internally after exposure to rain or dew. Damp malaria is characterized by aversion to cold with unpronounced heat~effusion, generalized pain, heavy limbs, oppression in the stomach duct, nausea and retching, swollen face, scant urine, white slimy tongue fur, and soggy rapid pulse.
Medication: Resolve the exterior and eliminate dampness. Use formulas such as Bupleurum Stomach-Calming Brew, Stomach-Calming Poria (Hoelen) Five Decoction, or Atractylodes White Tiger Decoction plus tsaoko (Amomi Tsao-Ko Fructus).
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, PC, SI, SP, and ST. Select GV-14 (Great Hammer), PC-5 (Intermediary Courier), SI-3 (Back Ravine), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct). Needle with even supplementation and drainage an
damp obstruction
Synonyms: center burner damp obstruction.
A frequently observed disease in which the spleen and stomach are obstructed by dampness evil. It mainly occurs in summer and is characterized by impaired spleen-stomach movement and transformation. Signs include oppression in the chest, no thought of food and drink, and a bland or sweet taste or slimy sensation in the mouth. The tongue fur is thick and slimy, and the pulse is soggy. Voidings are short with scant urine; the limbs are cumbersome and fatigued; sometimes a low heat~effusion is observed. Damp obstruction includes what in China is known as summer infixation (zhu4 xia4), which is the regular recurrence each summer of signs such as of loss of appetite, fatigue and weakness, and low fever, with gradual recovery in the autumn. The above signs together with sloppy stool or diarrhea are also signs of dampness encumbering the spleen and stomach. A higher body temperature with more pronounced heat signs indicates summerheat-damp, which is a form of damp-heat.
damp phlegm
A condition characterized by copious thin white (or yellow) phlegm that is easily expectorated and often associated with other signs of dampness such as heavy body, cumbersome limbs, fatigue, tendency to lie down, abdominal distention sometimes with pain, diarrhea, and slippery moderate pulse. Damp phlegm is attributed to splenic transformation failure, causing dampness that gathers to form phlegm. Distinction is made between spleen vacuity and spleen repletion by the prevalence of vacuity or dampness signs.
Medication: Treat vacuity patterns with Six Gentlemen Decoction varied according to pattern, and repletion patterns with Two Matured Ingredients Decoction or Phlegm-Rolling Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP, ST, and LI. Main points: CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LI-4 (Union Valley), and ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge). For vacuity patterns, add SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), and BL
damp phlegm dizziness
Dizziness due to damp phlegm congestion. Damp phlegm dizziness is characterized by heavy head and clouded vision, oppression in the chest, nausea, vomiting and retching, slimy white tongue fur, and a soggy pulse. It usually occurs in people who are overweight.
Medication: Dry dampness and transform phlegm. Use Pinellia, Ovate Atractylodes, and Gastrodia Decoction combined with Two Matured Ingredients Decoction. If there are qi vacuity signs, Six Gentlemen Decoction may also be given.
Acupuncture: See phlegm-rheum dizziness.
damp phlegm leg qi
Leg qi (beriberi) attributed to exuberant dampness pouring downward and engendering phlegm. In addition to the principal signs of leg qi (e.g., lack of strength in the legs), damp phlegm leg qi is characterized by efflux diarrhea.
Medication: Treat with medicinals such as atractylodes (Atractylodis Rhizoma), ledebouriella (Ledebouriellae Radix), areca (Arecae Semen), cyperus (Cyperi Rhizoma), ligusticum (Ligustici Rhizoma), scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix), talcum (Talcum), and licorice (Glycy
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP, ST, and GB. Select ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), SP-5 (Shang Hill), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring), GB-
damp phlegm lumbar pain
Lumbar pain attributable to damp phlegm pouring into the kidney channel, and characterized by cold heavy painful lumbus stretching into the back and rib-side and exacerbated by yin-type (dull wet) weather, and associated with diarrhea and a slippery pulse.
Medication: Use Tortoise Plastron and Ailanthus Bark Pill or Two Matured Ingredients Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on BL, CV, and ST. Select BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-40 (Bend Center), GV-3 (Lumbar Yang Pass), ouch points, ST-36 (Leg Three Li), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), and ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge). Needle with drainage and add moxa.
damp phlegm streaming sore
A deep-seated sore arising in patients suffering from spleen qi vacuity when damp phlegm causing internal obstruction combines with additionally contracted evil toxins to seep into construction and defense. It begins with pain in the flesh, diffuse swelling without a head and without any change in skin color, and attended by cold and heat and generalized joint pain. When pus forms, pain and swelling become more acute, and there is vigorous heat~effusion with sweating. The sore bursts to exude thin white pus, and heals once the discharge ceases.
Medication: In the initial stage, Saussurea Qi Flow Beverage complemented with spleen-fortifying phlegm-transforming formulas can be used as oral medication, whereas Harmonious Flow Paste can be applied topically. After the sore has burst, use Internal Expression Pu
Acupuncture: Moxibustion may be used to help disperse the sore in the initial phase. See streaming sore.
damp phlegm wilting
A wilting pattern usually affecting overweight people, attributed to damp phlegm lodged in the channel, and characterized by wilting and weakness of the limbs, numbness of the lumbus and knee, and pulse that is sunken and slippery.
Medication: Use Two Matured Ingredients Decoction with judicious addition of atractylodes (Atractylodis Rhizoma), ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma), scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix), phellodendron (Phellodendri Cortex), dried bamboo sap (Bambusae Succu
Acupuncture: Use the general points given under wilting, and add ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge), needling with drainage.
damp scab
damp sores
Any of a variety of skin diseases characterized by itching, ulceration, exudation, crusting, and recurrence. It specifically includes: scrotal wind; four bends wind; umbilical damp; nipple wind; invisible worm sore of the nose. Acute forms are ascribed mainly to damp-heat, very often with external wind. Wind is a yang evil, light and buoyant; it easily invades the interstices of the head, face, and upper body. It is swift and changeable; it often changes location and spreads quickly. Dampness is a yin evil, it is sticky and stagnating, and is spreading and pervasive. It is heavy and turbid, and tends to be found in low places. When it invades the body, it can cause water vesicles, ulceration, and exudation. Wind and dampness easily harbor brewing heat, and the three evils together cause dampness, scorching heat, itching and soreness of the skin. Chronic damp sores tend to be caused by blood vacuity and wind dryness with damp-heat brewing and accumulating. They are recurrent and persistent, associated with severe itching that prevents the patient from sleeping, and poor stomach intake. Yin blood depletion engenders wind and dryness, depriving the skin of nourishment, and causing dryness, thickening of the skin, and scaling. Persistent damp sores affecting the chest, abdomen, or genitals are associated with liver channel damp-heat. Damp sores affecting the lower body with prominent green-blue veins (varicose veins) are associated with liquor heat brewing internally. Damp sores with nutritional disturbance are ascribed to spleen vacuity with brewing damp-heat.
Medication: For damp-heat, clear heat and disinhibit dampness. Use formulas such as variations of Fish Poison Yam Dampness-Percolating Decoction combined with Mysterious Two Pill. For blood heat, cool the blood, clear heat, and disinhibit dampness with medicinals suc
damp swelling
Water swelling due to dampness. Damp swelling may arise from sitting for a long time on damp ground, or from being soaked in water. Damp swelling is characterized by swelling of the limbs that engulfs the fingers when pressure is applied, associated with heaviness from the lumbus downward and with distended legs, and is attended by short scant voidings of urine and in some cases by rapid breathing and sloppy stool.
Medication: Fortify the spleen, warm yang, and disinhibit water. Use formulas such as Poria (Hoelen) Five Powder or Golden Coffer Kidney Qi Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, back transport points, SP, and ST. Select CV-9 (Water Divide), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), BL-22 (Triple Burner Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), KI-3 (Gre
damp tetany
A disease commonly affecting children, that is characterized by clouded spirit, tetanic reversal, unsurfaced heat, oppression in the chest, and a thick white tongue fur, and that is attributed to dampness evil spreading through the triple burner and clouding the clear orifices.
Medication: Use Sweet Dew Toxin-Dispersing Elixir.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST, SP, GV, PC, TB, and LI. Select ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), GV-26 (Water Trough), GV-8 (Sinew Contraction), PC-6 (Inner Pass), TB-5 (Outer Pass), LI-4 (Union Valley), and LI-11 (Pool
damp toxin
Toxin arising when damp qi accumulates. Damp toxin accumulating in the intestines causes damp toxin bloody stool. Damp toxin in the skin can cause a damp-heat streaming sore, a pattern of ulceration of the lower leg. Damp toxin patterns are characterized by copious discharge from the focus of the disease, are chronic in nature, and difficult to cure.
damp toxin precipitation of blood
Bloody stool due to damp toxin brewing in the large intestine. The signs are dull purple or blackish bloody stool, absence of abdominal pain, distention and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, reduced food intake, yellow facial complexion, and inhibited urination.
Medication: Use formulas such as Sophora Flower Powder.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST and SP. Select ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), BL-25 (Large Intestine Transport), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and LR-2 (Moving Bet
damp toxin sore
A sore on the lower leg or ankle attributed to wind, dampness, and heat lodged in the skin. Acute forms, attributed to prevalence of damp-heat, begin with flushing of the skin and papules, and with vesicles that itch to exude a yellow discharge. Chronic forms, which are complicated by blood vacuity, are characterized by drying, thickening, and scaling of the skin.
Medication: Treat the acute form by clearing heat and disinhibiting dampness. For oral medication use Fish Poison Yam Dampness-Percolating Decoction combined with Mysterious Two Pill. For topical treatment, apply a decoction of phellodendron cold; when the skin has a
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, LI, ST, and SP. Main points: GV-14 (Great Hammer), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection). For acute cases, needle with drainage to clear heat and disinhibit dampness. For chronic
damp toxin streaming sore
A sore of the lower leg taking the form of a flat unelevated ulceration, with diffuse purple or blackish swelling that stretches to the heal. The sore exudes pus, which encourages its spread. It takes a long time to heal and is resistant to treatment.
damp toxin vaginal discharge
Malodorous vaginal discharge like rice water (water in which rice has been washed), yellow-green like pus, or multicolored, and attended by pudendal itch and soreness. It occurs during menstrual periods or after childbirth, and is attributed to exploiting vacuity of the uterine vessels and damaging the uterine vessels and the qi and blood of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels.
Medication: Use Discharge-Checking Formula, to which lonicera (Lonicerae Flos), forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus), and houttuynia (Houttuyniae Herba cum Radice) may also be added. In modern clinical practice, this kind of vaginal discharge is sometimes associated with c
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, GIV, and SP. Select GB-26 (Girdling Vessel), BL-30 (White Ring Transport), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), CV-3 (Central Pole), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and BL-34 (Lower Bone-Hole). Needle with drainage.
damp turbidity
Dampness, especially where it is heavy or viscid in nature and obstructs clear light yang qi. See dampness.
damp ulceration
An ulceration that exudes fluid and is attributable to dampness.
damp warmth
A febrile disease occurring in the summer or autumn that is attributed to damp-heat and characterized by persistent heat~effusion, heavy-headedness, generalized pain, glomus and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, white or yellow slimy tongue fur, and a soggy pulse.
Medication: If dampness is prevalent, focus treatment on transforming dampness with formulas like Agastache/Patchouli, Magnolia Bark, Pinellia, and Poria (Hoelen) Decoction or Three Kernels Decoction. If heat is prevalent, focus on clearing heat with formulas such as
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LI, ST, SP, and CV. Select LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), LI-4 (Union Valley), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), CV-17 (Chest Center), PC-6 (Inner Pass), and CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct). For
damp-heat
A combination of dampness and heat. Damp-heat may be of external or internal origin, or a combination of both. It can cause a variety of different diseases, and is characterized by signs of both dampness and heat. Pain and fullness in the abdomen and poor appetite reflect dampness, whereas heat~effusion, hard stool, and short voidings of scant yellow or reddish urine reflect heat. The tongue fur is yellow, thick, and slimy, the yellowness reflecting heat and the thickness and sliminess reflecting dampness. The pulse is rapid, and either soggy or slippery, the rapidness indicating heat and the soggy or slippery quality indicating dampness. Thirst indicates heat, but the lack of desire to actually swallow fluids reflects the clogging effect of dampness. Generally speaking, damp-heat of external origin gives rise to signs such as heat~effusion, heart vexation, thirst, spontaneous sweating, painful swollen limb joints, and fullness in the chest. Damp-heat that arises internally by dampness forming with heat tends to affect the middle and lower burner, as well as the skin. This broad range of diseases caused by damp-heat evil may be classified according to the organ or aspect of the organism affected. Damp-heat patterns include: damp-heat lodged in the qi aspect, characterized by low fluctuating heat~effusion with fatigued limbs and oppression in the chest; spleen-stomach damp-heat, characterized by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. damp-heat brewing in the liver and gallbladder, characterized by rib-side pain and distention; damp-heat pouring down into the bladder, characterized by frequent urination, urinary urgency, painful urination, and yellow to reddish urine; damp-heat pouring down into the large intestine, characterized by diarrhea with ungratifying defecation or by frequent defecation with tenesmus and stool containing pus and blood (dysentery). The latter two categories are forms of damp-heat pouring downward (lower burner damp-heat), which can also manifest in the form of genital itch, vaginal discharge, painful swelling of the joints of the lower limbs, foot damp qi (Hongkong foot), and cinnabar toxin (erysipelas) of the lower leg.
Medication: Damp-heat is treated by the combined method of clearing heat and transforming dampness, emphasis being variously placed on either of its two components depending on whether dampness or heat is prominent.
Acupuncture: Points are selected according to whether the cause is external or internal. For external causes, use LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), LI-4 (Union Valley), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring) as the main points, and drain. For internal causes, use SP-
damp-heat abdominal pain
Abdominal pain due to damp-heat brewing in the spleen and stomach. It is intermittent pain that refuses pressure, and is sometimes associated with retching and vomiting, or heat~effusion and aversion to cold, or yellowing of the body and eyes, and with oppression in the chest. Other accompanying signs include bitter taste or slimy sensation in the mouth, constipation or diarrhea, a slimy yellow tongue fur, and a soggy rapid or surging rapid pulse.
Medication: Clear heat and drain fire; move qi and transform dampness. Use formulas like Fire-Dissipating Decoction or Major Bupleurum Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LI, ST, and SP. Select LI-4 (Union Valley), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and needle with drainage. See also damp-heat dysentery.
damp-heat brewing in the bladder
Synonyms: bladder damp-heat.
damp-heat brewing in the liver and gallbladder
Synonyms: liver-gallbladder damp-heat.
damp-heat brewing in the spleen
Synonyms: spleen-stomach damp-heat.
damp-heat brewing internally
Damp-heat brewing in the spleen and stomach and in the liver and gallbladder. Dampness is a heavy, turbid, and stagnant evil that hampers qi dynamic. Heat, when combining with dampness, is difficult to resolve, and has a damaging effect on yang qi. It is characterized by abiding, high postmeridian fever, generalized heaviness, fatigue and lack of strength, heavy clouded spirit, glomus and fullness in the chest and stomach duct, no thought of food and drink, sticky slimy stool with ungratifying defecation, inhibited urination with yellow or reddish urine. In some cases, there may be jaundice.
damp-heat diarrhea
Diarrhea due to damp-heat brewing and binding in the stomach and intestines. Damp-heat diarrhea is thick yellow diarrhea with abdominal pain and heat, red face, and thirst. It mostly occurs in the summer.
Medication: Use Poria (Hoelen) Five Powder plus gypsum (Gypsum), licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix), and mutong (Mutong Caulis).
damp-heat dizziness
damp-heat dysentery
Dysentery attributed to damp-heat. Damp-heat dysentery arises when damp-heat accumulates in the intestines, causing stagnation of qi and blood and impairing the intestine's function of conveyance. It is associated with the classic signs of dysentery, i.e., red and white stool due to the presence of blood and pus, tenesmus, and abdominal pain; it is characterized by thick sticky, foul-smelling stool that causes a burning sensation in the anus when passed, short voidings of reddish urine, a slimy yellow tongue fur, and slippery rapid pulse. In some cases, heat~effusion is present.
Medication: Clear heat and dry dampness; regulate qi and move the blood. Use formulas like Peony Decoction, Pulsatilla Decoction, or Saussurea and Coptis Pill. If there is pronounced generalized heat~effusion, Pueraria, Scutellaria, and Coptis Decoction can be used.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on ST and LI. Select LI-4 (Union Valley), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), and ST-44 (Inner Court), needling with drainage. For pronounced generalized heat~effusion, add GV-14 (Great Hammer) and
damp-heat headache
Headache due to damp-heat steaming upward and clouding the upper orifices. It is associated with heavy-headedness, heavy body, vexation, pain in the joints, swelling of the limbs and face, slimy yellow tongue fur, and a rapid soggy pulse.
Medication: Clear heat and transform dampness. Use Clear Sky Paste or Three Kernels Decoction and their variations.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST and LI. Select Greater Yang, LI-4 (Union Valley), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and needle with drainage. For selection of points according to affected area
damp-heat jaundice
Jaundice due to damp-heat; a form of yang jaundice. Damp-heat is the major cause of jaundice and is identified by signs such as generalized heat~effusion, vexation and thirst, and a forceful surging slippery pulse. Other signs include agitation, swift digestion with rapid hungering, painful rough voidings of red urine, and constipation.
