TCM Dictionary - Search Explorer
The TCM Dictionary is massive, so the fastest way to find something is to search. As an example, try a search for 'liver qi'. The more obscure the TCM concept, the better. The dictionary combines terms, definitions, medications, and acupuncture prescriptions.
There are 129 terms starting with "N"
nail
The horny plate at the end of each finger and toe. See nails are the surplus of the sinews.
nail press needle insertion
nails are the surplus of the sinews
Both the nails and the sinews are associated with the liver. When the sinews are healthy, the nails are hard and supple. When the sinews lack strength, the nails are thin and weak.See also liver, its bloom is in the nails.
nasal congestion
Blockage of the nose impairing the sense of smell. Nasal congestion is attributed to nondiffusion of lung qi due wind-cold or wind-heat. In wind-cold patterns, it is attended by heat~effusion, aversion to cold, headache and generalized pain, white tongue fur, and a floating pulse. In wind-heat patterns, it is accompanied by heat~effusion, thirst, and runny nose with turbid snivel (nasal mucus). Nasal congestion is also a principal sign of nasal polyp.
Medication: Treat wind-cold patterns by coursing wind and dissipating cold with Apricot Kernel and Perilla Powder. Treat wind-heat patterns by coursing wind and clearing heat with Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Beverage. For external treatment, insufflate powdered g
Acupuncture: Main points: LI-20 (Welcome Fragrance), LI-4 (Union Valley), GV-23 (Upper Star), and GB-20 (Wind Pool). Selection of points according to pattern: For wind-cold, add TB-5 (Outer Pass) and LU-7 (Broken Sequence), needling with drainage and adding moxa. For
nasal inoculation
Inoculation against smallpox by introducing fluid or scab matter from pox sores into the nose of healthy individuals. This discovery was made in the Ming Dynasty between the years 998 and 1022.See smallpox.
nasal insufflation
The blowing of powdered medicinals into the nose. For example, chronic paranasal sinusitis ( deep-source nasal congestion) can be treated with an insufflation of calcined and ground otolith (Pseudosciaenae Otolithum) together with a little borneol (Borneolum) into the nose. Common cold with nasal congestion can be treated by insufflating finely ground centipeda (Centipedae Herba cum Radice).
nasal mucus
Synonyms: snivel.
nasal orifices
The nostrils as a orifices.
nasal passages
The nostrils and nasal cavity.
nasal polyp
Synonyms: nose pile.
A growth inside the nose, causing blockage of the airways, and, in severe cases, deformation of the nose. Nasal polyps arise when wind, dampness and heat stagnate in the lung channel.
Medication: Magnolia Flower Powder.
natural moxibustion
Synonyms: medicinal-induced blister moxibustion.
nature and flavor
Synonyms: qi and flavor.
nature-preservative burning
Synonyms: nature-preservative calcination.
nature-preservative calcination
nausea
The desire to vomit. Nausea normally portends vomiting; like vomiting, it is a sign of stomach qi ascending counterflow, which can arise in a variety of stomach disorders including stomach vacuity and cold, heat, dampness, phlegm or food stagnation in the stomach
Medication: Use the method of harmonizing the stomach and rectifying qi. Combine it with warming the center for stomach cold, with draining fire for stomach heat, with drying dampness and transforming phlegm for phlegm-damp, and with abducting dispersion for food sta
nausea and vomiting
Desire to vomit and actual vomiting.See nausea; vomiting.
navel
Synonyms: umbilicus.
nearsightedness
Ability to see close but not distant objects clearly. Nearsightedness is attributed to superabundance of yin and insufficiency of yang, or to congenital causes.
