Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction

Sean StivesHealth Professionals

Interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Eastern approach to medicine and biology

Based on Chi: (life force/energy)

Focus on balance

Two Major Dimensions:

The Five Elements

Yin and Yang

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Yin & Yang

Yin YangCOMPLEMENTS

Dark

Cold

Ventral

Adduction

Light

Warm

Dorsal

Abduction

Can’t have too much of either

Moderation = healthy/orderly

Extreme of one = problems

One always impacts the other

Reason for circles in symbol

Yin & Yang

http://mor.phe.us/writings/Yin-Yang.jpg

The Five Elements

• Fire

• Earth

• Metal

• Water

• Wood

http://english.eastday.com/e/zx/images/01462504.jpg

Meridians: pathways for chi flow

Meridians follow acupoints or “pressure

points”

Each element has corresponding meridians

Meridians polarized as yin or yang

Run bilaterally

Exceptions: Conception and Governing

Meridians

14 Meridians:

2 non-elemental: Conception & Governing

4 Fire Meridians

2 for each other element

Each meridian corresponds with an organ

2 exceptions: Conception & Governing

Meridians

Conception Meridian

Yin polarity

Regulates the 6 Yin

Meridians

No elemental

affiliation

Complement

Meridian: Governing

Meridian

http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/conception-vessel.png

Governing Meridian

Yang polarity

Regulates the 6 Yang

Meridians

No elemental

affiliation

Complement

Meridian: Conception

Meridian

http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/governing-vessel.png

Heart Meridian

Yin polarity

Affects heart, chest,

and blood vessels

Element: Fire

Complement

Meridian: Small

Intestine http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/heart-meridian.png

Small Intestine Meridian

Yang polarity

Affects mental states

& regulates

digestion

Element: Fire

Complement

Meridian: Heart

Meridian

http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/small-intestine-meridian.png

Pericardium Meridian

Yin polarity

Affects chest, heart,

& stomach

Element: Fire

Complement

Meridian: Triple

Warmer Meridianhttp://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/pericardium-meridian.png

Triple Warmer Meridian

Yang polarity

Affects eyes, ears, &

throat

Element: Fire

Complement

Meridian:

Pericardium Meridianhttp://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/triple-burner-meridian.png

Spleen Meridian

Yin polarity

Affects lower

digestion tract &

genitals

Element: Earth

Complement

Meridian: Stomach

Meridian

http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/spleen-meridian.png

Stomach Meridian

Yang Polarity

Affects intestinal

tract, nose, &

mentality

Element: Earth

Complement

Meridian: Spleen

Meridian

http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/stomach-meridian.png

Lung Meridian

Yin polarity

Affect nervous &

respiratory systems

Element: Metal

Complement Meridian:

Large Intestine

Meridian http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/lung-meridian.png

Large Intestine Meridian

Yang Polarity

Affects facial

structures &

intestines

Element: Metal

Complement

Meridian: Lung

Meridian

http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/large-intestine-meridian.png

Kidney Meridian

Yin polarity

Affects waist, bones,

& fluid management

Element: Water

Complement

Meridian: Bladder

Meridianhttp://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kidney-meridian.png

Bladder Meridian

Yang polarity

Affects lumbar

region & head

Element: Water

Complement

Meridian: Kidney

http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/urinary-bladder-meridian.png

Liver Meridian

Yin Polarity

Affects joints,

muscles, abdomen,

& head

Element: Wood

Complement

Meridian:

Gallbladder Meridian

http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/liver-meridian.png

Gallbladder Meridian

Yang polarity

Affects facial

structures & mental

state

Element: Wood

Complement

Meridian:

Liver Meridian

http://intohealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/gall-bladder-meridian.png

Basic interactions between meridians

Used to direct chi flow

Different cycles used for different purposes

Ex:

Creation Cycle

Destruction Cycle

Cycles

Make up fundamental TCM practice

Stimulation of meridians in order delivers

desired effect

Can stabilize and destabilize chi

Cycles

Encourages

growth &

regular function

Restores

normal chi flow

Used in

revival/healing

Cycle of Creation

Fire

Earth

MetalWater

Wood

Fire leaves ashes, creating earth.

Earth yields metal through ores.

Metal melts and becomes liquid (water).

Water nourishes wood.

Wood fuels fire.

Cycle of Creation

Disrupts growth

& regular

function

Obstructs

normal chi flow

Used in martial

arts

Cycle of Destruction

Fire

Earth

MetalWater

Wood

Fire melts metal.

Metal chops wood.

Wood penetrates the earth through roots.

Earth dams water.

Water extinguishes fire.

Cycle of Destruction

Online: YinYangHouse.com

In Print:

Essential Anatomy for Healing and Martial Arts

by Mark Tedeschi

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