Medication: Clear heat and disinhibit dampness; open depression. Use Rhubarb and Niter Decoction or Capillaris Decoction. Compare yang jaundice. More at jaundice.
damp-heat lodged in the qi aspect
Synonyms: damp-heat lodged in the triple burner.
An externally contracted heat (febrile) disease pattern characterized by persistent low or remittent heat~effusion, fatigued limbs, and oppression in the chest. Thirst without appreciable intake of fluid is accompanied by a bland, bitter taste or slimy sensation in the mouth. Voidings are short with reddish urine. The tongue fur is yellow and slimy. Summerheat-damp and damp obstruction may also be characterized by such signs. More at qi-aspect pattern.
damp-heat lodged in the triple burner
Synonyms: damp-heat lodged in the qi aspect.
damp-heat lumbar pain
Lumbar pain due to damp-heat obstructing the channels and network vessels. Damp-heat lumbar pain is characterized by lumbar and hip pain with local sensation of heat, associated with a rapid stringlike pulse and reddish urine.
Medication: Clear heat and disinhibit dampness. Use formulas like Supplemented Mysterious Two Powder.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on SP, BL, and KI. Select SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), BL-40 (Bend Center), BL-37 (Gate of Abundance), and KI-3 (Great Ravine). Needle with drainage or prick to bleed.
damp-heat mounting
Mounting attributed to damp-heat; characterized by heat, swelling, distention, and pain of the scrotum with constipation, yellow urine, slimy yellow tongue fur, and a rapid stringlike pulse. In some cases there may be heat~effusion and aversion to cold.
Medication: Clear heat and transform dampness; disperse swelling and dissipate binds. Use Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction combined with Tangerine Pip Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on the CV and the three yin channels of the foot. Select CV-3 (Central Pole), ST-30 (Qi Thoroughfare), CV-4 (Pass Head), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and LR-1 (Large Pile), needling wi
damp-heat obstructing the spleen and stomach
Synonyms: spleen-stomach damp-heat.
damp-heat pouring down into the bladder
Synonyms: bladder damp-heat.
damp-heat pouring down into the large intestine
Synonyms: large intestinal damp-heat.
damp-heat pouring downward
Synonyms: lower burner damp-heat.
damp-heat rib-side pain
Rib-side pain due to damp-heat causing stagnation of qi in the liver and gallbladder vessels. Damp-heat rib-side pain is a continuous pain associated with distention or that comes in acute episodes, and and that may stretch into the region below the heart and the back of the chest. It is associated with nausea, vomiting, oppression in the chest, torpid intake, short voidings of reddish urine, and in some cases heat and cold and yellowing of the eye and skin.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on hand and foot lesser yang TB/GB, LR and SP. Select LR-14 (Cycle Gate), GB-24 (Sun and Moon), TB-6 (Branch Ditch), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and needle with drainage.
damp-heat seminal emission
Seminal emission arising when excessive consumption of liquor and rich food causes spleen-stomach damp-heat, which pours downward to harass the "essence chamber."
Medication: Drain heat, abduct dampness, and fortify the spleen. Use Essence-Containing Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV and SP to clear heat and disinhibit dampness and to quiet the palace of essence. Select CV-3 (Central Pole), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li); needle with drainage. See seminal em
damp-heat wilting
Wilting attributed to damp-heat damaging the sinews. Damp-heat wilting is characterized by wilting , slight swelling, and numbness of the lower limbs, attended by generalized heaviness, oppression in the chest, inhibited voidings of reddish urine, a slimy yellow tongue fur, and soggy rapid pulse.
Medication: Clear heat and dry dampness; fortify the spleen and percolate dampness. Use formulas like Supplemented Mysterious Two Powder.
Acupuncture: Use the basic points given under wilting, and add SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), SP-5 (Shang Hill), and ST-44 (Inner Court), needling with drainage.
dampness
One of the six qi, i.e., dampness as an environmental phenomenon.
One of the six excesses, i.e., the environmental qi as a cause of disease. Dampness as an evil in the body. Dampness in the body is qualitatively analogous and causally related to dampness in the natural environment. It is associated with damp weather or damp climates and with stagnant water in places where ground drainage is poor. To some extent, it is seasonal in nature, tending to occur when the weather is wet or damp. Sitting and lying in wet places, living in damp conditions, working in a damp or wet environment, or wearing sweat-soaked clothing can also cause dampness diseases. Thorough Knowledge of Medicine states, "There is dampness in heaven (i.e., in the atmosphere), which comes from rain, dew, and mist. Being in heaven, it gets its nature from qi, so it strikes construction and defense. There is dampness from earth, which comes from mud and water. Being in the earth, it nature comes from that which possesses form, hence it damages the flesh, the sinews, the bones, the blood, and vessels. There is the dampness of sweat, which comes from sweat-soaked clothing that is not immediately changed. There is dampness that forms in greater yin spleen-earth, which is not from outside the body. When yang is exuberant, fire is prevails, and transforms into damp-heat; when yin is exuberant, water prevails, and transforms into cold-damp. The signs are heat~effusion, aversion to cold, generalized heaviness, sweating, sinew and bone pain, rough urination, sloppy diarrhea, lumbar pain that prevents turning, swelling of instep with flesh that feels like mud, not springing back when pressed." Dampness has a number of characteristics: (1) It is clammy, viscous, and lingering. Dampness diseases are persistent and difficult to cure. (2) Dampness tends to stagnate. When dampness evil invades the exterior, the patient may complain of physical fatigue, heavy, cumbersome limbs, and heavy-headedness. If it invades the channels and the joints, the patient may complain of aching joints and inhibited bending and stretching. Dampness can also trap and dampen the effect of heat by causing an unsurfaced heat, one that can be felt only by prolonged palpation. (3) The spleen is particularly vulnerable to dampness evil; signs of dampness encumbering the spleen include poor appetite, glomus and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, upflow nausea, abdominal distention, sloppy stool, short voidings of scant urine, thick and slimy tongue fur, and a soggy moderate pulse. The lack of desire for fluids---though especially in the case of damp-heat there may be thirst---is a sign of the "clogging" or "encumbering" effect of dampness. (4) There may be generalized or local stagnation or accumulation of water-damp, such as water swelling, leg qi, vaginal discharge, or exudating sores such as eczema. Dampness in the body is often referred to as damp turbidity to highlight it as the antithesis of clear yang qi. (5) Over time, dampness can gather to form phlegm.
dampness damage lumbar pain
Synonyms: damp lumbar pain.
Lumbar pain arising from living in a cold-damp place or from exposure to rain or dew. Dampness damage lumbar pain is characterized by cold painful, heavy lumbus that feels as though one were sitting in water. The pain is exacerbated by yin-type (dull wet) weather and by sitting for long periods. The pulse is moderate, and there may also be generalized swelling.
Medication: Use Priceless Qi-Righting Powder.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on BL, GV, SP, and ST. Select BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-40 (Bend Center), GV-3 (Lumbar Yang Pass), ouch points, BL-60 (Kunlun Mountains), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring). Needle with drainage and large amounts of
dampness damage spontaneous sweating
Spontaneous sweating attributed to obstruction by dampness evil. This pattern is characterized by relatively small amount of sweat, aversion to wind, heavy turbid voice, fatigued heavy body, and joint pain that grows worse in yin-type (dull wet) weather.
Medication: Fortify the spleen and boost qi so that the dampness naturally disappears. Formulas include Fangji and Astragalus Decoction or Notopterygium Dampness-Overcoming Decoction. See spontaneous sweating.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP, ST, and LI. Select ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate), LI-4 (Union Valley), KI-7 (Recover Flow), and SI-3 (Back Ravine); needle with even supplementation and dr
dampness encumbering spleen yang
Synonyms: dampness encumbering spleen-earth.
Water-damp affecting the movement and transformation of spleen yang.
Medication: Dry or disinhibit dampness.
dampness encumbering spleen-earth
Synonyms: dampness encumbering spleen yang.
dampness evil
Synonyms: Dampness as a disease-causing entity.
dampness forming with cold
The development of cold-damp in patients suffering from impaired fluid transformation due to devitalized spleen yang, giving rise to abdominal fullness and diarrhea, and sometimes to phlegm-rheum and water swelling. This corresponds to the pathomechanism described in Elementary Questions as "All dampness with swelling and fullness is ascribed to the spleen."
Medication: Treat by warming and transforming with formulas such as Spleen-Firming Beverage. See dampness.
dampness forming with heat
The development of damp-heat in patients suffering from intense stomach heat due to excessive consumption of sweet or fatty foods. External dampness or damp-heat may or may not be involved. See dampness.
dampness obstructing the center burner
Dampness evil causing stagnation and obstruction in the spleen and stomach and impairing normal movement and transformation. Dampness obstructing the center burner is characterized by heavy-headedness, fatigue, oppression in the stomach duct, abdominal distention, torpid intake, sticky mouth, thirst with desire for warm drinks, short voidings of reddish urine, thick or slimy white tongue fur, and a moderate pulse.
Medication: Use Stomach-Calming Powder or Stomach-Calming Poria (Hoelen) Five Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP and ST. Select ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), LI-4 (Union Valley), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), PC-6 (Inner Pass), and CV-6 (Sea of Qi); needle with even supple
dampness obstructing the qi aspect
Synonyms: qi-aspect damp obstruction.
Dampness invading the qi aspect, causing an unsurfaced heat (i.e., heat~effusion felt only after prolonged palpation), head heavy as if swathed (bag-over-the-head sensation), heavy aching body, vexing pain in the joints, oppression in the chest, torpid intake, painful glomus in the abdomen and stomach duct, vomiting and diarrhea, slimy glossy tongue fur, and soggy moderate pulse.
dampness stroke
dampness trapping hidden heat
Synonyms: depressed dampness and deep-lying heat.
A condition in which the dampness prevents heat from effusing. Dampness trapping hidden heat is characterized by unsurfaced heat arising in the afternoon to bring about sweating that fails to abate heat~effusion. Other signs include lassitude of spirit, heavy-headedness, oppression in the chest and abdominal distention, aversion to food, yellow or reddish urine, white or yellow slimy tongue fur, and a rapid soggy pulse.
dark gate
One of the seven gates. The lower mouth of the stomach.
dark of the eye
The anterior central part of the eye that is colorless and transparent. The dark of the eye is so called because the dark-colored iris and pupil can be seen through it. The dark of the eye corresponds to the liver; it is equivalent to the wind wheel among the five wheels. If the dark of the eye looses its transparency, vision can be affected.
dark-colored urine
Synonyms: reddish urine.
darting shrimp pulse
dead blood rib-side pain
Rib-side pain caused by locally lodged static blood. Dead blood rib-side pain is usually attributable to liver-spleen qi stagnation or enduring illness entering the network vessels causing stasis obstruction. Sometimes it is attributed to blood stasis due to knocks or falls. Dead blood rib-side pain is characterized by stabbing pain of fixed location in the ribs that refuses pressure and that gets worse at night. There may also be a glomus lump, constipation and hard black stool. The pulse is usually sunken and rough.
Medication: Dispel stasis and free the network vessels. Use Origin-Restorative Blood-Quickening Decoction or Stasis-Precipitating Decoction. For evil repletion and right vacuity, add blood-supplementing or qi-boosting medicinals.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LR, TB, and SP. Select SP-21 (Great Embracement), TB-6 (Branch Ditch), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), GB-40 (Hill Ruins), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring). Needle with drainage or bl
deafness
Loss of hearing. Deafness can be congenital; otherwise it is the result of external contractions or internal damage. Sudden deafness usually forms a repletion pattern, whereas deafness of gradual onset is usually due to vacuity.
death in utero
Death of the fetus in the uterus, attributable to a) knocks and falls, b) deep-lying heat toxin in the thoroughfare and controlling vessels in febrile disease, c) qi-blood vacuity in the thoroughfare and controlling vessels vessels due to constitutional vacuity in the mother, d) strangling by the umbilical cord, and e) abortifacient medicines. See retention of dead fetus.
deathlike reversal
Clouding reversal and reversal cold in the limbs giving the patient a deathlike appearance. Though unconscious, the patient has a pulse.
Acupuncture: Moxa GV-20 (Hundred Convergences).
debilitation
A weakness, usually severe, especially of yang. See exuberance and debilitation.
debilitation of kidney yang
Severe kidney yang vacuity.
debilitation of the life gate fire
Synonyms: insufficiency of the life fire.
Severe kidney yang vacuity. See kidney yang vacuity.
debility is treated by supplementing
Synonyms: vacuity is treated by supplementing.
The principle that weakness, i.e., vacuity, is treated with supplementing medicinals. Different vacuity patterns, such as qi vacuity, blood vacuity, yin vacuity, and yang vacuity, are treated by different forms of supplementation ( supplementing qi, supplementing blood, supplementing yin, supplementing yang, etc.)
decoct
Synonyms: brew.
To boil (medicinal materials) in water in order to extract their active properties. See decoction.
decocting pieces
Medicinal materials cut to size and if necessary processed as by stir-frying in preparation for decoction.
decoction
A medicinal preparation made by boiling the ingredients of a formula in water, and then straining off the dregs. Because it was recognized that decoctions prepared in iron pots could have reduced effects, traditional literature stipulates the use of earthenware pots. Pyrex or enamel may now be used. The decoction is the most common medicinal preparation. Decoctions are quickly absorbed by the body, and so are particularly suitable for acute diseases of recent onset. In contrast to ready-prepared pills and powders, decoctions enable the formula to be tailored to the patient's individual needs. Materials can usually be boiled twice. The first time, add enough water to cover the materials. The pot is brought to the boil and the contents are given an occasional stir over the 20--30 minute boiling period. The decoction is then strained off. Any materials that swell on absorbing water will have done so during the first boiling, so that for the second boiling only enough water is added to cover the materials and a duration of twenty minutes only is required. The two boilings may be mixed together before the patient takes them, in order to ensure even doses. The water quantities, boiling times, and size of flame given above represent a general guide only. Ideally they are varied according to the medicinals used to ensure maximum benefit. Exterior-effusing and qi-rectifying medicinals are used for their qi rather than their flavor, and are cooked over a fierce fire for a relatively short period to prevent loss of active constituents. Supplementing medicinals are used for their flavor, and are therefore boiled for a longer period (about ten minutes longer) over a low flame to ensure complete extraction of active constituents. Compare beverage; brew; drink.
deep pulse
Synonyms: sunken pulse.
deep turbid voice
A voice or cough sound that is deep and muffled or otherwise unclear. A deep turbid voice is observed in external contraction of wind-cold or internal phlegm-damp obstruction inhibiting the airways.
deep-lying
(Of evils or masses) being present in the inner body, latent, or barely perceptible.
deep-lying beam
Mass below the heart or in the umbilical region, mostly caused by binding stagnation of qi and blood. Old books describe three patterns by the same name: (1) One of the five accumulations; the accumulation of the heart, characterized by a large lump below the heart, causing vexation and insomnia The Classic of Difficult Issues (). (2) Hard distention in the lower abdomen with a lump outside the intestines that does not move when pushed and contains pus and static blood. It is attended by pain in the umbilical region, and generalized swelling Elementary Questions (). (3) From The Magic Pivot. Mass below the heart, with periodic spitting of blood.
deep-lying heat in the thoroughfare and controlling vessels
A disease pattern arising when evil heat affects the thoroughfare and controlling vessels, causing wear on yin-essence and depletion of kidney yin, and in some cases frenetic movement of the blood. Clinical signs include low fever, lumbar pain, and uterine bleeding, and lower abdominal pain. The heat in this pattern is described as "deep-lying" because overt signs of the heat are not as pronounced as the damage to yin caused by it.
deep-lying rheum
From Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer. Phlegm-rheum lying latent in the body or residual lodged rheum. Deep-lying rheum is characterized by frequent episodes of panting and fullness, and coughing and spitting. The episodes are often brought on by contraction of external cold evil, in which case there is abhorrence of cold, heat~effusion, back and lumbar pain, spontaneous tearing, and twitching and jerking of the body.
