Principles of Chinese Medicine PDF

P R I N O F
C I P L E S
CHINESE
MEDICINE
What it is and
how it works
ANGELA HICKS
Second Edition
Principles of
Chinese Medicine
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Principles of
Chinese
Medicine
What it is, how it works, and
what it can do for you
Second Edition
Angela Hicks
London and Philadelphia

This edition published in 2013
by Singing Dragon
an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers
116 Pentonville Road
London N1 9JB, UK
and
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First published in 1996 by Thorsons, an imprint of HarperCollins
Copyright Angela Hicks 1996, 2013
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ISBN 978 1 84819 130 3

eISBN 978 0 85701 107 7
Contents
Authors Note 10
Acknowledgements 11
Introduction 13
The differences between Chinese medicine and Western medicine 14
Treatment using Eastern and Western medicine 17
The principles of Chinese medicine 18
1 The Theory of Chinese Medicine:
The Linking Thread 20
What is the theory of Chinese medicine? 20
What is meant by yin and yang? 21
What are the four aspects of yin and yang? 21
How are yin and yang useful for Chinese medical practitioners? 23
How can Chinese medicine be used to balance yin and yang? 24
How do yin and yang affect our life cycles? 25
What are yin and yang Organs? 27
What are the Vital Substances? 28
How do the Vital Substances and the Organs interact? 28
What is Qi? 29
What does Chinese medicine mean by Blood? 32
What is the Shen or Mind-spirit? 33
What is Jing-essence? 34
What are Body Fluids? 36
How do these Substances influence each other? 37
What are the Five Elements? 37
How do the Elements interact? 38
What are the Five Element associations? 40
2 How Disease Arises and the Art of
Staying Healthy 42
So how does disease arise? 43
What are the internal causes of disease? 43
How do emotions cause disease? 43
How can climatic conditions cause disease? 45
How is knowledge of external causes useful to a patient? 47
What do we mean by the miscellaneous causes of disease? 49
How do balanced amounts of work and rest prevent disease? 49
How can exercise benefit my health? 50
In what way can sex become a cause of disease? 51
How is physical trauma a cause of disease? 51
Do I have to know the cause of my problem? 52
How are the causes of disease used in diagnosis and treatment? 53
3 Putting it all Together: Diagnosis in
Chinese Medicine 55
How long will the diagnosis take? 55
What should I expect at the diagnosis? 56
How does a practitioner diagnose using the pulse? 56
What is tongue diagnosis? 58
How is the theory of Chinese medicine used to create a diagnosis? 59
4 Acupuncture Treatment: Balancing
Your Qi 62
What is acupuncture? 63
What are the meridians or channels? 64
Where are the channels and how many are there? 64
What are acupuncture points? 68
Tender points 68
Can the channels be felt? 69
What can acupuncture treat? 71
What is being treated like? 74
How long will each treatment take? 74
How does the theory of Chinese medicine apply to acupuncture? 76
What are the needles like? 77
How do acupuncturists ensure good standards of hygiene? 77
How does the acupuncturist know where to put the needles? 79
Can I still have acupuncture if Im not ill? 80
How will I feel immediately after a treatment? 81
How much treatment will I need? 82
How does the practitioner know treatment has worked? 84
How is moxibustion used? 84
What is cupping therapy and how is it used? 86
What is guasha and how is it used? 87
When might electro-acupuncture be used? 88
What is auricular acupuncture? 89
Treatment using auricular acupuncture 89
Research into the effects of acupuncture 90
5 Chinese Herbal Medicine: Remedies to
Restore Your Qi 92
What is Chinese herbal medicine? 94
How does Chinese herbal medicine differ from Western herbs? 96
How are the herbs categorised? 97
What is meant by a herbal prescription? 98
How does the herbalist create a prescription? 101
How are the herbs prepared? 101
What is the difference between dried herbs, tinctures and powders? 102
What kinds of herbs are used in a prescription? 105
Are any animal products used in Chinese herbal medicine? 106
How are herbs regulated? 106
How is the theory of Chinese medicine used when a herbalist
diagnoses a patient? 107
What problems are commonly treated by herbs? 110
Current research into Chinese herbs 110
What do the herbs taste like? 111
What are the five tastes and what do they do? 111
What are the four energies and how are they used? 113
How often will I need to visit my herbalist and for how long? 114
6 Qigong Exercises: Transforming
Your Qi 117
How has Qigong developed? 118
What is Qigong? 119
What are the benefits of practising Qigong? 119
How could Qigong improve or maintain my health? 120
How do people use Qigong for spiritual development? 123
Can Qigong really be used to heal people? 123
What do the different Qigong practices have in common? 125
How does the theory of Chinese medicine fit in with
Qigong practice? 126
Why is it important to activate the lower dan tian? 127
How do I activate the lower dan tian? 127
What are the different types of Qigong exercises? 130
Some important principles for good Qigong practice 136
How will I feel while practising Qigong? 138
How will I feel immediately after practising Qigong? 140
Do I need to have a teacher? 141
How do I find a good teacher? 142
How much do I need to practise? 142
Where should I practise? 143
7 Tui Na Chinese Massage: Feeling
Your Qi 145
What is tui na? 146
The roots of tui na 146
What is the difference between tuina and other styles of massage? 147
What will happen when I first come for treatment? 149
How is the theory of Chinese medicine used by a practitioner
of tui na? 149
What illnesses can tui na help? 150
What will I experience during the treatment? 152
What are tui na massage techniques like? 153
What areas of the body will the practitioner treat? 155
What skin preparations will the practitioner use? 156
Will the practitioner ever manipulate my spine? 157
How long will a tui na treatment take? 158
How often will I need to come for treatment? 158
How will I feel immediately after the treatment? 160
Can I use massage techniques on myself ? 160
8 Chinese Dietetics: Nourishing
Your Qi 163
How does the theory of Chinese medicine apply to diet? 165
What are the best proportions of grains, pulses, vegetables,
fruit and meat in the diet? 167
Is it better to be a vegetarian or a meat eater? 171
How is the temperature of food important in our diets? 174
Should we eat cooked or raw food? 177
How are the flavours of food important for maintaining
our health? 180
How can we ensure that the food we eat is of good quality? 182
How is it best to eat our food? 185
When is it best to eat? 187
What foods can I avoid for specific health problems? 188
Are there any foods that I can include in my diet for specific
health problems? 189
How should I go about changing my diet? 191
Will changing my diet be enough to restore my health? 192
9 Which One Shall I Choose? The Right
Treatment for Me 194
How do I decide whether I need treatment? 194
So which treatment shall I choose? 196
We have a preference for one particular treatment 196
Choosing a therapy 198
Whats the best way to find a good practitioner? 198
How can I tell if my practitioner is well qualified? 199
How can I tell that this practitioner is right for me? 200
Should I consult my doctor before going to a practitioner? 201
What if I am already taking prescribed drugs for my condition? 202
How can I keep myself healthy? 202
A positive attitude 203
A final thought 204
References 205
Further Reading 207
Acupuncture 207
Herbs 207
Qigong 208
Tui na 208
Diet 209
General 209
Useful Contacts 210
UK 210
US 211
Europe 212
Australia 214
Canada 215
Index 216
Authors Note
This book is written as an informative guide to Chinese