Medication: Supplement the liver and kidney using Long Vistas Pill or Mind-Stabilizing Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points and local points. Select BL-1 (Bright Eyes), BL-2 (Bamboo Gathering), ST-1 (Tear Container), GB-20 (Wind Pool), BL-18 (Liver Transport), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), and GB-37 (Bright Light); needle with even su
neck
The part of the body that joins the head to the trunk. Morbid changes in the neck include goiter, scrofula, phlegm node, and mouth-level nape flat-abscess. If these are soft to the touch, the pattern is generally one of binding depression of phlegm and qi. If the nodes are hard to the touch and static, the pattern is one of congealing stagnation of qi and blood. Conspicuous throbbing of the man's prognosis pulse (at the common carotid artery) accompanied by cough, panting, or water swelling, generally indicates heart-lung qi vacuity or heart-kidney yang vacuity.
neck bone
The cervical spine.
needle
Any instrument, usually of metal, used to puncture the skin and flesh in acupuncture. The most commonly used type of needle in modern acupuncture is the filiform needle, which is a modern finer version of the filiform needle that figured among the nine needles of antiquity. Other commonly used needles include the plum-blossom needle and the three-edged needle.
needle
To puncture with a needle as in acupuncture. To perform acupuncture.
needle breakage
Breaking of an acupuncture needle below the skin; usually occurs with eroded, chipped or otherwise damaged needles in patients who move unduly after needle insertion.
needle embedding
Synonyms: needle implantation.
needle extraction
Removing acupuncture needles from the flesh. Needle extraction is performed according to the following guidelines: (1) Rotate the needle slightly as it is withdrawn to prevent its adhesion to body tissues. (2) Withdraw the needle to just below the skin and then retain it at this depth for a few seconds before it is fully withdrawn. This procedure will generally prevent bleeding and reduce post-needling pain. (3) After withdrawing the needle, wipe the point with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab. (4) Withdraw needles inserted in the eye region slowly and carefully.
needle flicking
A needle manipulation involving the flicking of the handle of an acupuncture needle as a method of obtaining qi.
needle implantation
Synonyms: needle embedding.
The embedding or implantation of intradermal needles such as wheat-grain or thumb-tack needles in the skin for extended periods. The needles are retained from 1 to 3 days---shorter periods in warm weather, and longer periods in cold weather. The patient should be encouraged to keep the area of insertion clean to avoid infection. These needles are generally inserted in the back or limbs and treat various types of chronic, stubborn, or painful diseases such as headache, hemilateral headache, back pain, stomach pain, ribs-side pain, sprained ankles, hypertension, wheezing and panting, menstrual irregularities, deviated eyes and mouth, enuresis, frequent urination, and impediment .
needle insertion
The introduction of an acupuncture needle into the body. There are various different insertion techniques, most of which involve the use of both hands. Two-handed needle insertion techniques include finger-press needle insertion, skin-pinching needle insertion, skin-spreading needle insertion, and tube insertion. There is also a single-handed needle insertion. Needles may inserted at different angles.See oblique insertion; perpendicular insertion; transverse insertion.
single-finger needle insertion
two-finger press needle insertion
skin-pinching needle insertion
skin-spreading needle insertion
tube insertion
single-handed needle insertion
needle manipulation technique
Any manual movement of an acupuncture needle. See entries listed below.
Basic Techniques
needle rotation
needle pounding
needle flicking
needle twisting
needle waggling
needle retraction
needle removal
needle scratching
lifting and thrusting
Simple supplementation and drainage (s & d) techniques
neutral s & d
directional s & d
rotating s & d
quick and slow s & d
lifting and thrusting s & d
respiratory s & d
open and closed s & d
nine and six s & d
Complex methods
penetrating heaven cooling method
burning mountain fire method
needle pounding
Synonyms: pounding.
A needle manipulation technique whereby the needle, after insertion, is repeatedly raised and thrust between two levels of the flesh. Needle pounding differs from lifting and thrusting by absence of variation in speed between retraction and thrusting and by a shorter span of movement. It produces even supplementation and drainage, whereas lifting and thrusting is normally used to supplement or drain.
needle removal
The removal of an acupuncture needle from the body. One hand is placed close to the needle to hold the site firm, while the other lifts the needle, usually twirling it to facilitate movement.