Medication: Transform yin and expel evil; support right and secure the root. Use Minor Green-Blue Dragon Decoction or Woody Fangji Decoction.
deep-source nasal congestion
Persistent nasal congestion with turbid snivel (nasal mucus) attributable to wind-cold, wind-heat, or gallbladder heat.
defense
An abbreviation for defense qi.
defense qi
A qi described as being "fierce, bold, and uninhibited," unable to be contained by the vessels and therefore flowing outside them. In the chest and abdomen it warms the organs, whereas in the exterior it flows through the skin and flesh, regulates the opening and closing of the interstices (i.e., the sweat glands ducts), and keeps the skin lustrous and healthy, thereby protecting the fleshy exterior and preventing the invasion of external evils. The Magic Pivot states, "defense qi warms the flesh and flushes the skin; it keeps the interstices replenished and controls their opening and closing." If defense qi is in harmony, the skin is supple and the interstices are kept tight and sound.
defense, qi, construction, and blood
The four levels of evil penetration in doctrine of warm diseases. See four-aspect pattern identification.
defense-aspect pattern
Warm disease principally characterized by heat~effusion, slight aversion to cold, presence or absence of sweating, and dry mouth. The tongue is distinctly red, and the pulse is floating and rapid. In some cases there may also be headache, cough, and sore, red pharynx, and in others, distention in the head, clouded head, oppression in the chest, and upflow nausea. Defense-aspect patterns include signs common to the initial stage of all external heat diseases. Of these signs, heat~effusion with slight aversion to wind and cold is the main indicator of defense-aspect disease. Like greater yang disease of the doctrine of cold damage, defense-aspect disease is seen as an exterior pattern in terms of the eight principles. However, whereas greater yang disease may generally be classified as caused by cold, defense-aspect disease is classified as caused by heat. Warm evil enters the body through the nose and mouth, invariably invading the lung first. The lung is connected with the surface skin and body hair, and governs the exterior and defense. Thus, when it is invaded by an external evil, the defensive exterior is "thwarted," and this causes heat~effusion and slight aversion to cold. This is the fundamental law applied to defense-aspect disease. Warm evil is hot in nature, so that defense-aspect patterns include heat signs, and as such differ from greater yang exterior patterns, which tend to be marked by cold signs. Once a defense-aspect pattern has been identified, it is usually necessary to determine whether warm evil is accompanied by wind or dampness. Wind warmth patterns are generally characterized by signs of lung heat such as cough, sore pharynx, and distinctly red tongue. Damp warmth patterns are characterized by signs of damp turbidity obstructing the center, such as general sensations of heaviness, oppression in the chest, upflow nausea, dry throat with no desire for fluid, and a distinctly slimy tongue. Defense-aspect patterns are chiefly treated by the method of resolving the exterior with cool and acrid medicinals that discharge warm evil from the defense aspect.
defensive exterior
The exterior of the body and defense qi, which defends it against external evils.
deficit
In doctrine of yin and yang, relative weakening (of either yin or yang). Deficit of yin is often referred to as vacuity, whereas that of yang is often termed debilitation.
deflagrate
To burn fiercely; describes heat in the exuberant heat stage of warm diseases. See heat.
delayed menstruation
Late menstrual periods. The arrival of the menstrual period eight days or more after the normal time (i.e., roughly 36 days after the onset of the previous period in women who normally have a standard 28-day cycle).
delirious speech
Nonsensical talk in patients with unclear spirit-mind occurring in yang brightness repletion heat or when warm evil enters construction blood. Delirious speech is mostly observed in repletion patterns, and is treated by draining heat and clear the heart. See yang brightness bowel pattern; cold damage blood amassment pattern; heat entering the pericardium.
delivery
Synonyms: childbirth.
delivery stagnation
Synonyms: difficult delivery.
dementia
Synonyms: feeble-mindedness.
A disease characterized by not talking the whole day, not eating, not drinking, sudden laughing or crying, rejection of fine food and acceptance of ordure, and a preference to dress in plant and tree leaves rather than in fine clothes. Some individuals spend the whole day alone, muttering unintelligibly; some sew up all the openings in their clothes; some hide other people's possessions; some do not eat when given food, and may go without food for days without complaining of hunger. Feeble-mindedness results when the orifices of the heart are clouded by phlegm-damp arising internally, when binding depression of liver qi restrains the spleen and stomach, or when an irregular lifestyle causes damage to the spleen and stomach.
Medication: Use formulas such as Dementia-Shifting Elixir.
demon-licked head
Synonyms: glossy scalp wind.
demonic influx
Synonyms: consumption.
dental impressions on the margins of the tongue
Dental impressions are observed on an enlarged pale tongue. They are a sign of qi vacuity.
depleted water and effulgent fire
depleted water and flaming fire.
Kidney yin depletion with hyperactivity of the life gate fire, characterized by loosening of and pain in the teeth, excessive libido, and seminal emission.
depleted water and flaming fire
Insufficiency of kidney-water causing effulgent heart fire, characterized by heart vexation, dizziness, insomnia or unquiet sleep, red-tipped tongue, and a rapid fine pulse. A yin-yang imbalance of the kidney characterized by yin vacuity and yang hyperactivity. See hyperactive kidney fire.
depletion
Severe loss, especially of fluids or kidney yin. See exuberance and debilitation.
depletion of the lower origin
depressed
Stagnant; frustrated. See depression.
depressed dampness and hidden deep-lying heat
Synonyms: dampness trapping hidden heat.
depressed fire
Any pattern arising when yang qi becomes depressed and exuberant heat arises. Signs include headache, red eyes, mouth sores, abdominal pain, constipation, reddish urine, red tongue with yellow fur, and a rapid replete pulse.
Any pattern arising when affect-mind depression causes disharmony in the bowels and viscera, allowing internal heat to arise. Signs include headache, rib-side pain, insomnia, irascibility, tongue with red tip or margins, and a rapid stringlike pulse.
depressed fontanel
Synonyms: depressed fontanel gate.
From The Origin and Indicators of Disease. A condition in infants in which the anterior fontanel (traditionally called the ``fontanel gate,'' see fontanel) forms an indentation. A depressed fontanel is attributed to qi-blood vacuity and vacuous visceral qi failing to rise to nourish the head, stemming from congenital insufficiency, prolonged diarrhea, or chronic fright wind. A slightly depressed fontanel in otherwise healthy infants is not a sign of morbidity.
Medication: Bank up the origin and supplement the kidney. Use True-Securing Decoction. For center qi fall, use Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction.
depressed fontanel gate
Synonyms: depressed fontanel.
depressed heat seminal emission
Seminal emission arising when liver-kidney heat depression causes unhindered discharge of essence through the ``essence gate.'' Depressed heat seminal emission is associated with heat in the spine at night, abstraction and heat in the diaphragm, and in some cases a surging pulse and generalized heat~effusion.
Medication: Clear heat and discharge depression. Use Pig's Stomach Pill or Kidney-Enriching Pill plus dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens), root poria (Poria cum Pini Radice), spiny jujube (Ziziphi Spinosi Semen), and acorus (Acori Rhizoma).
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on KI, LR, HT, and SP. Needle with drainage at KI-2 (Blazing Valley), KI-6 (Shining Sea), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), LR-2 (Moving Between), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), PC-6 (Inner Pass), and HT-8 (Lesser Mansion) and with supplementation at KI-3
depressed liver
Synonyms: binding depression of liver qi.
depressed liver qi
Synonyms: binding depression of liver qi.
depressed wood transforming into fire
Depressed liver qi causing fire signs such as red face, red eyes, headache, dizziness, vomiting and retching, coughing of blood, and, in severe cases, mania. ``Wood'' in this context means the liver according to the five-phase understanding that the liver belongs to wood. However, ``fire'' means fire as an evil, not the viscus that belongs to fire, which is the heart.
depressed wood transforming into wind
Depressed liver qi causing wind signs such as dizziness, numbness of the tongue, tremor, and tetanic reversal, etc.
depression
A concavity or indentation, as in the surface of the body.
depression
Stagnation; reduced activity. In physiology, depression refers either to depressed qi dynamic (frustrated physiological activity) or to flow stoppage due to due to congestion. The term also describes inhibition of normal emotional activity, expressing itself in the form of oppression, frustration, and irascibility. In practice, depression is usually qi stagnation due to affect damage, and is therefore more restricted in meaning than qi stagnation, which may be due to other causes. See also six depressions; depression pattern; stoppage.
depression pattern
Any pattern of qi stagnation (frustration of normal physiological activity). Elementary Questions speaks of wood depression, fire depression, earth depression, metal depression, and water depression. These were later called the five depressions. Dan Xi's Experiential Methods describes qi depression, blood depression, damp depression, heat depression, phlegm depression, and food depression, which together are known as the six depressions. Jing-Yue's Complete Compendium speaks of depression caused by affect-mind depression: anger depression, thought depression, anxiety depression, sorrow, fright depression, and fear depression. Mysterious Pearl of Red Water puts forward the notion the qi of the five viscera could become depressed, and speaks of heart depression, liver depression, earth depression, lung depression, kidney depression, and gallbladder depression. See depression. Specifically, any pattern arising when constrained affect-mind causes binding depression of qi dynamic, and characterized by mental depression, oppression in the chest, and rib-side pain. When liver qi runs cross counterflow and restrains the spleen, signs include abdominal distention, belching, no thought of food and drink, and a fine stringlike pulse. When depressed qi transforms into fire, and liver fire ascends counterflow, signs include headache, dizziness, oppression in the chest and rib-side distention, bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth, red tongue with yellow fur, and a pulse that is usually rapid and stringlike. When phlegm and qi become depressed and bound, there is a feeling of blockage in the throat that can neither be expectorated nor swallowed.
Medication: Liver qi running cross counterflow is treated by coursing the liver and rectifying qi with Counterflow Cold Powder. Depressed qi transforming into fire is treated by clearing and draining liver fire with Supplemented Free Wanderer Powder. Binding depressi
Acupuncture: Base treatment on PC, LR, and SP. Main points: PC-6 (Inner Pass), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection). Selection of points according to pattern: For binding depression of liver qi, add BL-18 (Liver Transport), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transpor
depurative downbearing
A function of the lung comprising two aspects: regulating the waterways (i.e., ensuring the passage of fluids down to the kidney) and sending qi absorbed from the air down to the kidney. See lung governs depurative downbearing; kidney governs qi absorption.
deranged speech
Incoherent unintelligible speech; observed in phlegm turbidity confounding the orifices of the heart, phlegm-fire harassing the heart, mania patterns, and severe cases of leg qi.
deserting qi
Debilitation of yang qi in vacuity taxation disease. Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer states, ``A pulse that is sunken, small, and slow is called deserting qi... counterflow cold of the extremities, abdominal fullness with sloppy stool, and indigestion.''
Medication: Warm and supplement the spleen and kidney with Aconite Center-Rectifying Decoction. Compare qi desertion.
desertion
Any critical loss. The Magic Pivot states, ``When essence deserts, there is deafness; when qi desertions, the eyes are not clear; when liquid deserts, the interstices open and there is a great discharge of sweat; when humor deserts, the bending and stretching of the joints is inhibited, the complexion is perished, the brain and marrow wastes away, the lower legs ache, and the ears continually ring; when the blood deserts, the complexion is white, perished, and lusterless, and the pulse is empty and vacuous.'' These are descriptions of chronic conditions. In modern texts, however, desertion mostly refers to critical acute conditions. See desertion pattern.
desertion of the flesh
Shedding of the flesh, i.e., emaciation. It occurs in depletion of essence-blood and debilitation of center qi, as is observed in vacuity taxation, wilting patterns, or severe disease.
desertion pattern
Any disease pattern arising through critical damage to yin, yang, qi, or blood. Signs include pearly sweat reversal cold of the limbs, open eyes and closed mouth, limp hands and enuresis, and a faint fine pulse verging on expiration. Sudden damage to essential qi as in wind stroke, great sweating, great diarrhea, major blood loss, and great seminal discharge threatening the separation of yin and yang is called fulminant desertion. Gradual collapse of essential qi that results when original qi is weakened through enduring illness is called vacuity desertion. Such patterns are called ``desertion'' patterns because they are perceived as arising when essential qi leaves the body. The Magic Pivot states, ``Desertion of yin and yang is a sudden death-like state with inability to recognize people.'' Distinction is made between yin desertion and yang desertion, which are more usually referred to as yin collapse and yang collapse. The concept of desertion is important in wind stroke pattern identification, in which desertion patterns stand in opposition to block patterns.
desertion sweating
Synonyms: expiration sweating.
desiccated
Dried out, dehydrated. See blood desiccation; exuberance and debilitation.
desiccated teeth
Synonyms: teeth dry as desiccated bones.
Teeth that appear to have lost a fluid content, like old bones that have been exposed to the sun for a long time. Desiccated teeth are a sign of kidney yin depletion. The kidney engenders bone and marrow, and the teeth are the surplus of the bone.
desiccation
desiccation of kidney yin
Severe insufficiency of kidney yin manifesting in teeth dry as desiccated bones
desire only to sleep
Somnolence in lesser yin disease. See also water toxin.
despoliate
(Of blood, fluid, or essence) to be sudden and severely depleted. See exuberance and debilitation.
Eliminate (evils) forcefully.
determining treatment by patterns identified
Basing treatment on disease patterns (as opposed to diseases). See disease; pattern.
detriment
Loss or damage (to blood, fluids, bowels and viscera, etc.); specifically severe chronic damage. See vacuity taxation.
detriment to yang affects yin
Any major loss to yang ultimately causes loss to yin. Given the interdependence of yin and yang, major loss to either one ultimately affects the other (see also detriment to yin affects yang). When a deficit of yang reaches a peak, the production of yin humor is affected, and a deficit of yin also develops. For example, when kidney yang is weak, inability to transform fluids causes water swelling and, in time, can cause dual depletion of both yin and yang.
detriment to yin affects yang
Any major loss to yin ultimately causes loss to yang. Given the interdependence of yin and yang, major loss to either one ultimately affects the other (see also detriment to yang affects yin). Since yin-humor and yang qi are interdependent in the body, yin vacuity, when reaching a certain peak, can cause yang vacuity in keeping with the principle that ``without yin, yang cannot arise.'' Thus liver-kidney yin vacuity can easily cause ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang or liver wind.
deviated eyes and mouth
Tension in the sinews of one side of the face and relaxation in those of the other side manifesting in skewing of the mouth and inability to close the eyes. Deviated eyes and mouth are attributed to wind or wind-phlegm obstructing the channels. Deviated mouth and surrounding area without deviated eyes, accompanied by hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) and sometimes inability to speak is observed in wind stroke.
Medication: Use Pull Aright Powder.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LI and ST, supported by TB, GB, and BL. Select GB-20 (Wind Pool), TB-17 (Wind Screen), ST-4 (Earth Granary), ST-6 (Cheek Carriage), Pull Aright, LI-4 (Union Valley), GB-14 (Yang White), BL-2 (Bamboo Gathering), and ST-2 (Four Whit
deviated menstruation
menstrual bloody stool.
deviated mouth
deviated tongue
A tongue that inclines to one side. It occurs in wind stroke due to internal liver wind or phlegm obstructing the network vessels.
Acupuncture: Prick Gold Liquid and Jade Humor, with a three-edged needle to bleed, and drain CV-23 (Ridge Spring) and GV-16 (Wind Mansion).
devitalization
Loss of vigor or force. See exuberance and debilitation.
devitalized center yang
spleen-stomach yang vacuity.
devitalized heart yang
heart yang vacuity.
devitalized spleen yang
spleen yang vacuity.
diagnosis
Identification of disease states. Chinese medical diagnosis is a process of gathering information through the four examinations (inspection, smelling and listening, inquiry, and palpation) and classifying the information according to the various methods of pattern identification (eight-principle pattern identification; qi-blood pattern identification; bowel and visceral pattern identification; evil pattern identification; six-channel pattern identification; four-aspect pattern identification).
diaphragm
The partition between the chest and abdomen. The Mirror-of-Man Canon states, ``The diaphragm membrane is below the heart; it is attached to the spine, the rib-side, and abdomen all the way round like a screen that does not leak. It screens out turbid qi and prevents it from fuming the clear paths.'' The Classic of Difficult Issues states, ``... the heart and lung alone are above the diaphragm.'' All the channels with the exception of the foot greater yang bladder channel pass through the diaphragm. For example, The Magic Pivot says: ``The heart hand lesser yin vessel starts in the center of the heart... goes down through the diaphragm and connects with the small intestine.
diaphragm phlegm
A phlegm pattern of qi counterflow and phlegm congestion arising when phlegm gathers and binds in the chest and diaphragm preventing normal upbearing and downbearing of qi. Signs include glomus and fullness in the abdomen and heart region, shortness of breath that prevents the patient from lying flat, dizzy head and dim vision, and frequent desire to vomit.