medicine and is not meant as a self-help book for treatment.
I have capitalised Chinese medicine terminology in order
to differentiate it from standard English terms. For instance,
the Liver in upper case indicates the Chinese medicine term
(i.e., the Liver and its Chinese medicine functions). The liver
in lower case indicates the liver as it is described in Western
medicine.
10
Acknowledgements
My thanks to all of the people who have helped me to write

this book.
First, thank you to all of the patients who talked with me
about their experiences of acupuncture. Thanks also to the
patients of Tony Brawn and Caroline Root who allowed me
to interview them about their experiences of taking herbs,
patients of Sarah Pritchard who talked about receiving tui na
and patients of Jill Glover and Leslie Jenkins who discussed
changes to their diet. Thanks as well to all of those people
who informed me of their experiences of practising Qigong
or who filled in questionnaires about it. The names of all
patients have been changed to protect confidentiality.
Second, thanks to the practitioners who helped me with
essential information that Ive used in this book and to Judith
Clark for so thoroughly reading through and proofing the
chapters. Also thanks to Bill Ryan for his advice on the
Qigong chapter, Kevin Young for the tui na chapter and
Michael Pringle for the Chinese herbal medicine chapter.
Many people have helped me to deepen my appreciation
of Chinese medicine. JR Worsley trained me to understand the
underlying essence of a patient. Bruce Frantzis, my Qigong
teacher, has enabled me to increase my understanding of
Qigong. Im also grateful to Rose Gladden, the healer, who
while she was alive was a major influence on my awareness
of holistic treatment and healing the spirit.
My thanks to Jessica Kingsley, Victoria Peters and
Bethany Gower, and all at Singing Dragon for their support
and care bringing this book to print.
Many thanks and huge love to John, my husband, who
unfailingly supports and encourages me.
11
Introduction
The aim of this book is to give you a clear explanation about

Chinese medicine and its therapies acupuncture, Chinese
herbs, tui na massage, Qigong exercises and diet.1
I have practised Chinese medicine since 1976 and since
that time the only Western medicine treatment I have taken
is one aspirin. I am now in my 60s and have stayed healthy
through having treatment from these five therapies.
This does not mean that I havent been ill. I have. But,
in general, Chinese medicine treatment has nipped any
problems in the bud and kept me well. My passion for
Chinese medicine has never left me and I feel privileged to
have been able to give treatments, teach and keep well for
all this time.
When I first studied acupuncture it was the main
Chinese medicine treatment available in the West. Reference
to acupuncture all that time ago often met with a blank
look or possibly an expression of puzzlement. Many doctors
at that time showed hostility at its very mention.
Now there are many more qualified practitioners of
Chinese medicine. These treatments are better understood
and a realistic choice for many people who wish to use a
natural medicine with few side effects.
There is no need to make a choice between Chinese
medicine and Western medicine we can use both and both
are useful in different situations. For example, if I broke my
arm I would certainly go to the accident and emergency
department first! Fortunately, practitioners of both Chinese
1 These are all described in the chapters that follow.
13
14 Principles of Chinese medicine
and Western medicine are more mutually respectful than

they were in the past. They know that each has a completely
different, but valuable, perspective on treatment.
There have also been many misunderstandings in the
past, not least because of a difference in language. Chinese
medicine tends to use more poetic terms when diagnosing
and treating. For example, a practitioner talks about yin and
yang, Qi, and Jing-essence or Wind and Dampness. You
will read more about these terms in Chapters 1 to 3 and will
hopefully understand that they are quite practical and down
to earth in their usage and that Chinese medicine has its own
clear, although different, logic.
So lets compare Chinese medicine with Western
medicine so that we can assess how each one is used in
treatment.
The differences between Chinese

medicine and Western medicine
Chinese medicine tends to do the following things:
Treat the person rather than the symptoms

We could say that Chinese medicine treats people while
Western medicine treats diseases. A Chinese medicine
practitioner will look at the whole person and the underlying
reasons for her or him becoming ill. In comparison, Western
medicine will pay more attention to treating the persons
symptoms.
For example, when considering a symptom such as a
headache, a Chinese medicine practitioner looks for the
underlying cause and will ask patients about the nature
of their symptoms as well as observing their tongue and
feeling 12 pulses on the wrist. The cause may be a number
of different possibilities, including the functioning of the
Introduction 15
Liver, Kidney or Spleen energy.2 Treatment will aim to help

the person to achieve a better balance in their energy so the
cause of the headaches is eliminated.
Western medicine practitioners are more likely to focus
on clearing the symptoms of the headache directly. To this
end they may also ask about the nature of the headache,
but their treatment is different. They will usually prescribe a
painkiller or another medicine to stop the symptom of pain
without looking at why the problem has arisen in the first
place.
Generalise rather than specialise

Because Chinese medicine is holistic, practitioners tend to
be generalists rather than specialists. Western medicine, on
the other hand, tends to value specialism over generalism.
If a patient has a number of different symptoms a
Chinese medicine practitioner will look for patterns to see
how the signs and symptoms are connected. In comparison,
if a patient with a number of symptoms visits a Western
medicine doctor they could be given tablets for each
condition or be sent to different clinics.
For instance, a patient who feels depressed and has
irregular periods and digestive problems, such as alternating
constipation and diarrhoea, may be diagnosed by a Chinese
medicine practitioner as having a pattern of Liver Qi
stagnation. The symptoms would all be seen as stemming
from the same root. All symptoms would therefore be dealt
with by the same treatment.
The same patient might be given medicines or need
to attend a number of different Western medicine clinics
for their gynaecological symptoms, their irritable bowel
2 This is translated as Qi in Chinese medicine. I will use the term energy until
Qi is explained in the first chapter.
syndrome and their mental health problems. Each symptom

would be dealt with by different treatments and would not
be seen to be connected.
Prescribe individualised rather

than blanket treatments
A Chinese medicine practitioner who has two patients with
the same condition will not necessarily treat them in the
same way. In comparison, a Western medicine practitioner
is likely to give the same treatment for similar conditions.
Lets take a patient with asthma, for example. Chinese
medicine will look at the nature of each individuals asthma.
Some patients asthma might be caused by Lung weakness,
whilst others might be caused by Phlegm blocking the
Lungs. Still others may be caused by Kidney weakness or
obstructed Liver energy. Depending on the diagnosis, each
patient will have a unique diagnosis and will be treated in a
different way. In general, Western medicine practitioners will
treat all asthma sufferers in a similar way and a doctor will
usually prescribe inhalers.
See body and mind as connected rather than separate

