THE LIVING TAO : TIMELESS WISDOM FOR THE MODERN WORLD

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 23 - Basic Questions - Illuminating the Five Qi 宣明五气

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, Chapter 23, details the relationships between the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) and the human body. It explores the five flavors, their effects on the organs, and associated disorders. The text further describes the five essences, their connections to emotions, and the five organs' aversions and produced fluids. Finally, it examines the five types of disease manifestations, pernicious forces, and pulse qualities, along with their prognoses and implications for treatment. Essentially, the chapter offers a comprehensive system of understanding health and illness based on the five-element theory.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 24 - Basic Questions - On Blood, Qi, Form, and Spirit 血气形志

This Chapter from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine discusses the relationships between blood and qi in the body, detailing their distribution across different meridians. It explains how to locate specific acupuncture points on the back and how to treat illnesses based on the interplay between physical form and emotional state, categorizing these into five distinct patterns. Finally, it provides guidelines on needling techniques to release either blood or qi depending on the specific meridian and imbalance. The text emphasizes the importance of balancing internal forces to restore harmony and health.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 25 - Basic Questions - Treatise on Preserving Life and Safeguarding the Form 宝命全形论

This Chapter is a dialogue from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 25, focusing on preserving life and health. The Yellow Emperor questions Qi Bo, a renowned physician, about treating illnesses that have deeply affected the body. Qi Bo explains the principles of acupuncture, emphasizing the importance of understanding the body's harmony with nature, the interplay of yin and yang, and the precise timing of treatment. He describes five essential acupuncture practices and stresses the importance of calming the spirit before treatment. The conversation highlights the holistic approach to healing, linking the patient's inner state with the natural world.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 26 - Basic Questions - The Divine Pivot of the Eight Essentials 八正神明论

This Chapter from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine details acupuncture principles. Qi Bo, a renowned physician, instructs the Yellow Emperor on the importance of aligning acupuncture treatments with celestial cycles (sun, moon, stars) and seasonal energies (eight essentials). The text emphasizes harmonizing the patient's qi with these natural rhythms, using techniques of tonification and draining. Qi Bo further distinguishes between "form" (observable symptoms) and "spirit" (intuitive understanding), highlighting the skilled practitioner's ability to perceive subtle energetic imbalances. Finally, it stresses the importance of timing and precision in treatment for optimal results.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 27 - Basic Questions - Discerning True and Evil Qi 离合真邪论

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, Chapter 27, presents a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and Qi Bo on diagnosing and treating illness using acupuncture. The discussion centers on differentiating between true and pathogenic qi within the body's meridians. Qi Bo explains how to assess the flow of qi, using methods like palpation and needle manipulation to either drain excess pathogenic qi or tonify deficient true qi. Emphasis is placed on proper timing and understanding the body's energetic flow to avoid harming the patient. Failure to properly understand the body's energetic state can lead to detrimental consequences.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 28 - Basic Questions - Discussion on Distinguishing Deficiency and Excess 通评虚实论

This Chapter is a dialogue from the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, exploring the diagnosis and treatment of illness based on the principles of deficiency (虚, xū) and excess (实, shí). Qi Bo, a renowned physician, explains how these imbalances manifest in the pulse, body, and seasons, offering guidance on differentiating between various conditions of deficiency and excess. The discussion covers a wide range of symptoms and ailments, emphasizing the importance of accurate pulse diagnosis and seasonal considerations for effective treatment. Specific acupuncture and moxibustion techniques are recommended for restoring balance. The text ultimately highlights a holistic approach to healthcare, connecting the internal state of the body to external factors.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 29 - Basic Questions - On Taiyin and Yangming 太阴阳明论

This Chapter is a dialogue from the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, exploring the interplay between Yin and Yang energies in the body, particularly concerning the Spleen and Stomach. Qi Bo, explaining to the Yellow Emperor, details how imbalances in these energies manifest differently depending on their location (internal/external) and affect specific organs and bodily functions. The discussion also addresses the Spleen’s role in nourishing the limbs and its relationship with the Stomach, clarifying why it doesn't govern a single season despite its central importance. The text highlights the interconnectedness of organs and energy pathways within Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 30 - Basic Questions - On the Yangming Channel 阳明脉解

This ancient Chinese medical text, a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and his physician Qi Bo, explains the symptoms and causes of ailments related to the Yangming channel, a meridian associated with the stomach. Specific symptoms, such as aversion to fire, wood sounds, and people, are linked to the channel's elemental imbalances and energetic excesses. The discussion explores the relationship between the Yangming channel's function and various physical manifestations, including unusual behaviors like discarding clothing, climbing, and singing, and the potential for life-threatening consequences if the illness affects internal organs. Qi Bo's explanations detail the physiological mechanisms behind these unusual symptoms, grounded in the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
chat_mirrorView Chat
 

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 31 - Basic Questions - Discussion on Fevers 热论

This Chapter is a dialogue from The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, exploring the causes and progression of feverish illnesses. Qi Bo, a renowned physician, explains the sequential involvement of different meridians (energy channels) over six days, leading to death if two channels are simultaneously affected by cold. He details symptoms for each affected channel and outlines treatment strategies based on the illness duration, emphasizing avoiding meat consumption during recovery. The discussion also distinguishes between warm and heat diseases depending on their timing relative to the summer solstice and advocates for promoting sweating in heat illnesses.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 32 - Basic Questions - Treating Fevers with Needling 刺热

This Chapter from The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine details traditional Chinese medicine approaches to treating fevers. The text describes different fever types based on their origin in specific organs (liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidney), each with unique symptoms and acupuncture points for treatment. It outlines diagnostic indicators like facial redness and pulse characteristics, and provides specific needling techniques to alleviate symptoms and induce sweating. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of considering the timing of treatment based on cyclical influences, and the potential for fatal outcomes if treatments are ineffective or improperly applied. The text also notes adjunctive therapies such as administering cool water and resting in a cool place.