Chinese Medicine Dictionary

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There are 336 terms starting with "F"

face

The anterior aspect of the head including the eyes, nose, cheeks, lips, and chin. Inspecting various aspects of the face is important in diagnosis. See inspection; facial complexion. Conditions affecting the face include mole ( black mole, blood mole); acne; drinker's nose; deviated mouth and eyes; toad head scourge; facial pain.

face

Surface or aspect.

facial complexion

The color and sheen of the skin of the face, especially as a reflection of health or sickness. The state of blood and qi is intimately related to the facial complexion. The Magic Pivot states, ``The qi and blood of the twelve primary channels and the three-hundred and sixty-five network vessels all the channels of the body ascend to the face.'' This statement emphasizes the importance of the complexion as a reflection of the general state of health. The color of the complexion is analyzed in terms of the five colors---blue-green, red, yellow, white, and black. When applied to the human complexion, they take on a relative significance. Thus, two people who have vastly different complexions when healthy, may both be described as having an ``white'' complexion when suffering from a certain disease, even though the actual color is different. ``White'' here refers to a relative paling compared with the normal complexion. (

facial pain

Pain in any part of the face. Facial pain usually occurs in episodes and is acute. Patterns include wind-heat, wind-cold, liver depression transforming into fire, and blood stagnation and blood stasis.

facial prominence

The region below the eye.

failure of the interlocking bones to open

The absence of movement of bone preventing childbirth. The meaning of the term depends on the interpretation given to the ``interlocking bones.'' (1) Taking the interlocking bones to be the two parts of what modern medicine calls the pubis, the ancients believed that they were normally closed, but would open to allow child delivery. They also believed that poor nutrition in pregnancy, causing original qi vacuity and preventing qi and blood from reaching the area, could account for their failure to open. (2) Taking the interlocking bones to mean the sacrococcygeal joint, failure of the interlocking bones to open means the failure of the sacrococcygeal joint to move the lower opening of the pelvis to facilitate delivery. This can be treated with Bone-Opening Powder.

failure to acclimatize to a new environment

Problems such as poor appetite, abdominal distention, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and menstrual irregularities attributed to moving to a new environment. Such conditions usually disappear in a short time.

failure to rise

Synonyms: impotence.

faint

To lose consciousness.

faint pulse

A pulse so fine and weak that it is barely perceptible. It indicates vacuity desertion or qi and blood vacuity.

faint pulse verging on expiration

fall pattern

A disease pattern in which sore-toxin attacks the inner body. Distinction is made between fire fall, dry fall, and vacuity fall.

falling curtain screen

A disease characterized by fine thread-like vessels on the upper margin of the dark of the eye that appear to fall like a curtain over the eye and that in severe cases cover the pupil. Falling curtain screen is associated with tearing and aversion to light, dryness and pain, and obstructed vision.

Medication: Course wind and clear heat; calm the liver and abate screens. Use Abalone Shell Powder as oral medication and Spirifer Fossil Elixir applied topically.

Acupuncture: Select BL-2 (Bamboo Gathering), BL-1 (Bright Eyes), GB-1 (Pupil Bone-Hole), GB-20 (Wind Pool), GB-41 (Foot Overlooking Tears), Thumb Bone Hollow, Little Finger Bone Hollow, BL-18 (Liver Transport), and BL-19 (Gallbladder Transport); needle with drainage.

false spiritedness

False signs of vitality suddenly appearing in patients suffering from enduring and severe illness. Such signs, which include sudden garrulousness, improvement in appetite and facial complexion, are the ``last radiance of the setting sun'' or the ``last flicker of the candle,'' boding imminent death.

farsightedness

Ability to see distant but not close objects clearly, usually without any visible changes within the eye. Farsightedness is attributed to insufficiency of yin and superabundance of yang, or to congenital causes.

Medication: Enrich yin and brighten the eyes with formulas such as Lycium Berry, Chrysanthemum, and Rehmannia Pill.

fat gan

fat heat gan

fat meat, fine grain, and strong flavors

Rich food. Eating of fat meat, fine grain, and strong flavors over a long period can engender internal heat and cause sores.

fat qi

From The Magic Pivot. One of the five accumulations. Lump glomus under the rib-side like an upturned cup, attributed to liver qi depression and congealing static blood. In The Classic of Difficult Issues, it is said to be the liver accumulation (one of the five accumulations), and is described as being a glomus lump under the rib-side, like an upturned cup, and having a head and a foot. When the disease is persistent, malaria or cough may arise.

Medication: Treat with Fat Qi Pill.

fat sore

Synonyms: sand-heap perverse crop.

A scalp disease characterized by yellow scabs. Fat sores start with small papules or pustules like millet grains that exude yellow water after rupture to gradually form sulfur-colored platelike scabs transpierced by hairs. Falling of the scabs reveals an eroded wound, which when it finally heals leaves a scar. Fat sores are itchy and have a strange smell similar to that of rat's urine. They are attributed to spleen-stomach damp-heat sweltering the scalp or to contact infection.

Medication: Wash with a decoction of scallions or sophora twigs (Sophorae Ramulus) and remove the scabs. Apply Fat Oil Paste. It may help to pluck the affected area of hair.

fatigue

Synonyms: fatigue and lack of strength.

Tiredness and lack of strength. Fatigue is observed in dual vacuity of qi and blood, spleen vacuity with damp encumbrance, and damage to qi by summerheat-heat.

fatigue and lack of strength

Synonyms: fatigue.

fatigued cumbersome limbs

Limbs that lack in strength and feel unwieldy. A sign of dampness and spleen vacuity.

fatigued limbs and lack of strength

Weakness of the extremities. A sign of spleen vacuity.

fatigued spirit and lack of strength

fatty tumor

Synonyms: mealy tumor.

A tumor (a growth on the outside of the body) that is round, soft, and of varying size. A fatty tumor is found mostly on the head and face or back. It can be ruptured to produce a substance like bean curd dregs. It is treated mainly by external medical methods

favorable measles pattern

The manifestation of measles in patients with abundant right qi and mild evil toxin. A favorable measles pattern is characterized by mild heat~effusion, cough without hasty breathing, and clear spirit qi (i.e., clear head) throughout the whole course of the disease. Heat~effusion runs for three or four days before papules erupt on the head and face, spreading to the chest, back, and limbs. The papules are even and a lustrous red. Apart from possible cough, there should be no other signs. The eruption reaches the full extent of its development in three days, after which it slowly disappears, during which time the heat~effusion and cough abate and the appetite returns.

favorable pattern sign

A normal pattern occurring in a disease that bodes a good outcome. In measles, for example, red papules or speckles that are bright red and evenly distributed and associated with heat~effusion, no complications, clear mind, and gradual return of the appetite constitutes a favorable pattern. Compare unfavorable pattern sign.

fear

One of the five minds (mental and emotional activities); associated with the kidney.

fear

fear causes qi to precipitate

Fear can damage kidney qi, causing urinary incontinence, seminal emission, and efflux diarrhea.

fear of cold

Synonyms: aversion to cold.

fear of wind

Synonyms: aversion to wind.

fearful throbbing

Severe heart palpitations that is not brought on by emotional stimulus. Fearful throbbing is so called because its severity itself causes alarm. See heart palpitations.

febrile disease

Synonyms: heat disease.

fecal block

fecal incontinence

Involuntary loss of stool. Fecal incontinence is attributable to spleen-kidney yang vacuity, qi vacuity fall, or exuberant heat toxin.

fecal qi

Synonyms: flatus.

fecal stoppage

feeble-mindedness

Synonyms: dementia.

feeding accumulation

A disease of the stomach and intestines in infants due to milk damage or food damage. arises when the infant cries urgently for food and begins feeding while still crying or when feeding problems arise in spleen-stomach vacuity. In such cases, other signs include heart vexation, poor sleep, hot breath, the sour smell of milk in the mouth, vomiting of undigested milk, and diarrhea or constipation

Medication: Treat by dispersing milk and harmonizing the stomach for Harmony-Preserving Pill. The tip is treated by dispersing accumulation and abducting stagnation, whereas the root is treated by regulating the stomach and spleen. Harmony-Preserving Pill or Stomach

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP and ST. Select CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and SP-5 (Shang Hill). Apply shallow needling without needling retention; do not use moxa. Add BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), SP-4 (Yellow E

feel the pulse

female malaria

From Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer. Malaria in patients with yang vacuity with the malarial evil lying in the lesser yin channel, characterized by pronounced shivering with little or no heat~effusion, pale white complexion, and regular episodes.

Medication: Outthrust the evil with warm acrid medicinals using Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig, and Dried Ginger Decoction plus dichroa leaf (Dichroae Folium).

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, hand and foot greater yang channels, and KI. Select GV-14 (Great Hammer), SI-3 (Back Ravine), PC-5 (Intermediary Courier), GV-13 (Kiln Path), GB-39 (Severed Bone), KI-3 (Great Ravine), and KI-4 (Large Goblet); needle with drai

femur

The bone of the upper leg. Also called thigh bone.

fen

Synonyms: candareen.

A unit of weight now equal to one hundredth of a liang, now equal to 0.3125~g. A unit of length equal to tenth of a body-inch, or cun.

fetal

Of or related to the fetus or the prenatal period.

fetal emaciation

Synonyms: fetal feebleness.

fetal epilepsy

Epilepsy occurring within a hundred days of birth.

fetal feebleness

Synonyms: fetal emaciation; fetal timidity.

Any condition of qi or blood vacuity from birth, characterized by thin weak skin, lack of hair, physical cold and cold limbs, yellow facial complexion and emaciated flesh, inhibited bending and stretching of the sinews, and limp aching lumbus.

Medication: Supplement qi and blood; enrich the liver and kidney. Use Perfect Major Supplementation Decoction and Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill or their variations.

fetal fright

Fright wind in neonates other than umbilical wind, characterized by episodes of fright reversal, loss of consciousness, convulsions of the extremities, and spasm of the face. Fetal fright was traditionally attributed to poor nutrition or emotional disturbances during pregnancy.

fetal grime

Continued occurrence of menses during pregnancy; apparently has no negative effect on the child.

fetal heat

A pathocondition in neonates resulting from contraction of heat in the uterus, attributed to the mother eating acrid hot foods or to a heat disease that was not properly cleared and resolved, and characterized by open eyes, red face, puffy swelling of the eyelids, continual crying, reddish urine, and thick stool. Loss of eye brightness (visual acuity) with inability to see lights and fires, headache, dizziness, swelling of the cheeks and chin, attributed to liver channel heat toxin attacking upward as a result of excessive consumption of fried food and acrid hot-spicy foods and firy liquor. during pregnancy

Medication: Clear heat and resolve toxin. Use Major Forsythia Beverage or Stomach-Clearing Powder.

fetal heat cinnabar toxin

Synonyms: red wandering wind.

A form of infantile cinnabar toxin characterized by red smooth swollen patches on the head, trunk, and limbs. Fetal heat cinnabar toxin is attributed to deep-lying internal fetal toxin contending with the blood and exacerbated by wind. In some cases, warm clothing and the internal heat of breast milk may encourage the evil. Spreading from the abdomen and the back to the limbs is favorable; moving from the limbs to the abdomen and the back and to the scrotum is unfavorable

Medication: In the initial stages use Cimicifuga and Pueraria Decoction followed by Wind-Expelling Powder. In severe cases, use Major Forsythia Beverage. If the patient has abdominal distention and does not take milk, toxic qi has entered the interior. In such cases,

fetal jaundice

Yellowing of skin in neonates attributed to damp-heat in the mother during pregnancy or to congenital insufficiency of original qi, that in mild cases disappears without treatment.

fetal lichen

Synonyms: suckling lichen.

fetal mounting

Swelling of the scrotum in neonates.

fetal obesity

A condition of fatness at birth. The neonate suffering from fetal obesity is fat at birth and has pinkish eyes. After the first month, he begins to lose weight. Additional signs are vexing heat in the five hearts, difficult defecation, and drooling. Fetal obesity is attributed to stomach heat in the mother.

fetal origin

The fetus. The original qi of the mother used to nourish the fetus. afterbirth.

fetal qi

The essential qi received by the fetus from the mother. The development of the fetus is depending upon fetal qi. If fetal qi is insufficient, the child will suffer from developmental diseases and a weak body. Hence, a child unable to stand and walk at the age of four or five is said to suffer from insufficiency of fetal qi. The ability of the fetus to affect the health of the mother, e.g., upward forcing of fetal qi, and specifically, certain diseases of pregnancy, e.g., puffing of the face during pregnancy, or abdominal pain during pregnancy.

fetal qi forcing upward

Synonyms: upward forcing of fetal qi.

Stirring of the fetus with qi counterflow, usually attributable to qi-blood disharmony stemming from illness or general weakness in the mother.

fetal redness

A condition of neonates characterized by redness of the skin that gives the appearance of having been smeared with cinnabar and attributed to contraction of heat toxin in the uterus. Ulceration of the eyelid in infants; fetal wind.

fetal spotting

Passing of blood via the vagina in pregnancy. Fetal spotting is usually caused by qi-blood vacuity, kidney vacuity, or blood heat causing insecurity of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels and preventing the containment of blood that nourishes the fetus. It may take the form of periodic bleeding in small amounts, or spotting according to the times of the period.

fetal timidity

Synonyms: fetal feebleness.

fetal toxin

Boils, pox, or other sores in infants traditionally attributed to heat toxin in the mother, but understood by Western medicine to be attributable to infection after birth.

fetal water

A condition of abdominal fullness, swelling, and distention associated with panting in the sixth and seventh month of pregnancy.

fetal wind

A condition of neonates characterized by generalized heat~effusion and redness of the skin like that produced by a burn. Fetal wind is attributed to spleen-stomach heat accumulation in the mother due to excessive consumption of acrid hot foods during pregnancy.

fetid water snail

Synonyms: foot qi sore.

fetter

To inhibit the normal action (of a part of the body). Describes the inhibitive effect of evils, especially on the exterior of the body or the lung. See exuberance and debilitation.

fetus

The child in the womb.

fever

Synonyms: heat effusion.

fifteen network vessels

fifth-watch cough

Cough occurring or becoming more severe just before daybreak (4--6 a.m.) A few coughs just before daybreak usually indicate phlegm-fire. Cough before daybreak with copious phlegm usually indicates spleen vacuity. A daytime cough that is worse in the early morning indicates food accumulation in the stomach.

