Five phase theory and its use in medicine

EXERCISES ON FIVE PHASE THEORY

If you wish to master the use of the Five Phase Points, you must practice with many different problems, until you are fully familiar with Sheng, Ko and Luo uses. As a test of your grasp of the therapy, please study the entire paper (up to this point) again. Then attempt the following questions. Use the Five Phase diagram to help you.

QUESTIONS: Which points would be used in Five Phase and Luo Theory to solve the following problems? (My answers are on the next page).

Q01 ----- HT in Excess and LI Deficient Q02 ----- SP in Excess and KI Deficient Q03 ----- LV in Excess and LI Deficient Q04 ----- ST in Excess and BL Deficient Q05 ----- SP in Excess and ST Deficient Q06 ----- GB in Excess and KI Deficient Q07 ----- BL in Excess and KI Deficient Q08 ----- LI in Excess and ST in Excess Q09 ----- SP Deficient and ST Deficient Q10 ----- BL in Excess Q11 ----- LU Deficient Q12 ----- BL and KI Deficient with SP and ST in Excess Q13 ----- BL Deficient and ST in Excess Q14 ----- GB in Excess and LI Deficient

ANSWERS: The following are my answers. Other solutions are possible but these are the most efficient solutions (in my opinion!). You MUST begin with the Deficient COS. In the Sheng Cycle, Qi is transmitted only from Yang to Yang or from Yin to Yin. In the Ko Cycle, Qi is transmitted only from Yang to Yin or from Yin to Yang. 

Q1

Fire Point of LI (fills LI from HT, via Ko Cycle). 

Q2

Earth Point of KI (fills KI from ST, via Ko Cycle). Then Luo Point of ST (fills ST by emptying SP). Alternative 2: Metal Point of KI (fills KI from LU, via Sheng Cycle). Then Earth Point of LU (fills LU from SP). Alternative 3: Luo Point of KI (fills KI from BL). Then Earth Point of BL (fills BL from SP, via Ko Cycle). 

Q3

Earth Point of LI (fills LI, empties ST, via Sheng Cycle). Then Wood Point of ST (fills ST and drains LV, via Ko Cycle). Alternative 2: Fire Point of LI (fills LI by draining HT in Ko Cycle). Then Wood Point of HT (fills HT from LV in the Sheng Cycle). This is a bad solution because of the effect on the HT COS.

Q4

Metal Point of BL (fills BL from LI via Sheng Cycle). Then Earth Point of LI (fills LI from ST, via Sheng Cycle). Alternative 2: Luo Point of BL (fills BL, empties KI). Then Earth Point of KI (fills KI, draining ST, via Ko Cycle). Both solutions are equally good.

Q5

Luo Point of ST

Q6

Earth Point of KI (fills KI, empties ST via Ko Cycle). Then Wood Point of ST (fills ST, empties LV, via Ko Cycle). Then Luo Point of LV (fills KI, empties ST, via Ko Cycle). Then Luo Point of ST (fills ST, empties SP). Then Wood Point of SP (fills SP, empties GB, via Ko Cycle). Both are equally good solutions.

Q7

Luo of KI

Q8 to 11 were trick questions. The Sheng/Ko/Luo methods do NOT apply in such cases: there is no way to balance these cases by internal adjustment of Qi by AP. Some external help is needed here, according to classical concepts. However, modern texts on AP do not always obey classical concepts. This will be discussed in the next section.

Q8

Trick question! Balance by classic AP needling is not possible here. Use vomition, purgation, fasting, enemas etc to empty the ST and LI.

Q9

Trick question! In this case SP (which follows ST in the Diurnal Qi Cycle) is probably empty because the ST is empty. Eat something, especially sugar!

Q10

Trick question! There is no imbalance within or between the Phases here! Empty the bladder (urinate!)

Q11

Trick question! There is no imbalance. LU Deficient (sleepiness, drowsiness, poor energy) often occurs in seminar rooms with poor ventilation and tobacco smoke. Open the windows and get some fresh air! Deep breathing exercises!

Q12

Earth Point of BL (fills BL, drains SP, via Ko Cycles) and Earth Point of KI (fills KI, drains ST, via Ko Cycle).

Q13

Earth Point of BL (fills BL, empties SP, via Ko Cycle). Then Luo Point of SP (fills SP, drains ST). Alternative 2 (equally good): Metal Point of BL, then Earth Point of LI (fills BL from LI and fills LI from ST via Sheng Cycle).

Q14

Earth Point of LI (fills LI, empties ST, via Sheng Cycle). Then Fire Point of ST (fills ST, empties SI, via Sheng Cycle). Then Wood Point of SI (fills SI, drains GB, via Sheng Cycle). Alternative 2: Luo Point of LI (fills LI, empties LU). Then Fire Point of LU (fills LU, empties SI, via Ko Cycle). Then Wood Point of SI. Alternative 3: Luo Point of LI (fills LI, empties LU). Then Earth Point of LU (fills LU, empties SP, via Sheng Cycle). Then Wood Point of SP (fills SP, drains GB, via Ko Cycle). Other alternatives are possible but avoid draining the HT in this case.

If you have answered Q1 to Q14 correctly, you have excellent knowledge of the classic system of point selection by the Five Phases and Luo principles. All that remains for you to learn is the location of the Phase Points and Luo Points! (see the paper "The Study of AP: Sources and Study Techniques").

If you have done badly in these questions, please study this paper again and repeat the test. If, despite repeated attempts, you fail to grasp the concept, please do not despair! Leave if for a few weeks and try again later. You will succeed if you want to.