Chinese medicine describes all problems as coming from an
underlying imbalance in a patients energy. If the energy is
imbalanced, a person will feel out of sorts on many levels.
This can cause physical, mental and emotional signs and
symptoms. In order to remedy this, the energy is rebalanced
so that the patient feels better in body, mind and spirit.
Western medicine, on the other hand, will tend to diagnose
and treat the body and mind separately.
For example, if a patient comes to a Chinese medicine
practitioner with extreme fear and anxiety and an achy back,
the Chinese medicine practitioner might treat this persons
Introduction 17
Kidney energy and help both problems simultaneously. A

Western medicine doctor on the other hand might treat
them separately and give the patient antidepressants and
painkillers.
Use observations rather than tests

Chinese medicine and Western medicine practitioners
diagnose patients differently. A Chinese medicine practitioner
will use observation and palpation as well as questioning in
order to reach a diagnosis. A Western medicine practitioner,
on the other hand, will tend to ask questions and then might
send a patient for tests to confirm a diagnosis.
For example, in the case of a patient with a joint problem,
a Chinese medicine practitioner will probably palpate the
patients joint, notice the range of movement, feel for the
temperature and then diagnose which acupuncture channel
is most affected and whether the condition is full or
deficient, or hot or cold. A Western medicine practitioner
might carry out some palpation but may rely more heavily
on a scan to see more clearly what is going on.
Treatment using Eastern and Western medicine

Research is now playing its part in helping us to judge
which treatments can benefit our health. The National
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE),3 which
produces guidelines on best practice, now recommends that
general practitioners (GPs) offer a course of ten sessions
of acupuncture as a first-line treatment for persistent, non-
specific low back pain. This is a small, but significant, step
towards recognising Chinese medicines value.
3 NICE provides independent, authoritative and evidence-based guidance to the

NHS and other bodies based on the most effective ways to prevent, diagnose
and treat disease and ill health.
This recognition follows many research studies that

have shown that acupuncture can help people with backache
in many ways and is significantly better than no treatment
and at least as good as, if not better than, standard medical
care for back pain (Witt, 2006; Haake, 2007; Cherkin,
2009). It appears to be particularly useful as an adjunct to
conventional care for patients with more severe symptoms
and for those wishing to avoid analgesic drugs (Sherman
and Coeytaux, 2009; Sherman et al., 2009; Lewis and Abdi,
2010). It may help back pain in pregnancy (Ee et al., 2008)
andwork-related back pain, meaning that fewer work days
are lost (Weidenhammer et al., 2007; Sawazaki et al., 2008).4
Both Eastern and Western medicine have their own
special uses and both should be recognised as valuable
treatments. In China both styles of treatment are used in all
hospitals and both are recognised as having their own unique
strengths. There is no need for them to be at odds with each
other; it is better that they can complement each other and
play their part in contributing to a healthier nation.
The principles of Chinese medicine

The purpose of this book is to deepen your understanding
of Chinese medicine and I will explain its fundamentals in
the following order.
In the first three chapters I will outline the Chinese
medicine method of diagnosis and treatment. To do this I
will explain what links the five strands of Chinese medicine
together, explain the common components of a diagnosis,
clarify how Chinese medicine teaches the causes of disease
and go over how a diagnosis is made.
4 For more information on this and other research see the British Acupuncture
Council (BAcC) website on www.acupuncture.org.uk.
Introduction 19
In the following five chapters I will then discuss the

different treatments in turn and give an explanation of
acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Qigong exercises, tui na
massage and dietary therapy.
The final chapter is dedicated to those who are interested
in the practicalities of having Chinese medicine treatment
and finding a good practitioner so that if you wish to have
treatment you can make an informed choice.
I hope you enjoy this book and discover for yourself the
value and effectiveness of these treatments for your future
health and well-being!
1
The Theory of
Chinese Medicine
The Linking Thread
The five therapies of Chinese medicine are acupuncture,

herbs, tui na massage, diet and Qigong. Each therapy is
practised in its own special way. Acupuncturists use needles
to balance energy. Herbalists prescribe raw herbs, powders or
tinctures. Qigong practitioners use movement and exercise.
Tui na practitioners use direct physical contact. Dietary
therapists advise on eating habits. Although these therapies
are completely different they are also all connected. So what
is it that links them?
The linking thread is the theory of Chinese medicine.
It doesnt matter which of these treatments a person
chooses to have, the underlying theory comes from the same
root. This forms the foundation for a unique diagnosis for
every patient. Over the next few chapters we will look at
these treatments and the theory that links them so that we
can understand the basis of Chinese medicine.
What is the theory of Chinese medicine?

There are three main components that enable a Chinese
medicine practitioner to form a diagnosis. Together they
20
The Theory of Chinese Medicine 21
allow the practitioner to find the underlying cause of a

patients complaint. They are:
yin and yang
the 12 Organs and their associated Five Elements
the Vital Substances
We will explore each of these in turn.
What is meant by yin and yang?

In order to diagnose the nature of their patients conditions
practitioners need to understand and judge the relative
balance of their yin and yang Qi. One of the oldest classics
of Chinese medicine, the Huang Ti Nei Jing or The Yellow
Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine states:
To live in harmony with yin and yang means life.
To live against yin and yang means death.
To live in harmony with yin and yang will bring peace.
To live against yin and yang will bring chaos.
Yin and yang are now such commonly used terms that
we could almost forget that they stem from the Chinese
language. Used colloquially in English they describe opposite
qualities. For example, light and dark, up and down, outside
and inside and expansion and contraction are all qualities of
yin and yang. However, opposite qualities are only a partial
description of how yin and yang are used in the Chinese
language.
What are the four aspects of yin and yang?