Medication: Treat phlegm-fire patterns with Two Matured Ingredients Decoction plus scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix), platycodon (Platycodonis Radix), and mulberry root bark (Mori Radicis Cortex). Spleen vacuity patterns are treated with Six Gentlemen Decoction plus b

fifth-watch diarrhea

Synonyms: early morning diarrhea.

Described in Prolonging Life and Preserving the Origin. Diarrhea before daybreak. Fifth-watch diarrhea is usually caused by kidney vacuity; hence the term is often considered synonymous with kidney diarrhea. Strictly speaking, however, fifth-watch diarrhea may also be caused by food accumulation, liquor accumulation, and liver fire.

fifty-year-old's shoulder

Synonyms: leaky shoulder wind.

filiform needle

One of the nine needles of ancient China that has been developed into a variety of fine needles of varying length most commonly used in performing acupuncture today. The filiform needle is now generally made from a stainless steel wire that is sharpened at one end and has a thin wire of copper, stainless steel, or silver wrapped around its opposite end as a handle. Stainless steel is chosen for the body of the needle because of its flexibility, strength, and resistance to oxidation. Though silver and gold also resist oxidation, they are expensive, and are relatively soft metals. Thus, they are used only in specific systems of practice when their pliability does not impede treatment. Filiform needles range in size from 15~mm to 150~mm in length and 0.22~mm to 0.30~mm (30 to 34 gauge) in diameter.

fine pulse

Synonyms: small pulse.

A pulse that feels like a well-defined fine thread under the fingers. The fine pulse indicates dual vacuity of qi and blood, or of yin and yang, and in particular points to blood and yin vacuity.

finger standard

From A Thousand Gold Pieces Prescriptions. Finger measurements as a standard for calculating the body-inch. The finger standard includes the middle finger body-inch (the length of the phalange of the middle finger), thumb body-inch (the distance between the two transverse creases), and hand standard (the breath of the hand measured at the middle joints of the fingers). See body-inch.

finger vein examination

Synonyms: infant's finger examination.

finger-press needle insertion

Synonyms: nail-press needle insertion.

Two-handed needle insertion technique involving the application of pressure with a single nail. (1) Press either the thumbnail, or the nail of the index finger of the left hand, onto the skin surface over the point. (2) Holding the handle of the needle with right thumb and forefinger, support the needle tip against the finger nail. (3) Keeping the needle next to the nail, insert it through the skin with a quick, firm downward motion. Application: The single-finger press is used to insert needles 2" or less in length. It is also employed in areas near to a palpable pulse: the pressing finger covers the pulse and the needle is inserted next to it, thus protecting the blood vessel from injury during insertion. This method, though used in China, does not meet Western standards of a clean field because the needle comes into contact with the thumbnail.

fire

Flames and heat from burning matter. One of the five phases; the phase with which summer, south, red, the heart, and joy are associated. In physiology, a transmutation of yang qi explained as a vital force, e.g., sovereign fire, ministerial fire, and lesser fire.One of the six qi; hot weather. See heat. One of the six excesses, which when invading the body, can causes the following signs: (1) Pronounced generalized or local signs of heat, such as high fever, aversion to heat, desire for coolness, flushed complexion, reddening of the eyes, reddish urine, red tongue, yellow fur, rapid pulse, or, in sore patterns, redness, heat, pain, and swelling. (2) Thick, sticky excreta, such as thick snivel (nasal mucus), thick yellow phlegm, sour watery vomitus, murky urine, blood and pus in the stool, acute diarrhea, or foul-smelling stools, often with a burning sensation on discharge. For this reason Elementary Questions states, ``Turbid water is associated with heat,'' and ``all sour retching and vomiting, fulminant downpour, and lower body distress are ascribed to heat.'' (3) Damage to the fluids characterized by a dry tongue with little liquid, thirst with desire for cold fluids, and dry hard stool. (4) Bleeding, and maculopapular eruptions that occur when the fire evil scorches the blood and causes frenetic blood movement. (5) Disturbances of the spirit and vision as Elementary Questions states, ``All heat with visual distortion is ascribed to fire,'' and ``excessive agitation and mania are associated with fire.'' A pathological state that is either caused by fire as one of the six excesses, and classified as heat among the eight principles, or any similar pathological state arising from the transformation of other evils, from the transformation of yang qi, or from yin vacuity. The transformation of yang qi due to affect damage (emotional disturbance) or the transformation of exterior evils as they enter the interior causes repletion fire. This condition is characterized by high fever, headache, red eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth, thirst with desire for cold drinks, vexation and agitation, rib-side pain, abdominal pain that refuses pressure, constipation, red tongue with dry yellow fur and sometimes prickles, and a rapid replete pulse. In severe cases, there is blood ejection or spontaneous external bleeding, or maculopapular eruptions. The most common repletion fire patterns are gastrointestinal repletion fire or liver-gallbladder repletion fire. Depletion of yin humor and yin-yang imbalance in the organs causes vacuity fire, which is characterized by mild heat signs, tidal reddening of the face, vexing heat in the five hearts, steaming bone taxation heat~effusion, vexation and insomnia, night sweating, short voidings of reddish urine, dry mouth and throat, red tongue with scant fur, or a bare red tongue without fur, and a forceless rapid fine pulse. Compare heat.

fire and water aid each other

Heart fire and kidney water balance each other. In the doctrine of the five phases, the heart belongs to fire and the kidney belongs to water, and each restrains the other. Compare fire and water failing to aid each other.

fire and water failing to aid each other

A failure in the relationship between heart fire and kidney water arising either when kidney water is insufficient and fails to complement heart fire or heart fire moves frenetically and damages kidney yin. Signs such as vexation, insomnia, and seminal emission are observed. See fire and water aid each other. Compare noninteraction of the heart and kidney; depleted water and effulgent fire.

fire and water processing

Fire and water treatment involves treatment with both fire and water, sometimes with the use of adjuvants. The main forms are: steaming; boiling; double-boiling; distillation; scalding. See processing of medicinals.

fire by nature flames upward

Fire is characterized by rising flames, and diseases in the body attributed to fire are associated with upper body heat signs. Distinction is made between repletion and vacuity fire. Repletion fire includes fire heat damaging the lung, which causes panting and cough, coughing of blood, and nosebleed, and fire distressing the heart spirit, which manifests as headache, vomiting, clouded spirit, and delirious raving. Vacuity fire, which is yang hyperactivity due to yin vacuity stemming from depletion of essence blood, manifests as vexation and agitation, sore throat, hoarse voice, bleeding gums, and tinnitus. Most of these signs reflect the upward flaming nature of fire.

fire cinnabar

Synonyms: cinnabar toxin.

fire cinnabar leg

Synonyms: fire flow; lower limb fire flow.

Cinnabar toxin affecting the legs. See cinnabar toxin.

fire cough

Cough due to fire evil damaging the lung. Fire cough is characterized by cough with scant phlegm that may be streaked with blood, vexation thirst, red facial complexion, chest and rib-side pain, and constipation. Distinction is made between repletion and vacuity.

fire cup

A cup-like instrument used in fire cupping. See cupping.

fire cupping

fire depression

fire depression cough

Synonyms: taxation cough.

Cough due to fire depression. Zhu Dan-Xi considered taxation cough to be caused by fire depression. In Dan Xi's Experiential Methods he states, ``Taxation cough is fire depression cough. Use chebule (Chebulae Fructus) to treat lung qi. Fire causing extreme damage and becoming depressed causes distention, fullness, and sleeplessness. Chebule's sour bitter flavor promotes contraction and downbears fire. It is assisted by pumice (Pumex) soaked in child's urine (Infantis Urina), cyperus (Cyperi Rhizoma), trichosanthes (Trichosanthis Fructus), indigo (Indigo Pulverata Levis), apricot kernel (Armeniacae Semen), and pinellia leaven (Pinelliae Massa Fermentata); blend with fresh ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and honey (Mel) [to make pills, which are] sucked in the mouth.''

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, KI, PC, and LR. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), KI-6 (Shining Sea), PC-6 (Inner Pass), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection); needle with drainage and prick LU-11 (Lesser Shang) and PC-8 (P

fire depression panting

Panting attributable to fire depression obstructing the lung and preventing the diffusion of lung qi. Fire depression panting is characterized by hasty rapid panting, oppressed and confused spirit-affect, reversal cold of the limbs, and a sunken hidden pulse.

Medication: Diffuse depressed heat. Use Free Wanderer Powder combined with Left-Running Metal Pill.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU and LR. Select Panting Stabilizer, LU-7 (Broken Sequence), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), CV-17 (Chest Center), PC-6 (Inner Pass), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-18 (Liver Transport), and GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring)

fire diarrhea

Synonyms: heat diarrhea.

fire eye

Synonyms: wind-fire eye.

fire failing to engender earth

Kidney yang failing to warm the spleen. Earth represents the spleen, whereas fire represents kidney yang (not the heart). In kidney yang vacuity (insufficiency of the life gate fire), the spleen is deprived of warmth and its ability to transform food water-damp is affected. Hence, there are signs of spleen-kidney yang vacuity such as such as cold limp lumbus and knees, nontransformation of food, inhibited urination, swelling, and fifth-watch diarrhea. See spleen-kidney yang vacuity.

fire fall

Transmission of the heat toxin from flat-abscess of the head to construction-blood. In its exuberant heat toxin stage, a flat-abscess of the head becomes dark purple in color, pus ceases to flow from the open head, and the opening becomes dry. The base of the flat-abscess becomes broad and diffuse. At this stage, the heat toxin enters the construction blood, causing vigorous heat~effusion, thirst, heart vexation, agitation, delirious speech, constipation, reddish urine, a crimson tongue, and a rapid pulse.

Medication: Clear construction, cool the blood, and resolve toxin. Use Construction-Clearing Decoction, Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction, or Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction. If necessary, Peaceful Palace Bovine Bezoar Pill or Purple Snow Elixir may also be us

fire flow

Synonyms: fire cinnabar leg. Cinnabar toxin

affecting the legs.

fire formation

fire gan

A red granule, like a pomegranate seed in shape, bulging forward from deep within the white of the eye, and growing gradually larger. Fire gan is associated with redness, pain, tearing, aversion to light, and unclear vision. In some cases, it can affect the pupil, leading to loss of sight. In the latter stages, pain and redness abate to leave purple-blue or blue-gray patches.

Medication: Clear heat and resolve toxin; clear the blood and dissipate binds. Use formulas such as Heart-Washing Powder. Formulas containing biles may be applied topically.

fire headache

Synonyms: fire heat headache.

Headache characterized by throbbing or distending pain reaching into the tooth bed (the jaw) or from in front of the ear to within the ear, and attended by heat vexation, thirst, constipation, and a large surging pulse. Fire headache is attributed to yang brightness fire surging upward.

Medication: Clear heat and drain fire, using White Tiger Decoction or Jade Lady Brew.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST and LI. Select ST-8 (Head Corner), ST-44 (Inner Court), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LI-4 (Union Valley), and KI-6 (Shining Sea); needle with drainage.

fire heart pain

Synonyms: heat heart pain.

fire heat

Heat produced by fire.

fire heat headache

Synonyms: fire headache.

fire needle

A needle 3--4" long with a pointed tip and a handle made of horn, bamboo, or wood. Fire needle is used in fire needling.

fire needling

A method of acupuncture involving the swift pricking of the skin with a red hot needle. Fire needling is used in the treatment of welling-abscess , scrofula, stubborn lichen , and impediment pain. This method corresponds to red-hot needling among the nine needling methods.

fire panting

Synonyms: lung-stomach flaming fire panting.

Panting due to lung-stomach flaming fire arising when repletion fire in the stomach surges up into the lung, and characterized by periodic panting that is relieved by eating, and resumes after eating.

Medication: Clear fire and flush phlegm using White Tiger Decoction or Phlegm-Abducting Decoction.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, ST, LI, and CV. Select LU-1 (Central Treasury), BL-13 (Lung Transport), Panting Stabilizer, LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), ST-44 (Inner Court), LI-4 (Union Valley), and ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge); needle with drainag

fire phlegm

Heat phlegm. Externally contracted dryness phlegm. A pattern of phlegm lodged in the stomach duct with clamoring stomach, rising phlegm, vomiting and retching, swallowing of upflowing acid, and baking heat in the head and face.

fire processing

Processing medicinals by the application of heat. Fire processing methods involve either direct or indirect contact of the materials with a heat source, sometimes with adjuvants. Care is required in controlling time and temperature, and the quantity of any additive used; excessively high temperatures can cause undesirable changes in a medicinal's characteristics. The most common forms of fire processing are the various forms of stir-frying and mix-frying. Less commonly used methods are roasting and stone-baking.

fire rampart

fire stroke

A condition similar to wind stroke, characterized by sudden clouding collapse (clouding of consciousness and collapse), loss of consciousness, inability to speak, deviated eyes and mouth, red facial complexion, vexation and agitation, and constipation. Fire stroke is usually attributed to fulminant heart fire harassing the heart spirit, or less commonly to kidney yin vacuity with vacuity fire flaming upward.

Medication: For fulminant heart fire harassing the heart spirit, clear the heart and drain fire; free the orifices and quiet the spirit. Use formulas such as Bovine Bezoar Heart-Clearing Pill or Diaphragm-Cooling Powder. For kidney yin vacuity with vacuity fire flam

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, LI, hand and foot reverting yin PC/LR, and HT. Main points: GV-26 (Water Trough), GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), PC-9 (Central Hub), LI-4 (Union Valley), LR-2 (Moving Between), PC-6 (Inner Pass), KI-1 (Gushing Spring), and GB-3

fire supplementation and fire drainage

fire wind damage

A condition characterized by dry cough without phlegm, dry mouth, sore pharynx and a dry red tongue.

Medication: Clear and dissipate wind-fire using formulas such as Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Beverage and Licorice and Platycodon Decoction.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, GB, and LI. Select GB-20 (Wind Pool), TB-5 (Outer Pass), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), LI-4 (Union Valley), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), and GV-14 (Great Hammer); needle with drainage, and prick LU-11 (Lesser Shang) to bleed.

fire-girdle sore

Synonyms: girdling fire cinnabar.

firm pulse

Synonyms: confined pulse .

