TCM Dictionary - Search Explorer
The TCM Dictionary is massive, so the fastest way to find something is to search. As an example, try a search for 'liver qi'. The more obscure the TCM concept, the better. The dictionary combines terms, definitions, medications, and acupuncture prescriptions.
There are 244 terms starting with "E"
ear
Organ of hearing; orifice of the kidney. The ear's hearing ability depends on the state of essence, marrow, qi, and blood.
ear acupuncture
A method of treatment that involves the needling of specific points of the ear. In a wider sense, it also includes massage, medicinal injections, and application of pressure to seeds or metal balls at specific points. When needling ear points, the needle is inserted and rotated for a few seconds. The needle may be retained for 30--60 minutes, during which time the needle may be rotated at intervals. Needles may also be implanted. Ear acupuncture has broad applications. The action of each point is usually indicated by the name. Points named after organs or parts of the body are used to treat diseases of those organs or parts. For example, the anus point is used to treat itching anus, splitting of the anus, hemorrhoids, and prolapse of the rectum; the toe, heel, ankle, and knee points are used to treat pain and stiffness in those areas. Points named after diseases or therapeutic actions treat those diseases or have those therapeutic actions. Thus, the allergy point treats allergies, whereas the panting-calming point relieves coughing and panting. A small number of points are named by their position on the auricle. These include helix points 1--6, which all treat disease of the tonsils and the apex point, which abates heat, reduces inflammation, lowers blood pressure, and resuscitates. Some ear points can be used in acupuncture anesthesia.
ear gate
The tonguelike projection in front of the ear.
TB-21 (Ear Gate), which is located at the tragus.
ear lock
The lock of hair in front of the ear.
ear mushroom
Synonyms: ear pile.
A growth on the ear, bulbous in form and attached to the body by a thinner stem. An ear mushroom may be associated with slight pain, and pressure may cause pain stretching to the vertex of the head. It gradually grows in time and may block the ear hole or hang out of it. It can cause hearing impairment. It is attributed to congealing and gathering of liver and kidney channel fire toxin.
Medication: Clear the liver and drain fire using Gardenia Liver-Clearing Decoction. Sal Ammoniac Powder can be applied topically.
ear pain
Pain within the ear, usually associated with reduced hearing ability. Ear pain patterns are identified by attending signs. The main patterns are liver-gallbladder wind-heat, wind with damp-heat, vacuity fire, and qi-blood stasis obstruction.
ear pile
Synonyms: ear mushroom.
earlier heaven
What is received from the parents at an individual's conception; the congenital constitution. Earlier heaven is understood to be governed by the kidney, in opposition to later heaven (or the acquired constitution) governed by the spleen.
early morning diarrhea
earth
In the doctrine of the five phases, the phase associated with the season of long summer, the spleen (and stomach), the flavor sweetness, and the color yellow.
earth engenders the myriad things
The earth produces plant life on which man and animals feed. In the body, spleen belongs to earth; it extracts the essence of grain and water (nutrients in foodstuffs) that nurtures the whole body.
earth failing to dam water
In the five phases, the spleen belongs to earth and the kidney belongs to water. Normally, the spleen restrains the fluids and ensures their normal movement and transformation, thereby preventing diseases characterized by the flooding of water. When spleen-earth is weak, it fails to restrain water-damp, causing water swelling or phlegm-rheum.
earth level
The lower third of the insertion range of a needle, i.e., the lower third of the distance between the surface of the body and the point of deepest insertion. See heaven, human, and earth.
earth likes warmth and dryness
Earth needs fresh water to produce crops, but if inadequately drained, it remains permanently damp and soggy, and therefore less productive. Its production is greatly increased by warmth. Similarly, the spleen, the viscus that corresponds to earth in the body, needs liquid as well as solid food (water and grain) to supply the body with nutrients (essence of grain and water). However, impairment of the splenic movement and transformation can give rise to water-damp in the body with inhibited urination, water swelling, and phlegm-rheum; conversely, exuberant water-damp and ingestion of raw and cold food places an added burden on the spleen's movement and transformation function. Through five-phase correspondences, ``earth likes warmth and dryness'' sums up these physiological and pathological characteristics.
earth rampart
eastern jin
The name of a dynasty ( 317--420).
eastern later
The name of a dynasty ( 25--220).
eastern medicine
Chinese medicine as it is known in Korea and Japan.
eastern wei
The name of a dynasty ( 534--550).
eastern zhou
The name of a dynasty (770--256 ).
eclampsia
efflux
Denotes uncontrollable loss of urine, and especially stool or semen. The term occurs in the phrases ``seminal efflux,'' ``efflux desertion'' (see desertion), and ``efflux diarrhea'' (see diarrhea). See also exuberance and debilitation.
efflux desertion
efflux diarrhea
Diarrhea with loss of voluntary continence; results when enduring diarrhea causes qi fall. The diarrhea is uncontrollable and may occur in the day or night without regularity. Other signs include reduced intake of food and drink, reversal cold of the limbs, sometimes swelling of the limbs, physical cold and shortness of breath, emaciation, and in some cases heat. Distinction is made between cold and heat.
effulgent
Exuberant (of heat or fire). See heat.
effulgent gallbladder fire
effulgent heart fire
effulgent heart-liver fire
A disease pattern characterized by signs of both liver fire and heart fire. The chief signs are sleeplessness, distention and fullness in the chest and rib-side, and generalized heat~effusion. Other signs include red face, red eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, yellow urine, dry stool, vexation, agitation, and irascibility. In some cases there is mania or blood ejection or spontaneous external bleeding. The tongue is red with dry yellow fur. The pulse is stringlike, rapid, and forceful.
Medication: Clear the liver, drain fire, and quiet the heart. Use Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction.
effulgent life gate fire
Synonyms: hyperactive kidney fire.
effulgent liver yang
effulgent yin depletion fire
Synonyms: effulgent yin vacuity fire.
effulgent yin vacuity fire
Synonyms: exuberant yin vacuity fire.
A strong fire that arises from yin vacuity according to the principle that when yin is vacuous, heat develops internally. Effulgent yin vacuity fire is characterized by vexation, agitation, and irascibility, reddening of the cheeks, dry mouth and sore throat, and excessive libido.
Acupuncture: Needle with supplementation at BL-23 (Kidney Transport), KI-3 (Great Ravine), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and with drainage at KI-6 (Shining Sea), KI-2 (Blazing Valley), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), ST-44 (Inner Court), and H
effuse
To move outward, as sweat through the interstices; to induce such movement. For example, ``effuse the exterior'' means to induce sweating so that evils located in the exterior can escape.
effusing sweat
Synonyms: sweating
effusion
The act of effusing; see effuse.
A large severe welling-abscess or flat-abscess, e.g., effusion of the back.
effusion of the back
A headed flat-abscess of the back, usually on the governing vessel or bladder channel and attributable to stagnation in the channels and blockage of qi and blood stemming either from fire toxin brewing internally or exuberant yin vacuity fire. Distinction is made between effusions of different locations. Effusions of the upper back are located at BL-10 (Celestial Pillar); effusions of the middle of the back are located at GV-8 (Sinew Contraction); effusions of the lower back are located at GV-4 (Life Gate); reachable sores of the upper back are located at BL-13 (Lung Transport); reachable sores of the middle of the back are located at BL-43 (Gao-Huang Transport); reachable sores of the lower back are located at BL-23 (Kidney Transport) and BL-51 (Huang Gate). See also reachable sore; welling-abscess.
effusion of the brain
A headed flat-abscess located on the pillow bone (occipital bone) or in the region of GB-20 (Wind Pool).
effusion of the breast
Synonyms: shell-bursting mammary welling-abscess yong1.
A severe mammary welling-abscess that putrefies after bursting, quickly spreads, and easily gives rise to the development of fistulae.
eggplant disease
Synonyms: yin protrusion
eggplant yin
Synonyms: yin protrusion.
eight extraordinary vessels
Synonyms: extraordinary vessels.
Any of the eight vessels that do not home to any organs, have no interior-exterior relationships, and whose function is to supplement the insufficiencies of the other channels. The eight extraordinary vessels are the governing , controlling , thoroughfare , girdling , yang linking , yin linking , yang springing , and yin springing vessels.
eight meeting points
A set of eight points, each of which treats diseases of one of eight physiological entities: the viscera, bowels, qi, blood, sinews, marrow, vessels, and bones (see Table ).
eight methods
A classification of medicinal treatment methods by Cheng Zhong-Ling of the Qing Dynasty under the eight rubrics sweating, ejection, precipitation, harmonization, warming, clearing, supplementation, and dispersion.
eight principles
eight ramparts
Eight divisions of the eye; the water, wind, heaven, earth, fire, thunder, marsh, and mountain ramparts. These have correspondences with the five wheels. The water rampart is the pupil, corresponding to water wheel. The wind rampart is the black of the eye, corresponding to the wind wheel. The heaven rampart corresponds to the qi wheel. The earth rampart corresponds to the flesh wheel. The fire, thunder, marsh, and mountain ramparts (the upper and lower parts of the inner and outer canthi respectively), correspond to the blood wheel. In former times, the eight ramparts were applied in diagnosis; however, there was disagreement about their diagnostic significance.
eight signs of fright wind
Eight traditionally recognized signs of fright wind are: convulsions, pulling, tremor, grabbing, arching, drawing, piercing, looking. See the list below. Since fright wind patterns vary in their manifestations, the eight signs are not necessarily all present at the same time, e.g., jerking of the limbs sometimes is unaccompanied by rigidity of the body or arched-back rigidity.
eight-principle pattern identification
Synonyms: eight principles.