Chinese medicine describes four main aspects of yin
andyang.
22 Principles of chinese medicine
Yin and yang are:

1. opposite to each other (as we described above)
2. dependent on each other
3. able to absorb or consume each other
4. able to transform into each other.
Everything in the universe can be described as a combination
of these two fundamental forces and they are in a constant
state of flux. Yin and yang gives recognition to the duality,
interaction, interdependence and transformation of life.
Light and darkness are good examples to illustrate this.
Light and darkness are opposite terms but they are also
dependent on each other without darkness there would be
no light; without light there would be no darkness.
Evening
Midday Yang Midnight

Yin
Daybreak
Yin/yang symbol and the cycle of day and night

At the height of midday there is maximum light, which

is yang. At around midnight the opposite is true there
is maximum darkness, which is yin. As the day changes,
the amounts of light and darkness vary they consume
eachother.
As dawn breaks, the darkness begins to transform into
light. We could also say that the light is absorbing the
darkness. The day gradually becomes brighter and more
yang as it progresses. Later, as the evening draws in, the day
becomes darker and more yin. Daytime begins to transform
into night or we could say that the nighttime is consuming
or absorbing the daylight.
Although everything in the universe can be described
in terms of yin and yang, they are also relative terms. For
example, we just saw how day and night can be described
in terms of yin and yang, but a year is made up of many
days and nights and it also has yin and yang qualities. For
instance, the summer, which is the brighter and hotter part
of the year, is more yang and the winter, which is colder and
darker, is more yin. The yin of winter transforms into the
spring and in the autumn the yin reappears as the yang of
the summer recedes.
How are yin and yang useful for

Chinese medical practitioners?
We all have a different balance of yin and yang. Another
way of understanding what these terms mean is to think of
yang as fire; in other words, it is dry, bright, hot, active and
moving upwards and outwards. Yin, on the other hand, is
water as in a deep lake; it is wet, deep, dark, cold and still.
Here are some other yin and yang characteristics that are
used by Chinese medicine practitioners.
Some yin and yang characteristics useful

to Chinese medicine practitioners
In relation to Yin Yang
Temperature Cold Hot
Moisture Wet Dry
Location Inside Outside
Direction Downwards Upwards
Speed of onset Slow Fast
Energy Lethargy Over-activity
Area of symptoms Below Above
Body area affected Lower body Upper body
Surface affected Anterior Posterior
How can Chinese medicine be used

to balance yin and yang?
Just as the universe has its own dynamic balance of yin and
yang, so, correspondingly, does each individual. Chinese
medicine tells us that in order to remain healthy we need to
live in harmony with yin and yang in our daily lives.
During the day, which is more yang, we are naturally
more active. At night, our Qi (pronounced chee) (see
page29) withdraws inside us and becomes more yin so that
we can close down and sleep. If we wish to remain active
when we should be sleeping it might indicate that our yin is
depleted. When our yin is strengthened with treatment we
become more settled.
On the other hand, if we continually sleep and feel
lethargic during the day, this might indicate that our yang is
deficient. There is not enough expansive and active energy

to get us moving. Strengthening our yang in this case can
restore our health.
A recent patient who had lower backache is an example.
She often felt very cold and lethargic and found it hard to
get up in the mornings. She described waking up as like
swimming to the surface of a sea of treacle. Her lethargy
indicated that her yang Qi was deficient. Treatment
strengthened her yang Qi allowing her backache to improve.
At the same time she felt brighter and more lively in the
mornings.
How do yin and yang affect our life cycles?

Yin and yang are reflected in the way we live during the
seasons and even the cycle of our life. For instance, we are
naturally more active and outgoing when it is hot and sunny
in the summer, whilst it is normal to withdraw and conserve
ourselves in the winter.
Children are naturally very energetic and yang as adults
we can find it difficult to keep up with them! Childhood is
the springtime of our life. As we age, our energy decreases
until when we are older we become more yin and may wish
to slow down. We often refer to old age as the autumn of
our life. If we fight nature rather than work with it we may
become deficient in yin Qi later in life.
For example, many women have hot flushes during the
menopause. They can also become drier and sometimes
more restless all signs of the yin Qi becoming depleted.
Hot flushes are less common in China where women are
more aware of their yin nature and consequently ensure that
they conserve their Qi in the latter part of their life.1
1 Although this may be changing as Chinese women adopt a more Western

lifestyle.
Yin/yang and the cycle of the seasons
When acupuncturists examine a patient they will look at

how the qualities of yin and yang interact and how treatment
can improve their balance. Practitioners might consider
the patients general condition and ask themselves, Is this
patient lethargic or restless, cool or hot, or wet or dry?
The practitioner can also consider yin and yang in terms
of where the disease is situated and ask, Is this condition
deep inside the body or more on the surface? Or in relation
to which Organs are most involved in the illness, Does this
patients condition involve more of the yin Organs or the
yang Organs or maybe even both?
Practitioners assess the relative balance between our yin
and yang Qi. Once this is ascertained, they can prescribe
treatment to restore equilibrium and thus restore their
patients health.
What are yin and yang Organs?

Earlier in this chapter I explained that a second aspect
of Chinese medicine theory is the functioning of the 12
Organs. When Chinese medicine talks about the Organs
it is describing not only physical organs but many wider
functions as well.
The yin and yang Organs

Yin Organ Yang Organ
Lung Large Intestine
Spleen Stomach
Heart Small Intestine
Kidney Bladder
Pericardium Triple Burner
Liver Gall Bladder
Yin Organs are more solid in nature and lie deeper inside the
body. Chinese medicine describes them as being responsible
for regulating and storing all the bodys Vital Substances
before they are used. The yang Organs are hollow in
fact most of them are shaped as tubes or bags, lie nearer to
the surface of the body and are responsible for receiving,
separating, distributing and excreting all the Vital Substances
(I will discuss the Vital Substances in more detail below).
Yin and yang Organs work together. If the yang Organs
dont transform the Vital Substances there is nothing for the
yin Organs to store. On the other hand if the yin Organs
cant store these Substances then there is no point in the
yang Organs transforming them.
What are the Vital Substances?