Medication: Downbear qi and flush phlegm. See phlegm.
diaphragmatic dispersion
Synonyms: upper dispersion.
diarrhea
Any deviation from established bowel rhythm characterized by increased frequency of the stool; the semi-liquid or liquid stool characteristic of this condition. Diarrhea occurs in vacuity, repletion, cold, and heat patterns. Fulminant (sudden and violent) diarrhea usually indicates repletion. Enduring diarrhea generally indicates vacuity, or a vacuity-repletion complex. Diarrhea characterized by ungratifying defecation and foul-smelling stool, and associated with abdominal pain indicates damp-heat in the large intestine. Diarrhea characterized by frequent defecation with blood and pus in the stool, abdominal pain, tenesmus, and a burning sensation in the rectum constitutes dysentery, which is another form of large intestinal damp-heat. Abdominal pain followed and relieved by diarrhea is most often attributable to food accumulation. Bouts of diarrhea with abdominal pain that is unrelieved by defecation are brought on by emotional stimuli in patients suffering from liver-spleen disharmony. Diarrhea occurring shortly after eating indicates spleen-stomach qi vacuity. Diarrhea each day before dawn is known as early morning diarrhea (fifth watch diarrhea) and is attributable to spleen-kidney yang vacuity. Diarrhea with loss of voluntary control over bowel movements, sometimes accompanied by prolapse of the rectum, is known as intestinal vacuity efflux desertion, and is attributed to vacuity cold or to center qi fall. Fulminant diarrhea and vomiting is a sign of cholera, which includes what Western medicine calls cholera and some forms of gastroenteritis. Specific types of diarrhea are named in three ways: according to pathomechanism, according to the associated morbid bowel or viscus, and according to signs.
diarrhea and dysentery
dietary contraindications
The inadvisability of eating certain foods in certain diseases or in combination with certain medicines or other foods. The Magic Pivot includes statements such as ``acridity is contraindicated in liver disease, saltiness is contraindicated in heart disease, sourness is contraindicated in spleen disease...'' Practical experience shows that salt should be avoided in water swelling, whereas oily foods should be avoided in jaundice and diarrhea. Dietary contraindications also include prohibitions about food combinations, e.g., cold and raw foods should not be taken after consumption of fatty foods, tangerines should not be eaten when suffering from the common cold. Some traditional contraindications should not be applied indiscriminately, e.g., complete avoidance of cold or oily foods, meat, and fish in measles can prevent recovery. Finally, certain foods are contraindicated while taking certain medicinals. For example, when taking turtle shell, amaranth (a leaf vegetable not readily available in the West) is contraindicated, and while taking schizonepeta, fish and crab are contraindicated. Generally, traditional dietary contraindications still await statistical proof.
dietary irregularities
A neutral cause of disease; any excess in the consumption of food, including: ingestion of raw, cold, or unclean foodstuffs; voracious eating; predilection for sweet fatty foods; habitual consumption of liquor or hot, spicy foods. Dietary irregularities may not only affect the spleen and stomach, causing digestive disturbances, food accumulation, stomach pain, diarrhea, etc., but in cases of excessive liquor consumption and overindulgence in sweet and fatty foods, they may create heat, phlegm, and dampness. In addition, improper diet may combine with the six excesses to cause disease, e.g., ingestion of raw or cold foodstuffs in summer.
difficult defecation
Difficulty in evacuating the bowels with evacuation at long intervals. Difficult defecation differs from constipation on three points. (1) In constipation, evacuation is once every other day, or may occur only after several days, whereas in difficult defecation, stool is passed, usually about once a day. (2) In constipation, the stool is always dry and hard, whereas in difficult defecation, the stool is is not necessarily hard, although it may be dry and bound like jujubes or chestnuts. (3) Constipation is usually associated with abdominal discomfort, whereas difficult defecation usually is not. Difficult defecation occurs in the following patterns: large intestinal heat bind, brewing damp-heat, spleen-lung qi vacuity, liver-spleen qi stagnation, spleen-kidney yang vacuity, and yin vacuity and blood depletion.
difficult delivery
Difficulty in giving birth; failure to give birth despite labor pains and aching lumbus and sagging sensation in the smaller abdomen, and despite the breaking of the bag of waters. Distinction is made between qi-blood vacuity on the one hand and qi stagnation and blood stasis on the other.
diffuse
(Of qi) to spread; to promote the spread (of qi), e.g., diffusing the lung, promoting the normal diffusion or spread of lung qi, so that it reaches to the exterior upper parts of the body.
diffuse pricking
Light pricking with a three-edged needle over a broad area. See bloodletting.
diffuse swelling
Swelling that is not clearly circumscribed. Diffuse swelling is a feature of a flat-abscess that distinguishes from a welling-abscess .
diffusing formula
One of the ten formula types. Diffusing medicinals can eliminate congestion. Thus, Two Matured Ingredients Decoction by the diffusing action of fresh ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium) can treat distention and oppression in the chest, vomiting and retching, and nausea. Melon Stalk Powder, which ejects phlegm-rheum from the stomach, is another example of a diffusing formula.
diffusing lung qi
Synonyms: diffusing the lung.
diffusing lung qi with lightness
A method of treatment used to restore diffusion of lung qi using light medicinals and to clear heat and resolve the exterior. The method of diffusing the lung with lightness is used to treat contraction of warm dryness in autumn with slight generalized heat~effusion, dry mouth and thirst, and cough without phlegm. A representative formula is Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction.
diffusing medicinals can eliminate congestion
Diffusing and dissipating medicinals such as dried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Exsiccatum) and tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium) can eliminate congestion and depression. See diffusing formula.
diffusing the lung
Synonyms: diffusing the white; diffusing lung qi.
A method of treatment used to address inhibited lung qi with cough, panting, and copious phlegm using medicinals such as ephedra (Ephedrae Herba), apricot kernel (Armeniacae Semen), platycodon (Platycodonis Radix), cicada molting (Cicadae Periostracum), and perilla (Perillae Folium, Caulis et Calyx).
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU and LI. Select LU-7 (Broken Sequence), BL-13 (Lung Transport), and LI-4 (Union Valley). Needle with drainage and moxa if appropriate.
diffusing the lung and calming panting
diffusing the lung and dispelling phlegm
diffusing the lung and transforming phlegm
Synonyms: diffusing the lung and dispelling phlegm; dissipating cold and transforming phlegm.
A method of treatment used to restore lung qi diffusion and eliminate phlegm from the lung. The method of diffusing the lung and transforming phlegm is used to treat externally contracted wind-cold causing nondiffusion of lung qi with nasal congestion, itchy throat, cough with copious phlegm, and thin white tongue fur.
Medication: Lung-diffusing phlegm-transforming medicinals include ephedra (Ephedrae Herba), platycodon (Platycodonis Radix), apricot kernel (Armeniacae Semen), cicada molting (Cicadae Periostracum), magnolia flower1 (Magnoliae Flos1), tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, LI, and ST. Select LU-7 (Broken Sequence), BL-13 (Lung Transport), LI-4 (Union Valley), and ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge). Needle with drainage.
diffusing the white
Synonyms: diffusing the lung.
diphtheria
A disease characterized by whitening of the throat. It occurs mostly in the autumn or winter after a long period of dryness, and is attributed to seasonal epidemic scourge toxin exploiting vacuity of the lung and stomach. It starts with a sore throat that makes swallowing painful, and with the appearance of white speckles on one or both throat nodes (i.e., the tonsils), which spread quickly to create a white membrane that covers the uvula and stretches into the regions inside and outside the throat pass (isthmus faucium). The membrane does not easily slough off, cannot be forcefully removed without causing bleeding, and if removed always grows back. Other signs include headache, generalized pain, slight heat~effusion or alternating heat~effusion and aversion to cold, lack of spirit, oppression in the chest, vexation and agitation, bad breath, and nasal congestion. If the white membrane spreads into the region inside the throat pass and down to the epiglottis and beyond, signs such as labored breathing, flaring nostrils, green-blue lips, heart palpitations or fearful throbbing, and a bound or intermittent pulse may be observed. Distinction is made between yang heat and yin vacuity patterns. Yang heat patterns are attributed to wind-heat or heat toxin, and are characterized by a red sore swollen throat, heat~effusion, constipation, and reddish urine; yin vacuity patterns are attributed to dryness-heat damaging the lung and stomach, and are characterized by white putrid throat, low fever, heat in the hearts of the palms and soles, fatigue, shortness of breath, and a fine rapid pulse.
Medication: Yang heat patterns are treated by draining heat and resolving toxin using Spirit Immortal Life-Giving Decoction. Yin vacuity patterns are treated by nourishing yin and clearing heat with formulas such as Yin-Nourishing Lung-Clearing Decoction. Diphtheria
Acupuncture: For yang heat, base treatment mainly on LU, LI, TB, and ST. Select as the main points TB-17 (Wind Screen), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LI-4 (Union Valley), LI-17 (Celestial Tripod), LI-18 (Protuberance Assistant), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li), needling with drainage.
direct moxibustion
The burning of hand-rolled moxa cones directly on the skin at selected points. This method includes scarring moxibustion and nonscarring moxibustion.
direct strike
direct strike on the triple yin
Direct invasion of the yin channels by disease evils that requires emergency treatment. Normally, disease evils in the early stages give rise to triple-yang patterns, which may then develop into triple-yin patterns. However, if the disease evil is strong and right qi is weak, the disease evil can directly strike the triple yin. In clinical practice, direct strike on the lesser yin is the most commonly seen, and is due to kidney yang debilitation and extreme exuberance of yin-cold.
Medication: Return yang with Counterflow Cold Decoction.
direct strike on the yin channels
Disease evil directly invading the yin channels without passing through the triple yang; characterized by absence of heat~effusion, by aversion to cold, and by other yin-channel signs. See direct strike on the triple yin.
directional supplementation and drainage
An acupuncture technique whereby the needle is angled with or against the flow of qi in a channel to produce a supplementing or a draining needle stimulus. A needle pointing in the direction of the channel flow produces supplementation, whereas one pointing counter to the direction of the flow produces drainage. See needle manipulation technique.
disablement
Synonyms: wind disablement.
Wilting and loss of the use of the limbs without pain and with loss of mental faculties. The Magic Pivot states, ``When disablement is the disease, and there is no generalized pain, the limbs cannot contract, cognitive faculties are not seriously confused, and speech is faint, the condition can be treated.'' This passage would indicate that disablement is a sequela of wind stroke. See hemilateral withering; stroke.
discharge
Abbreviation for vaginal discharge.
discharge
Release or leakage; spontaneous or induced outward or downward movement. Same as drain. See also diarrhea.
discharge defense and outthrust heat
To treat warm disease in which evil heat has reached the qi-aspect, causing generalized heat~effusion, absence of aversion to cold, vexation and thirst, and yellow tongue fur, but in which the exterior is blocked so that there is no sweating (a sign of a defense aspect block).
Medication: Use cool acrid outthrusting medicinals to bring on a mild sweat (``draining defense''), and make the qi-aspect evil thrust outward through the exterior (``outthrusting heat''). This method uses medicinals such as duckweed (Lemnae Herba), mint (Menthae Her
discharge of stool with flatus
Involuntary discharge of stool while passing flatus. Discharge of stool with flatus is observed in qi dysentery (dysentery manifesting as qi vacuity).
discharge the liver
Synonyms: coursing the liver.
discharging formula
One of the ten formula types. Discharging medicinals can eliminate blocks. Formulas containing discharging and draining medicinals treat interior repletion patterns. For example, Tingli and Jujube Lung-Draining Decoction is used to treat lung repletion patterns of cough, rapid breathing, and copious phlegm, whereas Six Milled Ingredients Decoction is used to treat constipation due to qi depression accompanied by belching, chest and rib-side distention and fullness (and abdominal pain in severe cases), a slimy yellow tongue fur, and a stringlike pulse.
discharging medicinals can eliminate blocks
Discharging medicinals, i.e., draining medicinals, such as rhubarb (Rhei Rhizoma) and tingli (Descurainiae seu Lepidii Semen) treat interior repletion patterns. See discharging formula.
disease
Any sick condition of the body of part of it; either an instance of such a condition (also called illness) or a any specific kind of morbidity, as identified by specific signs or specific causes or pathomechanisms common to all individuals affected by it. Wind stroke, for example, is a disease defined by the sudden loss of use of the limbs (hemiplegia), inability to speak, and inability to recognize people. The notion of a disease entity is distinct from that of pattern. A specific disease entity may be characterized by different patterns that reflect different pathomechanisms or variations in the disease that are determined by the patient's individual state of health. Measles, for example, may take the form of a favorable or unfavorable pattern. The principle diseases are listed below.
disease correspondences of the five colors
The diagnostic significance of the five colors (green-blue, red, yellow, white, and black). The five colors have two sets or correspondences: (1) In the doctrine of the five phases, green-blue, red, yellow, white and black facial complexions indicate disease of the liver, heart, spleen, lung, and kidney respectively. (2) The five colors are also have correspondences to the nature of disease. Green-blue is associated with wind, fright, cold and pain; red is associated with heat; yellow is associated with dampness; white is associated with blood vacuity and cold; black is associated with pain, blood stasis, and taxation damage. These correspondence are rough guidelines, not immutable rules.
disease evil
Synonyms: evil.
disease of the mother affects the child
The five-phase law that disease can spread from one bowel or viscus to the other according to the engendering sequence. For example, liver-wood is the mother of heart-fire, and ascendant liver yang causing exuberant heart fire is a disease of the mother affecting the child. Spleen-earth is the mother of lung-metal, and spleen-stomach vacuity giving rise to insufficiency of lung qi is another example. See also vacuity evil.
disease pattern
disease-evil pattern identification
The process of identifying evils present in the body from examination data. Evils are recognized by certain characteristic signs. Heat, for example, is identified by the presence of high fever, palpable heat, red facial complexion, red tongue and rapid pulse. Disease-evil pattern identification is not in itself a basis for treatment. External evils are identified through externally contracted heat febrile disease pattern identification, while the internal evils require further scrutiny through bowel and visceral pattern identification. Furthermore, whatever evil is present, treatment can only be prescribed once the relative strength of the evil to right qi has been assessed.
disharmony
A functional disturbance of any bowel or viscus, qi, blood, etc., e.g., disharmony of stomach qi; or a functional imabalance between bowels and viscera, or qi and blood, etc., e.g., construction-defense disharmony, liver-spleen disharmony.
disharmony of liver qi
Deficiency or excessiveness of the liver's free coursing action. Signs include rashness, impatience, and irascibility, distending pain in the chest and rib-side, in severe cases with pain reaching into the lesser abdomen. In women, there may be distention and pain of the breasts, and menstrual irregularities. When the spleen and stomach are affected, there may be digestive tract signs. Compare constrained liver qi.
disharmony of qi and blood
Any failure in the mutually complementary relationship of qi and blood. Qi is the commander of the blood, whereas blood is the mother of qi. Disease of qi affects the blood, whereas blood disease affects qi. Qi stagnation can cause blood stasis. Qi counterflow can cause blood counterflow manifesting in blood ejection, expectoration of blood, or spontaneous external bleeding. Qi vacuity can cause blood management failure characterized by bloody stool, bloody urine, menstrual irregularities, uterine blood, or subcutaneous bleeding. In clinical practice, enduring pain, reverse-flow, menstrual irregularities and chronic hemorrhage are usually associated with disharmony of qi and blood.
disharmony of stomach qi
Synonyms: disharmony of the stomach; stomach disharmony.
Mild upset of the stomach characterized by aversion to food, upflow nausea, sleeplessness, and abnormal stool. Severe nausea and vomiting is a pronounced form of disharmony of stomach qi called stomach qi ascending counterflow.
disharmony of the stomach
Synonyms: disharmony of stomach qi.
disinhibit
To promote fluency, movement, or activity, i.e., to treat inhibited flow of qi, blood or fluids, or inhibited physical movement.
disinhibiting dampness
A method of treatment used to cause dampness evil to pass out in the urine by the use of dampness-percolating water-disinhibiting medicinals.
disinhibiting dampness by bland percolation
A method of treatment that makes use of sweet and bland dampness-percolating medicines to facilitate the eliminating of damp evil through the urine. Disinhibiting dampness by bland percolation is used to treat patterns characterized by clear thin diarrhea, inhibited urination, white tongue fur, and a soggy pulse. Bland percolating dampness-disinhibiting medicinals include poria (Poria), polyporus (Polyporus), alisma (Alismatis Rhizoma), and coix (Coicis Semen).
disinhibiting qi
Synonyms: moving qi.
disinhibiting water
disinhibiting water and percolating dampness
To eliminate dampness by freeing urination in the treatment of of strangury-turbidity, water swelling, and diarrhea due to water-damp congesting in the lower burner. Disinhibiting water and percolating dampness makes use of sweet and bland water-disinhibiting medicinals such as poria (Poria), alisma (Alismatis Rhizoma), and polyporus (Polyporus). Representative formulas include Poria (Hoelen) Five Powder and Five-Peel Powder.
dislocation
The displacement of bones of a joint; usually attributed to falls, twisting, pressure or other forms of violence, and, less commonly, the result of wind-cold-damp invasion or liver-kidney debilitation.
dispel
Eliminate (evils). See drain.
dispelling cold and transforming phlegm
A method of treatment used to address cold phlegm arising from spleen-stomach yang vacuity and internal collection of cold rheum characterized by ejection of thin clear phlegm, aversion to cold, lack of warmth in the extremities, and a slimy tongue fur.
Medication: Cold-dispelling phlegm-transforming medicinals include cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus), poria (Poria), dried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Exsiccatum), pinellia (Pinelliae Tuber), and red tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium Rubrum). Formulas include Center-Re
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, ST, and LI. Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), LI-4 (Union Valley), and ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), needling with even supplementation and drainage and large amoun
dispelling dampness
Synonyms: transforming dampness.
Any method of treatment used to eliminate dampness. It includes: transforming dampness (eliminating upper burner dampness), drying dampness (eliminating center burner dampness), and disinhibiting dampness (eliminating lower burner dampness). Dispelling dampness is often combined with treatment to fortify the spleen since the spleen governs movement and transformation of water-damp.
dispelling evil
Ay method of treatment used to eliminate, e.g., clearing heat; transforming phlegm.
dispelling evil and supporting right
To treat evil repletion and minor vacuity of the right mainly by dispelling evil and secondarily by supporting right. Compare supporting right and dispelling evil.
dispelling phlegm
Any method of treatment used to eliminate phlegm. The term transforming phlegm is the most common. The terms dispersing phlegm, flushing phlegm, expelling phlegm, sweeping phlegm, and attacking phlegm describe more forceful actions. The term transforming phlegm, like dispelling phlegm, is generic, but is also used in the specific sense of the dispelling phlegm in the upper burner.
dispelling stasis and dispersing swelling
A method of treatment used to address blood stasis arising from external injury. The method of dispelling stasis and dispersing swelling can be used for painful swollen bruises due to knocks and falls, or for internal injury with qi and blood stagnation and pain.
Medication: A representative stasis-dispelling swelling-dispersing formula is Seven Pinches Powder.
Acupuncture: Select local points and points at the ends of the channels and needle with drainage, or prick to bleed with a three-edged needle. Selection of points according to location: Shoulder: LI-15 (Shoulder Bone) and TB-14 (Shoulder Bone-Hole), and SI-9 (True Sh
dispelling stasis and quickening the blood
Synonyms: quickening the blood and transforming stasis; quickening the blood and dispelling stasis; transforming stasis and moving the blood; eliminating stasis and engendering the new; quickening the blood and engendering the new.