Identification of disease patterns by eight fundamental principles, namely interior and exterior, cold and heat, vacuity and repletion, and yin and yang. Interior and exterior are the principles of depth of the disease; cold and heat are the nature of disease; vacuity and repletion are the weakness of right qi and strength of evil qi. Yin and yang, which embrace the other six principles, are general categories of disease. Interior, cold, and vacuity are yin, whereas exterior, heat, and repletion are yang. Each principle is associated with specific signs. By matching the patient's signs to them, it is possible to determine the depth and nature of the disease, and the relative strength of the forces that resist disease and those that cause it. Eight-principle pattern identification is a preliminary organization of examination data: treatment should be determined only when other methods of pattern identification have provided a more detailed picture of the patient's condition.
eject
To spontaneously expel matter from the digestive or respiratory tract through the mouth.
To induce expulsion of harmful matter from the digestive tract, throat, or lungs through the mouth. See ejection.
eject phlegm-drool
To induce the ejection of harmful substances from the throat and chest by emesis. Ejection of phlegm-drool is used in three conditions: (1) For throat wind, throat moth, or throat impediment caused by exuberant phlegm obstructing the throat, use Realgar Toxin-Resolving Pill. (2) For wind stroke phlegm reversal characterized by phlegm-drool congesting the diaphragm and throat, causing a rasping sound, and comatose states, use Drool-Thinning Powder. (3) For phlegm stagnating in the chest and diaphragm, use Sagacious Powder.
ejection
One of the eight methods. A method of treatment that involves induction of vomiting, either by medicinals or by mechanical means (e.g., tickling the throat with a feather) in order to expel collected phlegm or lodged food. In clinical practice, ejection is used when phlegm-drool obstructs the throat and hampers breathing or when, after voracious eating, food stagnates in the stomach, causing distention, fullness, and pain. This method may also be used to treat poisoning, provided treatment is administered swiftly after ingestion of the toxic substance. Ejection medicinals include melon stalk (Cucumeris Melonis Pedicellus), veratrum (Veratri Radix et Rhizoma), chalcanthite (Chalcanthitum), gleditsia (Gleditsiae Fructus), and salt. Commonly used formulas include the powerful Melon Stalk Powder and less powerful Ginseng Tops Beverage. Ejection is generally contraindicated in pregnancy and must be used with care in weak patients.
ejection of foamy drool
Copious drooling or vomiting of foamy drool, attributable to rheum evil.
Medication: Warm and transform using formulas such as Minor Green-Blue Dragon Decoction, Poria (Hoelen) Five Powder, or Evodia Decoction. Compare vomiting of phlegm-drool and phlegm-drool congestion.
elbow taxation
Synonyms: tennis elbow.
Pain and weakness in the elbow joint, developing gradually, without any history of obvious injury. The pain sometimes stretches down the lower arm or up to the shoulder. Elbow taxation is exacerbated by rotating movement of the lower arm such as are performed when wringing a flannel. There is no obvious swelling, and despite the pain there is no impeded movement of the joints, although there is a pressure point at the humeral epicondyle. It arises through constant rotation of the lower arm and flexing of the wrist and elbow. It affects people such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and tennis players. Unlike sprains, which involve sudden damage to muscles and sinews, tennis elbow develops gradually through a combination of repeated strain and external contraction of wind and cold, which concentrate in the elbow joint. The condition is thus one of taxation damage to qi and blood or wind-cold contracting the vessels and sinew channels.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on local points, selecting LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), LI-10 (Arm Three Li), LI-4 (Union Valley), and the ouch point Tip of the Elbow; needle with drainage and add moxa. Tapping with a cutaneous needle until blood appears and cupping a
electroacupuncture
A method of acupuncture in which an electrical current is applied to needles inserted in the body in order to produce a combined needle and electrical stimulus. Electroacupuncture was first reported after the Communist Party assumed power in China, and over recent years has come to be widely used. Select two suitable acupuncture points, insert needles, and obtain qi. Then wire the needles to the electrical stimulator, and apply a stimulus of appropriate intensity and duration. Then turn off the electrical stimulus and remove the needles. Electroacupuncture can be used in regular body acupuncture, ear acupuncture, head acupuncture, facial acupuncture, and for anesthesia. In patients suffering from heart disease, it is important not to allow the current to pass through the region of the heart.
elevated scar
A scar from a wound, burn, or surgical incision that protrudes from the flesh, is pink or deep red in color, uneven, smooth, hairless, and sometimes associated with pain or itching (especially in hot weather).
Medication: Treat by topical application of Black Cloth Paste.
eliminate
eliminating depression and stale water
From Elementary Questions. A method of treatment used to address stagnation and old fluid accumulations with medicinals such as kansui (Kansui Radix) and morning glory (Pharbitidis Semen). See expelling water.
eliminating fire toxin
A method of treatment used to remove irritants from medicinal plasters. Plasters applied to the skin immediately after preparation can cause irritation to the skin that in mild cases results in itching and, in severe cases, in blistering and erosion. This irritation is traditionally attributed to ``fire toxin.'' Fire toxin is removed by one of two methods: storing for long time out of direct sunlight; and soaking in cool water for several days. The latter method is more practical.
eliminating great heat with warmth and sweetness
A method of treatment used to address generalized heat~effusion with medicinals warm in nature and sweet in flavor. Eliminating heat with warmth and sweetness includes, for example, treating qi vacuity heat marked by generalized heat~effusion, sweating, thirst with desire for warm drinks, shortage of qi and laziness to speak, tender-soft pale tongue, and a large vacuous pulse, using Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction. It also includes treating postpartum or taxation fatigue heat~effusion marked by hot flesh, red face, vexation and thirst with desire for liquids, pale red tongue, and a large floating vacuous pulse, using Tangkuei Blood-Supplementing Decoction.
eliminating phlegm and opening the orifices
Synonyms: transforming phlegm and opening the orifices.
eliminating stasis and engendering the new
elixir
Originally, any formula containing cinnabar or other minerals; by extension, a formula containing drastic or harsh agents used in small quantities, e.g., Purple Snow Elixir and Supreme Jewel Elixir. Elixirs applied externally are powder preparations of sublimated or otherwise refined minerals such as mercury (Hydrargyrum) and sulfur (Sulphur). Examples include white downborne elixir (Praeparatio Sublimata Alba) and red upborne elixir (Hydrogyrum Oxydatum Crudum Rubrum). (See magic medicine.) Those used internally include powder preparations such as Purple Snow Elixir, pill preparations such as Supreme Jewel Elixir and Five Grains Return-of-Spring Elixir, and lozenges such as Scourge-Repelling Elixir. Jade Pivot Elixir prepared in pill or lozenge form is suitable for both internal and external use.
emaciation
Synonyms: shedding of the flesh and loss of bulk.
Marked thinning of the body, usually accompanied by other signs of disease. Emaciation appears in a variety of illnesses that present as vacuity or repletion patterns (emaciation is not only a vacuity sign).
emergency precipitation to preserve yin
A method of treatment involving the use of one of the Qi-Coordinating Decoctions to free stool, discharge heat, and eliminate dryness binds, in order to preserve fluids and prevent development of tetanic reversal. Emergency precipitation to preserve yin is one form of raking the firewood from beneath the cauldron and is used in acute febrile diseases with signs of repletion heat vigorous heat~effusion, vexation and thirst, constipation, dry yellow tongue fur or black tongue fur with prickles, a forceful sunken replete pulse.
emesis
emolliating the liver
Synonyms: nourish the liver; nourish the blood and emolliate the liver.
To treat liver yin vacuity (or insufficiency of liver blood), characterized by loss of visual acuity, dry eyes, night blindness, periodic dizzy head and tinnitus, and pale nails, or poor sleep, profuse dreaming, dry mouth with lack of fluid, and a fine, weak pulse.
Medication: Commonly used liver-emolliating medicinals include tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba), rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix), flowery knotweed (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), lycium berry (Lycii Fructus), eclipta (Ecliptae Herba),
emotion
Affect or mind.
empirical formula
A formula that has been empirically shown to be effective for a particular condition.
empirical points
An acupuncture point that has been empirically shown to be effective for a particular condition. See selection of pathocondition points.
empowering
emptiness below the heart
A subjective feeling of emptiness in the area just below the breastbone.
emptiness of the sea of blood
The ``sea of blood'' can refer either to thoroughfare vessel or to the liver. In ``emptiness of the sea of blood,'' it appears to refer to the thoroughfare vessel, which with the controlling vessel starts in the uterus, percolates into all the yang channels, and irrigates all the essences, and intersects with all the yin channels, thereby helping to maintain the ability of qi and blood to nourish the whole body. Emptiness of the sea of blood is impairment of this capacity, as observed in blood desertion.
emptiness of the sea of marrow
A kidney vacuity pattern in which the kidney's function of engendering marrow is affected and characterized by dizziness, slowness of thought, forgetfulness, etc. See kidney engenders bone and marrow.
emptiness of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels
damage to the thoroughfare and controlling vessels.
empty pain
A pain associated with a feeling of emptiness and lightness; attributable to yin vacuity, yang vacuity, blood vacuity, or dual vacuity of yin and yang. See pain.
empty pain in the head
Pain and an empty sensation in the head, associated with kidney vacuity.
encirclement needling
An acupuncture method involving the insertion of needles around a disease site, for example around a boil, angling the tips toward the center of the area.
encrusted skin
Synonyms: snake body; snake scales; toad skin.
Dry rough scaly hardened skin. It usually observed in emaciated patients with abdominal fullness and inability to eat.
encumbrance
Describes the effect of dampness on the spleen. See exuberance and debilitation.
end addition
An act or instance of adding at the end. See add at end.
enduring
Chronic or persistent; indicates duration, not degree, of acuteness.
enduring cough
From Elementary Questions. Cough that persists for an extended period. Enduring cough with copious phlegm is usually due to spleen vacuity engendering phlegm. Enduring cough with scant phlegm is usually attributed to insufficiency of lung yin with depressed lung fire. See spleen cough; lung vacuity cough; fire cough.
enduring diarrhea
Chronic or persistent diarrhea.
enduring diarrhea efflux desertion
Desertion due to fluid loss through persistent diarrhea.
enduring dysentery
Dysentery that persists for a long period. Enduring dysentery is associated with spleen-kidney depletion and insufficiency of center qi. Signs include sticky and bloody stools, dull pain in the abdomen, vain straining associated in severe cases with prolapse of the rectum, emaciation, lassitude of spirit and lack of strength, and poor appetite.