A forceful sunken pulse that feels ``tied to the bone''; hence its name. It is associated with cold pain. In clinical practice, the name firm pulse is rarely used. Instead it is called a stringlike sunken pulse or a sunken full pulse.

first yang channel

Lesser yang .

first yin channel

Reverting yin .

fish

The fleshy part of the hand below the base of the thumb, so named because it resembles a fish's belly.

fish mouth

A bubo sore that has burst and fails to heal. A bubo sore on the left side of the body, as distinct a from bian toxin sore, which is one on the right.

fish network vessels

The network vessels of the fish's margin. Congestion of blood in the fish network vessels is an indication of yang brightness disease. The Magic Pivot states, ``Fish network flushed with blood indicate yang brightness disease.'' The Magic Pivot states, ``Green-blue blood vessels on the white flesh of the fish means cold in the stomach.''

fish's margin

The boundary between the red (tanned) and white flesh on the fish (thenar eminence).

fishy smell

The smell characteristic of fish or blood.

fissured tongue

A tongue bearing deep longitudinal furrows or creases. The fissures vary in depth and position. Occurring in conjunction with a dry tongue, they indicate fluid vacuity. They may also occur in exuberant heat patterns, in conjunction with a crimson tongue.

fistula

five accumulations

Substantial lumps in the chest or abdomen, each associated with one viscus. See deep-lying beam; fat qi; glomus qi; rushing respiration; running piglet.

five aversions

Synonyms: aversions of the five viscera.

five colors

Green-blue, red, yellow, white, and black, associated in in the doctrine of the five phases with the liver, heart, spleen, lung, and kidney respectively. See disease correspondences of the five colors.

five dynasties

Name of a dynastic period ( 907--960)

five entries

Synonyms: five flavor entries.

five evils

The Classic of Difficult Issues states, ``There is wind stroke, summerheat damage, food, drink and taxation fatigue, cold damage, and dampness damage. These are called the five evils.'' Vacuity evil, repletion evil, bandit evil, mild evil, regular evil. The Classic of Difficult Issues states, ``That coming from behind is vacuity evil; that coming from ahead is repletion evil; that coming from the restraining phase is bandit evil; that coming from the restrained phase is mild evil; that causing disease of self is regular evil.'' Behind refers to the mother organ, ahead is the child organ, and self is the affected organ itself. In Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer, wind, cold, dampness, fog, and food damage are referred to as the five evils.

five flavors

Acridity, sourness, sweetness, bitterness, and saltiness. Medicinals or foodstuffs of different flavors have different actions. Acridity can dissipate and move; sourness can contract and astringe; sweetness can supplement and relax (i.e., relieve pain and tension); bitterness can drain and dry; saltiness can soften hardness and induce moist precipitation. These actions are explained by modern pharmacy as follows: Acrid medicinals contain volatile oils; sour medicinals contain organic acids; sweet medicinals contain sugars; bitter medicinals contain biological alkalis, glycosides, or bitter substances. In addition to the five flavors, there is a sixth, blandness, which has a water-disinhibiting action. According to Elementary Questions, the flavors can be classified as yin and yang: ``Acrid and sweet effusing (i.e., diaphoretic) and dissipating medicinals are yang; sour and bitter upwelling (i.e., emetic) and discharging (i.e., draining) medicinals are yin; salty upwelling and discharging medicinals are yin; bland percolating and discharging medicinals are yang.'' According to The Comprehensive Herbal Foundation, there is a relationship between flavor and bearing: ``no sour or salty medicinals bear upward; no sweet or acrid ones bear downward. No cold medicinals float; no hot ones sink.''

five gan

Any of the gan patterns associated with disease of one of the five viscera. See gan of the heart; gan of the liver; gan of the spleen; gan of the lung; gan of the kidney.

five governings

five hearts

The soles of the feet, the palms of the hand, and the center of the chest.

five humors

Sweat, snivel (nasal mucus), tears, drool, and spittle. See five viscera form humors.

five impediments

From Elementary Questions. Sinew, vessel, flesh, skin, and bone impediment. From Central Treasury Canon. Sinew, bone, blood, flesh, and qi impediment . From Central Treasury Canon. Wind, cold, dampness, heat, and qi impediment . Five Impediments Elementary Questions sinew impediment vessel impediment flesh impediment skin impediment bone impediment Central Treasury Canon sinew impediment bone impediment blood impediment flesh impediment qi impediment Central Treasury Canon wind impediment cold impediment damp impediment heat impediment qi impediment

five limpnesses

Five signs of poor development in infants. Softness of the head, limpness of the neck, limpness of the hands and feet, limpness of the flesh, and limpness of the mouth. Compare five slownesses; fetal feebleness.

five minds

Joy, anger, anxiety, thought, fear. These are five basic forms of mental and emotional activity, which in excess can cause disease. See mind; excess among the five minds; internal damage by the seven affects.

five minds forming fire

Excess of one or more of the five minds (joy, anger, anxiety, thought, and fear) causing fire signs such as vexation and agitation, irascibility, dizziness, insomnia, bitter taste in the mouth, rib-side pain, panting and cough, and blood ejection. In modern medicine, lasting mental or emotional activity causes nervous excitement or depression, which affects normal functions of the body. In Chinese medicine, the five minds or seven affects are seen to cause disturbances of qi and depletion of the true yin of the bowels and viscera, causing heat signs.

five movements and six qi

five odors

Animal odor, burnt odor, fragrant odor, fishy odor, and putrid odor.

five offices

The nose, eyes, lips, tongue, and ears. The Magic Pivot states, ``The nose is the office of the lung, the eyes are the office of the liver, the lips are the office of the spleen, the tongue is the office of the heart, and the ears are the office of the lung.'' Five diagnostic correspondences of colors and positions to disease. The liver governs green-blue; the heart, red; the spleen, yellow; the lung, white; the kidney, black. Disease of the liver is characterized by green-blue eyes; disease of the spleen is characterized by yellowing of the lips; disease of the heart is characterized by a short curled tongue and reddening of the checks; disease of the lung is characterized by flaring nostrils; kidney disease is characterized by blackening of the eye sockets, or black coloration of the cheeks, forehead, and face. The Magic Pivot also states, ``Green-blue or black is pain; yellow or red is heat; white is cold. These are the five offices.''

five periods and six qi

Synonyms: five movements and six qi. See doctrine of periods and qi.

five phases

Wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The five phases, like yin and yang, are categories of quality and relationship. The ancient Chinese saw phenomena within the universe as the products of the movement and mutation of five entities: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. These represent qualities that relate to each other in specific ways. Other groups of five phenomena that have like qualities and relate to each other in analogous ways are said to belong to the five phases. See Tables and . ``Wood is the bending and the straightening.'' It grows upward and spreads outward; it has the characteristics of growth, upward effusion, orderly reaching, and uninhibitedness. It is associated with spring, the time of growth at the beginning of the cycle of the seasons, and with the east, the position at which the sun rises to herald the new day. It is associated with the green of new leaves and the sour taste of unripe fruit. ``Fire is the flaming upward,'' having the quality of heat and upward motion. It is associated with summer, when the heat of the sun reaches its peak, and with the south, the position toward which (in the northern hemisphere) the sun moves as it approaches the time when it gives off its greatest heat. It is related to the red and to bitterness. ``Earth is the sowing and reaping,'' representing the planting and harvesting of crops and the bringing forth of phenomena. It is associated with the long summer, the season in which the momentum of summer heat ripens the crops. Long summer is the intermediate season between summer and fall, and is related to the central position. Earth is yellow in color (the Chinese word includes brown) and is associated with the sweetness of ripened fruit. ``Metal is the working of change,'' having the qualities of purification, elimination, and reform. Metal implements help man cut grain and slaughter animals, thereby working the changes that ensure his survival. This notion is akin to that of autumn, the season when the first frosts kill life and purify nature. Metal is also associated with West, the position at which the sun sets, and with the white color of frost and with the purifying action of acrid-smelling things. ``Water is the moistening and descending to low places,'' having the qualities of moistening, downward movement, and coldness. Water is associated with winter, the season in which nature preserves itself until the spring, and with the north, where the sun hides in the daily cycle. It is also associated with the blackness of night and with saltiness, the taste of sea water. In medicine, the five viscera are each associated with one of the five phases: Liver-wood: The liver controls the movement of qi around the body; it spreads qi just as the trees spread their branches. Hence The Inner Canon says that the liver ``thrives by orderly reaching.'' Also, just as trees and other plants sprout upward in spring, so liver yang tends to stir upward. Heart-fire: The heart has the function of propelling qi and blood to warm and nourish the whole body. It is like a fire that drives the body just as the firy heat of summer makes nature flourish. Spleen-earth: The spleen is ascribed the function of assimilating nutrients from ingested foods, expressed in traditional terms as ``moving and transforming the essence of grain and water'' (i.e., food). It is the source of qi and blood that nourish and drive the body, just as earth brings forth the crops in long summer. Lung-metal: The lung draws in fresh air, and is ascribed the function of working change on the fluids by turning them into red blood. It is also given the function of controlling the downward movement of fluids to the kidney and bladder, so that it is responsible for the purifying removal of waste fluids. Thus, the lung has qualities that correspond to the purifying frost of autumn. Kidney-water: The kidney is the low place to which the fluids of the body flow. In addition to this, the kidney stores essence, just as nature preserves itself in winter dormancy. The phenomena associated with each of the five phases not only bear qualitative similarities to each other, but also relate to other phenomena associated with the same phase in like fashion. Just as water engenders wood, so winter gives way to spring, and the kidney nourishes the liver. More about five-phase relationships under engendering, restraining, rebellion, and overwhelming.

five pillar points

Five points: CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), CV-14 (Great Tower Gate), CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), and bilateral ST-21 (Beam Gate), (CV-12 is two body-inches from each of the other points), which are poled to treat spleen vacuity diarrhea and cold-damp diarrhea.

five proprieties

The dietary requirements of the five viscera.

five slownesses

Five forms of retardation in the development of infants: slowness to stand; slowness to walk; slowness to grow hair; slowness to teethe; slowness to speak. Compare five limpnesses.

five stranguries

Stone, qi, unctuous, taxation, and blood strangury. The general features of strangury are urinary frequency and urgency and difficult voiding, as well as dribbling incontinence. Stone strangury, unctuous strangury, and blood strangury, which are characterized respectively by calculus, milky urine, and bloody urine, are mostly caused by damp-heat in the lower burner. Qi strangury takes two forms: if characterized by distention and pain in the lower abdomen stretching into the scrotum, inhibited urination and pain after urination, it is the result of bladder qi stagnation; if characterized by pain and distention in the lower abdomen and dribble after urination, it is the result of spleen-kidney qi vacuity. Taxation strangury is strangury brought on by overexertion and is characterized by dull pain in the urethra after voiding and by fatigued limbs. Often developing from other forms of strangury, it is a manifestation of spleen qi and/or kidney yang vacuity.

five taxations

Elementary Questions. Damage by the five taxations: 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. Visceral taxation damage, i.e., lung taxation, liver taxation, heart taxation, spleen taxation, and kidney taxation.

five taxations and seven damages

five transport points

Any of a series of five points below the elbows or knees on each of the twelve channels. The five points are the well, brook (spring), stream, channel (river), and uniting points, which each have five-phase correspondences that differ from the yang to the yin channels. On the lung channel, for example, LU-11 (Lesser Shang) is the well point corresponding to wood; LU-10 (Fish Border) is the brook point corresponding to fire; LU-9 (Great Abyss) is the stream point corresponding to earth; LU-8 (Channel Ditch) is the channel point corresponding to metal. The points of the other channels are presented in Table . The names well, brook, stream, channel, and uniting reflect the nature of the flow of qi at each of these points. The ancient Chinese likened the flow of qi in the channels to the flow of water from its source in the mountains to its home in the sea. At the well points, which are located at the ends of the digits, the qi is shallow and meek. At the brook points, on the hands and feet, the qi has a gushing quality. At the channel points in the area of the wrist and ankle, the qi is described as being like water pouring downward from a shallow place to a deeper one. At the river points on the forearm and lower leg, the qi has developed into a powerful flow. At the uniting points at the knees and elbows, the qi goes deep into the body to unite with its home organ, just as a river flows into the sea. These names are only intended to describe the nature of the qi at each of the five points; they are not intended to indicate the direction of the flow of qi. On the yang channels of the foot and the yin channels of the arm, the image of the five transport points suggests that qi is moving counter to its actual direction.

five unmanlinesses

Five forms of male sterility: ``heaven'' (congenital eunuchism); ``leak'' (seminal discharge); ``gelding'' (castration); ``timidity'' (impotence); and ``freakishness'' (hermaphroditism).

five unwomanlinesses

Five forms of female infertility: ``snail'' (deformity of vagina); constricted vagina; ``drum'' (imperforate hymen); ``horn'' (excessively developed clitoris); ``vessel'' (infertility due to lifelong absence of menses or to menstrual irregularity, or flooding and vaginal discharge).

five viscera

The heart, lung, spleen, liver, and kidney. Each viscus has a five-phase ascription by which they are sometimes referred: heart-fire, lung-metal, spleen-earth, liver-wood, and kidney-water. See bowels and viscera.

five viscera and six bowels cough

From Elementary Questions. Cough associated with disease in the various organs ( heart cough, spleen cough, etc.). Although cough is essentially associated with disease of the lung, other organs may be involved. Other organs can affect the lung, and enduring cough can affect the function of other organs. Thus, heart cough means cough due to disease not only in the heart but also in the lung.

five viscera form humors

The heart, lung, liver, spleen and kidney are each related to the production of sweat, snivel, tears, drool, and spittle, respectively. Elementary Questions states, ``The five viscera form the humors; the heart forms sweat, the lung forms snivel, the liver forms tears, the spleen forms drool, and the kidney forms spittle.'' Zhang Zhi-Cong commented on this saying, ``The five viscera receive the liquid of grain and water, which pour out to the external orifices to form the five humors.''

five voices

The five qualities of the voice, each having a five-phase ascription: shouting (liver-wood), laughing (heart-fire), singing (spleen-earth), wailing (lung-metal), and groaning (kidney-water). These are each associated with a viscus through the five phases.

five waters

From Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer. Water swelling manifesting in different ways depending on which viscus it affects.

five wheels

The flesh wheel, blood wheel, qi wheel, wind wheel, and water wheel. The

five-flavor entries

Synonyms: five entries.

