Basic Theories of Traditional Medicine
Basic Theories of Traditional Medicine
This domain tests whether you can use yin-yang, five phases, qi-blood-body fluids, zang-fu, and channel theory to explain health and disease, not merely recite definitions.
Core rules
- Yin-yang are relative, dynamic, and interdependent: excess cold can injure yang, prolonged heat can consume yin. Treat the imbalance, not a fixed label.
- Five phases generate (wood-fire-earth-metal-water) and control (wood-earth-water-fire-metal). In clinical reasoning, Liver wood overacting on Spleen earth can produce irritability, abdominal distension, and loose stools.
- Qi has promoting, warming, defending, holding, and transforming functions. Blood nourishes and moistens; body fluids moisten and lubricate. Qi is the commander of blood; blood is the mother of qi.
- Zang-fu are functional systems. The Lung governs qi and disperses/descends fluids; the Spleen transforms and transports; the Kidney stores essence and governs water.
- Disease arises from six excesses, seven emotions, diet/fatigue, and constitutional factors; pathogenesis includes disharmony, stagnation, deficiency, and phlegm/blood stasis.
Worked example
A patient has irritability, costal distension, poor appetite, and loose stools after stress. The pattern is Liver qi stagnation with Spleen deficiency. Reasoning: stress affects Liver free flow; wood overacts on earth; Spleen transport fails. The principle is soothe Liver and strengthen Spleen, not simply stop diarrhea.
Traps
Do not equate zang-fu with Western organs. Do not memorize five-phase correspondences without direction of generate/control. Do not call every deficiency Kidney deficiency or every stagnation Liver qi. Yin-yang labels must fit the whole pattern.