Chinese medicine states that our body functions are
determined by the interaction of certain Vital Substances,
which are:
Qi
Blood
Jing-essence
Body Fluids
Shen or Mind-spirit.
These Vital Substances are the basic constituents of a human
being. Some, such as Qi, are very refined. Others, such as
Body Fluids, are very dense. The balanced functioning of
these Substances allows us to remain healthy. If this balance
breaks down we become unhealthy.
How do the Vital Substances

and the Organs interact?
Earlier I said that the main Organs all have wider functions
than the ones described in Western medicine. One major
function of all yin Organs is to store the Vital Substances.
The connection between each Organ and Substance is
shown in the table below and in the next part of this chapter
I will explain more about how they interact.
The connection between the yin

Organs and the Vital Sustances
Organ Function in relation to a
Substance
Heart Governs Blood
Houses Shen or Mind-spirit
Liver Ensures the smooth flow of Qi
Stores Blood
Lung Governs Qi and breathing
Spleen Transforms and transports Qi and
Body Fluids
Controls Blood
Kidney Stores Jing
What is Qi?
Qi is a difficult term to translate. It can be translated as energy,
vital force, prana or life force. Modern physicists now
understand that there is a continuum between matter and
energy and that energy permeates the whole of the universe.
Chinese medicine understands this continuum and says that
when Qi becomes condensed it forms material substances,
whilst more refined Qi becomes immaterial and rarified.
Although Chinese medicine explains things somewhat
differently from modern physicists, the word energy is
probably one of the best translations for the word Qi. As
Western scientists recognise more about energy, they may
one day give recognition to what has been understood over
many thousands of years of Chinese culture.
Chinese medicine describes Qi more by what it does than

by what it is. Qi has the ability to:
1. move
2. transform
3. warm
4. protect
5. raise things up.
In relation to our health this means that if we are tired our Qi
may be deficient or not moving smoothly through our bodies.
If we have loose bowels our Qi may not be transforming our
food properly. If we are cold our Qi may not be warming us.
If we have an illness, such as a common cold, our Qi may not
be protecting us (see next chapter) or if we have a condition
such as a prolapse our Qi might not be raising our Organs up.
Qi and the Lungs and Spleen

The Qi originates when clean air from the Lung is mixed
with the food we eat. The Lungs govern our Qi and our
respiration and the Spleen transforms and moves the Qi to
every part of the body.
We take in Qi when we breathe and the movement of the
Lungs going downwards and outwards deepens the breath.
When the Lung Qi travels outwards it goes to the skin. At
the skin the Qi protects us and prevents pathogens such as
Wind, Cold, Heat and Damp from causing illnesses such as
colds and flu (see pages 4548 for more on these pathogens).
The Spleen transforms Qi and transports it around our
body. If the Spleen is weak, the Qi cant move and we may
feel lethargic. This lack of movement can also cause our
limbs to lack nourishment and become weak or our digestive

functioning to become impaired. Treating the Spleen can
strengthen our energy and restore our vitality.
A 45-year-old teacher had come for treatment because
she was very tired. This was because her Qi had become very
deficient through over-working. She told me, I used to sleep
heavily on Saturdays and Sundays because I was so tired. I
think it was a progressive tiredness and towards the end of
term I went to bed earlier and earlier. Tonifying her Spleen
Qi restored the balance of her energy so that she regained
her vitality.
Qi and the Liver

The Liver is also associated with the Qi and ensures that it
is flowing smoothly and evenly throughout our body. Our
emotions are one reason why the flow becomes disrupted.
If we are tense, our Qi stops flowing. If we clench our fists,
tighten our shoulders, tense our chest, hold in our abdominal
muscles and tense our neck and jaw, we are likely to feel very
tense. Not surprisingly, the Qi cant flow very easily!
Many of us hold our body in a permanent state of
tension because we are frustrated, irritable, angry or not
clearing negative emotions. By doing this we prevent our
Liver Qi from flowing smoothly. If the Liver Qi is obstructed,
the resulting symptoms might range from premenstrual
tension or headaches to digestive disorders, gynaecological
problems or depression. Treating the Liver can smooth the
flow of the Qi and make us feel better. A patient aged 35,
who had headaches due to a Liver problem, found that after
treatment his headaches had disappeared and that he had
also become, less sparky, aggressive and demanding.
What does Chinese medicine mean by Blood?

Qi and Blood flow together in the body. Blood in Chinese
medicine includes the blood flowing through our blood
vessels but it has wider connotations. Blood in Chinese
medicine is a dense form of Qi and the Qi and Blood are
inseparable. Like Qi, Blood is described less by what it is and
more by what it does.
Blood has the ability to nourish and moisten our body.
It also has a heavy quality that allows it to keep the Qi,
which is very light in nature, from floating. This can affect
our ability to be settled inside and prevent anxiety and
restlessness. Ill explain this Mind-spirit in more detail below.
Because of its ability to move, the Qi ensures that
the Blood is circulating through the body smoothly. The
interdependency of Qi and Blood is summarised by a famous
saying in Chinese medicine, which is that, Qi moves Blood
and Blood nourishes Qi.
Three Organs have a function related to the Blood: the
Liver stores the Blood; the Heart and Pericardium govern
the Blood; the Spleen controls the Blood.
Blood and the Liver

The Blood that is stored in the Liver nourishes and
moisturises our whole system. Then when we move around,
the Liver ensures that the Blood reaches every part of the
body and nurtures it. When we are resting, the Blood returns
to the Liver. If Blood is deficient we might get symptoms
stemming from the lack of nourishment to various parts of
the body. There might be, for instance, dry eyes, cramps,
pins and needles, flaky nails, scanty periods or dry skin.
We might also feel light headed when we stand up. This is
because there is not enough Blood reaching our head when

we move suddenly.
The Blood can also become stuck. This can cause
extreme pain and can result in women having very painful
periods.
Blood and the Spleen

The Spleen controls the Blood and keeps it in the Blood
vessels. If the Spleen is weak the Blood will leak from the
Blood vessels, which may cause bleeding symptoms, such as
menstrual bleeding, bruising or blood in the urine or stools.
Blood and the Heart

Finally, the Heart governs the Blood, that is, it makes sure
it is circulated to every part of the body. If this function is
weak we may have poor circulation and cold hands and feet.
Because the Blood is a heavy Substance, we must also have
sufficient Blood for the Heart to house the Shen or Mind-
spirit and keep it settled in the body.
What is the Shen or Mind-spirit?