The viscera entered, i.e., acted upon, by sour, bitter, sweet, acrid, and salty agents. Elementary Questions states, ``The five-flavor entries are: sourness enters the liver; bitterness enters the heart; sweetness enters the spleen; acridity enters the lung; saltiness enters the kidney.'' Thus, for example, sour medicinals may be used to treat, or conduct the action of other medicinals to treat, disease of the liver or of liver channel.

fixed impediment

Impediment due to a prevalence of dampness, and characterized by a feeling of heaviness that keeps the patient ``fixed'' to the spot, i.e., hampers movement. See damp impediment.

flailing of the arms and legs

Wild uncontrollable movement of the limbs. A sign of severe agitation.

flaking

A method of processing thin flakes that are planed off from hard medicinals such as rhinoceros horn (Rhinocerotis Cornu) and antelope horn (Antelopis Cornu) with a ``flaking knife.''

flame upward

An attribute of fire that it flames upward. Disease patterns such as liver fire flaming upward are characterized by severe headache, red complexion, reddening of the eyes, and dry mouth. See heat.

flare-tip abscess

Synonyms: tip-abscess.

flaring nostrils

Dilatation of the nostrils on inhalation; a sign associated with rapid breathing due to lung heat.

flash-cupping

A method of cupping whereby the cup is swiftly removed after application and repeatedly reapplied until the required degree of reddening or static blood appears. This method is used for local pain or numbness or for impaired functions. See cupping.

flat-abscess

Synonyms: ju .

headless flat-abscess. A deep malign suppuration in the flesh, sinew, and even the bone, attributed to toxic evil obstructing qi and the blood. : headed flat-abscess. Prior to the Song Dynasty, the term ju1 meant only headless flat-abscess. From Song Dynasty, it came to be used to denote certain superficial sores. For this reason, the terms headed flat-abscess and headless flat-abscess became current to distinguish the two.

flat-abscess of the brain

flatus

Synonyms: fecal qi.

Qi (i.e., gas) discharged through the anus. See passing of flatus.

flavor

flesh

The soft parts of the body other than the viscera and skin. The soft parts of the body other than viscera, including the skin. For example, parts of the body such as the back of the hands and arms that easily tan are called the red flesh in contradistinction to the inner surface, which is called the white flesh.

flesh divide

Any furrow or grain of the flesh. The major divides are the partings between major masses of flesh (muscles), while the minor divides are partings between smaller masses of flesh.

flesh goiter

A disease manifesting in single or multiple swellings of the neck below the skin that have the appearance of upturned cups, soft and spongy to the touch, that never rupture, and that may be associated with sweating, oppression in the chest and heart palpitations. Flesh goiter is attributed to binding depression damaging the spleen preventing the normal movement of spleen qi.

Medication: Treat by opening depression and transforming phlegm, assisted by softening hardness. Use Sargassum Jade Flask Decoction as oral medication, and apply Harmonious Yang Decongealing Plaster mixed with Cinnamon Twig and Musk Powder.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, GB, TB, and ST. Select TB-13 (Upper Arm Convergence), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), TB-6 (Branch Ditch), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge), CV-22 (Celestial Chimney), SI-17 (Celestial Countenan

flesh impediment

An impediment pattern characterized by pain in the flesh that may be accompanied by sweating, limp wilting limbs, numbness of the skin, and clouded essence-spirit. Flesh impediment is usually attributed to damage by cold-damp, but distinction is made between repletion and vacuity patterns.

Medication: Repletion patterns are treated with Five Impediments Decoction and vacuity patterns are treated with Wondrous Effect Astragalus Decoction.

Acupuncture: For repletion patterns, base treatment mainly on CV, ST, SP, and GV. Select BL-23 (Kidney Transport), GV-4 (Life Gate), CV-4 (Pass Head), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and SP-5 (Shang Hill); needle with drainage and large amounts of moxa.

flesh tumor

A swelling on the surface of the body that is initially the size of a peach and gradually grows to the size of a fist, has a broad root, is firm but supple, and is associated with no change in skin color or signs of heat or cold. A flesh tumor is attributed to binding depression of spleen qi stemming from damage to the spleen by thought and anxiety.

Medication: Fortify the spleen and boost qi; open depression and transform phlegm. Use variations of Spleen-Returning Decoction.

flesh wheel

One of the five wheels; the eyelid. The flesh wheel is related to the spleen, and diseases affecting it are mostly attributed to disease of the spleen and stomach.

flesh wilting

Synonyms: spleen wilting.

Wilting attributed to spleen qi heat depriving the flesh of nutrition or to dampness damaging the spleen and affecting the flesh, and characterized by numbness of the flesh and, in severe cases, inability to move the limbs.

Medication: Clear heat and disinhibit dampness; fortify the spleen and harmonize the stomach. Use variations of Gardenia and Coptis Two Matured Ingredients Decoction.

Acupuncture: Base treatment on back transport points, CV, ST, and SP. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), PC-6 (Inner Pass), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and KI-7 (Recover Flow). Needle with e

fleshy exterior

The exterior of the body comprised of the skin and flesh and the face, neck, back, abdomen, and limbs.

fleshy protuberance before the ear

Synonyms: ear gate; shelter; pearl of the ear.

The tongue-like projection in front of the ear.

flicking stone pulse

floating

Location in or tendency to move or carry toward the upper or outer body. The word floating occurs in the terms: floating heat~effusion; floating heat; floating pulse; floating-red facial complexion; vacuous yang floating upward; upfloater. See also floating and sunken complexions under ten-principle inspection of the complexion.

floating heat

Exterior heat at the onset of externally contracted heat (febrile) disease. Compare floating heat~effusion.

floating heat~effusion

Heat felt at the surface of the body on initial palpation but quickly felt no longer. A floating heat~effusion is a false heat sign observed in exuberant yin repelling yang. Compare floating heat.

floating pulse

The floating pulse is pronounced at the superficial level but vacuous at the deep level. Described as being ``like wood floating on water,'' it is felt as soon as the fingers touch the skin, but it becomes markedly less perceptible when further pressure is applied, as a piece of floating wood escapes from the finger when pressed down in water. Although classically associated with exterior patterns, the floating pulse may be indistinct in patients of heavy build, with weak constitutions, or those suffering from severe water swelling, even when an exterior pattern is present. A floating pulse may also occur in enduring illnesses or after a major loss of blood, indicating a critical insufficiency of right qi rather than an exterior pattern. In these cases, it differs slightly from the floating pulse occurring in externally contracted disease. Being slightly less pronounced at the superficial level, and markedly less pronounced at the deep level, it is sometimes referred to as a vacuous floating pulse. A large floating pulse without foundation is known as a scattered pulse, which is large at the superficial level, but because of its lack of force, 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 organs. It is usually attended by other critical signs. A floating pulse that is empty in the middle is known as a scallion-stalk pulse, which is mostly seen in patients suffering from heavy blood loss.

floating-red facial complexion

Tidal reddening of the face marked by pale red patches like dabs of rouge that constantly change location; observed in upcast yang patterns.

flood

Describes the behavior of excess fluid in the body, as in the term ``kidney vacuity water flood,'' which denotes water swelling caused by kidney vacuity. See exuberance and debilitation.

flooding

flooding and spotting

Any abnormal discharge of blood via the vagina. Flooding is heavy menstrual flow or abnormal bleeding via the vagina (uterine bleeding); spotting, lit. ``leaking'' in Chinese, is a slight, often continual discharge of blood via the vagina. If the flow is deep red and clotted, it is usually a sign of heat. Since each may give way to the other, they are commonly referred to together. Flooding and spotting usually occur in puberty or at menopause. It is attributed to insecurity of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels, which may stem from a variety of causes.

flooding with abdominal pain

Flooding and spotting (abnormal discharge of blood via the vagina) with abdominal pain is attributed either to

Medication: If due to blood stasis, the abdominal pain refuses pressure and is relieved by the passing of clots. Move stasis and relieve pain with formulas such as Sudden Smile Powder. If due to blood vacuity, it is characterized by abdominal pain that likes warmth a

Acupuncture: For blood stasis, base treatment mainly on CV, SP, ST, and LR. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qi), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-1 (Hidden White), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), SP-8 (Earth's Crux), ST-30 (Qi Thoroughfare), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and

flooding with clouding vision

Abnormal discharge of blood from the uterus attended by clouding of vision. Excessive blood loss through flooding and spotting causing the heart and liver to be deprived of nourishment and thereby causing clouding of vision and, in severe cases, sudden collapse and unconsciousness.

Medication: Supplement the blood and stanch bleeding. Use Root-Securing Flood-Stanching Decoction.

Acupuncture: To supplement the blood and stanch bleeding, base treatment mainly on GV, CV, and SP. Select GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), CV-4 (Pass Head), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), BL-20 (Spleen Transpo

flowery vision

A general term embracing various kinds of visual disturbances such as blurring, distortion, floaters, nearsightedness, etc. See clouded vision.

flowing phlegm

A chronic destructive condition of the joints characterized by the formation of pus that can ``flow,'' or spread, to other parts, and that after rupture discharges like thin phlegm. Flowing phlegm is nowadays considered to be a form of headless flat-abscess. It is most commonly observed in children and adolescents often found to have a history of consumption (pulmonary tuberculosis), and affects most commonly the hip bone or spine and less commonly the knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, or wrist. Flowing phlegm is named differently according to location. Flowing phlegm of the spine is called tortoise's-back phlegm, whereas that of the hip is called Jumping Round phlegm after GB-30 (Jumping Round). It arises in patients suffering from insufficiency of the congenital constitution or from kidney yin depletion in enduring illness, when external evils exploit a vacuity and enter the body and cause phlegm turbidity to gather and congeal. It may be brought on by disharmony of qi and blood stemming from knocks and falls. The condition begins with slight local swelling associated with distention but without redness, heat, or marked pain. The swelling gradually spreads, becomes painful, and suppurates, and the surrounding flesh becomes atrophied. In an advanced stage, effulgent yin depletion fire may cause postmeridian heat~effusion, night sweating, encumbered body and lack of strength, and reduced food intake. Following rupture, clear thin pus is discharged, the flesh is purple, the mouth of the sore is depressed, does not close easily, and the cavity is like a tunnel. In the initial stage, it is treated by supplementing the liver and kidney, warming the channels and transforming phlegm using formulas like Harmonious Yang Decoction. In the middle stage, treatment aims to support right and expel toxin. In the advanced stage after suppuration and rupture, emphasis is placed on supporting right to help the sore to close. Patients with signs of dual depletion of qi and blood can be given Ginseng Construction-Nourishing Decoction, whereas those with signs of effulgent yin depletion can be given Major Yin Supplementation Pill. If there is tunneling, Thousand Gold Pieces Powder can be applied topically.

flowing rheum

phlegm-rheum in the narrow sense. Phlegm-rheum that flows from place to place, having no fixed location.

Medication: Use Three Flowers Spirit Protection Pill.

fluctuating generalized heat~effusion

A generalized heat~effusion characterized by alternating periods of abatement and of increase; observed for example in damp-heat lodged in the qi aspect.

fluid collapse

A severe form of damage to fluids.

fluids

All the fluids of the human body, comprising liquid, thinner fluids, and humor, thicker turbid ones. The term ``fluids'' embraces all the normal fluid substances of the human body. The term refers to fluids actually flowing within the human body and to sweat, saliva, stomach juices, urine, and other fluids secreted by or discharged from the body. The main functions of fluids are to keep the bowels and viscera, the flesh, the skin, the hair, and the orifices adequately moistened, to lubricate the joints, and to nourish the brain, marrow, and bones. Though referring to a single entity, ``fluids'' is often differentiated into two basic forms, liquid and humor, to highlight specific characteristics. Liquid refers to fluid that is relatively thin, mobile, and yang in quality, whereas humor denotes thicker, less mobile yin fluid. Liquid is mostly found in the surface of the flesh and in the mucous membranes, moisturizing the flesh, skin, and hair and keeping the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and other orifices moistened. Sweat and urine are both produced from these fluids. Humor is located primarily in the bowels and viscera, the brain, and the bones and is responsible for lubricating the joints and also partially responsible for moistening the skin. Despite the distinction, liquid and humor form a single entity and are mutually convertible. This distinction is most often made in pathology as in cases of damage to liquid or humor desertion. The term ``yin humor'' is sometimes used synonymously with humor, emphasizing its yin nature (thick, heavy, and relatively immobile). It may also loosely denote all the nutritious fluids of the body and, as such, is used in contradistinction to yang qi. The formation, distribution, and discharge of fluids involve complex processes in which the lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, bladder, and other organs play major roles. Elementary Questions gives the following description: ``Drink ( yin3, imbibed fluid) enters the stomach, where it is churned and its essential qi is strained off. This is then carried to the spleen and further distributed by spleen qi. It passes up to the lung which ensures regular flow through the waterways down to the bladder. In this way, water essence is distributed to the four parts, by passing through the five channels.'' Fluid processing begins in the stomach where the essential qi (the useful part) of the fluids is absorbed. The spleen then carries this essential qi up to the lung to be distributed among the other organs. The statement appearing in Elementary Questions that the spleen ``moves the fluids of the stomach'' highlights the active role of the spleen in assimilation of fluids. The lung, by governing diffusion and depurative downbearing, ensures the regular flow of water through the waterways. The kidney's function is to ``distill'' fluid, bearing the clear up and the turbid down. It plays a part in distributing fluids around the entire body and is responsible for transforming surplus and waste fluid into urine, which is discharged through the bladder. The intestines are also involved in the absorption of fluids; the small intestine separates the clear from the turbid and the large intestine conveys the waste material downward while further absorbing fluid. The Magic Pivot comments: ``The small intestine governs humor,'' and ``the large intestine governs liquid.'' Thus, assimilation and initial conveyance of fluids are dependent on the stomach's intake function and the spleen's function of moving and transforming the ``essence'' contained in food. The distribution of fluids around the body, including moisturization of the flesh, skin, and body hair, is dependent on the lung's function of ensuring diffusion and depurative downbearing. The transformation of fluids into sweat is also dependent on this function. For these reasons, the lung is said to be the ``upper source of water'' and to ensure regular flow through the waterways. The kidney plays the most important role in the formation and replacement of fluids since the roles of the stomach, the spleen, and the lung are dependent on the warming and activating function of kidney qi. More importantly, the production and discharge of urine and normal replacement of fluids in the body is intimately related to kidney qi transformation. This is why it is said: ``The kidney governs the water of the whole body.'' Finally, because the lung, spleen, stomach, and kidney are located in all three burners, the term ``triple burner'' is often used to denote the waterways and the formation, movement, and discharge of fluids is attributed to the triple burner qi transformation. Elementary Questions states, ``The triple burner holds the office of the sluices; it manifests as the waterways.'' See also five humors. Pathologies of the fluids include damage to liquid and humor desertion.

flush

Forceful elimination (of evils). See flushing phlegm.

flushing phlegm

Synonyms: flushing stubborn phlegm.