needle retention
Leaving acupuncture needles in place for a certain time after insertion. In modern practice needles are often left in place for a period ranging from several minutes to two hours depending on the particular condition. This allows for application of other stimulation methods such as warming the needle, electrical stimulation, or intermittent manipulation. Often needles are retained with little or no additional manipulation. Needle retention in general can increase the ability of a point to relieve pain and quiet the spirit. Some specific treatments require needle retention to achieve satisfactory results. For example, treatment of intestinal welling-abscess (appendicitis) or panting generally involves the retention of needles for at least half an hour. The patient must be instructed not to move while the needles are in place. Pain resulting from a change in posture can be relieved by withdrawing the needle to a level just beneath the skin, and then reinserting it to its proper depth.
needle retraction
The lifting of an inserted needle so that the point of the needle approaches but does not leave the skin.
needle rotation
Synonyms: needle twirling.
A needle manipulation technique whereby, after insertion, the needle is turned in alternating directions by rubbing it between the thumb and index finger. Needle rotation is used during needle insertion and withdrawal to facilitate the vertical movement of the needle, and otherwise to provide supplementation or drainage. See rotating supplementation and drainage.
needle scratching
Scratching the handle of the needle upward or downward with the finger nail after insertion to encourage the obtaining of qi and intensify the needle sensation.
needle sensation
The physical sensation felt in response to needling.
needle sickness
Sickness induced by acupuncture treatment and characterized by dizziness, vomiting, oppression in the chest, somber white complexion, fixed eyes and torpid spirit, and, in severe cases, cold sweating and reversal cold in the limbs. Needle sickness is usually the result of of excessively strong needle manipulation in persons who are unused to acupuncture treatment, are nervous, tired, hungry, or in a weak state of health.
needle twirling
Synonyms: needle rotation.
needle twisting
Synonyms: unidirectional twirling.
A needle manipulation technique whereby the needle, after being inserted, is twisted in one direction as cotton is twisted to make a thread. This method produces a strong needle sensation. It should be applied gently without excessive force to prevent the needle tip catching on the flesh, which can cause pain.
needle waggling
A needle manipulation technique whereby, after insertion of the needle, the acupuncture point is held firmly with one hand, while the body of the needle is moved to and fro with the other hand.
needle-driving method
needle-picking therapy
Synonyms: picking therapy.
nest of essence
The place where essential qi is stored.
The eye socket.
net
Synonyms: connect.
To link; of channels, to link up with the exterior organ corresponding to the governing viscus, e.g., the hand greater yin lung channel ``nets'' the large intestine.
netting and homing
The connection between channels and their associated organs. For example, the foot yang brightness stomach channel ``homes'' to the stomach and ``nets'' the large intestine, the organ that stands in exterior-interior relationship with the stomach.
network point
The point at which a network vessel separates from its main channel is the network point of that channel. For example, the network vessel of the hand reverting yin pericardium channel splits from the main channel at PC-6 (Inner Pass), thus PC-6 is the network point of the pericardium channel. Each channel that possesses its own points has a network point; thus each of the twelve regular channels and the governing and controlling vessels have network points. Two network vessels are associated with the spleen: the spleen network vessel, and the great network vessel of the spleen. Each of these has a network point. Hence there are in total fifteen network points. In addition, Elementary Questions also mentions the great network vessel of the stomach, Vacuous Li as a network point; hence there is also a doctrine of sixteen network vessels and sixteen network points.
network stroke
Wind stroke in which the evil is in the network vessels. Network stroke is marked by deviated eyes and mouth, and insensitivity of the skin, but not by difficulty of speech or hemiplegia that characterize channel stroke.
network vessel
Branches of the channels that enmesh the body. (1) In a broader sense, ``network vessel'' denotes any of the fifteen network vessels, the network vessels (in the narrower sense), and grandchild network vessels. Fourteen vessels connect the twelve regular channels, and the governing and controlling vessels. These together with the great network vessel of the spleen constitute the fifteen network vessels (also called diverging network vessels). (2) In the narrow sense, ``network vessel'' denotes the branches of the fifteen network vessels, which enmesh the whole body, the smaller branches of which are known as the grandchild network vessels. (3) ``Network vessel'' also denotes any of the small branches of the network vessels in the surface of the body that are more precisely as superficial network vessels. Thus network vessel pricking means pricking of the superficial network vessels, which in this context are often referred to as blood network vessels. Note that while the superficial network vessels are actual blood vessels, other parts of the channel and network vessel system have no clear correspondence to the circulation system described by modern anatomy since the pathways of qi and blood were never clearly distinguished.