Medication: For spleen vacuity fall with prolapse of the rectum, use Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction. For insecurity of kidney qi, use variations of Mantis Egg-Case Powder. For depletion of yin-blood with residual damp-heat, nourish the blood and clear hea
Acupuncture: Base treatment on ST, CV, and back transport points. Main points: ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), CV-4 (Pass Head), and CV-6 (Sea
enduring malaria
Malaria that persists for a long time. Enduring malaria is attributed to dual depletion of qi and blood and spleen-stomach vacuity cold.
Medication: Supplement qi and nourish the blood; warm yang and disperse yin. Use formulas such as Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction, Ginseng Construction-Nourishing Decoction, Cinnamon Bark and Aconite Eight-Ingredient Pill, and Flowery Knotweed and Ginseng
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV and greater yang points. Drain GV-14 (Great Hammer), PC-5 (Intermediary Courier), and SI-3 (Back Ravine); supplement BL-20 (Spleen Transport) (moxa) and GV-9 (Extremity of Yang) (moxa)
enduring pain entering the network vessels
Stubborn wind-cold-damp impediment causing blood stasis. Enduring pain entering the network vessels is treated by dispelling stasis and freeing the channels.
engender
To cause, give rise to.
To benefit (as in the engendering sequence of the five phases).
To produce, or stimulate the production (of fluids, etc.), in methods of supplementation.
engendering
The sequence in which the five phases and their corresponding phenomena have a nurturing effect on each other, i.e., wood (liver) fire (heart) earth (spleen) metal (lung) water (kidney) wood (liver). This reflects the way in which spring gives way to summer, summer gives way to long summer, etc.
engendering flesh
A method of treatment used to promote the regrowth of damaged skin and flesh.
engendering liquid
Synonyms: nourishing the fluids.
A method of treatment used to address damage to liquid in febrile disease, manifesting in heat~effusion, dry mouth and thirst, red tongue, and dry lips etc., with medicinals such as scrophularia (Scrophulariae Radix), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber), dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens), and dendrobium (Dendrobii Caulis).
Acupuncture: Select Gold Liquid and Jade Humor, Sea Source, TB-2 (Humor Gate), KI-6 (Shining Sea), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), KI-2 (Blazing Valley), and KI-3 (Great Ravine) to nourish yin and increase humor.
enlarged tongue
A tongue that is swollen to a size slightly larger than normal, most clearly indicated by dental impressions on the margin. An enlarged tongue indicates qi vacuity or the presence of water-damp (dampness, phlegm-rheum). An enlarged tongue that is pale in color, with a white, glossy fur, indicates qi vacuity. With a slimy tongue fur, it usually indicates dampness or damp-heat. An enlarged tongue is markedly different from a red sore swollen tongue, which characterizes an intense heat evil or heart fire flaming upward.
enrich
enriching and moistening with cold sweet medicinals
A method of treatment used to address insufficiency of liver and kidney fluids such as in liver-kidney yin depletion with vacuity fire flaming upward characterized by dry sore throat, cough and panting with blood-flecked phlegm, vexing heat in the heart of the palms and soles, red tongue with scant fur, and a find rapid pulse.
Medication: Cold sweet enriching moistening medicinals include dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens), cooked rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Conquita), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Sichuan fritillaria (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus), lily bulb
enriching and nourishing stomach yin
Synonyms: nourishing the stomach.
A method of treatment used to address stomach yin vacuity patterns characterized by hunger with small food intake, discomfort in the stomach duct, dry mouth and parched lips, constipation, red tongue with scant fur, and a rapid fine tongue fur.
Medication: Agents that enrich stomach yin include glehnia (Glehniae Radix), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber), dendrobium (Dendrobii Caulis), and Solomon's seal (Polygonati Yuzhu Rhizoma).
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST, SP, and back transport points. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), KI-6 (Shining Sea), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and ST-44 (Inner Court); needle with supplementation.
enriching and nourishing the liver and kidney
A method of treatment used to address liver-kidney yin vacuity characterized by dizziness, upbearing fire flush, flowery vision, tinnitus, aching lumbus, dry throat, unquiet sleep, possibly night sweating, yellow urine, red tongue with scant fur, and a fine stringlike pulse. A method of treatment used to nourish liver yin by enriching kidney yin, i.e., to enrich water to nourish wood.
Medication: Use Lycium Berry, Chrysanthemum, and Rehmannia Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, back transport points, KI, and LR. Select CV-4 (Pass Head), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-18 (Liver Transport), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), KI-3 (Great Ravine), KI-2 (Blazing Valley), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge). Needle with su
enriching and supplementing the liver and kidney
Synonyms: enriching and nourishing the liver and kidney.
enriching water to moisten wood
A method of treatment used to nourish kidney yin in order to moisten liver yin. In the five phases, wood is engendered by water, hence the liver yin can be supplemented by enriching kidney yin. Enriching water to moisten wood is applied in the treatment of kidney yin depletion with liver yin vacuity, and superabundant liver fire characterized by dizziness, dry eyes, tinnitus, reddening of the cheeks, dry mouth, vexing heat in the five hearts, aching lumbus and limp knees, seminal emission, menstrual irregularities, red tongue with scant fur, and a fine stringlike rapid pulse.
Medication: Agents that enrich water to moisten wood include rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix), cornus (Corni Fructus), lycium berry (Lycii Fructus), scrophularia (Scrophulariae Radix), tortoise plastron (Testudinis Plastrum), ligustrum (Ligustri Fructus), and flowery kno
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GB, LR, KI, and SP. Needle with drainage at GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), GB-20 (Wind Pool), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), and GB-43 (Pinched Ravine), and with supplementation at BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-18 (Liver Transport), BL-17 (D
enriching yin
Synonyms: supplementing yin.
enriching yin and boosting qi
A method of supplementing both yin and qi in the treatment of dual vacuity of qi and yin. Commonly used yin-enriching qi-boosting medicinals include codonopsis (Codonopsitis Radix), pseudostellaria (Pseudostellariae Radix), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber), adenophora/glehnia (Adenophorae seu Glehniae Radix), American ginseng (Panacis Quinquefolii Radix), dendrobium (Dendrobii Caulis), dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens), dioscorea (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), lycium berry (Lycii Fructus), cornus (Corni Fructus), lycium root bark (Lycii Radicis Cortex), schisandra (Schisandrae Fructus), and turtle shell (Amydae Carapax). Representative formulas include Pulse-Engendering Powder, Ginseng Root-Securing
enriching yin and clearing heat
A method of treatment used to address effulgent yin vacuity fire characterized by steaming bones, tidal heat~effusion, and night sweating.
Medication: Yin-enriching heat-clearing formulas include Large Gentian and Turtle Shell Powder and Tangkuei Six Yellows Decoction. This method differs from that of clearing vacuity heat by a greater emphasis on enriching yin.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on KI. Select SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), KI-6 (Shining Sea), KI-3 (Great Ravine), KI-2 (Blazing Valley), and LR-2 (Moving Between). Needle with even supplemenation and drainage or with supplementation. For tidal heat~effusion, ad
enriching yin and coursing the liver
Synonyms: harmonizing the liver.
enriching yin and disinhibiting dampness
A method of treatment used to address damage to yin by damp-heat with thirst and intake of fluids, inhibited urination, heart vexation, insomnia, and, in some cases, cough, vomiting, and nausea.
Medication: A commonly used yin-enriching dampness-disinhibiting formula is Polyporus Decoction.
enriching yin and downbearing fire
A method of treatment used to address depletion of kidney yin and hyperactivity of kidney fire.
Medication: Treatment is based on kidney-enriching essence-boosting medicinals, and assisted by fire-downbearing yin-firming medicinals such as anemarrhena (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), phellodendron (Phellodendri Cortex), and moutan (Moutan Radicis Cortex). Sometimes corn
Acupuncture: See effulgent yin vacuity fire.
enriching yin and extinguishing wind
A method of treatment used to address wind stirring from yin vacuity due to damage to true yin by heat in febrile disease, characterized by unpronounced but persistent heat~effusion, heat in the hearts of the soles and palms, red facial complexion, vacuity vexation and insomnia, flusteredness and lassitude, tinnitus, wriggling movement or convulsions of the extremities, dry crimson tongue with little fur, and a rapid vacuous pulse.
Medication: Enriching yin and extinguishing wind makes use of medicinals such as rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix), white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber), egg yolk (Galli Vitellus), tortoise plastron (Testudinis Plastrum), turtle shell (Amydae
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on KI, SP, GB, and LR. Needle with supplementation at SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), KI-6 (Shining Sea), KI-3 (Great Ravine), and KI-1 (Gushing Spring) and with drainage at GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), GB-20 (Wind Pool), LR-3 (Supre
enriching yin and moistening dryness
Synonyms: nourishing yin and moistening dryness.
enriching yin and resolving the exterior
Synonyms: nourishing yin and resolving the exterior.
A method of treatment used to enrich yin and promote sweating to resolve an exterior pattern in patients suffering from a yin vacuity that would otherwise rule out sweating on the grounds that it would worsen the vacuity condition further.