A method of treatment used to eliminate stubborn phlegm or phlegm-rheum.

Medication: Phlegm-flushing medicinals include chlorite/mica (Chloriti seu Micae Lapis), niter (Nitrum), bile arisaema (Arisaematis Rhizoma cum Felle Bovis), bamboo sugar (Bambusae Concretio Silicea), and aquilaria (Aquilariae Lignum). Phlegm-rheum gathering in the r

flushing stubborn phlegm

flusteredness

A state of mental discomposure, confusion, and fear. Flusteredness is a sign of heart disease.

flying corpse

Synonyms: consumption.

flying flag wind

A condition marked by redness, swelling, and hardening of the uvula, so called because the uvula appears conspicuous like a flag in the throat. The uvula is cherry red with a purple blood blister at the tip. Movement of the tongue is inhibited, eating and swallowing are difficult. There is vexation and oppression in the chest and a surging floating pulse. Flying flag wind is caused by phlegm heat in the stomach and liver channels binding in the throat or excessive consumption of hot spicy food causing lung-stomach heat to accumulate and fume up into the throat.

Medication: Clear and drain heat toxin with Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction plus forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus), dandelion (Taraxaci Herba cum Radice), arctium (Arctii Fructus), isatis root (Isatidis Radix), and pueraria (Puerariae Radix). For external treatment, la

flying gates

The lips.

flying throat

A large blood blister hanging from the palate; attributed to latent heat in the bowels and viscera surging upward. Flying throat is the same as flying flag wind, but springs from the palate rather than the uvula.

Medication: Clear heat and drain fire; cool the blood and resolve toxin. Use Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction. Compare flying flag wind.

folk medicinal

Any medicinal that is used in folk medicine as distinct from orthodox Chinese medicine. See medicinal.

fontanel

Either of two gaps between the bones of the skull that close between the age of 6 months and two years, especially the larger one. The larger fontanel, the ``fontanel gate'' or ``forehead fontanel'' (called anterior fontanel in Western medicine) is located just in front of the vertex; the smaller one, called ``pillow fontanel'' (called the posterior fontanel in Western medicine), is on the back of the head. The main diseases associated with the fontanels are ununited skull (nonclosure of the fontanels), bulging fontanel, and depressed fontanel.

fontanel gate

Synonyms: grain and water.

The anterior fontanel. See fontanel.

food

Items of sustenance that enter the body by the mouth. In Chinese medical texts, food is often referred to as grain and water, as in the term nontransformation of grain and water. Abbreviation for diseases caused by food such as food damage and food accumulation etc., see qi, blood, phlegm, and food pattern identification.

food accumulation

Stagnation and accumulation of food attributable to spleen-stomach movement and transformation failure and characterized by fullness and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, in some cases with hardness or glomus lump, abdominal pain that refuses pressure, hard stool, reduced food intake, putrid belching, and swallowing of upflowing acid.

Medication: If the signs are all of repletion, use accumulation-attacking medicinals such as rhubarb (Rhei Rhizoma) and morning glory (Pharbitidis Semen). If stagnation is in the early stage, or if accumulation has formed but the patient's constitution is weak, use H

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, ST, and GV. Main points: Li Inner Court, CV-21 (Jade Swivel), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li). For repletion, needle with drainage. For early-stage stagnation o

food accumulation abdominal pain

Abdominal pain due to dietary irregularities, spleen vacuity, and food stagnating in the stomach and intestines. Food accumulation abdominal pain does not like pressure, and is accompanied by distention and fullness, aversion to food, belching, swallowing of upflowing acid, and constipation. Severe pain may be accompanied by the urge to defecate and may be relieved by defecation. The tongue fur is slimy. The pulse is stringlike, and possibly sunken and slippery.

Medication: Rectify qi and harmonize the center; disperse food and abduct stagnation. Use formulas such as Harmony-Preserving Pill and Unripe Bitter Orange Stagnation-Abducting Pill.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV and ST. Select CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-21 (Beam Gate), Li Inner Court, CV-6 (Sea of Qi), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and CV-21 (Jade Swivel); needle with drainage. For pronounced pain, add ST-34 (Beam

food accumulation cough

Synonyms: food cough.

food accumulation phlegm cough

Synonyms: food cough.

food accumulation rib-side pain

Rib-side pain arising when dietary irregularities cause food stagnation and congestion of qi dynamic. The rib-side pain is associated with distention and glomus in the stomach duct and abdomen, oppression in the chest, nausea, and no thought of food. In some cases, there is a sausage-shaped protuberance under the ribs.

Medication: Treat by abductive dispersion to eliminate the accumulation using formulas like Harmony-Preserving Pill and variations.

Acupuncture: treatment mainly on CV, ST, PC, LR, and GB. Select Li Inner Court, CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LR-14 (Cycle Gate), PC-6 (Inner Pass), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), and GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring). Ne

food accumulation vomiting

Synonyms: food vomiting.

Vomiting due to food accumulation arising when affect damage, external contraction of evil qi, or dietary irregularities cause damage to the spleen and impair the normal transformation of food. Vomiting is accompanied by fullness and oppression (in severe cases, pain and distention) in the stomach duct and abdomen, putrid belching, aversion to food, immediate vomiting of ingested foods, or vomiting in the evening of food ingested in the morning, turbid slimy tongue fur, and a slippery stringlike pulse.

Medication: Disperse food and transform accumulation; fortify the spleen and harmonize the stomach. Formulas include Harmony-Preserving Pill.

Acupuncture: Base treatment on alarm and lower uniting points of ST, and on PC and CV. Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), PC-6 (Inner Pass), CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), Li Inner Court, and CV-21 (Jade Swivel); needle with drainage and add moxa.

food cough

Synonyms: food accumulation cough; food accumulation phlegm cough.

Food accumulation engendering phlegm and causing phlegm-qi to surge upward. Signs include cough with copious phlegm that is pronounced at dawn. There may be oppression in the chest and abdominal distention. Other signs include sour belching, nausea, sloppy stool, and a slippery sunken pulse.

Medication: Transform phlegm and disperse the accumulation. Use formulas such as Two Matured Ingredients Decoction combined with Stomach-Calming Powder, Three-Seed Filial Devotion Decoction, and Five Accumulations Powder. If there is lung fire and phlegm heat with a

Acupuncture: Transform phlegm and disperse the accumulation. Use formulas such as Two Matured Ingredients Decoction combined with Stomach-Calming Powder, Three-Seed Filial Devotion Decoction, and Five Accumulations Powder. If there is lung fire and phlegm heat with a

food damage

Described in Dan Xi's Experiential Methods. Any disease pattern of damage to stomach and spleen by food. Food damage is caused by voracious eating or spleen-stomach vacuity. Elementary Questions states, ``Overeating causes damage to the stomach and intestines.'' It is characterized by aversion to food, nausea and vomiting, belching, putrid-smelling vomitus and qi, swallowing of upflowing acid, painful bloating of the abdomen, diarrhea or constipation, foul-smelling stool and flatus, and relief from pain and distention after defecation or passing of flatus. The tongue fur is slimy and either thick or yellow. In food damage, when food accumulation remains untransformed for days, the resulting condition is called abiding food.

Medication: Treat by dispersing food and abducting stagnation, usually referred to as ``abductive dispersion.'' Commonly used medicinals include medicated leaven (Massa Medicata Fermentata), crataegus (Crataegi Fructus), barley sprout (Hordei Fructus Germinatus), rad

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV and ST. Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li) as the main points. For voracious eating, add Li Inner Court and ST-37 (Upper Great Hol

food damage diarrhea

Diarrhea due to food damage, i.e., food poisoning, excessive consumption of alcohol or fatty and spicy foods, or ingestion of food that is too hot or too cold in temperature, or by voracious eating. Food damage diarrhea includes some forms of stomach, large intestinal, and small intestinal diarrhea. It is not clearly distinguished from spleen diarrhea in the case of diarrhea caused by fatty foods. Diarrhea due to excesses in respect to general dietary norms is classed as food damage diarrhea; if due to organ diseases, e.g., vacuity or dampness, it is classed as spleen diarrhea. See also diarrhea.

Medication: Disperse food and harmonize the stomach with Harmony-Preserving Pill. For vacuity, use variations of Center-Ordering Decoction.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV and ST. Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), PC-6 (Inner Pass), and Li Inner Court; needle with drainage. For vacuity, add moxa

food damage headache

Headache attributed to food stagnating in the stomach. Food damage headache is attended by glomus and fullness in the chest and diaphragm, putrid belching, swallowing of upflowing acid, aversion to food, and a slippery replete pulse. In some cases there may be generalized heat~effusion. See headache.

Medication: Disperse food and abduct stagnation using formulas such as Saussurea, Amomum, Unripe Bitter Orange, and Ovate Atractylodes Pill, Center-Ordering Decoction, or Harmony-Preserving Pill and variations.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST and LI. Select ST-8 (Head Corner), Greater Yang, CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), PC-6 (Inner Pass), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LI-4 (Union Valley), and Li Inner Court and needle with drainage. For selection of

food depression

Nondispersion of food due to inhibited qi dynamic; characterized by bloating of the stomach duct and abdomen, belching of sour putrid qi, inability to eat, abnormal stool, and, in severe cases, jaundice, glomus lump, and drum distention; usually associated with a tight slippery pulse.

Medication: Treat by abductive dispersion and disinhibiting the center, using formulas such as Food Depression Decoction or Harmony-Preserving Pill.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, ST, PC, LR, and SP. Select CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), PC-6 (Inner Pass), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring), and SP-6 (Three Yin Inters

food diarrhea

Synonyms: food damage diarrhea.

food distention

Distention attributable to nontransformation of food stemming from excessive consumption of raw cold foods such as gourds and fruits or irregular eating, and marked by hard distended abdomen with pain in severe cases, belching, and acid upflow. A distinction is made between cold and heat. Cold patterns are usually characterized by uninhibited stool and inability to eat, whereas heat patterns are characterized by dry bound stool.

Medication: Cold patterns are treated by warming the center and abductive dispersion using Stomach-Calming Poria (Hoelen) Five Decoction plus crataegus (Crataegi Fructus) and barley sprout (Hordei Fructus Germinatus). In severe cases, use Center-Rectifying Decoction

Acupuncture: Base treatment on the CV, ST, and PC. Select CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), PC-6 (Inner Pass), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), ST-21 (Beam Gate), and KI-13 (Qi Point); needle with drainage and add moxa. Heat patterns characte

food gan

Synonyms: spleen gan.

food malaria

A kind of malaria described in A Unified Treatise on Diseases, Patterns, and Remedies According to the Three Causes as follows: ``When the patient has alternating aversion to cold and heat~effusion, rapid hungering and inability to eat, propping fullness after eating, and tense painful abdomen, occurring at day intervals, this is called stomach malaria. When none of the six bowels except the stomach has malaria, this is commonly called food malaria. Other forms of malaria with dietary irregularities can mutate into this pattern. Zhang's Clear View of Medicine states, ``Food malaria is attributable to dietary irregularities that engender phlegm in the center stomach duct, which is exacerbated by wind qi; hence there is rapid hungering and inability to eat, and propping fullness after eating, enlarged abdomen, and frequent retching. Repletion is treated by Two Matured Ingredients Decoction plus bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus) and tsaoko (Amomi Tsao-Ko Fructus). When it is due to irregular eating or excessive physical exertion, persists for a long time, and is associated with a vacuous pulse, use Center-Rectifying Decoction plus unripe bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) and unripe tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium Immaturum). When the patient ordinarily suffers from yin vacuity taxation, or when malaria has turned into taxation, then the formula should contain cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus), ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma), and jujube (Ziziphi Fructus); wind-dispelling phlegm-sweeping medicinals cannot be used alone. If the exterior evil is exuberant, Minor Center-Fortifying Decoction or Astragalus Center-Fortifying Decoction can be used as the main treatment, followed by Six-Ingredient Pill, with all ingredients used raw, plus cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus) and turtle shell (Amydae Carapax).

food reversal

A reversal pattern resulting from voracious eating and drinking when contraction of wind-cold or depression and anger stir and cause qi to rise counterflow, blocking the clear orifices. The signs are clouding reversal, asphyxiation, abdominal distention and fullness, and a slippery replete pulse in patients who have overeaten.

food stagnating in the stomach duct

Food accumulating in the stomach after overeating affects splenic movement and transformation, marked by distention and stomach duct pain, putrid belching, retching and vomiting, thick slimy tongue fur, and a slippery pulse.

food stagnation

Food stagnating and collecting in the stomach and intestines. The term food stagnation is essentially the same as food damage (the one term describing the condition and the other describing the cause). Compare food accumulation, food damage, abiding food, food stagnation stomach duct pain, and food stroke. Feeding irregularities in infants causing damage to the spleen and stomach, and causing food to collect in the stomach and intestines. It is characterized by warm head and hot abdomen, belching and bloating, poor appetite, abdominal distention and fullness with pain that refuses pressure, vomiting of sour putrid matter, and in some cases by stool that has the smell of rotten eggs. See feeding accumulation.

food stagnation stomach duct pain

Stomach duct pain due to food stagnation. Food stagnation stomach duct pain is attributed to excessive consumption of raw or cold foods or to dietary irregularities impairing splenic movement and transformation. Signs other than stomach pain include putrid belching, swallowing of upflowing acid, distention and oppression in the stomach duct and abdomen relieved by vomiting, and a slippery replete pulse.

Medication: Disperse accumulation and abduct stagnation using Harmony-Preserving Pill or Saussurea, Amomum, Unripe Bitter Orange, and Ovate Atractylodes Pill.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on alarm and uniting points of ST, PC, SP, and CV. Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), PC-6 (Inner Pass), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), SP-4 (Yellow Emperor), ST-21 (Beam Gate), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), and CV-21 (Jade Swiv

food stroke

A form of wind-like stroke, arising when excessive liquor consumption and overeating with contraction of wind-cold or severe anger cause food to stagnate in the center, hampering the movement of stomach qi and preventing normal upbearing and downbearing. Signs include sudden clouding collapse, inability to speak, inability to move the limbs, and fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm.

Medication: First make the patient drink a decoction of ginger and salt and apply mechanical ejection. Then use formulas to course evil and transform stagnation, and to rectify qi and harmonize the stomach, such as Agastache/Patchouli Qi-Righting Powder, Wondrous At

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, LI, hand and foot reverting yin PC/LR, CV, and ST. Select GV-26 (Water Trough), GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), PC-9 (Central Hub), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), LI-4 (Union Valley), LR-2 (Moving Between), BL-21 (Stomach Transpor

food taxation gan yellowing

Synonyms: yellow swelling.

food vomiting

Synonyms: food accumulation vomiting.

food-denying dysentery

Dysentery characterized by poor appetite and vomiting of anything ingested.