network vessel pricking
From The Magic Pivot. One of the nine needling methods. Bloodletting by pricking the small vessels with a three-edged needle.See bloodletting.
neutral cause of disease
One of the three causes of disease; includes dietary irregularities, taxation fatigue, falls, and animal and insect bites.See three causes.
neutral supplementation and drainage
Synonyms: even supplementation and drainage.
new contraction
Contraction of a new evil that stirs a deep-lying evil in the body. New contractions of warm disease immediately give rise to an exterior pattern of aversion to cold and stir the deep-lying evil to produce signs of internal heat.
new contraction stirring latent evil
new contraction warm disease
A warm disease that emerges as soon as the evil is contracted, as distinct from latent qi warm disease, which remains latent for some time before emerging. A new contraction may, under circumstances, stir evil present in the body. This is called new contraction stirring latent evil.
night blindness
Synonyms: sparrow vision.
night cough
Cough occurring only at night and not in the day. Night cough is attributable to depletion of kidney yin and yin vacuity fire flaming upward. The cough comes in continual bouts that do not abate until dawn. In some cases there may be bitter mouth and rib-side pain, and poor appetite.
Medication: Nourish yin and downbear fire with Yin-Enriching Clearing Transforming Pill or Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill plus asparagus (Asparagi Tuber) and ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber).
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, LU, and KI. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), BL-43 (Gao-Huang Transport), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), and KI-6 (Shining Sea); needle with supplementation or with even supplementation and drainage.
night crying in infants
Persistent abnormal crying of infants in the night. Night crying is usually attributable either to spleen cold or heart heat. Spleen cold patterns are characterized by green-blue or white complexion, cold limbs, no desire for milk or food, abdominal pain, and bending of the waist when crying. Heart heat patterns are characterized by a red facial complexion, warm hands and abdomen, warm breath, vexation and agitation, aversion to lights and fire, and crying in supine posture.
Medication: Needle with even supplementation and drainage at Quiet Sleep, Hall of Impression, and SI-3 (Back Ravine), and apply three cones of moxa at GV-20 (Hundred Convergences).
night sweating
Synonyms: thief sweating.
Sweating during the night that ceases on awakening and that generally occurs in patients suffering from yin vacuity. Night sweating is attributable to insufficiency of heart blood, yin vacuity internal heat, and spleen vacuity damp encumbrance.
nighttime anal itch
The main sign of pinworm disease.
nine and six supplementation and drainage
A method of supplementing and draining in acupuncture that involves lifting, thrusting, and rotation actions perform in sequences of six or nine, and that is based on the yin-yang significance of odd and even numbers. The ancient Chinese believed that yang numbers were odd and belonged to heaven, while yin number were even and belonged to earth, and hence that supplementation could be achieved by sequences of nine, and drainage through sequences of six. For example, to supplement, a sharp thrust and gentle lift or an anticlockwise rotation is performed nine times. Once qi is obtained, another sequence of nine can be performed after a brief interval. One more sequence is then performed to make three sequences and a total of 27 movements of the needle. To drain, a gentle thrust and sharp life or a clockwise rotation is performed six times. If the evil is still exuberant, the sequence is performed again after a short interval. A third sequence then makes 18 movements of the needle. Numerical determination of supplementation and drainage is now no longer considered to be of practical benefit, and the method is now rarely used.
nine needles
Nine ancient kinds of needle. See entries listed below.
The Nine Needles
chisel needle
round needle
arrowhead needle
sharp-edged needle
sharp round needle
sword needle
filiform needle
long needle
large needle
nine needles for returning yang
Nine points used in the treatment of yang collapse. See the list below.