Medication: Combine yin-enriching medicinals such as dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens), Solomon's seal (Polygonati Yuzhu Rhizoma), and ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber) with exterior-resolving medicinals such as fermented soybean (Glycines
Acupuncture: Use the points given under resolving the exterior and add KI-3 (Great Ravine) and KI-6 (Shining Sea), to enrich yin.
enriching yin and supplementing the kidney
enriching yin to restrain fire
Synonyms: invigorating the governor of water to restrain the brilliance of yang.
enriching yin, calming the liver, and subduing yang
Synonyms: fostering yin and subduing yang.
enter the interior
Synonyms: pass into the interior.
(Of evils) to move into the interior. See exuberance and debilitation; interior pattern.
enuresis
Involuntary loss of urine. See urinary incontinence.
Involuntary loss of urine during sleep, mostly observed in children; commonly referred to as bedwetting. Enuresis is attributable to bad eating habits (excessive eating and drinking) or fatigue due to excessive play, reducing the ability to waken from sleep to urinate. It may also be due to vacuity cold of the lower origin with insecurity of kidney qi, or to spleen-lung qi vacuity affecting regulation of the waterways
Medication: Stream-Reducing Pill and Mantis Egg-Case Powder are good general formulas. For vacuity cold of the lower origin, use Chinese Leek Seed Pill or Oyster Shell Pill, which consists of oyster shell (Ostreae Concha) and halloysite (Halloysitum Rubrum). Spleen-
Acupuncture: For vacuity cold of the lower origin, base treatment mainly on CV and back transport points. Select CV-4 (Pass Head), CV-3 (Central Pole), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-28 (Bladder Transport), and KI-3 (Great Ravine); needle with supplementation and add mo
enuresis in pregnancy
Enuresis during pregnancy; attributed to a)~blood vacuity in pregnancy causing heat in the bladder; b)~spleen-lung qi vacuity placing strain on the bladder; or c)~liver-kidney yin vacuity with heat harassing the bladder;
epidemic cough
whooping cough.
epidemic disease
A transmissible disease that affects many members of a community. See scourge epidemic.
epidemic dysentery
Synonyms: seasonal epidemic dysentery; epidemic toxin dysentery.
Severe contagious dysentery attributed to overexuberant epidemic toxin congesting the intestines and damaging qi and the blood. Epidemic dysentery is characterized by acute signs such as high fever, headache, vexation and agitation, thirst, severe abdominal pain, and passing of blood and pus in the stool. The tongue is red or crimson and the pulse is slippery and rapid. The stool usually contains purplish red, often watery blood. In severe cases, there may be coma and tetanic reversal, or critical signs of vacuity desertion such as reversal cold of the limbs and hasty panting.
Medication: Clear heat and cool the blood. Use formulas such as Pulsatilla Decoction, Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction, or Purple Snow Elixir.
epidemic malaria
A contagious form of malaria occurring in specific areas. Epidemic malaria is characterized by aversion to cold alternating with baking heat~effusion and copious sweating and by thirst and oppression in the chest. When damp-heat signs are pronounced, there is thirst without desire to drink and incomplete sweating. In severe cases, there may be clouded spirit.
Medication: Repel foulness and eliminate dampness. Use Membrane-Source--Opening Beverage or Priceless Qi-Righting Powder. For pronounced damp-heat, treat by clearing heat and transforming dampness with Sweet Dew Toxin-Dispersing Elixir. For high fever and clouded sp
epidemic pestilence
Synonyms: seasonal qi.
epidemic pestilential qi
Synonyms: pestilential qi.
epidemic throat sand
Synonyms: cinnabar sand; putrefying throat sand.
A disease occurring in winter and spring, characterized by red sore swollen throat, ulceration of the throat nodes, and generalized sand speckles. Epidemic throat sand is attributed to seasonal epidemic pestilential toxin that enters the lung and stomach via the mouth and nose. In the throat there is a spreading putrid white membrane that is easily wiped away. The soreness may be so acute as to make the swallowing of soup or water difficult. There is pronounced heat~effusion and aversion to cold with body pains. Sand speckles appear dimly all over the body, and develop to a bright scarlet color forming brocade-like patterns. If the speckles are small and diffuse, the condition is called sand; if coalescing into clouds, it is called cinnabar. The sand speckles may disappear when pressed by the fingers and return when pressure is released. They spread swiftly from the neck over the chest and back, and then the limbs finally to cover the whole body. Only the face and forehead are unaffected. The area around the mouth is somber white and free of speckles. The tongue is red like meat, and smooth but for fine protruding granules that cover it, giving it the appearance of a red bayberry. An initially white fur gradually becomes thick and slimy. The eruption brings abatement of heat~effusion and gives way to the sloughing of the bran-like scales.
Medication: In the initial stage, treat by outthrusting toxin with coolness and acridity using variations of Lonicera and Forsythia Powder. In the midstage, discharge heat and resolve toxin with Construction-Cooling Qi-Clearing Decoction. In the final stages, enrich
epidemic toxin dysentery
Synonyms: epidemic dysentery
epilepsy
A disease characterized by brief episodes (fits) of temporary loss of spirit, white complexion, fixity of the eyes, or sudden clouding collapse, foaming at the mouth, upward-staring eyes, clenched jaw, and convulsions of the limbs, and in some cases, squealing like a goat or pig. After an episode, the patient experiences fatigue and then returns to normal. Epilepsy is attributed to fear and fright or emotional imbalance, dietary intemperance, and taxation damaging the liver, spleen, and kidney channels and causing wind-phlegm to be carried upward by qi. The congenital aspect of the disease was understood early since in The Inner Canon it is also referred to as ``fetal disease'' .
Medication: Epilepsy is usually a repletion pattern, but repeated episodes can lead to vacuity of right. Treatment at the time of fits takes the form of sweeping phlegm and diffusing the orifices, extinguishing wind and settling epilepsy, using formulas such as Fit-S
Acupuncture: In fits, base treatment mainly on CV, GV, LR, PC, and SP. Select GV-26 (Water Trough), KI-1 (Gushing Spring), GV-16 (Wind Mansion), CV-15 (Turtledove Tail), PC-6 (Inner Pass), LI-4 (Union Valley), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), ST-40
epilepsy of pregnancy
Synonyms: pregnancy wind tetany; child wind.
From The Origin and Indicators of Disease. A disease of pregnancy characterized by fits. It occurs in patients usually suffering from liver-kidney yin vacuity when yin-blood vacuity is exacerbated by pregnancy. When yin is vacuous, yang is hyperactive. This causes liver wind harassing the inner body, and vacuity fire flaming upward that stirs heart fire. Wind and fire fan each other, causing signs such as sudden collapse unconsciousness, and convulsions of the limbs. The patient soon comes around, but then another fit usually starts.
Medication: Enrich yin and subdue yang; calm the liver and extinguish wind. Use Antelope Horn Powder or Gastrodia and Uncaria Beverage. For exuberant phlegm-drool congestion with phlegm rale in the throat, and hanging eyes and clenched jaw, clear heat and sweep phleg
Acupuncture: For persistent convulsions and coma, acupuncture can be used to revive the patient. For convulsions, needle LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), BL-57 (Mountain Support), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge). For coma, needle GV-26 (Human Center), PC-6 (Inner Pass), GV-20 (Hund
epilepsy pattern
episode
Synonyms: attack.
An occurrence of recurrent pathological state.
eroding foot
Synonyms: foot qi sore.
erosion
eructation
Synonyms: belching.
essence
That which is responsible for growth, development, and reproduction, and determines the strength of the constitution, and is manifest physically in the male in the form of semen. Essence is composed of earlier heaven essence (congenital essence), which is inherited from the parents and constantly supplemented by later heaven essence (acquired essence) produced from food by the stomach and spleen. Later heaven essence is considered to be the same as, or a derivative of, the essence of grain and water from which qi, blood, and fluids are also produced. Essence is often referred to as essential qi, and because it is stored by the kidney, it is also called kidney essential qi. Its functions can be deduced from the following passage from the first chapter of Elementary Questions: ``In the male at the age of two eights i.e., sixteen, kidney qi is exuberant, the ``heavenly tenth'' arrives, essential qi flows forth, yin and yang are in harmony, and he can beget offspring... At the age of seven eights [i.e., fifty-six] the ``heavenly tenth'' is exhausted, essence diminishes, the kidney grows weak, and the body loses its tone; at eight eights, the teeth and hair fall out. [In the female] at the age of two sevens, the ``heavenly tenth'' arrives, the controlling vessel flows, and the thoroughfare vessel fills, the menses come according to their times, and she can bear offspring... At seven sevens, the controlling vessel empties, the thoroughfare vessel weakens, the ``heavenly tenth'' is exhausted, the passages of the earth are cut, the body deteriorates, and she can no longer bear children.'' This quotation shows how the natural development of the individual from birth to death and reproductive capacity are explained in terms of kidney essential qi. Pathologies of essence include congenital insufficiency, late or improper maturation, premature senility, or sexual and reproductive dysfunctions.
essence and blood are of the same source
Essence and blood share a common source, are similar in nature, and often suffer from insufficiency simultaneously. Blood is derived from the essence of grain and water (acquired essence) and congenital essence is partly derived from acquired essence. Both essence and blood are yin in nature. The blood is stored by the liver, and essence is stored by the kidney. Insufficiency of essence-blood is commonly observed, and is treated by nourishing the liver and supplementing the kidney.
essence chamber
Synonyms: house of essence; palace of essence.
life gate. The Classic of Difficult Issues states, ``The life gate is the abode of essence and spirit and to which source qi is connected. In the male, it stores essence; in the female, it ties around the uterus Specifically (and more commonly), the place where semen is stored.
essence gate
The barrier that regulates the discharge of semen. The Chinese term jing1 means essence and its physical manifestation, semen. The ``essence gate'' is not clearly defined as an anatomical structure. Zhang Jie-Bin (Ming, 1563--1640) described a ``gate that is felt to open on ejaculation,'' which is now often called the essence gate. Signs such as seminal efflux, seminal emission, and premature ejaculation are attributed to ``insecurity of the essence gate'' due to kidney disease. See life gate.
essence of grain and water
The nutrients contained in food (grain and water).
essence turbidity
A persistent discharge from the urethra like rice water (water that rice has been washed in) or like flower and water paste. Essence turbidity may be associated with itching or pain in the urethra, and, in severe cases, the pain is like the cutting of a knife or like a burning fire. The urine remains clear. Essence turbidity is attributable to a) excesses of drinking and sex causing obstruction by ``wasted essence'' (old semen), b) kidney essence depletion with frenetic stirring of the ministerial fire causing discharge of wasted essence with fire, or c) damp-heat flowing down in the essence chamber. A white discharge is called white turbidity, whereas discharge containing blood is called red turbidity. When persistent, both forms manifest as vacuity patterns. Red turbidity is a sign of more pronounced vacuity with effulgent ministerial fire.