Medication: Use Food Denial Powder.

Acupuncture: Base treatment on ST and LI. Select LI-4 (Union Valley), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), PC-6 (Inner Pass), LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate), and ST-44 (Inner Court), and needle with drainage. For enduring dysente

food-phlegm

Food stagnation or accumulation in combination with phlegm as a cause of disease. Compare food damage and food accumulation. See also qi, blood, phlegm, and food pattern identification.

foot damp qi

foot greater yang bladder channel

One of the twelve channels; the channel that internally homes to the bladder, nets the kidney, and links with the brain, and whose external pathway starts above the eye, runs over the head, either side of the spine down the nape and back, over the buttocks and down to the back of the knee. The foot greater yang bladder channel starts at the inner canthus of the eye, travels upwards over the forehead, intersecting the governing vessel at GV-24 (Spirit Court) and the leg lesser yin gallbladder channel at GB-15 ((Head) Overlooking Tears). It travels on up to the vertex and again meets the governing du1 vessel GV-20 (Hundred Convergences). A branch separates at the vertex and goes down to the area just above the ear, meeting the foot lesser yang shao4 yang2 gallbladder channel at GB-7 (Temporal Hairline Curve), GB-8 (Valley Lead), GB-10 (Floating White), GB-11 (Head Orifice Yin), and GB-12 (Completion Bone). A vertical branch enters the brain from the vertex to meet the governing vessel at GB-12 (Completion Bone), and reemerges to run down the nape of the neck and the muscles of the medial aspect of the scapula, meeting the governing vessel again at GV-14 (Great Hammer) and GV-13 (Kiln Path). It continues downward, parallel to the spine, to the lumbar region. Here, the channel submerges, following the paravertebral muscles, and nets the kidney before homing to the bladder. A branch separates in the lumbar region and runs down the buttocks and the posterior midline of the thighs to the popliteal fossa behind the knee. A further branch separates from the main channel at the nape of the neck, descending lateral to the paravertebral branch mentioned above, along the medial border of the scapula and down to the gluteal region where it crosses the buttocks and intersects with the gallbladder channel at GB-30 (Jumping Round). It then passes down the posterolateral aspect of the thigh to meet the other branch of the same channel in the popliteal fossa. The channel continues downward through the gastrocnemius muscle, emerges posterior to the lateral malleolus, and then runs along the lateral margin of the fifth metatarsal bone, crossing its tuberosity, to the lateral tip of the little toe at BL-67 (Reaching Yin). Signs associated with the exterior course of the channel are: heat~effusion and aversion to cold, headache, stiff neck, pain in the lumbar spine, nasal congestion, eye pain and tearing; pain in the posterior thigh, popliteal region, gastrocnemius, and foot. Signs associated with the internal course of the channel are: lower abdominal pain and distention, inhibited urination, urinary block and enuresis; mental disorders; and arched-back rigidity.

foot greater yin spleen channel

One of the twelve channels; the channel that homes to the spleen, nets the stomach, and links with the root of the tongue, and whose external pathway starts at the large toe and runs along the inside of the foot, and up the inside of the leg, up the abdomen to end at the side of the chest. The foot greater yin spleen channel starts on the medial tip of the great toe and runs up the medial aspect of the foot along the border of the light and dark skin. It then passes in front of the medial malleolus and up the posterior side of the leg along the posterior margin of the tibia. Here, it crosses and runs anterior to the foot reverting yin liver channel, passing medial to the knee and running up the anteromedial aspect of the thigh. It penetrates the abdomen and intersects with the controlling vessel at CV-3 (Central Pole) and CV-4 (Pass Head) before homing to the spleen and netting the stomach. It continues upward, passes through the diaphragm to intersect with the foot lesser yang gallbladder channel at GB-24 (Sun and Moon) and the foot reverting yin liver channel at LR-14 (Cycle Gate), ascends to the side of the esophagus, crosses the hand greater yin lung channel at LU-1 (Central Treasury), and finally proceeds up to the root of the tongue to disperse over the tongue's lower surface. A branch breaks off in the area of the stomach, crossing the diaphragm to transport qi to the heart. Signs associated with the exterior course of the channel are: heaviness in the head or body, weak wilting limbs; generalized heat~ effusion; pain in the posterior mandibular region and the lower cheek, and motor impairment of the tongue; cold along the inside of the thigh and knee, or swelling of the legs and feet. Signs associated with the internal course of the channel are: pain in the stomach duct and sloppy diarrhea or stool containing untransformed food, rumbling intestines, retching and nausea, abdominal lump glomus, reduced food intake, jaundice, and inhibited urination.

foot lesser yang gallbladder channel

One of the twelve channels; the channel that internally homes to the gallbladder and nets the liver, and whose external pathway starts at the side of the head, traverses the ear, passes forward over the ear, and then zigzags over the side of the head, passes down the neck, over the shoulders, down the side of the chest, and down the outer face of the legs to end at the tip of the fourth toe. The foot lesser yang gallbladder channel starts from the outer canthus of the eye, traverses the temple to LI-19 (Grain Bone-Hole), then rises to the corner of the forehead where it intersects with the foot yang brightness stomach channel at ST-8 (Head Corner). Descending behind the ear, it passes down the neck in front of the hand lesser yang triple burner channel and meets the hand greater yang small intestine channel at SI-17 (Celestial Countenance). After reaching the shoulder, it turns back and runs behind the triple burner channel to intersect the governing vessel at GV-14 (Great Hammer). It then moves parallel with the shoulderline outwards to intersect with the hand greater yang small intestine channel at SI-12 (Grasping the Wind), before crossing over to ST-12 (Empty Basin) in the supraclavicular fossa. A branch separates from the main channel behind the ear and passes the hand lesser yang triple burner channel at TB-17 (Wind Screen) before entering the ear. It emerges in front of the ear meeting SI-19 (Auditory Palace) on the hand greater yang small intestine channel and ST-7 (Below the Joint) on the foot yang brightness stomach channel before terminating at the outer canthus of the eye. Another branch separates from the outer canthus and runs downwards to ST-5 (Great Reception) on the mandible. Turning upwards, it crosses the hand lesser yang triple burner channel and ascends to the infraorbital region before traveling down the cheek into the neck where it joins the main channel again at ST-12 (Empty Basin) in the supraclavicular fossa. From here it submerges in the chest, meets PC-1 (Celestial Pool) of the hand reverting yin pericardium channel, and passes through the diaphragm before netting the liver and homing to the gallbladder. It then follows the inside of the false ribs to emerge in the qi street in the inguinal region where it skirts round the genitals and submerges into the hip at GB-30 (Jumping Round). Yet another branch separates from the main channel at the supraclavicular fossa at ST-12 (Empty Basin), descending into the axilla and running down the lateral aspect of the thorax. It intersects the foot reverting yin liver channel at LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate) before turning back to the sacral region to cross the foot greater yang bladder channel at BL-31 (Upper Bone-Hole) and BL-34 (Lower Bone-Hole). From here it passes laterally over to GB-30 (Jumping Round) on the hip joint, descending down the lateral aspect of the thigh and knee, and passing along the anterior aspect of the fibula to its lower extremity. It crosses in front of the lateral malleolus, and runs over the dorsum of the foot, traveling between the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones before terminating at the lateral side of the tip of the fourth toe at GB-44 (Foot Orifice Yin). Another branch separates on the dorsum of the foot at GB-41 (Foot Overlooking Tears) and runs between the first and second metatarsal bones to the end of the great toe, crossing under the toenail to join with the foot reverting yin liver channel at LR-1 (Large Pile). Signs associated with the external course of the channel are: alternating heat~effusion and aversion to cold; headache; malaria; gray facial complexion; eye pain; pain under the chin; subaxillary swelling; scrofula; deafness; and pain in the lateral aspect of the buttocks and in the thigh, knee, and fibula. Signs associated with the internal course of the channel are: rib-side pain, vomiting, bitter taste in the mouth, and chest pain.

foot lesser yin kidney channel

Synonyms: foot damp qi; fetid water snail; eroding foot; foot rot; Hongkong foot.

One of the twelve channels; the channel that internally homes to the kidney, nets the bladder, and links with the spine, liver, diaphragm, throat, root of the tongue, the lung, heart, and thoracic cavity, and whose external pathway starts at the small toe, passes over the sole of the foot, passes around the inner ankle body, rises up the inside of the leg, passes over the abdomen, to end in the chest. The foot lesser yin kidney channel starts on the underside of the little toe, crosses the sole of the foot obliquely to emerge out of the arch of the foot under the navicular tuberosity at KI-2 (Blazing Valley). It then proceeds posterior to the medial malleolus and continues into the heel. From here, it travels up the rear medial aspect of the lower leg to intersect with the foot greater yin spleen channel at SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection). Traveling up through the gastrocnemius muscle, it ascends across the medial aspect of the popliteal fossa and the posteromedial aspect of the thigh to the base of the spine where it meets the governing vessel at GV-1 (Long Strong). It continues up the interior of the spinal column to home to the kidney, after which it turns downwards to net the bladder and intersect with the controlling vessel at CV-4 (Pass Head) and CV-3 (Central Pole). A branch ascends from the kidney, goes directly to the liver, crosses the diaphragm, enters the lung, and follows the throat up to the root of the tongue. A further branch separates in the lung, links through to the heart, and disperses in the chest. Signs associated with the external course of the channel are: lumbar pain, counterflow cold of the legs, weak wilting legs, dry mouth, sore pharynx, and pain in the lateral gluteal region and in the posterior aspect of the thigh; there may also be pain in the soles of the feet. Signs associated with the internal course of the channel are: dizziness, facial swelling, blurred vision, gray facial complexion, shortness of breath, short, rapid breathing, somnolence or vexation, enduring diarrhea, sloppy stool, or dry stool evacuated with difficulty. There may also be abdominal distention, nausea and vomiting, or impotence.

foot qi sore

A condition of the toes attributed to damp-heat pouring downward and contact with damp toxin characterized in the initial stage by water vesicles and itching between the toes and in later stages by scaling, crusting, and erosion. Foot qi sores may also give off a strange smell, which accounts for the alternate name ``fetid water snail.'' They are common in people who live or work in damp or wet environments, and are prevalent in hot humid climates (as is reflected in the now popular name } , Hongkong foot). Foot qi sores are are attributed to spleen-stomach channel damp-heat pouring downward.

Medication: Use Fish Poison Yam Dampness-Percolating Decoction. If painful and swollen, it can be treated with Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction. Apply Six-to-One Powder or calcined alum (Alumen Calcinatum). Vinegar Soaking Formula may also be used (see goose-foot win

Acupuncture: Pole ouch points, 30--60 minutes a day, and needle with drainage at Eight Winds, ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and BL-60 (Kunlun Mountains). Selection of points according to pattern: For pronounced damp-heat pouring downward, add SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring) and GB-4

foot reverting yin liver channel

One of the twelve channels; the channel that homes internally to the liver, nets the gallbladder, and links the genitals, stomach, diaphragm, throat, and eyes and whose external pathway starts at the large toe and rises up the inside of the leg, skirts the genitals, passes over the stomach, and ends at the side of the chest. The foot reverting yin liver channel starts on the dorsum of the great toe and runs up the foot between the first and second metatarsal bones to a point one body-inch in front of the medial malleolus. It then proceeds upward to SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), where it intersects with the foot greater yin spleen channel. Continuing up the medial aspect of the leg, it recrosses the foot greater yin spleen channel eight body-inches above the medial malleolus, thereafter running posterior to that channel over the knee and thigh. Once again it crosses the foot greater yin spleen channel at SP-12 (Surging Gate) and SP-13 (Bowel Abode), and then skirts around the genitals and penetrates the lower abdomen where it meets the controlling vessel at CV-2 (Curved Bone), CV-3 (Central Pole), and CV-4 (Pass Head). It ascends, moving toward the lateral aspect of the trunk to home to the liver and then nets the gallbladder. Continuing its upward course through the diaphragm, it disperses over the rib-side, then runs up to the neck posterior to the pharynx, enters the nasopharynx, and meets the tissues surrounding the eyes. The channel finally runs up the forehead to meet the governing vessel at the vertex. A branch breaks off below the eye and runs through the cheeks to contour the inside of the lips. Another branch separates from the liver, passes through the diaphragm, and enters the lung. Signs associated with the external course of the channel are: headache, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, and heat~effusion. Signs associated with the internal course of the channel are: fullness, distention, and pain in the rib-side with lump glomus, fullness and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice, swill diarrhea, lower abdominal pain, mounting qi , enuresis, urinary block, and yellow urine.

foot rot

Synonyms: foot damp qi.

foot yang brightness malaria

Malaria in the foot yang brightness channel. Elementary Questions states, ``Foot yang brightness malaria causes the person first to be cold as if sprinkled with water; when the cold is pronounced, the heat~effusion comes; when the heat~effusion goes, sweating comes. The patient likes to see sunlight, moonlight, and fire qi and gains gratification from them. [For this], needle the yang brightness on the instep.''

