Five phase theory and its use in medicine
RULES OF USE OF FIVE PHASE POINTS
The use of the Phase Points, together with the Luo (passage) Points is easy to understand in principle, if one grasps the following rules:
- Therapeutic Qi can be transferred along the Sheng Cycle from Yin to Yin or Yang to Yang only.
- Therapeutic Qi can be transferred along the Ko Cycle from Yin to Yang or Yang to Yin only.
- Therapeutic Qi can be transferred via the Luo (passage) Points from Yin to Yang or Yang to Yin only, and only between linked COSs: LU <-> LI; ST <-> SP; HT <-> SI; BL <-> KI; PC <-> TH; GB <-> LV. These linked COSs are always within the same Phase, i.e. LU, LI = Metal; ST, SP = Earth etc.
When solving a problem of Qi transfer to balance imbalances in the COSs, many solutions are possible. The ideal solution uses the shortest possible route (i.e.) the fewest possible number of needles. A solution may involve either or both of the Sheng and Ko Cycles and/or 1 or 2 Luo Points. Most solutions require no more than 3 points and many can be solved with 1 or 2 points only.
ALWAYS BEGIN BY STRENGTHENING A DEFICIENT COS. Some examples follow. See diagram below:
a. HT Deficient with SI Excess. This is very simple. The imbalance is within the same Phase (Fire). A needle in the Luo Point of HT (Yin) will drain the Excess from its linked COS, SI (Yang) and replenish the HT Qi at the same time.
b. HT Excess with SI Deficient. Similar to (a) but the Deficiency is in the Yang member of the linked pair. Needle the Luo Point of SI (Yang).
In both of the above cases, the imbalance was within one Phase, with no other imbalances. Therefore, only the Luo Point is used and there is no reason to use the Phase Points.
c. HT (Fire) Deficient with LV (Wood) Excess. This one is easy as Wood supplies from Yin to Yin. One needle in the Wood Point of HT drains the Excess from LV and fills the Deficiency in HT at the same time.
d. SI (Fire) Deficient and GB (Wood) in Excess. Similar to (c) but the Yang COSs are involved. Solution: needle the Wood Point of SI. This drains GB and fills SI via the Sheng Cycle.
e. SI (Fire) Deficient with LV (Wood) in Excess. Though the Sheng Cycle can move the Excess from Wood to Fire, it requires 2 points. First needle the Wood Point of SI. This fills SI but drain GB via the Sheng Cycle (Qi goes Yang to Yang). Then needle the Luo Points of GB to fill GB and drain the Excess from LV at the same time.
f. HT (Fire) Deficient and GB (Wood) in Excess. Similar to (e). First needle the Wood Point of HT, filling HT and draining LV via the Sheng Cycle (Yin to Yin). Then needle the Luo Point of LV. This fills LV by draining the Excess from GB (its linked COS).
g. HT (Fire) in Excess and LV (Wood) Deficient. One solution is to needle the Metal Point of LV, filling LV and draining LV by the Ko Cycle (Qi goes from Yang to Yin). Then needle the Fire Point of LV, filling LV and draining the Excess from HT via the Ko Cycle (Yin to Yang transfer) at the same time.
h. SI (Fire) in Excess with LV (Wood) Deficient. Solution 1: Needle the Metal Point of LV, filling LV and draining LI by the Ko Cycle, as in (g). Then needle the Luo Point of LI, filling LI and draining LU. Then needle the Fire Point of LU, filling LU and draining SI (via Ko Cycle) at the same time. Solution 2: Needle Metal Point of LV; then Fire Point of LI (fills LI by draining HT, via Ko Cycle); then Luo Point of HT (fills HT and drains SI at the same time). Solution 2, although possible, is not as good as solution 1, as it drains HT before refilling it. In general DO NOT DRAIN HT UNLESS HT IS IN Excess (danger of fainting or heart failure).
i. LI (Metal) in Excess with HT (Fire) Deficient. Two solutions, both equally good, are possible: HT03 plus BL40 (solution 1) or HT09 plus LI04 (solution 2). Other solutions are possible, but less efficient. Solution 1: Fill HT from BL, suing Water Point of HT (via Ko Cycle). Then fill BL from LI, using the Metal Point of BL (via Sheng Cycle). Solution 2: Fill HT from LV (via Sheng Cycle) by Wood Point of HT. Then fill LV from LI (via Ko Cycle), using the Metal Point of LV.