A method of treatment used to restore normal movement of the blood by eliminating blood stasis. On the basis of the power of action, distinction can be made between quickening the blood, transforming stasis, and breaking blood. Quickening the blood is the mildest action, and is performed with medicinals such as salvia (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), red peony (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), ligusticum (Ligustici Rhizoma), moutan (Moutan Radicis Cortex), and millettia (Millettiae Radix et Caulis). Transforming stasis is a stronger action performed with medicinals such as peach kernel (Persicae Semen), carthamus (Carthami Flos), and myrrh (Myrrha). Among stasis-transforming medicinals, lycopus (Lycopi Herba), leonurus (Leonuri Herba), typha pollen (Typhae Pollen), and flying squirrel's droppings (Trogopteri seu Pteromydis Excrementum) are especially effective for women's problems; corydalis (Corydalis Tuber), frankincense (Olibanum), myrrh (Myrrha), and notoginseng (Notoginseng Radix) are effective in relieving pain; and pangolin scales (Manitis Squama), typha pollen (Typhae Pollen), flying squirrel's droppings (Trogopteri seu Pteromydis Excrementum), anomalous artemisia (Artemisiae Anomalae Herba), and erythrina (Erythrinae Cortex) are effective for dispersing swelling in the treatment of knocks and falls. Breaking blood is the most drastic of all stasis dispelling medicinals used to treat enduring menstrual block and abdominal masses, and is performed with medicinals such as leech (Hirudo seu Whitmania), tabanus (Tabanus), wingless cockroach (Eupolyphaga seu Opisthoplatia), sparganium (Sparganii Rhizoma), zedoary (Zedoariae Rhizoma), and dung beetle (Catharsius). Agents in this latter category are contraindicated in bleeding and pregnancy. Blood-quickening stasis-transforming medicinals belonging to the category of chong products (worms, insects, reptiles) are often used for enduring pain entering the network vessels. Among formulas, Origin-Restorative Blood-Quickening Decoction is effective for knocks and falls, whereas Peach Kernel and Carthamus Four Agents Decoction is used to quicken the blood and regulate menstruation. Sudden Smile Powder quickens the blood and relieves pain. Seven Pinches Powder dispels stasis and disperses swelling in the treatment of external injuries. Turtle Shell Decocted Pill is effective in dispersing masses. Generalized Pain Stasis-Expelling Decoction and Fixed Impediment Empirical Formula treat impediment patterns characterized by ``enduring pain entering the network vessels.'' Specific forms of dispelling stasis and quickening the blood include dispelling stasis and dispersing swelling; warming and transforming static blood; dispersing concretions, conglomerations, accumulations, and gatherings; and dispelling stasis and stanching bleeding.
Acupuncture: Select points such as BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), LI-4 (Union Valley), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and Glomus Root as main points. Selection of points according to affected area: On the upper limbs, add LI-4
dispelling stasis and stanching bleeding
A method of treatment used to eliminate blood stasis and to check bleeding in the treatment of patterns such as a)~blood stasis flooding and spotting with copious purple-black clotted flow, lower abdominal pain that refuses pressure and is relieved by passing of clots, dark a gray tongue fur, and a rough pulse, or b)~dribbling discharge of the lochia due to blood stasis marked by abdominal pain that refuses pressure, purple-black facial complexion, and purple tongue margins. For uterine bleeding, use medicinals such as tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), ligusticum (Ligustici Rhizoma), ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma), typha pollen (Typhae Pollen), charred crataegus (Crataegi Fructus Carbonisatus), peach kernel (Persicae Semen), and notoginseng (Notoginseng Radix). For dribbling discharge of the lochia, use tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), red peony (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), peach kernel (Persicae Semen), and blast-fried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Tostum).
Acupuncture: Select points such as BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), CV-17 (Chest Center) and CV-6 (Sea of Qi). Needle with even supplementation and drainage.
dispelling wind
Any method of treatment used to eliminate wind, especially external wind. See dispelling wind and eliminating dampness; extinguishing wind; dispelling wind and resolving tetany; coursing wind and discharging heat; dispelling wind and nourishing the blood; tracking wind and expelling cold.
dispelling wind and eliminating dampness
Synonyms: dispelling wind and overcoming dampness.
A method of treatment used to address wind-damp lodged in the channels and network vessels, the flesh, and the joints that causes wandering pain, using medicinals such as duhuo (Angelicae Duhuo Radix), notopterygium (Notopterygii Rhizoma), ledebouriella (Ledebouriellae Radix), large gentian (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), clematis (Clematidis Radix), mulberry twig (Mori Ramulus), and acanthopanax (Acanthopanacis Radicis Cortex).
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GB, TB, LI, ST, and SP. Select GB-20 (Wind Pool), GB-31 (Wind Market), TB-5 (Outer Pass), LI-4 (Union Valley) LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LI-10 (Arm Three Li), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring), and SP-9 (Yin Mound Spr
dispelling wind and nourishing the blood
A method of treatment used to address persistent wind-damp with disharmony of the blood and vessels and liver-kidney depletion characterized by cold pain of the lumbus and knee using formulas like Duhuo and Mistletoe Decoction. This formula contains not only wind-damp-dispelling medicinals and liver-kidney-supplementing medicinals, but also tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba), ligusticum (Ligustici Rhizoma), and cooked rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Conquita), which harmonize construction and nourish the blood, and free the vessels, thereby enabling the wind to disperse. Dispelling wind and nourishing the blood is a method of treatment that accords with the principle that ``to treat wind, first treat the blood; when the blood moves, wind naturally disappears.''
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, LR, GB, SP, and ST. Needle with supplementation at BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), and BL-18 (Liver Transport), and with drainage
dispelling wind and overcoming dampness
Synonyms: dispelling wind and eliminating dampness.
dispelling wind and resolving tetany
A method of treatment used to address tetany using wind-dispelling medicinals. Wind-dispelling tetany-resolving formulas include True Jade Powder or Five-Tigers-Chasing-the-Wind Powder used to treat lockjaw, and Pull Aright Powder used to treat facial paralysis, and Uncaria Beverage used to treat exuberant heat engendering wind causing tetany (acute child fright wind). See resolving tetany.
dispelling wind and transforming phlegm
A method of treatment used to address deviated mouth and eyes, stiff tongue and impeded speech as in wind stroke, and child fright wind, using wind-dispelling and phlegm-forming medicinals such as aconite/typhonium (Aconiti Coreani seu Typhonii Gigantei Tuber), silkworm (Bombyx Batryticatus), bamboo sugar (Bambusae Concretio Silicea), and bile arisaema (Arisaematis Rhizoma cum Felle Bovis), which are often combined with wind-extinguishing medicinals such as scorpion (Buthus), and centipede (Scolopendra), and, if necessary, with heat-clearing orifice-opening medicinals. A representative formula is Pull Aright Powder.
Acupuncture: For wind stroke with wind-phlegm obstructing the network vessels, base treatment mainly on LI and ST, supported by TB, GB, and BL. Select GB-20 (Wind Pool), LI-4 (Union Valley), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge), TB-17 (Wind Screen), ST-4 (Ear
disperse
To break up, dispel. See dispersion; drain.
dispersing concretions, conglomerations, accumulations, and gatherings
The method of treating concretions, conglomerations, accumulations, and gatherings, i.e., any masses in the abdomen. This method makes use of channel-freeing stasis-dispelling medicinals such as peach kernel (Persicae Semen), carthamus (Carthami Flos), moutan (Moutan Radicis Cortex), red peony (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), and cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus). Representative formulas include Cinnamon Twig and Poria (Hoelen) Pill and Turtle Shell Decocted Pill.
dispersing food
dispersing food and abducting stagnation
Synonyms: dispersing food and transforming stagnation.
A method of treatment used to disperse stagnant food and enable it to be carried through the digestive tract. Dispersing food and abducting stagnation, often called abductive dispersion, is employed in the treatment of food stagnation causing oppression in the stomach duct and abdominal distention, poor appetite, putrid belching, swallowing of upflowing acid, and nausea and upflow, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea with ungratifying defecation. Commonly used abductive dispersion medicinals include crataegus (Crataegi Fructus), medicated leaven (Massa Medicata Fermentata), barley sprout (Hordei Fructus Germinatus), gizzard lining (Galli Gigerii Endothelium), and rice sprout (Oryzae Fructus Germinatus). Radish seed (Raphani Semen), unripe bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), and areca (Arecae Semen) may be added to break qi, precipitate phlegm, and free the stool. A formula used for this purpose is Harmony-Preserving Pill, which includes crataegus (Crataegi Fructus), medicated leaven (Massa Medicata Fermentata), pinellia (Pinelliae Tuber), poria (Poria), tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium), forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus), and radish seed (Raphani Semen). Unripe Bitter Orange Stagnation-Abducting Pill has an additional precipitant action. When the food stagnation is due to spleen-stomach vacuity, abductive dispersing medicinals can be combined with supplementing medicinals, which enhance digestive system function, thereby reducing susceptibility to food accumulation in the long term. An example of such a formula is Spleen-Fortifying Pill, which contains ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma), white poria (Poria Alba), codonopsis (Codonopsitis Radix), licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix), saussurea (Saussureae (seu Vladimiriae) Radix), forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus), coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma), medicated leaven (Massa Medicata Fermentata), tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium), barley sprout (Hordei Fructus Germinatus), amomum (Amomi Semen seu Fructus), crataegus (Crataegi Fructus), nutmeg (Myristicae Semen), and dioscorea (Dioscoreae Rhizoma).
Acupuncture: Base treatment on ST, SP, and CV. Select ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), SP-4 (Yellow Emperor), Li Inner Court, and CV-21 (Jade Swivel); needle with drainage.
dispersing food and transforming phlegm
A method of treatment used to eliminate phlegm and food stagnation. The method of dispersing food and transforming phlegm is used to treat replete qi and exuberant phlegm causing cough and qi counterflow, oppression in the chest and copious phlegm, indigestion, distention and oppression in the stomach duct and abdomen, a slimy tongue, and a slippery pulse, as is often observed in elderly patients.
Medication: Two commonly used food-dispersing phlegm-transforming formulas Qi-Normalizing Food-Dispersing Phlegm-Transforming Pill and Three-Seed Filial Devotion Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST and CV. Select ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), Li Inner Court, CV-21 (Jade Swivel), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge), PC-6 (Inner Pass), LI-4 (Union Valley), and CV-17 (Chest Center), needle
dispersing food and transforming stagnation
Synonyms: dispersing food and abducting stagnation.
dispersing gan
A method of treatment used to eliminate gan accumulation.
dispersing glomus and transforming accumulations
A method of treatment used to eliminate glomus and accumulations (abdominal masses) by moving qi and transforming stasis, dispersing stagnation, and softening hardness. Dispersing glomus and transforming accumulations may be used, for example, to treat a hard lump of fixed location under the rib-side (hepatosplenomegaly) or gan accumulation.
dispersing goiter, scrofula, and phlegm nodes
Any method used to treat goiter, scrofula, and phlegm nodes. Dispersing goiter, scrofula, and phlegm nodes makes use of phlegm-transforming hardness-softening, bind-dispersing medicinals such as sargassum (Sargassi Herba), kelp (Algae Thallus), and prunella (Prunellae Spica). Representative formulas include Scrofula Internal Dispersion Pill and Sargassum Jade Flask Decoction.
dispersing phlegm
A method of treatment used to attack stagnant turbid phlegm. The method of dispersing phlegm can damage original qi, and should be used with care. See dispersing phlegm and calming panting; dispersing phlegm and softening hardness.
dispersing phlegm and calming panting
A method of treatment used to address copious phlegm with qi counterflow, oppression in the chest, reduced food intake, sticky slimy tongue fur, and a slippery pulse due to phlegm-rheum deep-lying in the lung. An example of a phlegm-dispersing panting-calming formula is Three-Seed Filial Devotion Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU and ST. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), LU-1 (Central Treasury), Panting Stabilizer, LU-7 (Broken Sequence), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), CV-17 (Chest Center), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge), and CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct); needle with drainag
dispersing phlegm and softening hardness
A method of treatment used to address binding turbid phlegm or scrofula. An example of a phlegm-dispersing hardness-softening formula is Scrofula-Dispersing Pill.
Acupuncture: Apply moxa cones at Hundred Taxations and moxa pole at Tip of the Elbow. *Ouch points can be needled and moxaed. For scrofula on the nape, add TB-17 (Wind Screen), GB-41 (Foot Overlooking Tears), and TB-10 (Celestial Well) (moxa) needling with supplementa
dispersion
One of the eight methods. The gradual breaking up of accumulations of substances in the body, using medicinals that abduct and disperse, soften hardness, and transform accumulations. Elementary Questions states, ``Hardness is whittled away,'' and ``Binds are dispersed.'' In practice, dispersion possesses a broad field of application. It can be used for concretions and conglomerations, glomus lumps, food accumulations, water amassment, calculi (stones), scrofula, and phlegm nodes. See dispersing food; dispersing phlegm and softening hardness; dispersing glomus and transforming accumulations.
dispersion
Abbreviation for dispersion-thirst.
dispersion-thirst
Synonyms: dispersion-thirst.
dispersion-thirst
Synonyms: wasting-thirst .
Any disease characterized by thirst, increased fluid intake, and copious urine, and categorized as upper burner, center burner, and lower burner dispersion, depending on the pathomechanism.
disquieted heart spirit
Spirit disturbed as a result of the heart's failure to store it. The spirit is stored by the heart, and is often referred to as the heart spirit. Disquieted heart spirit arises in heart disease when the heart fails to store the spirit, and manifests as heart palpitations, fearful throbbing, susceptibility to fright, heart vexation, and insomnia. See disquieting of heart qi.
disquieting of heart qi
A term loosely denoting disquieted heart spirit, heart palpitations or fearful throbbing, susceptibility to fright, heart vexation, and insomnia. Disquieting of heart qi is attributed to taxation of the spirit, insufficiency of heart blood, damage to heart qi by fear and fright, and is usually accompanied by fatigue, tender-soft tongue, a vacuous or interrupted (skipping, bound, or intermittent) pulse. It may also occur in patterns of phlegm-damp, blood stasis, or water qi intimidating the heart. Compare heart vacuity and gallbladder timidity.
dissipate
To spread (of qi).
To break up (evil) and eliminate. See drain.
dissipated pulse
Synonyms: scattered pulse.
A large floating pulse without root. A dissipated pulse is large at the superficial level, but ceases to be felt as soon as the slightest pressure is applied. It indicates the dissipation of qi and blood and the impending expiration of the essential qi of the bowels and viscera.
dissipating cold and transforming phlegm
diffusing the lung and transforming phlegm.
distal bleeding
Internal bleeding from a point far from the anus, i.e., in the stomach or small intestine, characterized by the passage of stool followed by blood and by dark blackish stool. Distal bleeding is attributable to a)~spleen-stomach vacuity cold, b)~liver depression transforming into fire causing frenetic movement of the blood, c)~accumulated heat toxin, or d)~spleen vacuity and lung dryness stemming from effulgent yin vacuity fire.
Medication: Spleen-stomach vacuity cold is treated by warming the center and fortifying the spleen, using Yellow Earth Decoction. Liver depression transforming into fire is treated by clearing the liver and resolving depression with variations of Moutan and Gardenia
distant needling
From The Magic Pivot One of the nine needling methods. Treating disease of the upper body by needling points on yang channels of the lower body.
distending pain
Pain associated with subjective fullness or objective distention; attributable to qi stagnation. See pain.
distention
Synonyms: distention disease.
Enlargement of the abdomen. See abdominal distention; drum distention. A subjective feeling of inflation, bloating, or pressure, e.g., rib-side pain and distention, abdominal distention, and distention in the head.
distention and fullness in the heart region and abdomen in pregnancy
Fullness and distention in the upper abdomen during pregnancy. It is observed in women ordinarily suffering from vacuity cold, who contract cold or suffer internal damage by dietary irregularities during pregnancy. The resulting congestion of stomach qi allows turbid evil to cause internal obstruction and disturb upbearing and downbearing.
distention disease
distention in the head
A feeling of pressure and discomfort in the head. Distention in the head is usually caused by external contraction of dampness evil, or nonelimination of summerheat-warmth evil. It is variously treated by resolving the exterior, clearing heat, repelling foulness, and transforming dampness.
distention qi
Flatulence in the abdomen.
distillate
Synonyms: medicinal dew; dew.
The condensed vapor obtained when medicinals are boiled in water. Lonicera (Lonicerae Flos), agastache/patchouli (Agastaches seu Pogostemi Herba), and mint (Menthae Herba) can all be made into distillates. Distillates are bland in flavor, and are taken as a beverage in the summer. They rapidly lose their effectiveness and so are best used as soon as possible.
distillation
The process of making a distillate. See processing of medicinals.
distress
To cause acute disturbance. For example, in the term ``heat distressing the large intestine,'' where damp-heat damages the stomach and large intestine, affecting conveyance of waste, distress describes how heat creates abdominal pain, severe diarrhea with yellow malodorous stool, and a burning sensation in the anus.
distress below the heart
A feeling of distress associated with slight pain and fullness in the stomach duct. Distress below the heart is caused by evil heat binding in the stomach and occurs after severe vomiting. It may also be associated with heart vexation and constipation.
diverging network vessel
The larger network vessels that branch off from the main channels. The twelve channels, the governing vessel and controlling vessel each have one diverging network vessel. In addition, there is the great network vessel of the spleen, making a total of fifteen. These are called the fifteen diverging network vessels or the fifteen network vessels. The Classic of Difficult Issues states, ``The fifteen diverging network vessels all return to their origins, as in a ring without end, pouring from one to next; they face the inch opening wrist pulse and man's prognosis , where the hundred illnesses can be determined and a person's death or survival can be judged.'' See network vessel.
divide needling
One of the nine needling methods; needling into a crevice, or parting, in the flesh (i.e., a between two muscles). The Magic Pivot states, ``Divide needling is needling between divided flesh.''
divided flesh
Flesh, especially as divisible into red and white parts. Formerly, the outer layer of flesh (subcutaneous fat) was called ``white flesh'' and the internal layer (muscle) was called ``red flesh,'' and therefore the flesh was divided into red and white parts.