Medication: Burning pain in the urethra calls for action focusing on the fire, using Firewood-Raking Beverage or Anti-Turbidity Root-Securing Pill. Essence turbidity due to damp-heat flowing into the essence chamber with frequent urination is treated by percolating d
Acupuncture: For effulgent fire with pronounced burning sensation on urination, base treatment mainly on KI and HT. Select KI-3 (Great Ravine), KI-6 (Shining Sea), KI-2 (Blazing Valley), HT-8 (Lesser Mansion), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), needling with even supp
essence-blood
Blood and essence seen as one. See essence and blood are of the same source.
essence-marrow depletion
essence-spirit
Essence and spirit considered together; the manifestation of the life force.
essential qi
Any essential element of the body (blood, qi, fluid, essence); specifically, the acquired essence and the essence stored by the viscera and indissociable from the essential qi that is stored by the kidney and used in reproduction. See kidney stores essence.
ethereal soul
A nonphysical aspect of the human being, said to be stored by the liver, as distinct from po4, the corporeal soul, said to be stored by the lung. The Magic Pivot states, ``That which goes hither and thither with the spirit is called the ethereal soul.'' It also says, ``The liver stores the blood, and the blood houses the ethereal soul.'' When the liver fails to store the blood or liver blood is insufficient, there are signs such as sleep walking and sleep talking. This condition is sometimes called the ``ethereal soul failing to be stored.''
evacuate vacuity and replenish repletion
To exacerbate vacuity and exacerbate repletion. Two basic principles of treatment are ``vacuity is treated by supplementing'' and ``repletion is treated by draining.'' If vacuity and repletion are misidentified and the opposite principle of treatment is applied, the result is evacuation of vacuity or replenishment of repletion, in either case an exacerbation of the condition.
even supplementation and drainage
From Wondrous Response Canon. An acupuncture technique in which drainage is followed by supplementation.
A method of manipulation that neither supplements nor drains, and is intended only to obtain qi. After insertion, lifting and thrusting is performed with even lifts and thrusts and/or rotation is performed with even strength in both directions with a medium arc. When qi is obtained the needle is either extracted or retained. Needle pounding falls within the scope of neutral supplementation and drainage.
This method is used for patterns in which neither vacuity nor repletion signs are prevalent or for vacuity-repletion complexes such as is often the case in joint pain. It is also suitable for repletion patterns in patients with weak constitutions. See needle manipulation.
everted-flower hemorrhoids
Enduring hemorrhoids failing to heal that hang out of the anus and have an unsmooth surface giving the appearance of a flower past its bloom, with outward turned petals; hence the name. Defecation is associated with precipitation of blood and the insufferable pain. See hemorrhoids.
evil
Synonyms: evil qi; disease evil; pathogen .
Any entity from outside or from within that threatens health. Evils include six excesses, which are the six qi, wind, cold, fire, summerheat, dampness, and dryness, in their capacity to cause disease. They also include the warm evils spoken of by the warm heat school, and the various kinds of toxin. Evils further include wind, cold, fire, dampness, and dryness arising within the body, and disease-causing products of the body, static blood and phlegm. ``Evil'' stands in opposition to ``right,'' the force that maintains health. Since evil actively fights right or summons activity of right to eliminate it, it is often called evil qi. Elementary Questions states, ``For evil to encroach, the qi must be vacuous.'' Evils may be classified as yin and yang. Wind, fire, summerheat, and dryness are yang, whereas cold and dampness are yin. They interact with the body in accordance with the laws of yin and yang. Yang evils damage yin, and yin evils damage yang. Thus, in treatment, the principle of dispelling evil under specific circumstances is combined with that of supporting right, i.e., supplementing yang qi in the presence of a yin evil, and supplementing yin in the presence of a yang evil. For example, heat evil is treated by clearing, but when it causes damage to fluids, the method of engendering liquid is used. See also the five evils.
evil heat
Heat in opposition to right qi. Evil heat is essentially the same in meaning as heat evil.
evil lodged in the pericardium
Coma and fright reversal persisting for several days. Evil lodged in the pericardium is usually attributable to phlegm combined with evils and is treated by transforming phlegm and clearing the orifices.
evil lodged in the triple burner
An externally contracted heat (febrile) disease pattern of damp-heat lingering lodged in the qi aspect of the triple burner, characterized by cough, oppression in the chest, abdominal distention, sloppy stool, and inhibited urination. Any evil harassing the triple burner, disturbing normal qi transformation there, and causing signs of water metabolism disturbances, such as oppression in the chest, lower abdominal urgency, and inhibited urination.
evil qi
An evil or evils as an active force. See evil; qi.
evil repletion
Repletion due to the presence of evil.
evils harm the empty orifices
External evils entering the body easily cause diseases of the empty orifices, i.e., the mouth, nose, ears, and eyes.
excess
Any of the six qi (wind, cold, fire, summerheat, dampness, and dryness) in excess
excess among the five minds
A potentially evil excess of one or more of the five minds (basic mental/emotional activities) (joy, anger, anxiety, thought, fear). See five minds forming fire; mind; internal damage by the seven affects.
excessive wearing of heart construction
Excessive wear on heart yin. Damage to yin by enduring heat~effusion in externally contracted heat (febrile) disease or by effulgent yin vacuity fire in taxation detriment. Excessive wearing of heart construction is characterized by emaciation, night heat~effusion, heat vexation, tendency to sweat, crimson tongue, and a rapid fine pulse.
excrescence
excrescence. See excrescence creeping over the eye.
excrescence creeping over the eye
A gray-white fleshy growth at the canthus that progressively grows over the eye, in severe cases partially affecting vision. Excrescence creeping over the eye arises when heat congesting in the heart and lung channel cause qi stagnation and blood stasis. It may also result from effulgent yin vacuity fire.
Medication: Course wind and clear heat; enrich and downbear fire; free the network vessels and dissipate stasis. Use Anemarrhena, Phellodendron, and Rehmannia Pill plus red peony (Paeoniae Radix Rubra) and carthamus (Carthami Flos). Obstruction-Abrading Spirit Light
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on local eye points, GB, and LR. Select BL-1 (Bright Eyes), GB-20 (Wind Pool), and LR-14 (Cycle Gate); needle with drainage. Prick Greater Yang to bleed.
exhaust
Deplete critically. See exuberance and debilitation.
exhaustion of the lower origin
Synonyms: vacuity of the true origin in the lower body.
Severe kidney depletion, especially kidney yang depletion.
exhaustion of yin and desertion of yang
Severe yin and yang vacuity. See desertion.
expectoration of blood
The bringing up of blood from the chest. The term has two meanings: (1) Confucian Filiality describes this pattern as the expectoration of a blood clot or fresh blood preceded by a sensation of fishy-smelling blood in the throat. Expectoration of blood is mostly attributable to effulgent yin vacuity fire or lung dryness-heat.
Medication: Enrich yin and downbear fire. Use Adenophora/Glehnia and Ophiopogon Decoction, Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction, or Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill. (2) In some books, such as On Blood Patterns, this term refers to expectoration of phlegm streaked
expectoration of phlegm
Bringing up phlegm from the lung by coughing.
expel
To promote the elimination from the body (of cold, phlegm, pus, static blood, stones, water, wind, worms). See following entries.
expel
Synonyms: expelling pus and expressing toxin.
expelling cold accumulations
A method of treatment used to address stagnation and accumulation patterns characterized by abdominal distention, abdominal pain, constipation, a thick slimy tongue fur, or moist tongue with white fur and absence of thirst call for this method of treatment. Other signs may include by aversion to cold, cold limbs, and thirst with a desire for warm fluids. The method of expelling cold accumulations treats external cold contractions with pre-existing food accumulations.
Medication: The basic medicinal is generally rhubarb (Rhei Rhizoma), which is used with warm and hot agents such as aconite (Aconiti Tuber Laterale), dried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Exsiccatum), and cinnamon bark (Cinnamomi Cortex). Warm agents with a powerful drain
expelling cold and opening the orifices
Synonyms: warm opening.
To treat cold-damp phlegm turbidity obstructing the pericardium with coma by means of formulas such as Liquid Storax Pill. This method is used, for example, in the treatment of wind stroke with clouding collapse, unconsciousness, green-blue or white complexion, cold limbs and a sunken pulse. See opening the orifices. ¬''±ø: eterm??unconsciousness}
expelling phlegm
To eliminate phlegm forcefully.
expelling pus
To promote suppuration to help a sore run its natural course. See expelling pus and expressing toxin.
expelling pus and expressing toxin
Synonyms: expressing toxin and outthrusting pus. See internal expression.
expelling stasis
A method of treatment used to address blood amassment and internal static blood binds. It includes: (1) internal static blood bind characterized by abdominal pain and distention (sometimes with palpable lumps), black stool, scant menstrual flow, black menstrual flow, heat~effusion, and, in severe cases, manic states, and constipation; (2) menstrual block or scant menstrual flow, black menstrual flow and irregular menses resulting from the presence of static blood; (3) uterine concretions and gatherings with malign discharge; (4) the condition identified by Western medicine as extrauterine pregnancy.