Nine Needles for Returning Yang
GV-15 (Mute's Gate)
PC-7 (Great Mound)
SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection)
KI-1 (Gushing Spring)
KI-3 (Great Ravine)
CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct)
GB-30 (Jumping Round)
ST-36 (Leg Three Li)
LI-4 (Union Valley)
Three of the points, KI-3 (Great Ravine), LI-4 (Union Valley), and PC-7 (Great Mound) are also source points.
nine needling methods
From The Magic Pivot. Nine ancient methods of needling. See the entries listed below.
The Nine Needling Methods
transport needling
distant needling
channel needling
network vessel pricking
parting needling
great drainage needling
hair needling
great needling
red-hot needling
nine orifices
The two ears, two eyes, two nostrils, mouth, anterior yin (urethra) and posterior yin (anus).
Two ears, two eyes, two nostrils, mouth, tongue, and throat (according to The Classic of Difficult Issues.
nine worm diseases
From The Origin and Indicators of Disease. Latent worm disease; roundworm disease; whiteworm disease; flesh worm disease; lung worm disease; stomach worm disease; weak worm disease; redworm disease; pinworm disease. By and large, worm patterns are attributable to spleen-stomach vacuity, indiscriminate consumption of cold raw or rich sweet fatty foods, and improper cooking. The most important of the worm patterns are roundworm, inch whiteworm, redworm disease, and pinworm. See also worm accumulation
Medication: Worm patterns are treated by expelling worms, by fortifying the spleen and boosting the stomach, and by dispersing food and abducting stagnation.
nineteen fears
Nineteen medicinals standing in a relationship of awe, i.e., a relationship in which one medicinal's toxicity or action is counteracted or reduced by another or others. See the list below. See also seven relations.
The Nineteen Fears
sulfur (Sulphur), fears impure mirabilite (Mirabilitum Non-Purum)
mercury (Hydrargyrum) fears sublimed arsenic (Arsenicum Sublimatum)
Chinese wolfsbane (Stellerae seu Euphorbiae Radix) fears litharge (Lithargyrum)
croton (Crotonis Semen) fears morning glory (Pharbitidis Semen)
clove (Caryophylli Flos) fears curcuma (Curcumae Tuber)
tooth niter (Nitrum Dentatum), fears sparganium (Sparganii Rhizoma)
aconite main tuber (Aconiti Tuber) fears wild aconite (Aconiti Tsao-Wu-Tou Tuber) and rhinoceros horn (Rhinocerotis Cornu)
ginseng (Ginseng Radix) fears flying squirrel's droppings (Trogopteri seu Pteromydis Excrementum)
drg fears halloysite (Halloysitum Rubrum)
nineteen pathomechanisms
From Elementary Questions. Nineteen laws associating signs or patterns to certain evils or organs etc.
The Nineteen Pathomechanisms
all wind with shaking and visual dizziness is ascribed to the liver
all cold with contracture and tautness is ascribed to the kidney
all qi rushing and depression is ascribed to the lung
all dampness with swelling and fullness is ascribed to the spleen
all heat with visual distortion and tugging is ascribed to fire
all painful and itching sores are ascribed to the liver
all reversal with constipation or diarrhea is ascribed to the lower body
all wilting wei3, panting, and retching are ascribed to the upper body
all clenching, shuddering, and chattering of the jaws with the seeming loss of the spirit is ascribed to fire
all tetany and rigidity of the neck is ascribed to dampness
all counterflow upsurging is ascribed to fire
all major abdominal distention is ascribed to heat
all excessive agitation and mania is ascribed to fire
all fulminant rigidity is ascribed to wind
all diseases with abdominal sounds, where tapping makes a drum-like sound, are ascribed to heat
all diseases with aching pain and swelling of the instep, fright and fear are ascribed to fire
all cramp, arched-back rigidity, and turbid watery humors are ascribed to heat
all disease with watery humors that are clear, pure, and cold is ascribed to cold
all sour retching and vomiting, and fulminant downpour with lower body distress are ascribed to heat
nipple
The dark-colored protruding head of the breast in the female, and in males in the corresponding position. The nipples belong to the liver and diseases of them are often treated through the liver channel.
nipple moth
Synonyms: baby moth.
nipple wind
Synonyms: cracked nipple.