Chinese medicine describes our Mind-spirit or Shen as highly
rarified Qi. Although Shen is far beyond being substantial
and is therefore not a real Substance, it is sometimes
described as one of the Vital Substances because it is part of
the continuum of Qi moving from a solid to a more rarified
form. As with the Qi and Blood it is best described by its
actions, which are that it:
enables us to think clearly and to be mentally focused.
facilitates our ability to sleep soundly and without
disturbance
allows us to have a good memory

gives us the ability to be conscious.
Being conscious means both consciousness in relation to
having insight into ourselves as well as being conscious
rather than unconscious in the physical sense of the word.
The Shen or Mind-spirit and the Heart

Our Mind-spirit resides in the Heart and if it is settled we
feel peaceful and calm in our day-to-day activities. If the
Blood is deficient (see above) the rarified Mind-spirit does
not have enough of this heavier Substance to hold it in its
place in the Heart, and it floats just above it. As a result we
can feel very unsettled and anxious. This can also result in
sleep problems, jumpiness and a poor memory.
Because of its effect on both the body and the Mind-
spirit, Chinese medicine can very successfully treat many
mental and emotional problems. For example, one of my
patients, a student nurse, was very anxious about writing
essays for her course. Treatment allowed her to become less
anxious and she said she could think more clearly, remain
calmer and also sleep better. Much of her treatment was
centred on calming her Shen or Mind-spirit.
The Shen or Mind-spirit also interacts with the Kidneys
and the Kidney Jing-essence.
What is Jing-essence?
Jing-essence is not a familiar concept in the West, however,
understanding it can have a huge impact on how we view
our health and well-being. Some of you might have already
wondered why certain people easily become ill whilst other
lucky ones seem to be able to eat anything, stay up all night
and generally abuse their bodies without any apparent

health problems.
The Chinese medicine understanding of Jing-essence
is our constitutional strength. If our Jing-essence is strong
then we will have lots of energy and develop normally. If it
is weak, this wont happen in the same way.
Jing-essence and the Kidneys

Jing-essence is formed at conception, it is finite in quantity
and is stored in the Kidneys. It has an overall effect on our
health and strength, and as we go through life we slowly
use it up.
Jing-essence allows us to mature from puberty to old age.
This is a natural process that takes place if we have sufficient
Jing-essence. Some children are born with weak Jing-essence
and they may have symptoms of delayed growth, late onset
of their periods, bed-wetting, or problems with their bones.
When these problems are severe they may be very hard to
treat.
We may have plenty of Jing-essence when we are born
but use it up too quickly due to bad living habits. In this
case, women may have difficulty conceiving or may suffer
repeated miscarriages. It can also lead to an early menopause,
back problems or osteoporosis. Losing teeth and hair and a
failing memory in old age are also symptoms of declining
Jing-essence.
Most people have a moderate amount of Jing-essence
and can avoid these problems if they look after their health.
If you think you have a super, strong constitution you should
be careful. Bad living habits take their toll even if we are
extremely healthy a healthy lifestyle now can prevent
problems later.
A 31-year-old patient had slightly deficient Jing-essence

and became ill at an early age. She was born prematurely and
this probably affected her constitutional strength. She came
for treatment with polycystic ovarian syndrome and had
symptoms including night sweats, period pains, exhaustion,
migraines, food allergies and high blood pressure. Treatment
has helped her and she has also changed her lifestyle
considerably. As a result she has new-found vitality and can
expect to have a more healthy future.
What are Body Fluids?

The final Substance that we will consider is all the fluid in
the body. Some of our Body Fluids are light and lubricate
the skin and muscles; others are heavier and moisten areas
deeper inside the body such as the joints, spine, brain and
bone marrow.
The Body Fluids and the Spleen

The Body Fluids are transported around the body by the
Spleen Qi and must be kept in the correct balance. If our
Spleen Qi is deficient it cant move the fluids, which in turn
can congeal and produce Dampness in the body. This can
cause us to put on weight, which can be difficult to lose.
We can also feel tired, heavy, find it difficult to concentrate
and feel cloudy in our head. Treatment can strengthen the
Spleens ability to move fluids. This can clear the Dampness
and remedy the situation.2
The Body Fluids can also become deficient. This is often
true if the Stomach is weak, resulting in dehydration. In this
case, treatment of the Stomach can help to alleviate the
problem and bring moisture back to the body.
2 For more about Dampness see Chapter 2.

How do these Substances influence each other?

The Qi, Blood, Mind-spirit, Jing-essence and Body Fluids are
all interlinked.
The Qi, Jing-essence and Mind-spirit are called the
Three Treasures. Together they form the basis of our
health. Chinese medicine will often use the term Jingshen
as a shorthand term for vitality or vigour, indicating their
understanding that a good constitution and a strong spirit
are the basis of a healthy life.
The Shen or Mind-spirit cannot be settled unless the
Blood is sufficient to house it. The Body Fluids are essential
in order to keep the Blood at its correct viscosity.
If one or more of the Organs is weak or blocked, the
Substances they affect will also be influenced. Conversely
if the Substances are deficient or stagnating this will impact
on the Organs.
So far we have discussed the concepts of yin and
yang, the Vital Substances and the Organs. This chapter
wouldnt be complete without some discussion about one
more fundamental concept in Chinese medicine the Five
Elements.
What are the Five Elements?

The concept of the Five Elements may seem quite unusual to
those who are unfamiliar with Chinese thought they are a
metaphorical description of the basic constituents of matter
and how they interact.
The Chinese word for an Element is xing. This has
variously been translated as a movement, a phase or a
moving force. It literally means stepping forward with one
foot then with the other suggesting that there is movement
from one to the next.
Each of the Organs discussed above is related to one of

these Five Elements. The Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth,
Metal and Water and their Organs are as follows:
Wood Liver and Gall Bladder
Fire Heart and Small Intestine and Pericardium and
Triple Burner
Earth Spleen and Stomach
Metal Lung and Large Intestine
Water Kidney and Bladder.
One of the oldest descriptions of the Five Elements was
written as long ago as 1000 bc:
Water moistens downwards, Fire flares upwards, Wood
can be bent and straightened, Metal can be moulded
and hardened and Earth permits sowing, growing and
reaping.3
How do the Elements interact?

