Every time I have a new patient, I start with the 8 Principles first, then I go more in depth with the other patterns of differentiation in order to make a proper TCM diagnosis. This intro to TCM Diagnosis made easy is all about the basics of the 8 principles and how to apply them in clinical practice.
Hope you enjoy this post and keep rocking it using TCM!
Clara
TCM Geek
PS: If you want more, check out all my TCM Foundation made easy videos!
The 8 Principles in Chinese Medicine
In Chinese medicine, we are able to use the following pattern differentiation in order to make a proper TCM Diagnosis:
- The 8 principles: Yin-Yang, Hot-Cold, Internal-External, Excess-Deficiency.
- The 5 elements and their sequences. (Controlling, generating, insulting).
- The 4 Vital Substances: Qi, Blood , Body Fluids, Essence.
- The Zang-Fu organs: 5 Yin and 6 Yang organs, and 6 extraordinary organs.
- Pathogenic Factors: wind, cold, heat/fire, damp, dry, summer-heat.
- The 6 Stages: Tai Yang, Yang Ming, Shao Yang, Tai Yin, Shao Yin, Jue Yin.
- The 4 Levels: Wei, Qi, Ying, Blood.
- 3 Jiao (Burners). Upper, middle and lower Jiao.
- The Meridians.
The 8 Principles are used to determine if the patient is more Yin or Yang, has more Cold or more Heat, if the problem is more Internal or more External, and if this is more an Excess or a Deficiency issue.
- Exterior: affect the skin, muscles & channels (mostly Defensive Qi). Acute conditions caused by pathogenic factors (wind-heat or wind-cold), and slower onset affecting the channels (arthritis).
- Interior: affect the Organs (Yin & Yang). Mostly chronic conditions may be caused by anything.
- Excess: usually affected by pathogenic factors and body not weak.
- Deficiency: no pathogenic factors and weakness of body.
- Excess & Deficiency: may be found often on patients. If the pathogenic factor lingers too long, the condition will become chronic and be def. complicated with excess.
- Heat: Excess (Excess Yang) & Deficiency (Yin def.).
- Cold: Excess (Excess Yin) & Deficiency (Yang def.).
- Yin & Yang: generalizing the other 6 principles.
My comment is using “chanels”, instead of ” stages ” to describe the six chanels differenciation which is really a special method to make the diagnosis according to the occurrence, progress, transmission and prognosis of diseases in six chanels.
Good idea Sophia! I was taught from the classic Shan Han Lun and it was all stages, so I use that word because it was something I learned in that way 🙂
What is the condition of the tongue with Yin Excess and Yang Deficiency?
Many different conditions, depending on symptoms.
Hi Clara, enjoying and loving your content as always! Perfect presentation ?
I have a question with regards to acute and chronic conditions; how long would symptoms/condition need to last for it to be considered chronic according to TCM?
Thank you
So happy you enjoy my content!
It depends on the condition 🙂
If it’s a cough, and the patient is still coughing after 4 weeks, that’s concerning, and could become chronic. But basically after 3 months, that’s often a chronic issue now.