Traditional Chinese medicine has a long and complex history, yet the basic principles at the heart of practice remain, and are just as important today. Without a solid grounding in these basic theories, effective practice cannot take place, and this book provides a complete introduction to everything that practitioners, both new and experienced, need to know. The authors outline all of the fundamental theories of the TCM approach, including yin/yang, the five elements, the zang and fu organs, Zang Xiang, Qi and the meridians and collaterals of the body. Explaining the basic principles upon which these elements work, and how they interrelate, the authors describe how they can be used to identify, treat and prevent ill-health and disease.
Introduction. The Formation and Development of TCM. Formation of the theoretical systems of TCM. Development of the theoretical systems of TCM. The Basic Characteristics of TCM. The holistic concept. Treatment based on differentiation of syndromes.; 1. The Theories of Yin-Yang and Five Elements. The Theory of Yin and Yang. The concept and characteristics of yin-yang. Category of yin-yang attribution. Basic content of yin-yang. The Application of the theory of yin-yang in TCM. The Theory of the Five Elements. Basic concept of the five elements (Wu Xing). Main content of the five elements. Application of five elements in Chinese medicine.; 2. The Theory of Zang-Fu Organs. Brief Introduction. Basic conception of Zang Xiang theory. Common physiological characteristics of Zang Xiang. Formation of Zang Xiang theory. Main characteristics of Zang Xiang theory. Difference between ''zang-fu'' and ''visceral organ''. Five Zang Organs. The heart. The lung. The Spleen. Liver. Kidney. Six Fu Organs. Gallbladder. Stomach. Small Intestine. Large Intestine. Urinary Bladder. Triple Energizer. The Extra Fu Organs. Brain. Uterus. The Relationships Among the Zang and Fu Organs. The relationships between the zang organs. The relationship between the fu organs. The relationship among Zang-Fu organs.; 3. Qi, Blood and Body Fluid. Qi. The concept of qi. The formation of qi. The physiological function of qi. The movements of qi and the forms of movements. Distribution and classification of qi. Blood. The concept of Blood. Formation of Blood. The Functions of Blood. The circulation of blood. Body Fluids. The concept of body fluids. The formation, distribution and secretion of the body fluids. The function of the body fluids. The Relations Among the Qi, Blood and Body Fluids. The relationship between qi and blood. The relationship between qi and body fluids. The relationship between blood and body fluids.; 4. Meridians and Collaterals. Brief Introduction. The Concept of the Meridians and Collaterals & Their Composition. The concept of the meridians and collaterals. Composition of the meridians and collaterals. Functions of the meridians and collaterals. The Twelve Main Meridians. Nomenclature of the twelve main meridians. The regulation of the running courses and cyclical flow of qi. Distribution. Cyclical flow of qi in the twelve main meridians. Exterior - interior relationship. The courses of the twelve main meridians. The Eight Extra Meridians. Concept. Function. The Governor Vessel. The Conception Vessel. The Thoroughfare Vessel. The Belt Vessel. The Yin Heel and Yang Heel Vessels. The Yin Link and Yang Link Vessels. The Divergent Meridians, Collaterals, Muscle Regions and Cutaneous Regions. Concept, running course and function of the divergent meridians. Concept and function of collaterals. Concept and function of the muscle regions. Concept and Function of the Cutaneous Regions. 5. Etiology and Occurrence of Diseases. Introduction. Etiology. Concept and Classification of etiology. Concept of six exogenous factors and their characteristics in causing diseases. Six exogenous factors. Pestilence. Seven emotional factors. Irregular food intake, over - strain and stress or lack of physical exercise. Traumatic injuries. Stagnation of phlegm or blood. Principle for the Onset of Diseases. Basic principle for the onset of diseases. Environment and onset of diseases.; 6. Pathogenesis. Prosperity and decline of pathogenic qi and anti-pathogenic qi. Prosperity and decline of pathogenic qi and anti-pathogenic qi. Transformation of the disease. Disharmony of yin-yang. Concept. Excess of yin-yang. Deficiency of yin-yang. Mutual consumption if yin and yang. Yin or yang kept externally. Collapse of yin and collapse of yang. Dysfunction of qi and blood. Deficiency of qi. Disturbed qi activity. Deficiency of blood. Stagnation of blood. Heat in blood. Dysfunction of qi and blood. Disorder of body fluid metabolism. Insufficient body fluid. Disturbance in distributing and excreting of body fluid. Relationship between qi, blood and body fluid. Interior pathogenic factors. Stirring up of interior wind. Production of interior cold. Production of interior damp. Dryness due to over-consumption of body fluid. Generation of interior fire. Pathogenesis according to meridians and collaterals.; 7. Prevention of Diseases and Principles of Treatment. Prevention. Concept and principles of treatment. Principles of treatment. Setting up the principles of treatment. Application of the principles of treatment.
Although the lucidity of this textbook would have been even more leveraged in the first few years of my OM studies, I find its clarity of context heady refreshment as I am approaching the end of my third decade of practice.