Medication: The principal medicinals used are blood breakers and draining precipitants such as rhubarb (Rhei Rhizoma), mirabilite (Mirabilitum), wingless cockroach (Eupolyphaga seu Opisthoplatia), peach kernel (Persicae Semen), carthamus (Carthami Flos), sparganium (
expelling stones
A method of treatment used to cause gallstones or urinary stones to be passed out of the body through the stool or urine respectively. Before the modern era, Chinese medicine medicine knew of urinary stones (see stone strangury), but did not know of gallstones. The term pai2 shi2 comes from Western medicine ( pai2 shi2 yao4 translating the English `lithogogue'), and is now used to describe Chinese medical treatments for gallstones or urinary calculus. Formulas whose names contain the term `expelling stones', such as Biliary Calculus Decoction, are modern creations.
expelling water
A method of treatment used to eliminate by precipitation yang water repletion patterns such as severe hydrothorax and ascites, characterized by urinary and fecal stoppage, abdominothoracic fullness inhibiting respiration, and a forceful replete pulse. This method may be used where the evil is strong, yet right qi is still resilient enough to withstand attack. In modern clinical practice, it is mainly used to treat what Western medicine identifies as ascites due to cirrhosis of the liver. Commonly used water-expelling medicinals are kansui (Kansui Radix), genkwa (Daphnes Genkwa Flos), euphorbia/knoxia (Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae Radix), and morning glory (Pharbitidis Semen). Ten Jujubes Decoction and Boats and Carts Pill drain abdominal water, whereas Drool-Controlling Elixir is used to drain hydrothorax.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV and back transport points. Select CV-9 (Water Divide), BL-22 (Triple Burner Transport), LI-4 (Union Valley), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), LI-6 (Veering Passageway), and SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring); needle with drainage.
expelling worms
Synonyms: killing worms.
A method of treatment used to cause the elimination of worms (especially in the intestines).
expiration sweating
Synonyms: desertion sweating.
Sweating in critical conditions where separation of yin and yang is imminent. Expiration of qi is characterized by putting forth of pearly sweat that sticks to the body and does not run. Dissipation of qi is marked by putting forth of oily sweat, and incessant panting. Extreme vacuity is marked by incessant cold sweating.
Medication: Return yang and stem desertion with medicinals such as ginseng (Ginseng Radix), aconite (Aconiti Tuber Laterale), dragon bone (Mastodi Ossis Fossilia), and oyster shell (Ostreae Concha).
expire
To come to an end; to be critically exhausted.
expressing toxin and outthrusting pus
Synonyms: expelling pus and expressing toxin.
An internal expression method applied when right qi is exuberant. See internal expression.
expression
Synonyms: internal expression
extended tongue
A tongue that is habitually extended out of the mouth and cannot be retracted. An extended tongue that feels scorching hot accompanied by unclear spirit-mind reflects phlegm-heat evil harassing the heart spirit affecting the ``sprout of the heart'' (the tongue).
Medication: Clear the heart and transform phlegm. A limp, numb, extended tongue is usually a sign of qi vacuity. Compare protrusion and worrying of the tongue.
exterior
The outer part of the body as opposed to the interior; includes the fleshy exterior (i.e., the skin and exterior muscles of the head, limbs and trunk) and bowels, which are the organs of the exterior through which the essence of grain and water (nutrients in food) are absorbed and waste is expelled. See exterior and interior.
exterior and interior
The outer part of the body and the inner part of the body; two of the eight principles. The skin and the body hair, the flesh, and the superficial channels are exterior. The bone marrow, the bowels and viscera, etc., are considered as interior. Exterior and interior are two of eight principles of pattern identification, by which the depth of penetration of external evils is determined. External evils usually pass through the exterior before penetrating the interior; hence their presence makes exterior-interior pattern identification a necessity. Internal damage miscellaneous diseases originate within the body and invariably manifest as interior patterns, so that the need for interior-exterior pattern identification is of little significance. In the cold damage and warm disease theories, exterior and interior have specific definitions. In cold damage, there are two definitions: a) the yang channels are exterior and the yin channels are interior, b) among the yang channels, greater yang is exterior, whereas yang brightness is interior, with lesser yang as ``half exterior half interior.'' In warm disease triple burner pattern identification, the upper burner is exterior, whereas the middle and lower burners are interior.
exterior cold
Exterior cold patterns are characterized by pronounced cold signs with a distinct aversion to cold. The pulse is tight and floating, and the tongue fur is thin, white, and moist. ``When cold prevails there is pain,'' and in exterior cold patterns headache and generalized pain and heaviness are also pronounced. Runny nose with clear snivel (nasal mucus), and expectoration of clear thin phlegm are common signs. Exterior cold patterns are generally caused by contraction of wind-cold evil.
Medication: Exterior cold patterns are treated with warm acrid exterior-resolving medicinals. The most commonly used are ephedra (Ephedrae Herba), cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus), notopterygium (Notopterygii Rhizoma), perilla leaf (Perillae Folium), schizonepeta (S
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LI, LU, and BL. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), GB-20 (Wind Pool), BL-12 (Wind Gate), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), LI-4 (Union Valley), KI-7 (Recover Flow), and BL-11 (Great Shuttle); needle with drainage and moxa can be used.
exterior cold and interior heat
A pattern of cold in the exterior and heat in the interior arising when external evil passes into the interior and transforms into heat before the exterior cold has resolved. It can also arise in a condition of internal heat when cold evil is contracted. Exterior cold and interior heat patterns are characterized by aversion to cold, heat~effusion, absence of sweating, and generalized pain. These signs may be accompanied by vexation and agitation, thirst, and constipation.
exterior heat
Exterior heat patterns are characterized by pronounced heat signs, such as a red sore pharynx and a relatively red tongue with dry fur. In addition to the regular external signs, the pulse is floating and rapid. Other signs include cough and the production of thick white or yellow phlegm. Most exterior heat patterns are attributable to contraction of wind-heat evil. Note that identification of exterior heat patterns is based on assessment of heat and cold ``signs'' rather than the actual body temperature. Heat~effusion as a sign does not necessarily correspond to heat in the sense of the eight principles.
Medication: Exterior heat patterns are treated with cool acrid exterior-resolving medicinals such as mint (Menthae Herba), arctium (Arctii Fructus), fermented soybean (Glycines Semen Fermentatum Insulsum), and mulberry leaf (Mori Folium). Formulas include Lonicera a
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, LI, and PC. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), GB-20 (Wind Pool), TB-5 (Outer Pass), LU-10 (Fish Border), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LI-4 (Union Valley), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), and GV-14 (Great Hammer); needle with drainage. For red s
exterior heat and interior cold
A condition of heat in the exterior with cold in the interior arising on contraction of wind-heat in patients ordinarily suffering from spleen-stomach vacuity cold. Signs include heat~effusion without sweating, sore throat and cough, sloppy diarrhea, long clear voidings of urine, pale enlarged tongue, slightly yellow turbid tongue fur, and a moderate floating pulse.
exterior heat passing into the interior
Synonyms: heat evil passing into the interior.
exterior pattern
The manifestation of disease in the exterior of the body, caused by any of the six excesses entering the body's exterior. Exterior pattern is characterized by sudden onset and by aversion to cold (or the milder aversion to wind), heat~effusion, headache, a thin tongue fur, and a floating pulse. Other possible signs are headache, nasal congestion, and aching pain in the limbs and joints. Exterior patterns vary according to the offending evil and its strength in relation to that of right qi. Wind accompanied by cold or heat is the most common cause; summerheat, dampness, and dryness are less common. Distinction is made between exterior cold, exterior heat, exterior vacuity, and exterior repletion. Exterior patterns are treated by sweating to expel the evil from the body.
exterior repletion
Exterior patterns without sweating are exterior repletion patterns. In most cases, exterior repletion patterns are exterior cold patterns caused by contraction of exuberant cold evil that obstructs defense qi and blocks the interstices, and manifesting in a tight floating pulse.
Medication: Treat with strong sweat-effusing warm acrid exterior-resolving medicinals. The classical formula is Ephedra Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LI, LU, and BL. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), BL-12 (Wind Gate), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), BL-64 (Capital Bone), LI-4 (Union Valley), KI-7 (Recover Flow), and BL-11 (Great Shuttle); needle with drainage and moxa can be used. The la
exterior repletion and interior vacuity
A pattern arising either when patients ordinarily suffering from heart, spleen, or kidney vacuity contract external evil, or when external contractions manifesting as exterior cold are wrongly treated by offensive attack. Signs include heat~effusion and aversion to cold without sweating with lassitude of spirit, shortness of breath, torpid intake, fatigued limbs, heart palpitations, lumbar pain, a white tongue fur, and a floating pulse.
exterior resolution
exterior vacuity
Exterior patterns with persistent sweating and heat~effusion. Exterior vacuity results from construction-defense disharmony in which the body's resistance to external evils is lowered and, despite sweating, fails to expel the evil. Such conditions are reflected in a moderate (i.e., not tight) floating pulse.
Medication: Exterior patterns with sweating should be treated with formulas that have a sweat-effusing effect. A persistent exterior pattern with sweating characterized by pronounced exterior vacuity signs such as a moderate floating pulse and a thin moist tongue fu
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, LI, and BL. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), GB-20 (Wind Pool), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), BL-64 (Capital Bone), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LI-4 (Union Valley), and SI-3 (Back Ravine); needle with even supplementation and drainage. The
exterior vacuity and interior repletion
A condition arising a)~when patients with constitutional insufficiency of defense qi contract evil, and evil heat binds in the interior; b)~when patients suffering from heat brewing in the stomach and intestines and abiding food contract wind evil; or c)~when exterior patterns are not treated properly and interior repletion is treated by sweating. Such a condition is characterized by exterior vacuity signs such as aversion to wind and sweating, and by interior repletion signs such as abdominal pain, constipation, and thick yellow tongue fur.
external
Located or originating outside (the body), as in external evil.
external blowing
Synonyms: external blowing mammary welling-abscess.