The Elements connect with each other via the Sheng and
Ke cycles shown in the diagram below. The Sheng cycle is
the route by which the Organs nourish each other whilst
they keep each other in check via the Ke cycle. If the Qi of
one of the Elements becomes imbalanced it will often affect
the others. Treatment on one or more Elements and Organs
can also affect all of the others in a positive way.
3 This is from a book called the Shang Shu which was written during the Western
Zhou dynasty, around 1000771 bc.
Sheng Cycle
Ke Cycle
Fire
Wood Earth
Water Metal
Five elements and the Sheng and Ke cycles
The reason why the Elements and Organs are connected

becomes apparent when we look at their mutual qualities.
For example, Earth, which produces our food, is associated
with the Stomach and Spleen the two main Organs of
nourishment. Water is associated with the Bladder and
Kidneys, which control and excrete fluids in the body. Wood
is associated with everything living and growing. Chinese
medicine associates the Liver and Gall Bladder with our
ability to assert ourselves so we can move forward and grow
as a result of clear plans and decisions.
The following example shows how knowledge of the
Elements helps us to understand our patients health.
A patient who had headaches was mainly treated

on his Liver and Gall Bladder, which are part of the
Wood Element. The emotion associated with the
Liver is anger. His Liver Qi had become imbalanced
due to the frustration he felt in his job. This caused
him to tense up causing headaches. Wood is fed by

the Water Element along the Sheng cycle and treating
his Kidney Qi, which is a part of the Water Element,
helped to balance the Liver. On some rare occasions
he became nauseous with his headaches symptoms
associated with the Earth Element and the Stomach
and Spleen. Treating the Wood positively affected the
Earth via the Ke cycle so the Earth itself rarely needed
treatment directly.
What are the Five Element associations?

The Elements all have associations that resonate with them.
Each is connected with a season, a climate, a taste, a colour,
a sound, an emotion, an odour, a movement, a sense Organ
and a body part, as well as having many other associations.
Yin and yang, the Vital Substances, the Organs and the
Five Elements form the basis of a diagnosis made by Chinese
medicine practitioners. Before looking more closely at how
they are used together, we will examine another essential
part of the theory of Chinese medicine the causes of
disease and how the Chinese view good health.
The Five Element associations
Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
Yin Organ Liver Heart Spleen Lung Kidney
Pericardium
Yang Organ Gall Bladder Small Intestine Stomach Large Intestine Bladder
Triple Burner
Colour Blue-green Red Yellow White Blue-black
Sound Shout Laugh Sing Weep Groan
Emotion Anger Joy Worry/Sympathy Grief Fear
Odour Rancid Scorched Fragrant Rotten Putrid
Season Spring Summer Late summer Autumn Winter
Climate Wind Heat Damp Dryness Cold
Sense Organ Eye Tongue Mouth Nose Ear
2
How Disease Arises

and the Art of
Staying Healthy
Some people believe that to be healthy is simply not to be

ill. Chinese medicine views health differently. Being well is
a very positive state, one in which we feel vibrant, vital and
energetic and are happy to be alive. Health is something that
is experienced at every level of our being body, mind and
spirit.
A patient explains how she understood health before
she had treatment:
I was a nurse and can remember walking to work on the
wards and wondering about my own health. Id think,
Im physically healthy, my mind is clear and Ive got
nothing wrong with me. So why do I feel so unwell? I
felt desperately low in energy. I was like a robot getting
through life but not living it. I never went to the doctor
as there was nothing I could describe as being ill.
A few years later I developed a minor rash. A friend told me
about Chinese medicine and I decided to try it. Im really
glad I went for treatment. My rash cleared very quickly but
more importantly I felt much better. My spirits lifted and I
felt positively well. My life became enjoyable and I realised
that this really was good health. What Id experienced before
was a lack of illness.
42
How Disease Arises and the Art of Staying Healthy 43
In order to understand how to become healthy, first we

need to ask how disease arises.
So how does disease arise?

Chinese medicine divides the causes of disease into three
main areas. The first are Internal causes, which are illnesses
caused by emotions. The second are the External causes,
which are climatic conditions. The third are Miscellaneous
causes, which cover constitution, diet, exercise, rest, sexual
behaviour and trauma. Well look at each of these in turn.1
What are the internal causes of disease?

The internal causes of disease are getting more recognition
than they used to. It is astonishing that Chinese medicine
wrote about them thousands of years ago when they
identified the impact of emotional factors on physical health.
The internal causes of disease are anger, sadness, worry, fear,
joy, grief and shock. Other emotions are seen as an extension
or a combination of these seven. To express these emotions
appropriately is a normal and healthy response to the many
situations we encounter in daily life. For example, we feel
afraid when we are threatened, anger if we are let down or
grief when we lose someone or something important to us.
How do emotions cause disease?

Emotions only cause disease when they are intense or
prolonged or if they are not expressed or acknowledged over
a long period of time. Sometimes they start from conditions
that began in our childhood when we were unable to change
our circumstances.
1 For more on the causes of disease see Hicks (2011).

We may have been affected by situations involving

parents, siblings, teachers or schoolmates. Occasionally these
are sudden events, such as the loss of a parent or friend. At
other times they are more gradual in onset, such as continual
rejection by an important person, which may result in a loss
of self-esteem and confidence. Later, these incidents and
patterns from so long ago may begin to affect our health
and well-being.
A female patient now in her 30s came for treatment
complaining, I often feel sick and have loose bowels. Im
also a worrier, especially about my daughter. She had
become obsessional and thought that something terrible
would happen to the seven year old.
On taking her case history it became apparent that
these problems were rooted in her early childhood when her
mother had a serious accident. The patient as a child had
no one to turn to for support and she worried continually
that her mother would die. Treatment on her Stomach and
Spleen Qi helped both her body and her mind. She became
less anxious for her daughters well-being as well as more
settled in her stomach and bowels. Digestion is a process of
assimilation both physically and mentally.
Intense emotions in the present can also take their toll
on our health. We may feel continuously worried, anxious
or frustrated in a situation at work or at home. Sometimes
we get through these events unscathed. At other times we
do not. A male patient in his early 20s came for acupuncture
treatment having had a harrowing week at work, My boss
has been putting too much pressure on me and expecting me
to meet impossible deadlines, he raged. Treatment soothed
his energy, which had become imbalanced by his frustration.
He immediately felt better and consequently found that he
was able to sort the matter out with his boss.
At times it is obvious that the cause of a patients illness

is an internal one, but it is unclear exactly which emotions
or events brought it about. It is not necessary to know this
and the patient can still be treated successfully.
Many illnesses are originally caused by an internal
factor. This may have weakened the person and made him or
her more vulnerable to the climatic causes of disease, which
we will discuss next.
How can climatic conditions cause disease?