Medication: Use a large packet of Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction.

foot yang brightness stomach channel

One of the twelve channels; the channel that homes to the stomach and nets the spleen, and whose external pathway starts at the side of the nose, crosses the side of the head, face and neck, runs down the chest, through the nipples, over the abdomen, and down the outer anterolateral face of the leg to end at tip of the second toe. The foot yang brightness stomach channel starts at the side of the nose, and then ascends to the inner canthus of the eye to intersect the foot greater yang bladder channel at BL-1 (Bright Eyes). It then descends parallel to the nose, penetrates the maxilla into the upper gum and joins the governing vessel at GV-24 (Spirit Court) in the philtrum. It skirts back along the upper and lower lips to join the controlling vessel at CV-24 (Sauce Receptacle) in the mentolabial groove on the chin. From this point, it runs along the mandible to the point ST-5 (Great Reception) and rounds the angle of the mandible to ST-6 (Cheek Carriage). It proceeds upward in front of the ear, intersects with the foot lesser yang gallbladder channel at GB-3 (Upper Gate), and continues along the hairline, intersecting the foot lesser yang channel again at GB-6 (Suspended Tuft), from where it crosses to the middle of the forehead to intersect with the governing vessel at GV-24 (Spirit Court). A branch separates at ST-5 (Great Reception), runs down the throat to the point ST-9 (Man's Prognosis), and then continues down to the supraclavicular fossa. From here it crosses through to the back to intersect the governing vessel at GV-14 (Great Hammer), and then descends internally, crossing the diaphragm and intersecting with the controlling vessel internally at CV-13 (Upper Stomach Duct), and CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), before homing to the stomach and netting the spleen. Another branch separates at ST-12 (Empty Basin), runs down the surface of the trunk along the mammillary line, and continues downward, passing beside the umbilicus to enter the qi street (the inguinal region) at ST-30 (Qi Thoroughfare). Yet another branch starts in the area of the pylorus, descending internally to join the branch just described at ST-30 (Qi Thoroughfare) in the inguinal region. It emerges here and runs down to ST-31 (Thigh Joint) on the anterior aspect of the thigh. It travels down the thigh to the high point above the knee at ST-32 (Crouching Rabbit), and on down to the patella, then proceeds downward along the lateral side of the tibia to ST-42 (Surging Yang) on the dorsum of the foot, finally terminating at the lateral side of the tip of the second toe. A branch separates at ST-36 (Leg Three Li), three body-inches below the knee and runs down lateral and parallel to the main branch, terminating on the lateral side of the middle toe. Yet another branch breaks off from the main branch on the dorsum of the foot at ST-42 (Surging Yang), terminating on the medial side of the great toe where it nets the spleen channel at SP-1 (Hidden White). Signs along the external course of the channel are: high fever, malaria, red face, sweating, clouded spirit and delirious speech, manic agitation, aversion to cold, pain in the eyes, dry nose and nosebleed, lip and mouth sores, sore larynx, swelling in the neck, deviated mouth, chest pain, and cold or pain, redness, and swelling in the lower limbs. Signs along the internal course of the channel are: pronounced abdominal distention and fullness, and water swelling, vexation and discomfort while active or recumbent, and mania and withdrawal. There may also be swift digestion and rapid hungering, and yellow urine.

forceful

Strong, powerful. The term forceful is most commonly used in the pulse examination to describe any pulse that beats with force. See pulse condition.

forceless

Weak, lacking in strength. The term forceless is most commonly used in the pulse examination to describe any pulse that beats without force. See pulse condition.

forehead

The part of the head below the front hairline and above the brow.

forehead fontanel

Synonyms: fontanel gate.

forgetfulness

Synonyms: poor memory.

Tendency to forget matters. Forgetfulness occurs most commonly in vacuity patterns such as depletion of kidney essence and insufficiency of the heart and spleen, but also in repletion patterns such as affect damage and phlegm turbidity harassing the upper body.

formation

formula

A remedy; a medicinal recipe or prescription, giving the ingredients often with their weights or proportions.

fortify

fortifying the center

Synonyms: boosting the spleen.

To fortify the spleen and stomach. See fortifying the spleen; fortifying the stomach.

fortifying the spleen

Synonyms: fortifying the spleen and supplementing qi.

A method of treatment used to address impaired splenic movement and transformation, characterized by a withered yellow facial complexion, lack of strength in the limbs, reduced appetite, stomach duct pain that likes pressure or is relieved by eating, sloppy stool, a pale tongue with white fur, and a soggy weak pulse.

Medication: Spleen-fortifying medicinals include codonopsis (Codonopsitis Radix), ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma), poria (Poria), dioscorea (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), and coix (Coicis Semen). A commonly used formula is Four Gentlemen Decoction.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, CV, ST, and SP. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and needle and moxa. See spleen qi vacuity; s

fortifying the spleen and boosting qi

A method of treatment used to address qi vacuity and splenic movement and transformation failure, characterized by bright white facial complexion, faint voice, reduced food intake, sloppy stool, lack of strength in the limbs, and moderate weak or soft fine pulse.

Medication: A classic spleen-fortifying qi-boosting formula is Four Gentlemen Decoction. In this formula, ginseng (Ginseng Radix) and licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix) boost qi, whereas ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma), and poria (Poria) fortify the splee

Acupuncture: Use the points under fortifying the spleen, and add CV-6 (Sea of Qi), and SP-3 (Supreme White); needle with supplementation and moxa. Compare supplementing the spleen and boosting qi.

fortifying the spleen and disinhibiting dampness

Synonyms: fortifying the spleen and disinhibiting dampness; fortifying the spleen and percolating dampness.

fortifying the spleen and disinhibiting water.

fortifying the spleen and disinhibiting water

Synonyms: harmonizing the stomach and spleen.

A method of treatment used to address water-damp due to the spleen failing dam water manifesting in generalized swelling, oppression in the stomach duct and reduced food intake, abdominal distention, and sloppy stool.

Medication: A classic spleen-fortifying water-disinhibiting formula is Poria (Hoelen) Five Powder, among whose ingredients ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma) and poria (Poria) fortify the spleen, and polyporus (Polyporus) and alisma (Alismatis Rhizoma)

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, back transport points, and SP. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), CV-9 (Water Divide), and BL-22 (Triple Burner Transport); needle with s

fortifying the spleen and harmonizing the stomach

A method of treatment used to enhance splenic movement and transformation and treat glomus and fullness.

Medication: A representative spleen-fortifying stomach harmonizing formula is Unripe Bitter Orange and Glomus-Dispersing Pill. Spleen-Fortifying Pill and Sudden Smile Pill also possess a spleen-fortifying stomach-harmonizing action.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, CV, SP, and ST. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), PC-6 (Inner Pass), and SP-6 (Three Yi

fortifying the spleen and percolating dampness

Synonyms: fortifying the spleen and disinhibiting water.

fortifying the spleen and transforming phlegm

Synonyms: drying dampness and transforming phlegm.

fortifying the spleen, warming the kidney, and transforming phlegm

A method of treatment used to address spleen-kidney yang vacuity with lung cold and phlegm obstruction characterized by physical cold and cold limbs, cold aching back and lumbus, cough with copious phlegm, enuresis accompanying acute cough, white tongue fur, and a slow sunken pulse.

Medication: A representative spleen-fortifying kidney-warming phlegm-transforming formula is Phlegm-Rheum Pill.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, SP, ST, LU, and KI. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-13 (Lung Transport), SP-3 (Supreme White), GV-4 (Life Gate), KI-7 (Recover Flow), LI-4 (Union Valley), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge

fortifying the stomach

A method of treatment used to improve the stomach's governing of intake and decomposition of food. Since stomach qi is normal when it bears downward freely, fortifying the stomach often involves the downbearing and qi.

Medication: Commonly used stomach-fortifying medicinals include clove (Caryophylli Flos), cardamom (Amomi Cardamomi Fructus), amomum (Amomi Semen seu Fructus), magnolia bark (Magnoliae Cortex), and tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium). For damp turbidity complication, a

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on transport and alarm points of the stomach, and other ST points. Select BL-21 (Stomach Transport), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li); needle with supplementation and add moxa. For phlegm turbidity, add LI-4 (Uni

forward-staring eyes

A condition in which the eyes look forward fixedly and are spiritless. Forward-staring eyes accompany unclear affect-mind in conditions such as wind stroke, fright wind, and epilepsy, and are mostly attributed to liver wind stirring internally.

foster

Supplement (especially yin).

fostering yin

Synonyms: supplementing yin.

fostering yin and subduing yang

Synonyms: enriching yin, calming the liver, and subduing yang.

A method of treatment used to address liver-kidney yin vacuity with ascendant liver yang characterized by headache, dizziness, tinnitus or deafness, vexation and agitation, irascibility, baking heat in the head and face, dry mouth and throat, insomnia and profuse dreaming, a red tongue, and a rapid stringlike fine pulse.

Medication: Medicinals that enrich the liver and kidney yin such as cooked rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Conquita), lycium berry (Lycii Fructus), and eclipta (Ecliptae Herba) are combined with yang-subduing medicinals such as crude oyster shell (Ostreae Concha Cruda),

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on KI, LR, GB, and PC. Needle with supplementation at BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-18 (Liver Transport), KI-3 (Great Ravine), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and with drainage at GV-20 (Hundred Convergences),

foul smell

The smell of filth, as distinct from fishy, animal, or putrid smells.

foul turbidity

Damp turbidity, mountain forest miasma, or foul-smelling excreta. The term ``foul,'' used in the sense of filthy or dirty, describes color and smell; ``turbidity,'' means dirty, thick, and heavy, and describes evils such as phlegm and dampness that have an obstructive effect of evils on clear, light yang qi. See also damp turbidity; foul smell.

four aspects

four bends wind

A skin disease most common in children, affecting the elbows, backs of the knees, ankles, etc. (the ``bends''), and characterized by roughening and thickening of the skin, itching, and exudation when the skin is scratched open.

Medication: Dispel wind and percolate dampness. Mysterious Three Pill. Indigo Powder. In persistent cases, use kochia (Kochiae Fructus), cnidium seed (Cnidii Monnieri Fructus), zanthoxylum (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium), flavescent sophora (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), an

four command points

Points ST-36 (Leg Three Li), BL-40 (Bend Center), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), and LI-4 (Union Valley), which ``command'' the body and are used to treat ailments that affect those particular sections. ST-36 is the command point of the abdomen, and treats diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain and distention. BL-40 is the command point of the back and lumbus, and treats pain in those parts. LI-4 is the command point of the face and mouth and is useful for treating such diseases as toothache, swollen cheeks, nosebleed and headache. LU-7 is the command point of the head and nape, and treats headache and stiffness of the nape. Command points are often combined with points more specific to the disease being treated. For example, treatment of lumbar pain might pair BL-40, the command point of the back, with local points such as BL-23 and BL-30.

four examinations

The four examinations, inspection, listening and smelling, inquiry, and palpation, provide the raw data for diagnosis. Correlation of data from all four examinations is essential for complete diagnosis. The four examinations are followed by pattern identification.

four extremities

The limbs.

four gates

The elbow and knee joints. The shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee joints. Of the five transport points, the four that lie below the elbow and knee. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. The two source points of the hand yang brightness channel, LI-4 (Union Valley), and two source points of the foot reverting yin channel, LR-2 (Moving Between).

four greatnesses

The four signs of yang brightness channel patterns, i.e., great heat~effusion, great sweating, great vexing thirst, and a large floating pulse.

four natures

Synonyms: four qi.

four patterns of fright wind

Fright patterns, wind patterns, phlegm patterns, and heat patterns occurring in fright wind. Fright, externally contracted wind evil, exuberant phlegm and extreme heat are the causes of fright wind that may be seen in different combinations in different patients. Each of the four patterns is characterized by a prevalence of one the four causes.

four qi

Synonyms: four natures.

The four natures of medicinals, cold, heat, warmth, and coolness. Cold medicinals are ones effective in treating heat patterns, whereas hot medicinals are those effective in treating cold patterns. Warm and cool medicinals are medicinals with mild hot or cold natures. In addition, there is also a balanced nature whose nature is neither predominantly hot nor cold.

four rheums

phlegm-rheum; suspended rheum; spillage rheum; propping rheum.

four seas

The sea of marrow, sea of blood, sea of qi, and sea of grain and water. The Magic Pivot states, ``People have four seas... the sea of marrow, the sea of blood, the sea of qi, and the sea of grain and water.'' ``The stomach is the sea of grain and water... The thoroughfare vessel is the sea of the twelve channels... Chest center is the sea of qi... The brain is the sea of marrow.'' The four seas can be regulated at specific points on the body: the sea of marrow at GV-20 (Hundred Convergences) and GV-16 (Wind Mansion); the sea of qi above and below the pillar bone (collar bone) and at ST-9 (Man's Prognosis); the sea of grain and water at ST-30 (Qi Thoroughfare), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li); and the sea of blood at BL-11 (Great Shuttle), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow), and ST-39 (Lower Great Hollow).

four-aspect pattern identification

Identification of disease pattern according to the four aspects: defense , qi, construction , and blood. According to doctrine of warm diseases, warm evils invade the body to first affect defense, and then progress, unless halted by right qi or treatment, through the other aspects. When disease affects defense, sweat-effusing treatment may be given. Only when it reaches the qi aspect can qi-clearing treatment be prescribed. When it enters construction, treatment involves outthrusting heat to the qi aspect. Finally, when it reaches blood and causes depletion and frenetic movement, blood cooling and dissipation is prescribed.

fourteen channels

Synonyms: vulpine mounting.

From Elaboration of the Fourteen Channels. The twelve channels plus the thoroughfare and controlling vessels.

fourteen-channel point

Synonyms: channel point.

foxy mounting

Synonyms: armpit odor; body odor.

Protrusion of the small intestine into the scrotum. The intestine retracts periodically of its own accord, and can be drawn back in by the patient himself in lying posture.

Medication: Use Qi-Abducting Decoction.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, ST, and the three yin channels of the foot. CV-4 (Pass Head), Qi Gate, ST-29 (Return), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), KI-6 (Shining Sea), LR-1 (Large Pile), and Moxibustion Triangle; needle with supplementation and add moxa. Selection

foxy odor

An unpleasant body odor noted especially in the armpits, but sometimes also at the nipples, umbilicus, genitals, and anus. Foxy odor is attributed to damp-heat brewing internally or heredity. Many sufferers also have oily ears.

Medication: It can be treated by topical application of calcined alum (Alumen Calcinatum), or Litharge Powder plus calcined alum, or longan pit (Longanae Semen) and (black) pepper (Piperis Fructus) in the ratio of 20 to 50. See also sweating armpits.

freckle

A small brown patch on the skin. Freckles arise when kidney-water fails to nourish the upper body and fire stagnates and binds into macules.

Medication: Take Supplemented Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill and dab and wash with Jade Countenance Pill.

free

To enhance normal activity and/or remove obstructions.

free ribs

Synonyms: soft ribs.

free-rib pain

Pain in the region of the free ribs. Free-rib pain is mostly attributed to liver vacuity. It occurs in liver qi vacuity as a continual pain together with signs such as gallbladder timidity and susceptibility to fright, blurred vision, and tinnitus. In liver blood vacuity, the pain is dull or marked by a feeling of hypertonicity, and is associated with frequent heat vexation, dry mouth, dizzy head and flowery vision, and red tongue. It may also be caused by kidney vacuity.