A distinct separation between two masses of flesh (muscles).
dizziness
Visual distortion with a whirling sensation in the head that, in severe cases, can upset the sense of balance. In some literature, flowery vision causing dizziness is known as ``dizzy vision,'' whereas dizziness giving rise to flowery vision is called ``dizzy head.'' Dizziness can be caused by the six excesses or by internal damage to qi, blood, bowels and viscera, the most common being wind-fire, phlegm-damp, and vacuity of right.
dizziness in pregnancy
Dizziness during pregnancy. It is observed in insufficiency of the liver and kidney when the gathering of blood to nourish the fetus in pregnancy exacerbates the yin vacuity and causes yang to become hyperactive and harass the clear orifices. Dizziness is accompanied by headache, tinnitus, flowery vision, and vexation and agitation.
Medication: Nourish yin and clear heat; calm the liver and subdue yang. Use formulas such as All-the-Way-Through Brew and Lycium Berry, Chrysanthemum, and Rehmannia Pill.
dizzy head
dizzy vision
do not harm stomach qi
Do not damage stomach qi with the indiscriminate use of attacking and cold bitter agents. Stomach qi is the root of man. For this reason, it is said that ``If grain is taken, the body thrives.'' If stomach qi is sufficient, original qi can be restored; if stomach qi is damaged, recovery is difficult.
do not use cold against cold
From Elementary Questions. In the absence of heat signs in cold winter weather, cold medicinals should not be given indiscriminately since this could damage yang qi, giving rise to a transmuation pattern. However, if there is an interior pattern of binding heat, cold and cool offensive precipitants can be used, but in cold winter whether, they should be carefully chosen and their dosages should be kept to a minimum.
do not use heat against heat
From Elementary Questions. In the absence of cold signs in hot weather, hot medicinals should not be given indiscriminately since this could damage liquid and promote the formation of dryness giving rise to a transmutation pattern. However, if there is an exterior cold pattern, warm acrid exterior-effusing medicinals may be used, but in hot summer weather, they should be carefully chosen and their dosages should be kept to a minimum.
doctrine of periods and qi
The doctrine of five periods and six qi by which incidence of sickness is related to climate. The five periods are the five phases, i.e., wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The six qi are wind, heat, dampness, fire, dryness, and cold. The periods are calculated in terms of the ten heavenly stems, whereas the qi are calculated in terms of the twelve earthly branches. The doctrine aims, by means of the complementary opposition of yin and yang and the engendering and restraining relationship between the five phases, to calculate meteorological features and changes for each year and their effects on the human body.
donkey's-mouth wind
lip wind.
door gate
One of the seven gates. The teeth.
dormant papules
Synonyms: wind dormant papules; papular wind lumps.
Wheals that come and go, so named by their ability to remain latent between eruptions. Being itchy and of unfixed location, they bear the attributes of wind; hence an alternate name papular wind lumps. Dormant papules can arise when wind evil invades owing to looseness of the interstices, or when toxin from insect bites gets trapped in the fleshy exterior and flows into the channels. Another cause is accumulated heat in the stomach and intestines that can neither discharge through the bowels nor thrust out through the exterior and so becomes depressed in the skin. In some cases, they are brought on by eating fish or shrimp. Dormant papules usually start abruptly with itchy skin, which, when scratched produces, raised wheals of different sizes. They are most commonly observed on the inner face of the arm and usually disappear without trace. Hot red papules accompanied by a red tongue and floating rapid pulse are wind-heat. White wheals associated with aversion to cold, thin white tongue fur, and a tight floating pulse are wind-cold. Persistent recurrent eruptions indicate qi-blood depletion.
Medication: Wind-heat is treated with Wind-Dispersing Powder; wind-cold with Schizonepeta and Ledebouriella Toxin-Vanquishing Powder, and persistent conditions with Tangkuei Drink.
Acupuncture: Select hand and foot yang brightness and greater yin as the main channels. Main points: LI-4 (Union Valley), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-40 (Bend Center), and GB-31 (Wind Market). For wind-heat, add
dorsal styloid pulse
pulse on the back of the wrist.
double contraction
A disease in the interior and exterior (yin and yang channels).
Medication: Treat by methods such as returning yang, warming and freeing, and fortifying movement, using formulas such as Aconite Center-Rectifying Decoction or Cinnamon Twig Decoction Plus Aconite.
double vision
Seeing one object as two; observed, for example, in drunkenness and wind-induced deviation.
double-boiling
To boil in a container placed in boiling water rather than directly over a fire; to cook or heat in a double boiler. See processing of medicinals.
downbear
To descend, or cause to descend.
downbearing counterflow and checking vomiting
A method of treatment used to downbear counterflow and precipitate qi to treat stomach vacuity cold causing persistent hiccough, discomfort in the chest, and a slow pulse.
Medication: Use Clove and Persimmon Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on the alarm and lower uniting points of ST. Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), PC-6 (Inner Pass), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li); needle with supplementation and moxa to treat stomach vacuity cold.
downbearing counterflow and precipitating qi
Synonyms: normalizing qi.
A method of treatment used to address lung or stomach qi ascending counterflow. Downbearing counterflow and precipitating qi falls within the scope of rectifying qi, and is used to treat lung qi ascending counterflow and stomach qi ascending counterflow. See downbearing qi and calming panting; downbearing counterflow and checking vomiting;
downbearing formula
One of the twelve formula types. Downbearing medicinals can eliminate upbearing, i.e., they can treat counterflow ascent. An example of a downbearing formula is Perilla Seed Qi-Downbearing Decoction, which contains the downbearing agent perilla seed (Perillae Fructus) and treats panting.
downbearing medicinals can eliminate upbearing
Downbearing medicinals such as white perilla seed (Perillae Albae Semen) and inula flower (Inulae Flos) can treat counterflow ascent. See downbearing formula.
downbearing qi
Synonyms: precipitating qi.
A method of treatment used to address counterflow qi ascent manifesting as panting, cough, or hiccough, using medicinals such as perilla seed (Perillae Fructus), inula flower (Inulae Flos), pinellia (Pinelliae Tuber), clove (Caryophylli Flos), and hematite (Haematitum). Downbearing qi is one method of rectifying qi. See principle of treatment.
downbearing qi and calming panting
A method of treatment used to downbear counterflow and precipitate qi in the treatment of wheezing and panting or rapid panting breathing, and copious phlegm.
Medication: For repletion patterns, use Panting-Stabilizing Decoction, and for repletion patterns, use Six Gentlemen Decoction.
Acupuncture: For repletion patterns, base treatment mainly on LU and LI. Select Panting Stabilizer, LU-7 (Broken Sequence), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LI-4 (Union Valley), and CV-17 (Chest Center); needle with drainage. For vacuity patterns, base treatment mainly on LU and
downpour
Downward movement (of damp-heat). See damp-heat pouring downward.
downpour diarrhea
Diarrhea characterized by stool flowing out like water.
downpour of damp-heat
Synonyms: lower burner damp-heat.
downpour of damp-heat into the bladder
Synonyms: bladder damp-heat.
downpour of damp-heat into the large intestine
Synonyms: large intestinal damp-heat.
downpour sore
Synonyms: damp toxin sore.
downsinker
A medicinal that downbears or sinks. See bearing.
downward fall
Downward movement, as of insufficient center qi; frequently abbreviated to fall, as in the term qi fall.
dragon and thunder fire
Excessively effulgent ministerial fire.
Life gate fire (dragon) and lesser yang ministerial fire (thunder) fire.
dragon-spring clove sore
Synonyms: human-center clove sore.
dragover disease
In cold damage, the appearance of signs in a channel before those of a previously affected channel have resolved. Compare combination disease.
drain
To eliminate evils in the body manifesting in repletion patterns. Words of similar meaning include:
drainage
In acupuncture, a strong stimulus applied to eliminate repletion. See drain.
draining fire
draining fire and extinguishing wind
Synonyms: clearing heat and extinguishing wind.
A method of treatment used to address extreme heat engendering wind (repletion heat), i.e., convulsions, upturned eyes, rigid neck, or, in severe cases, arched-back rigidity and clouded spirit in high fever.
Medication: Fire-draining wind-extinguishing medicinals uncaria (Uncariae Ramulus cum Unco), earthworm (Lumbricus), scorpion (Buthus), centipede (Scolopendra), crude abalone shell (Haliotidis Concha Cruda), crude oyster shell (Ostreae Concha Cruda), coptis (Coptidis
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, GB, and LR. Select GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), GB-20 (Wind Pool), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), GV-14 (Great Hammer), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), PC-8 (Palace of Toil), HT-8 (Lesser Mansion), and Twelve Well Points; needle with draina
draining fire and resolving toxin
draining precipitation
draining the heart
A method of treatment used to eliminate fire from the heart region, i.e., from the stomach or the heart itself. This method applies to both a) exuberant stomach fire with sore swollen gums, bad breath, clamoring stomach, constipation, red tongue with yellow fur, and a rapid pulse; and b) exuberant heart fire with frenetic movement of the blood (blood ejection, spontaneous external bleeding), constipation, reddish urine, red eye, mouth sores, yellow tongue fur, and rapid pulse. Both these patterns can be treated with Three Yellows Heart-Draining Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on HT and PC. PC-8 (Palace of Toil), HT-8 (Lesser Mansion), PC-9 (Central Hub), HT-9 (Lesser Surge), or GV-26 (Water Trough) can be drained or bled with a three-edged needle to drain heart fire.
draining the liver
Synonyms: clearing the liver and draining fire.
A method of treatment used to clear and drain liver fire with cold bitter medicinals. Draining the liver is the method used to treat liver fire flaming upward characterized by headache, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, red face and eyes, dry mouth with bitter taste, rib-side pain, vomiting and retching of bitter fluid or, in severe cases, blood ejection, rashness, impatience, and irascibility, constipation, yellow tongue fur, and rapid stringlike pulse.
Medication: A representative liver-draining formula is Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on the LR and GB. LR-2 (Moving Between), GB-43 (Pinched Ravine), or GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring) can be selected and needle with drainage to drain liver fire.
draining the lung
Synonyms: draining the white.
A method of treatment used to eliminate heat from the lung, in the treatment of of conditions such as deep-lying lung heat with cough, panting, persistent heat~effusion, steaming hot skin that grows more severe at dusk, red tongue with yellow fur, and thin rapid pulse.
Medication: A commonly used lung-draining formula is White-Draining Powder with additions. Since the lung is associated through the five phases with the color white, draining the lung is sometimes referred to as ``draining the white,'' as is seen in this formula name
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU and LI. LU-10 (Fish Border), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), LU-11 (Lesser Shang), or LI-1 (Shang Yang) can be selected and needle with drainage or prick to bleed to drain lung fire.
draining the white
draining the lung. For example, in the name White-Draining Powder, ``white-draining'' means ``lung-draining.''
drastic
Highly powerful, as of medicinal action and methods of treatment; applied most commonly to draining and supplementing.
drawing-pin intradermal needle
Synonyms: thumb-tack intradermal needle.
dream emission
Spontaneous discharge of semen associated with dreaming. Dream emission arises when sexually stimulating sights and thoughts cause frenetic stirring of the ministerial fire or when excessive mental activity causes exuberant heart fire. As a general rule, the principle of ``when there is dreaming, treat the heart; when there is no dreaming, treat the kidney'' applies, although dream emission may be attributed to heart-spleen vacuity or heart-kidney vacuity. Damp-heat is a further possible factor.
Medication: Treat by clearing the heart and quieting the spirit, using formulas such as Heart-Clearing Lotus Seed Beverage, Mysterious Fragrance Powder, or Mind-Stabilizing Pill. For persistent conditions in which disease of the heart affects the kidney and causes no
Acupuncture: To clear the heart and quiet the spirit, base treatment mainly on HT and the three yin channels of the foot. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), GB-44 (Foot Orifice Yin), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection); needle with drainage. For exubera
dream talking
Talking while apparently dreaming. A sign of unquiet sleep. See heart heat susceptibility to fright.
dreaming of intercourse
Dreaming of performing coitus, which in males may involve ejaculation known as dream emission. This term is not commonly used in modern literature. See also seminal emission.
dreaming of intercourse with ghosts
Dreaming of performing coitus with unnatural or supernatural beings. This term is no longer commonly used in modern literature. Compare dreaming of intercourse; dream emission; seminal emission.
drench
To saturate or dissolve medicinals in liquid. Formulas often indicate that dry mineral medicinals such as mirabilite (Mirabilitum) and cinnabar (Cinnabaris) or sticky medicinals such as malt sugar (Granorum Saccharon), which means that they can be mixed with the decoction of the other medicinals in the formula or other fluid to facilitate swallowing.
dribble after voiding
Synonyms: post-voiding dribble.
A dribbling discharge of urine after urination. Dribble after voiding falls into three basic patterns: kidney vacuity, insufficiency of center qi, and bladder damp-heat.
dribbling urinary block
Synonyms: urinary block; urinary stoppage
Dribbling urination or, in severe cases, almost complete blockage of urine flow. Distinction is made between a number of vacuity and repletion patterns. Vacuity patterns include insufficiency of center qi and insufficiency of kidney qi. The repletion patterns include lower burner damp-heat, lung qi congestion, binding depression of liver qi, and urinary tract stasis blockage.
dribbling urinary incontinence
dribbling urination
Frequent short rough voidings of urine with a continuous dribble. Distinction is made between vacuity and repletion. Vacuity patterns are mostly attributable to insecurity of kidney qi or dual vacuity of the spleen and kidney. Repletion patterns are mostly due to lower burner damp-heat or urinary calculi. See urine.
dried-meat nose
Synonyms: withered nose.
drink
A beverage (a decoction left to cool) that can be taken at any time.
drinker's aggregation
Synonyms: drinker's concretion.
A hard lump that arises through drinking of liquor. Through excessiving drinking, water collects in the chest and diaphragm and the rib-side forming into an aggregation. The Origin and Indicators of Disease states: ``Drinker's aggregations results from heavy drinking after which the person is thirsty and drinks large amounts of fluid. When the liquor and fluid fail to disperse and collect below the rib-side, and bind and aggregation, that is periodically painful...''
Medication: Use formulas such as Major Seven Qi Decoction.
drinker's concretion
Synonyms: drinker's aggregation.
drinker's nose
Synonyms: red nose; lung wind; lung wind acne.
Reddening and thickening of the skin of the bulb of the nose in those fond of drinking. Drinker's nose is understood as local blood stasis occurring when spleen damp-heat fumes up into the lung. The bulb of the nose becomes enlarged and the surface becomes uneven and warty in appearance. Severe conditions, known as lung-wind or lung-wind acne, are characterized by the appearance of red swollen papules that burst to exude a chalky substance and white fluid and that eventually give way to scaling.
Medication: Clear heat, cool the blood, and dissipate stasis using formulas such as Blood-Cooling Four Agents Decoction. Reversal Powder can be applied topically.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP, LI and ST. Select SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), LI-4 (Union Valley), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), ST-44 (Inner Court); needle with drainage, and prick LI-20 (Welcome Fragrance)
drool
One of the five humors. Drool and spittle are together known as drool-spittle or spittle humor, which keep the mouth moist and help digestion. Drool is said to spring from the cheeks, and to flow out from the corners of the mouth during sleep. Spittle is said to spring from under the tongue, and to be spat out of the mouth. When the spleen and stomach are normal, there is ample liquid; there is harmony of mouth, there is no dryness of mouth or thirst, and food is flavorsome. In spleen-stomach vacuity cold, cold drool wells upward and there is a bland taste in the mouth and nausea. In intense stomach fire, drool is scant and the mouth is dry. Spleen-stomach damp-heat or worm accumulations, wind stroke, or epilepsy can cause drooling or foaming at the corners of the mouth. Compare phlegm-drool.
drool is the humor of the spleen
The spleen opens at the mouth; hence, drool is the humor of the spleen.
drool-spittle
drooling
Flowing of drool from the mouth; attributed to spleen heat or spleen-stomach vacuity cold disturbing normal bearing.
drooling from the corner of the mouth during sleep
Flowing of drool from the angles of the mouth during sleep; a sign of spleen vacuity or stomach heat. In infants this may be a sign of intestinal worms. Drooling from one side of the mouth is associated with deviated mouth and facial paralysis.
drooping of the upper eyelid
Drooping of usually one but sometimes two eyelids, in severe cases, causing the patient to hold the head back to see properly. If not congenital, it is attributable to spleen vacuity causing disharmony of the network vessels allowing wind to settle in the eyelid.
