Chapter 6 of the Su Wen introduces the concept of channels “opening onto the exterior” (or being the “opening”), closing onto the interior (or “being the door leaf”) and being the pivot (or hinge). In this chapter the order for the Yang channels is as follows: Tai Yang opens Yang Ming closes Shao Yang is … Read More
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Cervical Dysplasia in Chinese Medicine
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also known as cervical dysplasia and cervical interstitial neoplasia, is the potentially premalignant transformation and abnormal growth (dysplasia) of squamous cells on the surface of the cervix. Most cases of CIN remain stable, or are eliminated by the host’s immune system without intervention. However a small percentage of cases progress to … Read More
Rebellious Qi of the Chong Mai in Acupuncture
Rebellious Qi of the Chong Mai is a relatively common pathology; it is more common in women than men. In women, I have seen at all ages, from teenagers to women over 65. The first mention of Rebellious Qi of the Chong Mai is in chapter 29 of the Nan Jing: “The pathology of the … Read More
Pre-Order Today! The Practice of Chinese Medicine: Third Edition
Pre-order The Practice of Chinese Medicine: The Treatment of Diseases with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, 3rd edition. Textbook written by Giovanni Maciocia, describes the application of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory to the diagnosis and treatment of 48 diseases, conditions, and disorders, including common, chronic and acute conditions that clinicians may see in their practice. … Read More
Tongue Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine – A Swollen Tongue
I frequently hear that a Swollen tongue indicates Qi deficiency. It is not so! In my experience, a Swollen tongue indicates Phlegm. But let us start by describing it first. A tongue is “Swollen” when the whole body is larger than normal. Crucially, a Swollen tongue is also somewhat rounder than a normal tongue. In … Read More
Phlegm, Blood Stasis and Internal Wind – Geriatrics in Chinese Medicine
The thinking about geriatrics in Chinese medicine has been dominated by Kidney deficiency for centuries. As Kidney-Jing declines as we age, the clinical approach to the treatment of the elderly has been based largely on tonifying the Kidneys. However, modern diseases of the elderly that account for 90% of mortality (cancer, heart disease and stroke) … Read More
Stagnation of Lung-Qi and Heart-Qi in Chinese Medicine
Liver-Qi stagnation is one of the most “popular” diagnoses among Western practitioners. Liver-Qi stagnation is certainly very common but, in my opinion, it is over-diagnosed and over-emphasized. Besides that, it is hardly ever mentioned that practically every organ – not just the Liver – may be subject to Qi stagnation. For example, the following organs … Read More
The Clinical Use of the Heart Channel in Acupuncture
The Heart houses the Shen and its most important clinical use is for mental-emotional problems. This article will explore the clinical use of the Heart channel for uses other than for mental-emotional problems. Itching Sexual function in men Connection with Uterus in women Backache in men Nausea, vomiting Calm “nerves” in asthma Tremors Knee Eyes … Read More
Tongue Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine – Chest/Breast Area
The “chest/breast” area is on the sides of the tongue, between the centre part and the tip. The chest area reflects a pathology of three organs: heart or lungs in men and women or breast in women. The chest area reflects pathologies of the lungs, heart or breast but in a Western medical sense. A … Read More
The Clinical Use of the Back-Shu Points in Acupuncture
When giving my lectures I was often surprised by the fact that many practitioners do not use the Back-Shu points very much. In this short article I explain how I use the Back-Shu points in practice. The Back-Shu points are mentioned in various chapters of the Nei Jing. Chapter 51 of the “Ling Shu” lists … Read More