A disease of the nipple or areola characterized by painful fissuring, bleeding, and exudation of sticky fluid and sometimes with scabbing.
Medication: Treat by clearing the liver and draining fire with formulas such as Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction taken orally and Flesh-Engendering Jade and Red Paste applied topically. For damp ulceration, apply an ointment composed of 20 calcined alum (Alumen Calc
no desire for food and drink
no desire to eat despite hunger
Poor appetite with hunger. No desire to eat despite hunger occurs in the following situations: With clamoring stomach characterized by scorching heat sensation, red tongue with scant fur, it indicates insufficiency of stomach yin and vacuity fire. In such cases, the lack of desire to eat is explained by the insufficiency, whereas the presence of hunger is explained as result of the vacuity fire. With dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia, forgetfulness, and dry throat and tongue, it is attributed to insufficiency of kidney yin and frenetic movement of the ministerial fire. In advanced stages of febrile disease with lassitude of spirit, lack of strength, and dry tongue with little liquid, it is a sign of insufficiency of stomach yin resulting from qi, blood, and liquid depletion when the evil has abated. See poor appetite.
no pleasure in eating
no thought of food and drink
nocturia
Synonyms: profuse urination at night.
node
Any small abnormal lump under the skin that feels like the stone of a fruit. Scrofula, for example, takes the form of numerous subcutaneous nodes. See scrofula; phlegm node.
node in the breast
Synonyms: mammary node.
noisy nose
From On Cold Damage. Wheezing or hissing sound in the nose due to nasal congestion.
nonchannel point
Any point not belonging to channel.
nonclosure of the birth gate
Synonyms: nonclosure of the jade gate.
Failure of the birth gate to resume normal form after giving birth. Nonclosure of the birth gate is attributed to major postpartum qi-blood vacuity preventing normal contraction or physical damage to the birth gate during delivery. Vacuity patterns are characterized by shortage of qi and laziness to speak, somber white complexion, and spontaneous sweating. They are treated by major supplementation of qi and blood using formulas such as Perfect Major Supplementation Decoction. Where swelling, pain, and heat because of injury to the birth gate during delivery are the main features, treatment centers on clearing heat and resolving toxin with formulas such as Free Wanderer Powder plus moutan (Moutan Radicis Cortex), schizonepeta (Schizonepetae Herba et Flos), lonicera (Lonicerae Flos), and forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus). If the swelling has dispersed but the birth gate still fails to close, Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction should be used. In any case, a concentrated decoction of licorice can be used as an external wash.
nonclosure of the fontanel gate
nonclosure of the fontanels
Synonyms: ununited skull.
nonclosure of the jade gate
Synonyms: nonclosure of the birth gate.
noncontraction of heart qi
nondistribution of pulmonary liquid
Breakdown of the lung's function of distributing liquid, giving rise to panting and cough. The lung receives essential qi sent from the spleen, and works with the heart to distribute essential qi around the body. When the lung is scorched by heat, lung yin is damaged, normal fluid distribution is upset, and the skin and hair are deprived of moisturization. When the lung is fettered by cold, it fails to move liquid, so that water collects to form rheum. The result in either case is the formation of phlegm, which causes panting and cough.
nondownbearing of stomach qi
Synonyms: impaired harmonious downbearing of the stomach.
Disturbance of the normal downbearing of stomach qi. Stomach qi normally bears downward carrying food downward to the intestines. Impaired downbearing is characterized by no thought of food and drink, fullness and distention or pain in the stomach. When stomach qi does not bear downward, it ascends counterflow, manifesting as vomiting, belching, and hiccough. See stomach qi ascending counterflow.
noninteraction of the heart and kidney
Synonyms: breakdown of heart-kidney interaction.
A disorder of the normal relationship between heart yang and kidney yin. Insufficiency of kidney yin or stirring of heart fire may be the cause of the disorder. Signs include heart vexation, insomnia, profuse dreaming, heart palpitations or fearful throbbing, and seminal emission.