A postpartum mammary welling-abscess, so called on account of the belief that it arose when, after breast-feeding, the infant slept soundly in the mother's bosom and its cool breath invaded the breast. Compare internal blowing.
external blowing mammary welling-abscess
Synonyms: external blowing.
external cause
One of the three causes of disease; any evil that assails the body from outside. External causes are the six excesses (and warm evil).
external cold
Externally contracted cold evil, characterized by signs such as aversion to cold, heat~effusion, absence of sweating, headache, generalized pain, and a tight floating pulse, which develop when cold evil assails the exterior and prevents the normal diffusion and outthrust of yang qi.
Insufficiency of yang qi at the surface of the body, marked by physical cold and fear of cold. Elementary Questions states, ``When yang is vacuous, there is external cold.''
external cold invading the stomach
external contraction
Contraction of external evil; a condition resulting from contraction of external evil.
external contraction lumbar pain
Lumbar pain attributed to external evil invading the channels and network vessels. External contraction lumbar pain usually forms a repletion pattern and is treated by dispelling the evil and freeing the network vessels. See wind-damp lumbar pain; cold-damp lumbar pain; damp-heat lumbar pain. See also lumbar pain.
external contraction sleeplessness
Insomnia due to contraction of the external evils. External contraction sleeplessness is observed in exterior heat, internal heat, half exterior and half interior heat, qi-aspect heat, blood-aspect heat, residual heat, and excessive sweating or precipitation. See sleeplessness.
external contraction stomach duct pain
Pain in the stomach due to contraction of external evils such as cold evil or damp-heat. Cold patterns usually occur in people suffering from preexisting center qi cold; heat patterns usually occur in patients with accumulated internal heat.
external evil
Evil invading the body from outside. See evil.
external injury
Synonyms: trauma.
Any damage to the body from outside; includes knocks and falls, incised wounds, burns and scalds, and snake bites. Most external injuries involve damage to the skin and flesh, the sinews and bone, and the qi and blood. Knocks and falls include most bone fractures and sinew damage. Incised wounds primarily lead to blood spillage; burns and scalds cause damage to the skin and flesh and damage to yin.
external injury lumbar pain
Lumbar pain due to external injury preventing bending and stretching and turning, and even pain when breathing. See static blood lumbar pain.
external kidney
Scrotum or the male genitals.
external medicine
The branch of medicine that deals with sores, knocks and falls, and bone fractures. For a list of external medical diseases, see disease.
external obstruction
Any disease of the eyelids, canthi, white of the eye or black of the eye. External obstructions include red sore swollen eyes (e.g., fire eye), erosion, tearing, eye discharge, or dryness of the eyes, eye screens and membranes, and excrescences of the canthi. They may be attended by subjective sensations such as pain, itching, dryness, and aversion to light. They are mostly attributable to invasion of the six excesses or depressed heat or phlegm-fire in the inner body, or to external injury. In some cases, they may be attributable to liver-kidney vacuity with vacuity fire flaming upward or spleen qi vacuity. Compare internal obstruction.
external welling-abscess
A welling-abscess in the exterior of the body. External welling-abscesses are characterized by clearly circumscribed redness, swelling, heat, and pain; they are easily dispersed, easily form pus and rupture, and easily heal.
Medication: In the early stages, disperse wind and clear heat, quicken the blood and move stasis using Immortal Formula Life-Giving Beverage. Upper body welling-abscesses are largely attributable to wind-heat and can be treated by Arctium Flesh-Resolving Decoction;
externally contracted heat febrile disease
Any disease caused by influences originating outside the body, characterized by heat~effusion and a usually rapid stage-by-stage progression. The earliest extant compilation dealing with external heat (febrile) diseases, On Cold Damage, written in the Han Dynasty, identifies and treats diseases according to their location among the six channels. Further accumulation of experience and developments in medical thought in the ages that followed culminated in the doctrine of warm diseases. On Warm Heat and Systematized Identification of Warm Diseases are two works of the Qing Dynasty that further synthesized the laws governing the origin and development of external heat diseases into the system known as four-aspect pattern identification and treatment. As a result of these latter-day developments there have emerged two separate schools of thought, the ``cold damage'' school and the ``warm diseases'' school.
externally contracted heat febrile disease pattern identification
Identification of sign patterns of external heat (febrile) disease. It includes disease-evil pattern identification, six-channel pattern identification, and four-aspect pattern identification. Despite differences between these methods of pattern identification, certain general guidelines are common to both. Disease of external origin are usually (but not always) characterized by heat~effusion and stage-by-stage development (initial stage, exuberant heat~effusion stage, and recovery stage). Externally contracted heat diseases bear two main characteristics: heat~effusion and stage-by-stage development. Heat~effusion results from the fierce struggle between right qi and the evil, and is the essential characteristic of externally contracted heat diseases. Its progress reflects the changing relationship between right qi and evil qi. For example, high fever reflects the strong reaction of an undamaged right qi to a highly toxic evil. The heat~effusion will gradually subside as right qi overcomes the evil. A remittent heat~effusion or persistent heat~effusion sets in when the evil has weakened, but has not been fully eradicated and right qi has suffered damage. Absence of initial-stage heat~effusion, or even a sudden drop in body temperature, are signs of yang collapse resulting from the presence of a highly toxic evil and extreme vacuity of right. Externally contracted heat diseases usually develop through three stages: the initial stage, the exuberant heat~effusion stage, and the recovery stage. These three stages reflect the changing relationship between the evil and right. In the initial stage, the struggle between the evil and right has still not reached its height, so that the heat~effusion is less severe than in the exuberant heat~effusion stage. As the struggle becomes more intense, the disease moves into the exuberant heat~effusion stage; signs are most pronounced, indicating that the disease has reached its climax. It is at this crucial stage that deterioration or improvement is decided. If right defeats evil, the disease passes into the recovery stage. If it fails to do so, the patient's condition deteriorates, possibly leading to death. Of course, recovery may come about at any point during the progression of a disease if evil qi weakens and right qi strengthens, either spontaneously or by appropriate treatment. Similarly, deterioration or relapse may occur at any time if evil qi strengthens and right qi weakens, either spontaneously or by inappropriate treatment. Most incidences of externally contracted heat disease are characterized by the above-mentioned three stages.
extinguishing wind
Synonyms: calming and extinguishing internal wind.
Any method of treatment used to eliminate internal wind.
extinguishing wind and transforming phlegm
Synonyms: controlling wind and transforming phlegm.
extraordinary organ
Any of a class of organs comprising the brain, the marrow, the bones, the vessels, the uterus, and the gallbladder, distinguished from the bowels on the grounds that they do not decompose food and convey waste and from the viscera on the grounds they do not produce and store essence. The gallbladder is an exception, because it is classed both as a bowel and as an extraordinary organ. It is considered a bowel because it plays a role in the processing and conveyance of food, and stands in interior-exterior relationship with its paired viscus, the liver. However, the bile that it produces is regarded as a ``clear fluid'' rather than as waste; hence it is also classed among the extraordinary organs.
extraordinary vessel
extreme heat engendering cold
Synonyms: exuberant heat stirring wind.
Transmutation of heat into cold. Heat is yang, whereas cold is yin. Since yin and yang are mutually transmutable, heat can give way to cold, as the heat of summer gives way to the cold of winter. In the body, damage to yin by extreme heat can cause yang desertion characterized by counterflow cold of the limbs with great sweating, and a faint pulse on the verge of expiration. Similarly, heat lying deep in the body can cause severe heat and severe reversal.
extreme heat engendering wind
exuberance
Vigor and abundance. Describes both yin and yang entities.
exuberance and debilitation
Exuberance denotes vigor and profusion; debilitation denotes weakness and scarcity. Both describe strength or weakness of organs or physiological elements (qi, blood, fluid, essence), but in the main, exuberance qualifies evils. Exuberant evils, physiological elements, and yin-yang aspects of the organs are often described in terms of the way in which they affect the parts of the organism.
exuberant fire tormenting metal
Liver fire affecting the lung. See wood fire tormenting metal.
Heart fire or fire-heat affecting the lung. Heart fire can damage lung yin, giving rise to panting and cough with phlegm-streaked blood; an intense heat evil becoming depressed in the lung or phlegm-heat obstructing the lung can give rise to high fever, hasty rapid breathing, flaring nostrils, and in severe cases coughing of blood.
exuberant heart fire
Synonyms: hyperactive heart fire.
exuberant heart qi
Heart vexation, insomnia, laughing while dreaming in intense heart fire patterns.
exuberant heart qi
Synonyms: exuberant heart yang; heart qi repletion.
Heart vexation, insomnia, laughing while dreaming in intense heart fire patterns.
The heart governs the blood and vessels and stores the spirit, and exuberant heart qi manifests in disease patterns of the spirit mind and of the blood and vessels. The Magic Pivot states, ``When heart qi is exuberant, there is dreaming and a tendency to laughing and fear.'' The Origin and Indicators of Disease states, ``When heart qi is exuberant, making the spirit superabundant, there is pain in the chest, propping fullness in the rib-side, pain under the rib-side, pain in the anterior chest, back, shoulder blade, armpit, or pain in the inside of the arm, and incessant joy and laughing; this is repletion of heart qi.'' Clear the heart and drain fire.
exuberant heart yang
Synonyms: exuberant heart qi.
exuberant heart-stomach fire
Synonyms: heart-stomach repletion fire.