Medication: Supplement the spleen and boost qi; dispel wind and free the network vessels. Use Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction or Ginseng Construction-Nourishing Decoction with judicious addition of silkworm (Bombyx Batryticatus), scorpion (Buthus), red peo
Acupuncture: Needle with supplementation at BL-20 (Spleen Transport), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and with drainage at BL-1 (Bright Eyes), BL-2 (Bamboo Gathering), GB-1 (Pupil Bone-Hole), TB-23 (Silk Bamboo Hole), GB-15 ((Head) Overlooking Tears), GB-20 (Wind Pool), LI-
drowsiness after eating
Desire to sleep occurring after eating, or, in severe cases, before the end of meal. It occurs in spleen qi vacuity with fatigue, lack of strength, withered-yellow facial complexion, poor appetite, abdominal distention after eating, unsolid stool, and a pale enlarged tongue. It results from phlegm-damp encumbering the spleen with heaviness of the head and body, glomus and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, small intake of food, sloppy stool, sticky unpleasant sensation in the mouth, fat body, a white slimy tongue fur, and a soggy moderate pulse.
drug
Synonyms: medicinal.
drum distention
Severe abdominal distention. Drum distention is also called abdominal distention, simple drum, and spider drum (the spider having a rotund body and thin limbs) when swelling of the limbs is absent, as is usually the case. Drum distention is associated with a somber yellow coloration of the skin, and prominent green-blue veins (caput medusae). Causes include: a)~emotional frustration (anger damaging the liver); b)~fondness of liquor and sweet fatty food; c)~glomus lump; d)~enduring illness; e)~water toxin qi bind (mentioned in The Origin and Indicators of Disease, now understood as blood fluke infestation). Two major pathomechanisms operate. Spleen disease affecting the liver: Fondness of liquor and sweet fatty food causes damage to the spleen and prevents it from transforming damp turbidity so that damp-heat brews. The damp-heat then obstructs qi dynamic, causing liver depression. On the one hand, prolonged liver depression can cause blood stasis; on the other, it can cause liver qi to invade the spleen and the stomach, impairing movement and transformation of water-damp. Spleen vacuity and water-damp exacerbate each other, spleen qi vacuity gives way to spleen yang vacuity, which finally leads to dual vacuity of the spleen and kidney with inhibited urination that prevents the discharge of fluids. Drum distention thus arises as a result of qi stagnation, blood stasis, and water collecting in the abdomen. Liver and spleen disease affecting the kidney: Spleen vacuity deprives the kidney of nourishment, causing insufficiency of kidney yang and inhibited bladder qi transformation. Debilitation of the life gate fire (kidney yang) exacerbates spleen yang vacuity. Liver depression transforms into heat to damage yin causing liver-kidney yin vacuity. Damp-heat can similarly damage yin. In former times, distinction was made between qi drum, blood drum, water drum, and worm drum. However, modern texts suggest that no clearly defined line can be drawn between the first three. Distinctions are now made between: qi stagnation and damp obstruction; water-damp encumbering the spleen; brewing damp-heat; liver-spleen blood stasis; spleen-kidney yang vacuity; liver-kidney yin vacuity.
drumskin pulse
A pulse that is floating and beats against the palpating fingers. A drumskin pulse is hard on the outside and empty in the middle like the skin of a drum. It signifies blood collapse and loss of essence. On Cold Damage states, "Contending cold and vacuity is called drumskin." It is similar to and, according to some, identical with the scallion-stalk pulse.
dry
Lacking in moisture (e.g., dry tongue); characterized by absence of moisture (e.g., dry cholera). See dryness.
dry blood consumption
A disease recorded in On Blood Patterns that in signs and treatment corresponds to what is mentioned in Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer as "dry blood." Dry blood consumption is mostly seen in women. It results from long steaming of vacuity heat and internal binding of dry blood with stasis and stagnation, stemming from damage by the five taxations. When, in enduring conditions, static blood is not eliminated, new blood is engendered with difficulty, and liquid and blood fail to create luxuriance in the outer body. Signs include absence of menstruation, markedly emaciated body, no desire for food and drink, steaming bone tidal heat~effusion, encrusted skin, and dull black complexion.
Medication: Quicken the blood and move stasis; clear accumulated heat. Use Rhubarb and Wingless Cockroach Pill. After this, nourish and harmonize the blood with Tangkuei Blood-Supplementing Decoction and Four Agents Decoction.
dry bound stool
dry cholera
Synonyms: intestinal-gripping sand. Blockage of the stomach and intestines by foul turbidity due to dietary irregularity or contraction of mountain forest miasma and characterized by desire but failure to vomit and desire but failure to "drain," gripping abdom
Medication: Disinhibit qi and diffuse congestion; repel turbidity and foulness. Use formulas such as Liquid Storax Pill, Jade Pivot Elixir, and Agastache/Patchouli Qi-Righting Powder.
Acupuncture: Prick BL-40 (Bend Center) and the Twelve Well Points to bleed, and moxa CV-8 (Spirit Gate Tower) and CV-11 (Interior Strengthening); then needle CV-11 (Interior Strengthening), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), BL-22 (Triple Burner Transport), LI-4 (Union Vall
dry eyes
Lack of fluid to ensure the smooth movement of the eyelids, usually attributable to insufficiency of lung yin with vacuity fire flaming upward, to liver-kidney yin development or to insufficiency of liver blood.
Medication: Treat by nourishing blood and clearing heat, enriching the liver and kidney, or by supplementing the liver and nourishing the blood, depending on the cause.
dry fall
A disease pattern arising when a headed flat-abscess fails to suppurate and attributed to the failure of right qi to overcome the evil. In such patterns, the flat-abscess has a dark dull appearance, and is associated with mild or distending pain. The base of the sore is flat and purple in color, and the head is dry and ulcerated. Other signs include heat~effusion and slight aversion to cold, spontaneous sweating, lassitude of spirit, rapid vacuous pulse, and, in severe cases, cold of the limbs and a faint pulse.
Medication: Treat by supplementing qi and nourishing the blood and by drawing toxin and outthrusting the evil, assisted by clearing the heart and quieting the spirit. Internal Expression Toxin-Dispersing Powder plus bovine bezoar (Bovis Bezoar) and amber (Succinum) i
dry formula
One of the ten formula types. Dry medicinals can eliminate dampness. Formulas predominantly containing such medicinals are called dry formulas. For example, Five-Peel Beverage, containing mulberry root bark (Mori Radicis Cortex), tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium), ginger skin (Zingiberis Rhizomatis Cortex), areca husk (Arecae Pericarpium), and poria skin (Poriae Cortex), is used to treat swelling of the limbs, fullness in the stomach duct and abdomen, panting, and inhibited urination. Stomach-Calming Powder is also a dry formula.
dry hair
A condition in which the hair lacks moisture and sheen; attributed to kidney vacuity and blood heat with yin-blood failing to nourish the hair.
Medication: Treat by enriching yin and nourishing, assisted by clearing heat. Variants of Four Agents Decoction combined with Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill may be used.
dry leg qi
Leg qi characterized by the absence of water swelling. Dry leg qi arises when yin vacuity internal heat, damp-heat, and wind-toxin transforming into heat damage construction-blood, depriving the sinews of nourishment, ®ð''±ø: µ¬¯ß¥¢¾i} causing lack of strength, pain, numbness, hypertonicity, and withering of the lower leg, accompanied by reduced food intake, hot reddish urine, red tongue, and rapid stringlike pulse.
Medication: Diffuse congestion and transform dampness; harmonize construction and clear heat. Use medicinals such as atractylodes (Atractylodis Rhizoma), ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma), anemarrhena (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), phellodendron (Phellodendr
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP, KI, and GB. Select SP-10 (Sea of Blood), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), KI-3 (Great Ravine), KI-6 (Shining Sea), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring), and GB-39 (Suspended Bell); needle with supplementation. Selecti
dry lichen
From The Origin and Indicators of Disease. Lichen that is characterized by clearly circumscribed thickening of the skin fissuring, and itching that causes scaling, and that is attributed to wind-damp settling in the skin.
Medication: Apply Coptis Powder, which comprises alum (Alumen) and coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma). Alternatively, use Chinese Wolfsbane Paste. A further alternative is sulfur (Sulphur) ground to a powder and applied mixed with vinegar.
dry lips
Synonyms: parched lips.
Lack of moisture in the lips, in severe cases with cracking. Dry lips may be due to the dryness evil, external evils passing into the interior, or effulgent yin vacuity fire. See also cracked lips.
dry medicinals can eliminate dampness
Dry medicinals can be used to treat internally exuberant damp turbidity causing glomus in the chest and abdominal fullness. An example of this is the use of Stomach-Calming Powder to treat distention and fullness in the stomach duct and abdomen with fatigue, aversion to food, harmony of mouth, absence of thirst, and a thick white slimy tongue. See dry formula.
dry miliaria
Miliaria whose vesicles are white in color and contain no fluid; an unfavorable sign. See miliaria alba.
dry mouth
A lack of fluid in the mouth, usually, but not necessarily, associated with thirst, which is the desire to drink. Dry mouth with no desire to drink is observed in depletion of essence-blood with vacuous yang floating upward.
dry pharynx
dry retching
Going through the motions of vomiting without bringing up food, despite possible foaming drool. Dry retching is attributed to stomach vacuity counterflow qi or stomach heat.
dry rib-side pain
Rib-side pain due to liver-kidney qi blood vacuity. Dry rib-side pain is usually attributable to excesses of drink and sex, causing damage to the liver and kidney and depletion of qi and blood, depriving the channels and network vessels of nourishment. It is characterized by persistent pain in one particular spot. In addition, there are signs of ``vacuity turning into detriment.''
Medication: Treat by greatly supplementing qi and blood and by nourishing the liver and kidney. Formulas such as Eight Agents Decoction, Liver-Supplementing Powder, or Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LR, KI, SP, and back transport points. Select BL-18 (Liver Transport), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), LR-14 (Cycle Gate), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li); needle with supplementation.
dry stool in the stomach
Dry stool in the intestines caused by internal binding of repletion heat and scorching of the fluids by evil heat. On Cold Damage says, ``In yang brightness disease with delirious speech, tidal heat~effusion, and inability to eat, there must be five or six pellets of dry stool in the stomach. The ``stomach'' here refers to the intestines. ``Dry stool in the stomach'' refers repletion heat binding in the intestines with heat scorching the fluids.
dry teeth
Dry-looking, lusterless teeth, especially the two front teeth. If the teeth are grimy and there is bad breath, this sign is ascribed to exuberant stomach fire and major damage to fluids. In enduring sickness, front teeth that are ``dry as old bones'' are a sign of critical damage to kidney yin.
dry throat
Lack of moisture in the throat, associated with or without a desire to drink. Dry throat occurs in both vacuity and repletion patterns: Repletion patterns include wind-heat assailing the lung, dryness-heat damaging the lung, exuberant spleen-stomach heat, and depressed liver-gallbladder heat. Vacuity patterns include lung yin vacuity and kidney yin vacuity.
dry tongue fur
A tongue fur that lacks moisture. A dry tongue fur is usually a heat sign. A tongue that looks dry, and feels dry and rough, or even prickly to the touch, described as a rough tongue fur, is mainly seen in externally contracted heat (febrile) diseases and indicates damage to humor by exuberant heat. A slightly dry and slightly slimy tongue fur associated with thirst without desire to drink arises when center phlegm-damp obstruction prevents the fluid from reaching the upper body.
drying dampness
A method of treatment used to eliminate center burner dampness with dry bitter medicinals. See drying dampness with warmth and bitterness; drying dampness with cold and bitterness.
drying dampness and harmonizing the center
drying dampness and harmonizing the stomach.
drying dampness and harmonizing the stomach
Synonyms: drying dampness and harmonizing the center.
A method of treatment used to treat damp turbidity obstructing the spleen and causing spleen-stomach disharmony manifesting in glomus and fullness in the stomach duct and abdomen, belching and swallowing of upflowing acid, vomiting and diarrhea, reduced eating and fatigue, a bland taste in the mouth, and thick slimy tongue fur.
Medication: Drying dampness and harmonizing the center makes use of warm acrid dampness-drying, aromatic turbidity-transforming, and heat-clearing dampness-transforming medicinals such as atractylodes (Atractylodis Rhizoma), magnolia bark (Magnoliae Cortex), agastach
drying dampness and transforming phlegm
Synonyms: fortifying the spleen and transforming phlegm.
A method of treatment used to address damp phlegm arising when devitalization of spleen yang results in impairment of normal movement and transformation, characterized by white easily expectorated phlegm, oppression in the chest and nausea, slimy glossy white tongue, and in some cases dizziness and heart palpitations.
Medication: Dampness-drying phlegm-transforming formulas include Two Matured Ingredients Decoction plus ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma) or atractylodes (Atractylodis Rhizoma), or Six Gentlemen Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST and CV. Main points: Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge); needle with even supplementation and drainage and add moxa. Selection of points according to signs: For oppression in t
drying dampness with cold and bitterness
A method of treatment used to eliminate damp-heat causing gastrointestinal damp-heat signs such as abdominal pain, abdominal distention, thin hot putrid-smelling stool, and a yellow slimy tongue fur. Commonly used cold bitter dampness-drying medicinals include coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma), scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix), phellodendron (Phellodendri Cortex), bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus), and polyporus (Polyporus).
drying dampness with warmth and bitterness
A method of treatment used to eliminate cold-damp with bitter warm medicinals. Drying dampness with warmth and bitterness is used to treat cold-damp patterns characterized by signs such as oppression in the chest, nausea, retching and vomiting, abdominal distention, thin clear stool, and white slimy tongue.
Medication: Commonly used warm bitter dampness-drying medicinals include magnolia bark (Magnoliae Cortex), atractylodes (Atractylodis Rhizoma), pinellia (Pinelliae Tuber), and cardamom (Amomi Cardamomi Fructus). Formulas include Stomach-Calming Powder and Priceless Q
dryness
Synonyms: dryness qi.
The opposite of moisture.
One of the six qi; dryness as an environmental phenomenon and a potential cause of disease, associated with the autumn in China.
One of the six excesses; dryness as an environmental qi causing disease.A state of the body resulting from contraction of dryness in the environment. Signs include dry nostrils, nosebleed, dry mouth, dry cracked lips, dry ``tickly'' or sore throat, dry cough with little or no phlegm, rough dry skin, and dry tongue with relatively little liquid. Distinction is made between cool dryness and warm dryness.
dryness damage cough
A cough arising when externally contracted dryness damages lung qi, and mostly manifesting as a dryness-heat pattern. See dryness-heat cough.
dryness evil
Dryness as a disease-causing entity.
dryness evil invading the lung
Synonyms: dryness qi damaging the lung.
Damage by the dryness evil, usually in autumn. Dryness is one of the six excesses. In autumn, the weather (in China) is dry, and dry air entering the lung can cause damage to the liquid of the lung. The chief signs are dry cough without phlegm or with scant sticky phlegm that is not easily expectorated. Other signs include dry lips, tongue, pharynx, and nose. In some case, there is generalized heat~effusion and aversion to cold, or chest pain and expectoration of blood. The tongue is red with yellow or white fur. The pulse is rapid.
Analysis: When dryness evil damages lung liquid, the lung is deprived of moisture, and diffusion and depuration break down, hence the dry cough without phlegm or with scant sticky phlegm that is not easily expectorated. ``When dryness prevails, there is aridity,'' hence the dry lips, tongue, pharynx, and nose. Lung qi reaches the skin and body hair, and when the lung is assailed by dryness, heat~effusion and aversion to cold are observed together. If the dryness evil transforms into fire and scorches the network vessels of the lung, there is chest pain and expectoration of blood. Dryness evil damages liquid, and when liquid is damaged, yang becomes hyperactive. Hence the tongue is usually red. When dryness evil assails the exterior, the tongue fur is usually white; when it assails the lung, the tongue fur is usually yellow. Dryness-heat damaging the lung makes the pulse rapid.
Medication: Clear dryness and moisten the lung; suppress cough and transform phlegm. Dryness-Clearing Lung-Rescuing Decoction or Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, LI, and KI. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), and LI-4 (Union Valley). Needle with drainage and supplement KI-6 (Shining Sea). For generalized heat~effusion and aversion to cold, drain
dryness phlegm
Synonyms: qi phlegm.
A phlegm pattern attributable to lung dryness due either to contraction of dryness evil or to lung (or lung-kidney) yin vacuity, and characterized by scant white phlegm or phlegm like grains of rice that is difficult to expectorate, and a withered-white complexion, parched skin, dry mouth, tongue, throat, and nose, cough and hasty panting. The phlegm may be flecked with blood.
Medication: Clear the heat and moisten dryness. For dryness evil, use Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction for mild cases and Dryness-Clearing Lung-Rescuing Decoction for more severe cases. Fritillaria and Trichosanthes Powder can also be used. For lung yin dep
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU and KI. Drain BL-13 (Lung Transport), CV-17 (Chest Center), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), and CV-22 (Celestial Chimney); and supplement KI-6 (Shining Sea). For pronounced lung or (lung-kidney) depletion, supplem
dryness qi
Synonyms: dryness.
dryness qi damaging the lung
Synonyms: dryness evil invading the lung.
dryness tetany
Tetany caused by dryness scorching the fluids. Dryness tetany is seen in advanced stages of febrile disease when exuberant heat has damaged liquid and begun to deprive the sinews of nourishment, thereby transforming into dryness and stirring wind. Dryness tetany is characterized by heat~effusion, spasm of the limbs, dry mouth and throat, and dry skin.