Medication: Use Coptis, Ass Hide Glue, and Egg Yolk Decoction or Peaceful Interaction Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, HT, and KI. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), KI-3 (Great Ravine), KI-1 (Gushing Spring), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), PC-8 (Palace of Toil), PC-7 (Great Mound), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersecti
nonscarring moxibustion
A method of direct moxibustion whereby the moxa cone is removed before it burns the skin. Cones are burned until the skin at the point turns red. Take care to avoid accidental scarring when using this technique. Nonscarring moxibustion is less drastic than scarring moxibustion and is used for mild vacuity cold patterns. Some sources state that extinguishing the cone by pressing it to the skin supplements, and that removing it before extinguishing it drains.
nonseparation of grain and water
Scant urine and thin sloppy stool arising when water-damp collects and fails to pass out in the urine.
nontransformation of food
Partially digested food in the stool due to impaired digestion. Nontransformation of food most commonly occurs in spleen vacuity, spleen-kidney yang vacuity, large intestinal vacuity, or cold accumulation patterns, but may also be observed in heat diarrhea.See also swill diarrhea; throughflux diarrhea.
nontransformation of grain and water
Synonyms: nontransformation of food.
nonupbearing of clear yang or qi
Synonyms: clear yang failing to bear upward.
nonupbearing of spleen qi
Debilitation of spleen qi affecting its normal upbearing; characterized by lusterless facial complexion, dizziness, tendency to sweat, shortness of breath, reduced food intake, fatigue, abdominal distention, sloppy stool, pale tongue with white fur, and moderate vacuous pulse. In some cases, there is flowery or blurred vision, tinnitus, and eating without being able to distinguish flavors. If due to damp turbidity and food stagnation, there may be signs such as clouded heavy head, fatigue, no desire for food, abdominal distention or pain and distention, a thick slimy tongue fur, and a sunken moderate pulse.
noodle-type food damage
normal pulse
With approximately four beats per respiration, the normal pulse is steady and even. The normal pulse has a threefold significance: (1) Its smoothness and strength indicate the presence of spirit. (2) It is neither sunken nor floating, and the beat rises and falls evenly and effortlessly, indicating the presence of stomach qi. (3) Strength at the deep level indicates the presence of root. See stomach, spirit, and root.
normal tongue fur
A thin layer of fur on the tongue observed in healthy people and attributed to upward steaming of stomach qi. Any deviation from this may be pathological.
normalizing qi
Synonyms: downbearing counterflow and precipitating qi.
normalizing qi and transforming phlegm
A method of treatment used to address phlegm bind and fullness in the chest, cough and counterflow qi, with copious phlegm and food stagnation, using formulas such as Three-Seed Filial Devotion Decoction and Qi-Normalizing Phlegm-Abducting Decoction.
northern and southern dynasties
The name of a dynastic period ( 420--581).
northern dynasties
The name of a dynastic period ( 386--534).
northern qi
The name of a dynasty ( 550--577).
northern song
The name of a dynasty ( 960--1127).
northern wei
The name of a dynasty ( 386--534).
northern zhou
The name of a dynasty ( 557--581).
nose
Synonyms: bright hall.
An organ located in the center of the face, through which great qi (air) enters the lung; the external orifice of the lung.
nose beam
Synonyms: nose pillar; region below the lower extreme.
The stem of the nose.
nose pile
Synonyms: nasal polyp.
nose pillar
Synonyms: nose beam; region below the lower extreme.
The stem of the nose.
nosebleed
Spontaneous bleeding from the nose. Nosebleed is attributable to lung heat congesting in the upper body, stomach heat steaming upward, effulgent liver fire, head wind, liquor damage, lung-stomach yin vacuity, repelled yang, or external injury.
not knowing hunger or satiety
not to change one's clothes
From On Cold Damage. An ancient euphemism for constipation.
nourish
nourishing the blood
Synonyms: supplementing the blood.
nourishing the blood and emolliating the liver
Synonyms: emolliating the liver.
nourishing the blood and moistening dryness
A method of treatment used to address blood vacuity constipation characterized by dry stool that is difficult to evacuate and that is accompanied by somber white complexion, lack of redness and moisture in the lips and nails, periodic dizziness, heart palpitations, soft pale tongue body, and rapid fine pulse.