A disease pattern arising when, in intense heart fire, evil heat invades the stomach. The chief signs are vexation and insomnia, red face, thirst, mouth sores, scorching pain in the stomach duct, swallowing of upflowing acid, and swift digestion and rapid hungering. Other signs include mania and delirious speech, red urine with inhibited voidings and stinging pain, bloody urine, immediate vomiting of ingested food, bad breath, bleeding gums, sore swollen gums, and constipation. The tongue is red with yellow fur. The pulse is slippery and rapid.
Medication: Clear the heart and quiet the spirit; drain fire and harmonize the stomach. Heart-Draining Decoction or Red-Abducting Powder.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on PC, HT, and ST. Use the main points under exuberant heart fire, and add ST-44 (Inner Court), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and LI-4 (Union Valley); needle with drainage. Selection of points according to signs: For stomach duct pain, add C
exuberant heat stirring wind
exuberant internal yin cold
exuberant lung-stomach heat
In warm disease, a qi-aspect heat pattern manifesting in classic signs of wind warmth: high fever, cough, rapid breathing, thirst, and yellow tongue fur.
Medication: The main formula treating exuberant lung-stomach heat is Supplemented Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum, and Licorice Decoction, which clears heat and diffuses the lung. This formula may be combined with heat-clearing phlegm-transforming formulas such as Mi
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, ST, and LI. Select LU-10 (Fish Border), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), ST-44 (Inner Court), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and LI-4 (Union Valley); needle with drainage. Prick LU-11 (Lesser Shang) or LI-1 (Shang Yang) to
exuberant qi-aspect heat
Intense heat in the qi aspect, characterized by vigorous heat~effusion without aversion to cold, red facial complexion, vexation, great sweating and great thirst, dry yellow tongue fur, and a large surging pulse.
exuberant stomach heat
Synonyms: intense stomach heat.
Severe heat in the stomach characterized by vexing thirst with desire for cold drinks, bad breath, putrefying mouth and lips, painful swollen gums, burning sensation in the stomach duct and abdomen, short voidings of yellow urine, constipation, and a red tongue with a thick yellow fur. Occurring in externally contracted heat (febrile) disease, constipation is more common, and, in severe cases, it is accompanied by clouded spirit, delirious speech, and manic agitation.
Medication: Use Stomach-Clearing Powder or Jade Lady Brew. For externally contracted heat (febrile) disease, use Qi-Coordinating Decoctions.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST and LI. Select ST-44 (Inner Court), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and LI-4 (Union Valley); needle with drainage. For constipation, add LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow), and TB-6 (Branch Ditch).
exuberant yang
A surfeit of yang heat, especially exuberant evil heat and exuberant right qi characterized by vigorous heat~effusion, absence of sweating, rough breathing, vexation and agitation, and thirst. This situation is described in Elementary Questions in the following the words: ``when yang is exuberant there is external heat.''
exuberant yang damages yin
In the ebb and flow of yin and yang, excessively exuberant yang heat invariably harms yin-liquid. Exuberant qi-aspect heat is treated by engendering liquid with cold sweet medicinals; gastrointestinal heat bind is treated by swift precipitation to preserve yin; exuberant construction-blood heat is treated by clearing construction and nourishing yin, supported if necessary by cooling the blood and resolving toxin. Preventing damage to yin is an important principle in the treatment of all patterns of excessively exuberant yang heat.
exuberant yang qi
Excessively strong yang qi manifesting in a heat pattern.
Strong yang qi. The Magic Pivot states, ``When yin qi is wasted, and yang qi is exuberant, there is sleep in the day.''
exuberant yang repelling yin
A manifestation of extreme heat resembling cold arising when, in a disease that is fundamentally one of heat, the evil lies deep in the interior, blocks yang qi, and prevents it from reaching the exterior, causing false cold signs such as reversal cold of the limbs, a sunken hidden pulse, and inability to take cold medicines. The patient will feel vexation and heat in the heart [region], the abdomen feels scorching hot to the touch, reflecting the fundamental nature of the disease. However, the rest of the body is cold, and the patient does not wish to be covered. The exuberant heat (exuberant yang) thus holds the yin cold in the exterior at bay.
exuberant yin
Synonyms: exuberant internal yin cold.
Exuberant yin causes debilitation of yang and the appearance of internal cold signs such as reverse-flow, phlegm-rheum, and water qi. Elementary Questions states, `` when yin is exuberant, there is internal cold.''
exuberant yin repelling yang
Synonyms: repelled yang.
A disease pattern in which exuberant internal cold forces yang qi to the outer body, causing signs of true internal cold and false external heat. False external heat signs include floating heat~effusion, thirst, agitation of the extremities and a large surging pulse. However, despite heat~effusion, the patient likes to keep well wrapped up; despite thirst, he does not drink much, likes hot drinks, or rinses his mouth without wishing to swallow. Despite agitation, the spirit-mind is clear. Although the pulse is large and surging, it is forceless under pressure. Hence the heat signs are false.
exuberant yin vacuity fire
Synonyms: effulgent yin vacuity fire.
eye
Organ of vision; governed by the liver (see liver opens at the eyes). Observing the eyes most often involves observing the spirit. Since the ``essence of the bowels and viscera flows up into the eyes,'' the eyes reflect the state of the bowels and viscera to some extent. Furthermore, the eyes connect through to the brain, which is referred to as the sea of marrow, and ``the essence of marrow is in the pupils.'' Therefore, the pupils, marrow, and essence are considered to be closely related; and the pupils are considered to reflect marrow and essence. In practical diagnosis, if the pupils are normal in enduring or severe illnesses, the disease is considered to be still curable. Conversely, if patients have lusterless eyes, and tend to keep their eyes shut, taking no interest in the world, or if the spirit of their eyes has an abnormal appearance, the condition is critical. If the eyes are turned upward or sideways, or look fixedly ahead, the condition is one of liver wind stirring internally. Dilation of the pupils may, in severe illness, be a sign of approaching death. Reddening of the eyes, often with copious discharge that occurs as part of a broader pattern, usually indicates externally contracted wind-heat, heart fire, or liver fire. Lusterless eyes indicate a dual vacuity of blood and qi. Swollen and painful darks of the eyes (corneae) are generally associated with liver fire. Yellowing of the whites of the eyes (sclerae) indicate jaundice, which most often signifies damp-heat, and in rare cases, cold-damp. Dark rings around the eyes indicate kidney vacuity, whereas green-blue or purple rings indicate intraorbital bleeding. Sunken eyes indicate a severe condition of damage to liquid and humor desertion. Slight puffiness around the eyes indicates incipient water swelling. However, senile debilitation of kidney qi may be characterized by slackening and puffiness of the lower lids, though in most cases this does not constitute a sign of disease. Bulging of the eyes is usually caused by binding phlegm-fire depression. For diseases of they eye,
eye discharge
Thick sticky turbid substance collecting around the canthi and eyelid rims in eye diseases such as wind-fire eye.
eye gan
Synonyms: child eye gan.
eye nest
The eye socket and eyelids.
eye pain
Any pain of the eye. Pain in the eye during the day is a yang pattern; pain during the night is a yin pattern. Pain accompanied by vexation and oppression indicates qi repletion; pain accompanied by aversion to cold indicates qi vacuity. Intermittent dull pain indicates stirring of yin vacuity fire; pain like the pricking of a needle, that continues unabated indicates fire evil. Pain accompanied by dryness signifies wearing of the fluids or water depletion and blood vacuity. Red sore eyes with copious sticky discharge indicate wind-heat congestion. Mild redness and soreness with inhibited stool and urine indicates repletion fire blazing internally. Pain that refuses pressure and likes cold compresses indicates repletion, whereas pain that likes pressure and hot compresses indicates vacuity.
eye screen
Any external obstruction involving murky opacity or deformation of the black of the eye, or any scarring of this area left after disease, e.g., congealed-fat screen. Screens may occur in repletion patterns of liver wind-heat and vacuity patterns of liver-kidney depletion and effulgent vacuity fire. Repletion patterns are treated by coursing wind and clearing heat, resolving toxin and draining the liver. Vacuity patterns are treated by enriching the liver and kidney, and nourishing yin and clearing heat. In addition, screens may arise through true eye damage in external injury. Any internal or external obstruction that blocks the line of vision, including internal eye screens, such as round eye screens. See internal obstruction; external obstruction.
eye tie
Synonyms: optic nerve and surrounding structure.
That which connects the eye to the brain. The Magic Pivot states, ``... evils strike the nape and, encountering vacuity of the body, they enter deeply, following the eye tie into the brain. When they enter the brain, the brain spins. When the brain spins, it causes tension in the eye tie. When the eye tie is tense, the vision of the eye becomes dizzy and spins.''
eyebrow bone
The bone that forms the prominence of the eyebrow.
eyebrow bone pain
Pain felt in the eyebrow bone. It is mostly attributable to external contraction of wind-heat and phlegm damp lying depressed in the inner body. It is often seen together with yang brightness headache and lesser yang headache.
Medication: Dispel wind, clear fire, and flush phlegm. Incisive Light on the Source of Miscellaneous Disease suggests a formula containing ledebouriella (Ledebouriellae Radix), notopterygium (Notopterygii Rhizoma), scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix), and licorice (Glyc
Acupuncture: Main points: BL-2 (Bamboo Gathering), LI-4 (Union Valley), GV-24 (Spirit Court), ST-8 (Head Corner), and ST-41 (Ravine Divide); needle with drainage. To dispel wind and clear fire, add GB-20 (Wind Pool), TB-5 (Outer Pass), and GV-14 (Great Hammer). To flu
eyelid
Synonyms: retainer.
Either of the two movable protective folds, which, when closed, cover the anterior surface of the eyeball. They eyelid is the flesh wheel in the context of the five wheels.
eyelid rim
The edge of the eyelid (palpebral margin) from which the eyelashes grow.
eyelid vacuous as a ball
Synonyms: spleen vacuous as a ball.