Medication: Treat liver qi vacuity with Four Gentlemen Decoction combined with Mume Pill. Treat liver blood vacuity with All-the-Way-Through Brew. Kidney vacuity can be treated with variations of Eight-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill. See also rib-side pain.

freeing blocks

Synonyms: opening the orifices.

freeing formula

One of the ten formula types. A formula whose main action is performed by freeing and disinhibiting medicinals. See freeing medicinals can eliminate stagnation.

freeing medicinals can eliminate stagnation

Freeing and disinhibiting medicinals can eliminate various forms of stagnation. For example, rice-paper plant pith (Tetrapanacis Medulla), vaccaria (Vaccariae Semen), and rhaponticum/echinops (Rhapontici seu Echinopis Radix) can be used to free milk in female patients suffering from postpartum qi and blood stagnation. Clematis (Clematidis Radix) and fangji (Fangji Radix) can treat damp impediment due stagnation of dampness characterized by heavy aching limbs.

freeing menstruation

Synonyms: promoting menstruation.

A method of treatment used to restore normal menstruation in the treatment of menstrual block. Distinction is made between vacuity and repletion forms of menstrual block.

freeing milk

Synonyms: promoting lactaction.

A method of treatment used to promote the flow of breast milk after delivery. Freeing milk takes one of two forms.

freeing qi

Synonyms: moving qi.

freeing the channels

A method of treatment used to address obstructed channels. promoting menstruation.

freeing the channels and quickening the network vessels

A method of treatment used to relieve obstruction channels and network vessels by evils.

freeing the network vessels

A method of treatment used to relieve obstruction network vessels by evils.

freeing the orifices

opening the orifices. Also used for orifices other than those of the heart, e.g., the nose (e.g., freeing the orifices of the nose).

freeing the vessels

A method of treatment used to warm and free yang qi to revive the pulse beat. For example, in lesser yin disease with diarrhea, there is true cold in the inner body characterized by cold limbs and a faint pulse on the verge of expiration, and false heat in the outer body marked by absence of aversion to cold and a floating red complexion. Cold is the true nature of the disease and it repels yang outward causing absence of aversion to cold, whereas yang also floats upward to cause an upcast yang floating red complexion. To boost qi and supplement the blood to treat scant breast See freeing milk.

Medication: Use Vessel-Freeing Counterflow Cold Decoction, in which licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix), aconite (Aconiti Tuber Laterale), and dried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Exsiccatum) return yang and stem desertion, and scallion white with root (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LU, PC, and BL. Select LU-9 (Great Abyss), PC-6 (Inner Pass), BL-15 (Heart Transport), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-14 (Reverting Yin Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and LI-4 (Union Valley); needle with supplementation. For t

freeing the waterways

A method of treatment used to open lung qi and disinhibit dampness. Freeing the waterways is used in the treatment of cough and panting with water swelling affecting the upper body and particularly the face, inhibited urination with dark yellow urine, glossy white tongue fur, a slippery floating pulse, and in some cases heat~effusion and aversion to cold.

Medication: Agents that free the waterways include ephedra (Ephedrae Herba), cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus), duckweed (Lemnae Herba), poria with skin (Poria cum Cortice), apricot kernel (Armeniacae Semen), and mulberry root bark (Mori Radicis Cortex).

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, LU, SP, CV, and ST. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-22 (Triple Burner Transport), Panting Stabilizer, LU-9 (Great Abyss), SP-3 (Supreme White), CV-9 (Wat

freeing yang

A method of treatment used to address stoppage of yang qi due to cold-damp obstruction or congealing phlegm and stasis obstruction. Examples of freeing yang include: a)~treating chest impediment due to phlegm turbidity obstruction with Trichosanthes, Chinese Chive, and White Liquor Decoction; b)~treating dampness obstructing the triple burner in damp warm disease using Three Kernels Decoction; c)~treating phlegm turbidity and stasis obstructing chest yang causing gripping heart pain (angina pectoris) using Liquid Storax Pill or Sudden Smile Powder; or d)~treating counterflow reversal cold of the limbs with Tangkuei Counterflow Cold Decoction.

frenetic blood heat

Synonyms: frenetic movement of hot blood.

Excessive movement of the blood due to blood heat manifesting in the form of bleeding or maculopapular eruptions. See blood heat.

frenetic movement

Pathological movement or activity of the blood manifesting in the form of bleeding or maculopapular eruptions; when due to blood heat, as is usually the case, it is also referred to as frenetic blood heat. See blood heat.

frenetic movement of hot blood

frenzied sesame seed pulse

frequent sighing

frequent urination

Increased frequency of urination, most commonly due to bladder heat or kidney (yin or yang) vacuity.

fright

Conditions of spasm understood by analogy to fright. Elementary Questions states that liver disease is associated with fright. The liver is the viscus of wind and wood; it governs the sinews. The liver is associated with wood in the five phases, and just as trees (wood) are swayed by the wind, so the liver can be stirred by internal wind. Arched-back rigidity and convulsions are seen as shaking and bending the body by wind. Fright, like wind, causes spasm, since the sinews (muscles) of a person subjected to a frightening stimulus will tense. For this reason fright is associated with liver-wood. Wind and fright both manifest as hypertonicity of sinews, which are governed by the liver. See fright wind.One of the seven affects

fright causes derangement of qi

Fright and other strong emotional stimuli can upset normal qi dynamic, and throw qi and blood into disorder, causing disquietude of the heart spirit and even mental derangement.

fright convulsions

Convulsions associated with fright wind.

fright epilepsy

Epilepsy caused by fright. Fright wind (in Tang and Song medical records).

fright heat~effusion

A disease pattern in children characterized by heat~effusion and susceptibility to fright. Fright heat~effusion is a generalized, but not high fever associated with a green-blue complexion, sweating, vexation and agitation, and susceptibility to fright in the night. It arises by heat engendering fright or fright engendering heat, but in either case is associated with internal heat in the heart and liver channels.

Medication: Clear heat and drain fire with Red-Abducting Powder plus chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemi Flos), uncaria (Uncariae Ramulus cum Unco), and coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma).

fright mania

Susceptibility to fright and manic derangement.

fright palpitations

Heart palpitations brought on by fright or heart palpitations associated with fear and susceptibility to fright. Fright palpitations is observed in heart-gallbladder qi vacuity, heart blood vacuity, effulgent yin vacuity fire, blood stasis, water-rheum, and phlegm fire patterns.

Medication: Treat heart-gallbladder qi vacuity with Neutral Supplementing Heart-Settling Elixir combined with Loadstone and Cinnabar Pill. Alternatively, use Gallbladder-Warming Decoction or Spiny Jujube Decoction. Treat heart blood vacuity with Spirit-Quieting Mind-

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on HT and LR. Main points: HT-7 (Spirit Gate), PC-6 (Inner Pass), BL-15 (Heart Transport). For heart-gallbladder qi vacuity, add BL-19 (Gallbladder Transport), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li); needle with suppleme

fright reversal

Synonyms: child fright reversal.

Sudden loss of consciousness occurring when strong emotional stimulus disrupts the flow of qi and blood. The signs associated with fright wind.

fright wind

Synonyms: child fright wind; infantile convulsions.

A disease of infants and children, characterized by convulsions and loss of consciousness. Fright wind is equivalent to tetany in adults. Distinction is made between acute and chronic forms.

frog rale in the throat

A continuous high-pitched rale produced by phlegm blocking the respiratory tract, so named because of its similarity to the croaking of frogs (in chorus). Frog rale in the throat is characteristic of wheezing patterns. The Orthodox Tradition of Medicine states, ``Hasty panting with frog rale in the throat is called ``wheezing.''

front teeth

The two upper front teeth.

frost

A powder produced by frosting.

frostbite

Severe damage to the skin and flesh that arises when cold and wind cause qi and blood to congeal and stagnate. Frostbite usually affects the hands and feet and the ears. The affected areas present a somber white complexion that gradually turns purple-red and forms macules, burning sensation, itching, and numbness and, in severe cases, rupture and the development of sores that heal with difficulty. Frostbite can be prevented by adequate clothing and physical movement.

Medication: Warm yang and dispel cold; regulate construction and defense. Tangkuei Counterflow Cold Decoction. Red Spirit Wine or boil ginger and chillies to make a wash. For open sores, apply Flesh-Engendering Jade and Red Paste.

Acupuncture: Localized frostbite: Base treatment mainly on ouch points and local points. Prick the surrounding area, then apply moxa to quicken the blood and free the network vessels, and to warm the vessels and dissipate cold. Selection of points according to affecte

frosting

The production of a fine crisp powder by methods other than simple grinding is known as frosting. The following methods exist: (1) One method is the defatting and grinding of seeds. The seeds are first sun-dried or stir-fried, the husks are removed, and the kernels are pounded to an almost paste-like consistency. The materials are sandwiched between layers of paper, and then sun-dried, baked, or pressed, so that the paper absorbs the oil. The paper is repeatedly changed until the materials are light, loose and no longer stick together. Medicinals processed in this way include croton frost (Crotonis Seminis Pulvis) and trichosanthes seed frost (Trichosanthis Seminis Pulvis). (2) Another method, used to treat certain gourds, is efflorescence. For example, watermelon (Citrulli Fructus) is frosted by gouging out a small lump to form a hole in which a small amount of mirabilite (Mirabilitum) is placed. The lump is then replaced, and the watermelon is hung up to air. The mirabilite (Mirabilitum) comes out and effloresces, so that a fine, white frost forms on the surface of the watermelon, which when brushed off is ready to use. (3) The production of persimmon frost (Kaki Saccharum) represents a third method of frosting: dried persimmon (Kaki Fructus Exsiccatus) is exposed to the sun in the day and to the dew at night and then is covered to allow the skin to saccharify and form a frost.

full physique with vacuous qi

Obesity with soft muscles, shortage of qi, lack of strength, and lack of vitality indicating yang qi vacuity.

fullness

A subjective sensation of expansion and pressure, which may or may not be associated with objectively perceptible distention.

fullness and distention in the heart region and abdomen during pregnancy

A disease pattern attributed to contraction of cold or food damage in women usually suffering from vacuity cold, causing congestion of stomach qi internal obstruction. Fullness is often accompanied by oppression in the stomach duct and no thought of food. Where cold contraction is a factor, there is pronounced distention after eating that likes warmth and pressure, and treatment takes the form of warming the center and dissipating cold with formulas such as Saussurea and Amomum Six Gentlemen Decoction. Where there is food damage, there is painful distention after eating, putrid belching, and swallowing of upflowing acid, and treatment takes the form of dispersing food and transforming stasis using formula such as Harmony-Preserving Pill.

fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm

A subjective feeling of stifling fullness in the lower part of the chest. Fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm is associated with phlegm.

fullness below the heart

Fullness in the stomach duct, sometimes associated with counterflow qi ascent.

fullness in the chest

Synonyms: thoracic fullness.

From Elementary Questions. A bloated feeling in the chest. The Golden Mirror of Medicine comments as follows: ``In exterior repletion without sweating, oppression in the chest and panting is wind-cold oppression in the chest. In interior repletion with rough urination, oppression in the chest with heat vexation is heat congestion oppression in the chest. In conditions of swelling of the eyes and face, oppression in the chest and panting that prevents the patient from lying down, is oppression in the chest due to collecting rheum. In conditions of inhibited breathing, oppression in the chest relieved by sighing is qi stagnation oppression in the chest... . In the absence of heat~effusion, aversion to cold or other disease, if there is only oppression in the chest and wilted lips, green-blue tongue, dry mouth with desire only to wash the mouth with water but not to swallow, this is blood stasis oppression in the chest.'' These different forms are treated by resolving the exterior, draining heat, transforming rheum, moving qi, and quickening the blood.

fullness of pregnancy

Swelling, distention, panting and fullness in pregnancy. Fullness of pregnancy arises in women normally suffering from spleen-kidney yang vacuity with internal water-damp evil when in the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy the growing fetus affects the upward and downward bearing of qi dynamic and disturbs movement and transformation, so that water-damp gathers and spreads to cause generalized swelling with abdominal distention, panting and fullness.

Medication: Warm yang and fortify the spleen; rectify qi and move water. Use Poria (Hoelen) Five Powder plus tingli (Descurainiae seu Lepidii Semen). Alternatively, use Carp Soup.

fulminant

Sudden and violent.

fulminant clouding

Sudden stupor or loss of consciousness.

fulminant desertion

The manifestation of critical depletion of qi, blood, yin, or yang occurring suddenly as a result of major blood loss, sweating, diarrhea, or wind stroke, as distinct from vacuity desertion, which occurs after gradual debilitation in enduring sickness.

fulminant desertion of heart qi

Vacuity desertion of heart qi and debilitation of original qi after enduring illness has caused insufficiency of heart qi in elderly patients with debilitated visceral qi when new factors bring on sudden worsening that damages yang and wear qi. The chief signs are unclear spirit-mind, dripping great sweat, and reversal cold of the limbs. Other signs include heart palpitations or fearful throbbing, stifling oppression in the heart and chest, green-blue or purple lips, bright white facial complexion, faint low voice, and weak breathing. The tongue is either pale or green-blue or purple. The pulse is faint and verging on expiration.

Medication: Return yang and stem counterflow. Ginseng and Aconite Decoction, or Ginseng, Aconite, Dragon Bone, and Oyster Shell Decoction.

Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, GV, and HT. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport), CV-14 (Great Tower Gate), GV-26 (Human Center), GV-25 (White Bone-Hole), PC-6 (Inner Pass), GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), CV-8 (Spirit Gate Tower) (moxa) CV-4 (Pass Head), KI-1 (Gush

fulminant downpour

Acute abdominal pain, with sudden bouts of diarrhea characterized by a forceful stream of watery stool or explosive defecation.

fulminant flooding

Sudden bleeding via the vagina unassociated with menstruation. Fulminant flooding arises when sudden anger damages the liver or knocks or falls damage the thoroughfare and controlling vessels, and thus cause frenetic movement of the blood.

Medication: Stanch bleeding with Ten Cinders Powder, as well as with Pure Ginseng Decoction. When the bleeding has subsided, treat according to pattern identification for flooding and spotting.

Acupuncture: (1) Emergency management to stop the bleeding: Base treatment mainly on CV and SP. Select GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), CV-4 (Pass Head), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), SP-1 (Hidden White), and SP-2 (Great Metropol

fulminant reversal

From Elementary Questions. An ancient disease name denoting sudden collapse and loss of consciousness with a pulse that is agitated and racing as if it were panting. See reversal pattern. Compare sudden reversal.

fulminant seasonal cough

Synonyms: seasonal cough.

fume

Of heat evil, to affect organs or parts of the body, e.g., spleen damp-heat fuming up into the lung.