Traditional versus modern Acupuncture
DISEASE CLASSIFICATION BY THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES (the EIGHT TYPES)
The Eight Principles classify disease by 4 categories:
a.Yin orYang
b.Hot orCold
c.Shi (Excess) orXu (Deficiency)
d.External orInternal.
a. Yin and Yang Syndromes
Balance of Yin and Yang Qi is the normal state. Disease is classified according to its disturbance of Yin and Yang Qi. However, Yin organs may have Yin or Yang diseases (and Yang organs likewise). If Yin or Yang (or both) deviate from the normal level, a state of relative Excess (Shi) or Deficiency (Xu) exists.
|
Yintype |
Yangtype* |
|
| Activity | Hypo-withdrawn ,inhibited, quiet | Hyper-, excited, fidgety |
| Body and limbs | Cold, seeks warmth | Hot, avoids warmth |
| Pulse | Deep and slow | Shallow and fast, bounding |
| Tongue | Pale, moist | Red, dry, coated |
| Respiration | Feeble | Rapid and strong |
| Thirst | No | Yes |
| Urine | Clear, copious | Scanty, coloured |
| Complexion, skin | Pale | Red |
| Attack site** | Interior, deep (internal organs) | Exterior, superficial (Channels and their collateral branches) |
| Onset | Cause chronic | Cause acute |
| Progression | Inwards and downwards | Outwards and upwards |
* Moxa (heat cautery) is usually contraindicated in Yang and Hot Syndromes.
** Internal or External attack sites can not always be classified as Yin or Yang respectively. Yin organs can be attacked by Yang diseases and vice versa.
Collapse of Yang and the Collapse of Yin are other Yin-Yang Syndromes:
Collapse of Yang: Profuse cold sweat; respiration feeble; pallor; prefers hot drinks; skin cool; limbs cold; dislikes cold; listless; pulse of Xu type (thready and fading); tongue pale and moist.
Collapse of Yin: Sticky sweat; respiration rapid and short; face red; thirst and prefers cold drinks; skin hot; limbs warm; dislikes heat; restless; pulse of Xu type (thready and rapid); tongue red with little saliva.
To complicate matters, the law of Yin-Yang implies that change can occur; one Syndrome can change to another: "Cold with fullness moves downwards and transforms into Heat; Heat, with fullness, moves upwards and transforms into Cold" (Turner and Low, 1981). Also, some of the features of Cold and Hot Syndromes can give misleading impressions of Yin-Yang balance- they may be False Yin or False Yang conditions. Collapse of Yang resembles a false Yin Syndrome and Collapse of Yin resembles a false Yang Syndrome.
b. Hot and Cold Syndromes
Hot Syndromes are caused by pathogenic Heat, Summer Heat and Dryness (3 of the Six Evils). Cold Syndromes are caused by pathogenic Cold. Also, Excess (Shi) of Yin or Yang can cause Cold and Hot Syndromes of the Shi type respectively.
Cold Syndrome of the Shi (Excess Yin) type: Chills; limbs cold; no thirst; pallor; excess sputum; asthmatic breathing; indigestion; vomiting; abdominal pain, worse on pressure; stools loose; urine clear and copious; pulse deep and slow; tongue pale with white sticky coating; craves warmth.
Hot Syndrome of the Shi (Excess Yang) type: Continuous high fever; thirst; face flushed, eyes red; abdomen full and distended, worse on pressure; consciousness; delirium; constipation; urine concentrated; pulse rapid; tongue red to deep red, with dry yellow coating; craves cold.