Medication: Treat first with Purple Snow Elixir to open the orifices and settle tetany, and then with Pulse-Restorative Decoction to nourish yin with sweet moist medicinals.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV and LR. Needle with drainage at GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), GV-14 (Great Hammer), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), GV-16 (Wind Mansion), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), KI-3 (Great Ravine), and GV-26 (Water Trough), and prick the Ten Diffusin
dryness-fire
Synonyms: dryness-heat.
dryness-fire dizziness
Dizziness attributed to contraction of dryness-heat, characterized by spinning head and black vision, and accompanied by generalized heat~effusion, vexation and agitation, thirst with intake of fluid, unquiet sleep, reddish urine, and an agitated racing pulse.
Medication: Clear fire and moisten dryness. Use Bupleurum Liver-Clearing Beverage or Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, LI, PC, and HT. Select GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), LI-4 (Union Valley), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), TB-2 (Humor Gate), PC-7 (Great Mound), LR-2 (Moving Between), HT-8 (Lesser Mansion), KI-3 (Great Ravine), SP-6 (Three Yin Inte
dryness-heat
Synonyms: dryness-fire.
A condition that arises when externally contracted dryness qi ( cool dryness) damages the fluids and transforms into heat or fire. Dryness-heat is characterized by swelling of the gums, tinnitus, cough, expectoration of blood, or nosebleed. See dryness.
dryness-heat cough
Cough attributed to damage to lung liquid by wind-heat or dryness qi and characterized by absence of phlegm or scant sticky phlegm, ungratifying expectoration, dry nose and throat, and, in severe cases, by pain in the chest and rib-side, and in some cases by exterior signs such as physical cold and generalized heat~effusion.
Medication: Clear the lung and moisten dryness with formulas such as Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, LI, and KI. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), and LI-4 (Union Valley). Needle with drainage and supplement KI-6 (Shining Sea). If the cause is wind-heat, add LI-11 (Pool at the Bend) an
dryness-heat damaging the lung
Synonyms: dryness-heat invading the lung.
Dryness-heat evil wearing lung liquid and making lung qi unable to diffuse and downbear. Dryness-heat damaging the lung is characterized by dry cough without phlegm or with scant sticky phlegm, red tongue with little liquid, a dry thin white tongue fur, and a fine rapid floating pulse that may be large at the left inch position. These signs are often accompanied by tidal heat~effusion, headache, and constipation.
Medication: Diffuse with lightness and moisten dryness. Compare autumn dryness.
dryness-heat invading the lung
Synonyms: dryness-heat damaging the lung.
dryness-heat wilting
Wilting that arises when dryness-heat damages liquid and the blood, depriving the sinews of nourishment. Dryness-heat wilting is characterized by limpness of the extremities preventing normal movement and is attended by signs such as dry skin and hair, dry mouth, and parched lips.
Medication: Clear heat and moisten dryness; enrich yin and nourish the blood. Use formulas such as Dryness-Clearing Lung-Rescuing Decoction.
Acupuncture: Use the general points given under wilting, and add GV-14 (Great Hammer), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), PC-7 (Great Mound), and KI-6 (Shining Sea). Needle with drainage.
dual clearing of both qi and construction
Synonyms: clearing both qi and construction.
dual disease of qi and construction
Synonyms: qi and construction both ablaze.
dual disease of the interior and exterior
Interior and exterior patterns occurring simultaneously when a)~cold evil invades both the exterior and interior, creating exterior signs such as aversion to cold, heat~effusion, headache, and aching bones, and interior signs such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, or when b)~an evil that initially produces an exterior pattern subsequently enters the interior, creating an interior pattern before the exterior pattern is resolved. Two other conditions may be viewed as dual interior-exterior patterns, though by convention they are differently labeled: a `` new contraction,'' which involves the superimposition of an exterior pattern resulting from contraction of one or more of the six excesses on a pre-existing interior pattern; and ``food damage complication,'' where a food damage pattern develops during a pre-existing externally contracted disease manifesting in an exterior pattern.
dual resolution of both exterior and interior
dual supplementation of qi and blood
dual vacuity of heart qi and blood
Insufficiency of qi and blood depriving the heart of nourishment and making heart spirit fail to keep to its abode. Dual vacuity of heart qi and blood stems from constitution weakness, insufficiency of the source of transformation, or enduring illness that damages blood and wears qi. The chief signs are heart palpitations, shortness of breath, insomnia and profuse dreaming, dizzy head and vision, and a somber white or withered-yellow facial complexion. Other signs include lassitude of spirit and lack of strength, spontaneous sweating, shortage of qi and laziness to speak, pale lips and nails, and lusterless hair. The tongue is pale and tender. The pulse is fine and weak, or fine and rapid. Alternatively, it is skipping, bound, or intermittent.
Medication: Supplement qi and nourish the blood. Use Eight-Gem Decoction or Sagacious Cure Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, HT, PC, and CV. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport), CV-14 (Great Tower Gate), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), PC-6 (Inner Pass), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), ST-36 (Leg Three Li),
dual vacuity of heart qi and yin
Insufficiency of heart qi that makes the heart beat without force, combined with depletion of heart yin with vacuity heat arising internally. The chief signs are heart palpitations and shortness of breath exacerbated by exertion, insomnia and profuse dreaming, lassitude of spirit and lack of strength, vexing heat in the five hearts, and white face with red cheeks. Other signs include forgetfulness, spontaneous or night sweating, low faint voice, dry mouth and throat, and low fever. The tongue is pale and tender with little liquid. The tongue fur is white, and in some cases, scant. The pulse is fine or fine and rapid.
Medication: Supplement the heart, supplement qi, and nourish yin. Use Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport point, HT, PC, and CV. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport), CV-14 (Great Tower Gate), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), PC-6 (Inner Pass), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection); needle with supp
dual vacuity of heart yin and yang
Insufficiency of both heart yin and heart yang. The chief signs are heart palpitations and fearful throbbing, oppression in the chest and shortness of breath exacerbated by exertion, physical cold and cold limbs, heart vexation, and heat in the hearts of the palms and soles. Other signs include emaciation, shortage of qi and laziness to speak, fatigue and lack of strength, dizziness, spontaneous or night sweating, and sweating at the slightest exertion. In some cases there may be postmeridian tidal heat~effusion, reddening of the cheeks, sleeplessness, or forgetfulness. The tongue is pale and peeled. The pulse is skipping or intermittent, or faint, fine, and rapid.
Medication: Enrich yin and warm yang; nourish the heart and quiet the spirit. Use Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, HT, PC, and CV. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport), CV-14 (Great Tower Gate), CV-4 (Pass Head), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), PC-6 (Inner Pass), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection
dual vacuity of kidney yin and yang
Insufficiency of both kidney yin and kidney yang, characterized by limb aching lumbus and knees and dizziness, together with signs of vacuity cold and vacuity heat such as physical cold and a sensation of internal heat. Other signs include lack of strength, tinnitus, dry throat and mouth, liking for warm drinks, long voidings of clear urine, menstrual irregularities, vaginal discharge, and infertility in women, and seminal emission, impotence, and sterility in men. The tonge is is enlarged and slightly red with a thin tongue fur. The pulse is fine and forceless, especially at the cubits.
Medication: Warm and supplement kidney yang; enrich and supplement kidney yin. A representative formula is Left-Restoring Kidney Yin Pill combined with Right-Restoring Life Gate Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, GV, and KI. Select GV-4 (Life Gate) (moxa) BL-23 (Kidney Transport) (moxa) CV-4 (Pass Head) (moxa) KI-3 (Great Ravine) (moxa) BL-52 (Will Chamber), KI-6 (Shining Sea), KI-1 (Gushing Spring), and SP-6 (Three
dual vacuity of lung qi and yin
dual vacuity of qi and blood
The simultaneous occurrence of qi and blood vacuity. Because ``blood is the mother of qi,'' blood vacuity causes qi vacuity. Thus, blood vacuity patients often display qi vacuity signs such as shortness of breath and lack of strength. Dual vacuity is treated by dual supplementation of qi and blood, and since ``qi engenders blood,'' the accent is placed on supplementing qi. Thus, the condition Western medicine identifies as anemia is characterized by classic blood vacuity signs such as lusterless facial complexion, pale-colored nails, dizzy head, and heart palpitations, as well as qi vacuity signs such as shortness of breath and lack of strength. Dual vacuity of qi and blood may also develop from failure of vacuous qi to contain the blood. In such cases, the resulting persistent bleeding gives rise to such signs as fatigue and lack of strength, pale tongue, and a soft, soggy pulse. Qi failing to contain the blood is second only to blood heat as a cause of bleeding.
Medication: Supplement both qi and the blood using formulas such as Eight-Gem Decoction and Tangkuei Blood-Supplementing Decoction. In the latter formula, astragalus (Astragali (seu Hedysari) Radix) should exceed the tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) in quantity to
Acupuncture: Dual vacuity of qi and blood is treated by combining points that supplement both qi and the blood, points that supplement qi, and points that supplement the blood. Base treatment mainly on CV, SP, LU, LR, and back transport points. To supplement both qi a
dual vacuity of qi and yin
A pattern of both qi vacuity and yin vacuity commonly occurring in febrile disease. It includes qi vacuity signs such as fatigued spirit and lack of strength, faint low voice, sweating, shortness of breath, torpid intake, and sloppy stool, and yin vacuity signs such as dry mouth, sore throat, vexing heat in the five hearts, postmeridian tidal heat~effusion, and night sweating. It occurs in the following circumstances: (1) Warm heat disease causing wear on the fluids giving rise to a vacuity desertion trend characterized by great sweating, hasty panting, vexation and thirst, pale red or dry crimson tongue, a large diffuse or fine rapid pulse. (2) Advanced-stage warm heat disease and miscellaneous internal damage disease in which depletion of true yin and major damage to original qi causes lassitude of spirit and physical fatigue, shortage of qi and laziness to speak, dry mouth and pharynx, low fever or tidal heat~effusion or vexing heat in the five hearts, spontaneous sweating, night sweating, red tongue with scant fur, and a large vacuous or rapid vacuous pulse. (3) Evil lodged in the qi aspect in warm disease causing unthorough sweating that eventually damages qi and humor and and gives rise to the appearance of white miliaria that is dry, white, and sheenless. In addition, dual vacuity of qi and yin is also observed in certain consumptive diseases.
Medication: Boost qi and bank up the origin; enrich yin and downbear fire. Use Pulse-Engendering Powder or Dryness-Clearing Lung-Rescuing Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, back transport points, ST, SP, and KI. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qi), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), SP-3 (Supreme White), and LU-9 (Great Abyss) to supplement qi. Select SP-6 (Three Yin I
dual vacuity of stomach qi and yin
dual vacuity of the heart and lung
dual vacuity of the heart and spleen
A disease pattern characterized by signs of heart blood vacuity and spleen qi vacuity. Dual vacuity of the heart and spleen arises through excessive thought and anxiety, excessive taxation damage (overwork), enduring illness and improper nourishment, and loss of blood. The chief signs are heart palpitations or fearful throbbing, insomnia and forgetfulness, reduced eating, fatigue, abdominal distention, and sloppy stool. Other signs include withered-yellow facial complexion, and dizzy and flowery vision. In some cases, there may be purple macules under the skin. In women, there may be menstrual irregularities, menstrual block, or flooding and spotting. The tongue is pale and tender. The pulse is fine and forceless. The heart and spleen are closely related. The spleen is the source of qi and blood formation, and also manages the blood. When spleen qi is weak, blood production is insufficient, or blood management breaks down and blood spills out of the vessels. Either case may cause heart blood depletion. The heart governs the blood and vessels. When the blood is abundant, qi is plentiful; when blood is vacuous, qi becomes weak. When heart blood is insufficient and the means to produce qi are lacking, then spleen qi also becomes vacuous. Insufficiency of heart blood deprives the heart of nourishment and causes heart palpitations or fearful throbbing. When the heart spirit is disquieted, and fails to keep to its abode, there is insomnia and profuse dreaming. Insufficiency of the blood depriving the head and eyes of nourishment causes dizziness and forgetfulness; when depriving the skin of nourishment, the facial complexion becomes withered-yellow and lusterless. Spleen qi vacuity with impaired movement and transformation causes poor appetite, abdominal distention, and sloppy stool. Qi vacuity with a generalized reduction in physiological function causes lack of strength and lassitude of spirit. Spleen qi vacuity with no power to contain the blood causes chronic bleeding. Insufficiency of qi and blood causes a pale tender tongue, and a weak fine pulse.
Medication: Supplement the heart and spleen. Use Spleen-Returning Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, HT, SP, and CV. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), and SP-6 (Three Yin In
dual vacuity of the liver and spleen
A disease pattern of spleen vacuity and liver blood vacuity. The main signs are dizzy head and flowery vision, torpid intake and sloppy stool. Other signs may include numbness of the limbs, dry eyes, pale white lips, fatigue and lack of strength, lusterless nails, pale white or withered-yellow facial complexion, abdominal distention after eating, and scant pale menstrual flow. The tongue is pale white and lusterless. The pulse is fine and weak or fine and soggy.
Medication: Boost the liver and fortify the spleen. Use Eight-Gem Decoction.
dual vacuity of the lung and kidney
Simultaneous vacuity of both the lung and kidney. Distinction is made between lung-kidney yin vacuity and lung qi vacuity with kidney yang vacuity. Lung-kidney yin vacuity is characterized by cough, night sweating, vexing heat in the five hearts, tidal heat~effusion, and seminal emission. Lung qi vacuity with kidney yang vacuity is characterized by cough, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, fear of cold, cold limbs, and in some cases swelling.
Medication: For lung-kidney yin vacuity, use Lily Bulb Metal-Securing Decoction or Ophiopogon and Rehmannia Pill. For lung qi vacuity with kidney yang vacuity, use Golden Coffer Kidney Qi Pill combined with Lung-Supplementing Decoction.
Acupuncture: For lung-kidney yin vacuity, base treatment mainly on back transport points, LU, and KI. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-43 (Gao-Huang Transport), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), KI-3 (Great Ravine), and KI-6 (Shining Sea); needle with sup
dual vacuity of the spleen and lung
Synonyms: spleen-lung vacuity; spleen-lung qi vacuity.
Vacuity of both spleen and lung with signs of spleen vacuity such as reduced food intake, sloppy stool, and abdominal distention, and signs of lung vacuity such as shortness of breath, cough, copious phlegm and spontaneous sweating.
Medication: Bank up earth to engender metal. Use Six Gentlemen Decoction or variations of Ginseng, Poria (Hoelen), and Ovate Atractylodes Powder.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, LU, SP, and CV. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-43 (Gao-Huang Transport), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate), LU-9 (Great Abyss), SP-3 (Supreme White), CV-6 (Se
dual vacuity of yin and yang
Vacuity of the yin and yang of the bowels and viscera, especially of kidney yin and kidney yang or vacuity of qi and blood. It arises through the mechanism of detriment to yin affecting yang, detriment to yang affecting yin, or detriment to both yin and yang. Yin or yang vacuity may be more pronounced depending on the pathomechanism involved. The main signs are fear of cold and cold limbs, fatigue and lack of strength, shortage of qi and laziness to speak, spontaneous sweating and night sweating, postmeridian tidal heat~effusion, and vexing heat in the five hearts. Other signs include dullness of essence-spirit, emaciation, heart palpitations and insomnia, and dizzy head and vision. The tongue is enlarged and tender. The pulse is fine, rapid, and forceless.
Medication: Enrich yin and assist yang. Use Golden Coffer Kidney Qi Pill.
duck's slop
From Elementary Questions. Diarrhea with sloppy stool resembling duck's droppings; generally forms part of a cold-damp pattern resulting from spleen dampness and cold in the large intestine and includes other signs such as clear urine and a slow sunken pulse.
dull pain
An unpronounced, usually continuous pain; attributable to insufficiency of qi and blood.
dulu
An earthenware pot of varying size used for calcining materials.
dwelling place
dysentery
A disease characterized by abdominal pain, tenesmus, and stool containing pus and blood (described as mucoid and bloody stool in Western medicine). Dysentery usually occurs in hot weather and arises when gastrointestinal vacuity and eating raw, cold, or unclean food allow damp-heat or other evils to brew in the intestines. It takes the form of vacuity or repletion. Depending on the cause, distinction is made between summerheat dysentery, damp-heat dysentery, cold dysentery, and heat dysentery. Depending on the nature of the stool, distinction is made between red dysentery (blood in the stool), white dysentery (pus in the stool), and red and white dysentery (stool containing pus and blood). Depending on the condition of the patient and stage of the disease, distinction is made between epidemic dysentery; food-denying dysentery, intermittent dysentery, enduring dysentery, and vacuity dysentery.
Medication: Repletion patterns are treated by clearing heat and transforming dampness, cooling the blood and resolving toxin, and dispersing accumulation and abducting stagnation. Vacuity patterns are treated by supplementing the center and boosting qi and promoting
dysphagia-occlusion
A disease characterized by sensation of blockage on swallowing, difficulty in getting food and drink down, and, in some cases, immediate vomiting of ingested food. The Chinese term is a compound of ye1 meaning difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), and ge2 meaning blockage preventing food from going down (occlusion). Dysphagia and occlusion may occur independently. Dysphagia most commonly but not necessarily develops into occlusion. There are four principal patterns: phlegm and qi obstructing each other, liquid depletion and heat bind, static blood binding internally, and qi vacuity and yang debilitation.
dyspnea
Synonyms: panting.