Medication: Commonly used blood-nourishing dryness-moistening medicinals include tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens), hemp seed (Cannabis Semen), peach kernel (Persicae Semen), and bitter orange (Aurantii
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on alarm, back transport, and lower uniting points of LI, and on other back transport points. Select BL-25 (Large Intestine Transport), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen T
nourishing the blood and resolving the exterior
A method of treatment used to address yin-blood depletion with common cold characterized by headache, generalized heat~effusion, slight aversion to cold, absence of sweating, soft-red tongue with little fur, and a rapid soggy pulse.
Medication: A commonly used blood-nourishing exterior-resolving formula is Scallion White Seven-Ingredient Beverage.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP, ST, LR, GB, LU, and LI. Needle with supplementation at BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge), with drainage at GB-20 (Wind Pool), T
nourishing the fluids
nourishing the heart and quieting the spirit
A method of treatment used to address disquieted heart spirit due to heart blood depletion characterized by heart palpitations, susceptibility to fright, forgetfulness, insomnia, abstraction, profuse dreaming and seminal emission, dry bound stool, mouth and tongue sores, red tongue with scant fur, and a rapid fine pulse.
Medication: A commonly used heart-nourishing spirit-quieting formula is Biota Seed Heart-Nourishing Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on BL-15 (Heart Transport), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), HT-8 (Lesser Mansion), PC-4 (Cleft Gate), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and PC-5 (Intermediary Courier).
nourishing the liver
Synonyms: emolliating the liver.
nourishing the stomach
Synonyms: enriching and supplementing stomach yin.
nourishing yin
Synonyms: supplementing yin.
nourishing yin and clearing the lung
A method of treatment used to address lung heat and yin vacuity. The method of nourishing yin and clearing the lung is used for two distinct conditions. (1) Yin vacuity sore throat or diphtheria.
Medication: Use Yin-Nourishing Lung-Clearing Decoction. Use Four Yin Brew, consisting of dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber), white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba), lily bulb (Lilii Bulbus), adenophora/glehnia (
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on KI and LU. Select KI-3 (Great Ravine), KI-6 (Shining Sea), and LU-10 (Fish Border); needle with even supplementation and drainage. Selection of points according to signs: For pronounced swelling and pain, prick LU-11 (Lesser Shan
nourishing yin and moistening dryness
Synonyms: enriching yin and moistening dryness.
A method of treatment used to address damage to lung-stomach yin by dryness, characterized by dry pharynx and thirst, postmeridian generalized heat~effusion, red tongue, a rapid fine pulse, and sometimes cough with scant phlegm, or constipation.
Medication: A commonly used yin-nourishing dryness-moistening formula is Adenophora/Glehnia and Ophiopogon Decoction. If there is constipation, Humor-Increasing Decoction may be used.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, LU, KI, ST, and SP. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport), BL-43 (Gao-Huang Transport), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), KI-6 (Shining Sea), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection); nee
nourishing yin and resolving the exterior
Synonyms: enriching yin and resolving the exterior.
numbing wind
Leprosy. See pestilential wind.
numbness
numbness and tingling
Loss of normal sensation in the skin and flesh. Numbness is described as absence of itching or pain that is insensitive to pressure. Tingling is classically described as ``bugs crawling in the flesh'' unrelieved by pressure. See numbness and tingling of the skin.
numbness and tingling of the skin
Loss of normal sensation in the skin. Numbness and tingling are attributable to wind-damp pestilential qi, phlegm-damp obstruction, qi-blood vacuity, or blood stasis.
numbness of the tongue
A lack of sensation in the tongue. Numbness of the tongue is attributable to liver wind stirring internally, to blood vacuity, or to phlegm obstruction.