Climatic conditions as a cause of disease are written about in
texts from as far back as 3,000 years ago. The main climatic
conditions are Wind, Cold, Damp, Heat and Dryness. Different
climatic conditions are appropriate during each season and
we usually adapt to them as they come and go. Summer
should be hot and winter should be cold. The springtime
brings a warming up after the cold of winter and there is a
natural cooling down again in the autumn.
Extremes of weather, such as a very cold winter, or
unseasonal weather, such as a warm spell in winter, make
us more vulnerable to the effects of that climatic condition
and consequently to becoming ill. Below is a list of these
external pathogenic factors and the kinds of symptoms they
might cause if they affect us.
The external causes of disease

External Areas of Examples of
pathogen and its symptoms illnesses
nature created
Wind arises Symptoms that Head colds and
suddenly, changes come on suddenly, flus, joint pains
rapidly, blows constantly change that move around,
intermittently, has or move around epilepsy, strokes,
an upward and Symptoms where Parkinsons
outward movement there is shaking or disease, some skin
and makes things sudden movement conditions
shake and sway
Symptoms at the
top of or outside of
the body
Damp is sticky, Symptoms that Heavy or muzzy
lingering, heavy dont change easily head, stiff or achy
and dirty Symptoms of joints, heavy limbs,
heaviness or bloating abdomen,
obstruction discharges, pus-
filled spots,
Oozing and
tiredness
discharges
Cold impairs Symptoms of sharp Loose bowels,
moving and pain, which is period pains,
warming in relieved by warmth stomach pains, cold
the body it and made worse by hands and feet,
contracts tissues cold frost bite, painful
and obstructs Contraction of joints
circulation causing tendons
pain
Dislike of cold
Heat has an Feeling hot, red Sore throat, cystitis,

upward direction, body parts, intense constipation, red
depletes the Qi, thirst, bitter taste, eyes, mania, nose
dries up Body profuse bleeding, bleeds, uterine
Fluids and disturbs dark scanty urine bleeding, anxiety,
the Mind-spirit restlessness
Dryness injures Dry throat, dry Some skin
Blood and dries skin, dry mouth, problems,
Body Fluids dry stools, dry lips, constipation, chest
scanty urination conditions
Sometimes we create these unusual seasonal conditions for

ourselves! A young female patient went on a wonderful hot
winter holiday abroad over Christmas and was surprised to
have a terrible cold on her return. This was due to her system
being unable to adapt from the warm climate abroad to the
English winter on coming home, I felt so healthy while I
was away, she commented after the cold had gone, now I
feel worse than before I went.
People whose underlying energy is weak are more
vulnerable to the effects of the climatic conditions than
those who have a strong constitution and never get sick. For
example, as people age they generally grow more vulnerable.
During an exceptionally cold winter we may worry about
our older relatives and friends and encourage them to keep
warm, knowing that the cold brings greater danger of
hypothermia and other illnesses.
How is knowledge of external

causes useful to a patient?
Along with appropriate treatment, a practitioner can advise
patients of ways in which they can protect themselves from
adverse climatic conditions.
Some golden rules to protect ourselves

from external conditions
Wind Wrap up against the wind especially around the
neck.
Keep covered if the temperature changes when
returning from sunny holidays abroad or going
in and out of overheated or air conditioned
shops.
Dont sleep or stand in front of a fan or in a
draught these could cause headaches or lower
resistance to colds or influenza.
Cold Dont walk around without shoes especially on
cold floors, as this could cause period pain or, if
severe, fertility problems.
Keep the midriff covered to avoid stomach pain
and the back covered to prevent backache.
Damp If you live in a damp house buy a dehumidifier to
avoid symptoms such as a muzzy head, tiredness
or poor concentration.
Dry yourself properly after bathing or swimming
to avoid joint pains.
Heat Beware of staying in the sun for too long to
avoid overheating or heat stroke.
Dont sleep with your head towards a nearby
radiator or oven in order to prevent headaches,
red eyes and a bad temper.
Dryness If staying in a centrally heated environment,
moisten the atmosphere with a bowl of water to
avoid dry cough, dry skin or a dry throat.
What do we mean by the

miscellaneous causes of disease?
Other significant causes of illness are known as the
miscellaneous causes. Literally translated from Chinese these
are called not internal and not external causes of disease.
They cover areas such as constitution, overwork and fatigue,
exercise, sex, diet and trauma.
It is important not to underestimate the significance of a
healthy, regular diet in relation to our health (this is covered
in much greater detail in Chapter 8). Jing-essence, the basis
of our constitution, has already been described in Chapter1.
We will now take a brief look at the other miscellaneous
causes of disease.
How do balanced amounts of work

and rest prevent disease?
The issue of how much we work and how much we rest is
an important one in todays society. Nowadays pressure is
often put on people to work very hard and to return to work
quickly after they have been ill. The word convalescence
is almost unheard of these days in relation to time spent
recovering from an illness. Often people with colds and
other infections say, Oh dont worry Ill work right through
it, or if they do have time off, feel guilty for taking more
than the bare minimum.
There is a strong case for people taking an extra day
or two to recover and throw off their illness completely. If
people do not allow themselves to fully recover, the infection
can remain latent in their body. It can then return in the form
of what is often called a post-viral syndrome. Many post-
viral syndromes are the result of a combination of continual
overwork and a lack of convalescence after infection. A
person then often feels continually depleted and run down

and is unable to recover from the illness at all.
Post-viral syndromes often last for many years and all for
the sake of an extra few days rest! As one patient observed,
I had rested a little after being ill, but then I went back to
work. I worked much too hard and then it was too late.
All my energy had gone and I didnt recover for many years.
How can exercise benefit my health?

The last 50 years have also seen a considerable decrease in
the amount of natural exercise we get. The use of cars has
reduced the quantity of walking we do. Household gadgets,
such as washing machines and vacuum cleaners, have lessened
the amount of exercise we would naturally get around the
house (thank goodness!). Many children spend less time in
the rough and tumble of the playground as they are happy
to play on their computer games instead a worrying trend.
Few of us want to be without our labour-saving devices
but the resulting effect on our lifestyle means that we need to
find alternative ways of exercising and remaining healthy. A
friend of mine recently told me, Ive started to cycle to work
instead of driving as I was beginning to feel really sluggish.
I notice I have much more energy even though Im exerting
myself more and Ive also lost some weight.
Too much exercise can be just as detrimental as too
little. A friend who once obsessively exercised observed, I
felt great while I was out running. Then I realised my good
intentions had backfired on me. I was wearing myself out
and felt completely drained the rest of the time.
We need to be realistic about the amount of exercise we
get so that we can remain healthy. A balanced amount of
work and rest combined with exercise is still as important as
it was 50 years ago.
In what way can sex become a cause of disease?

Too much sex is recognised by Chinese medicine as another
cause of disease. Chinese doctors warned that this is
especially important for men rather than women. Men can
wear out their Kidney Qi if they ejaculate too much. This
can result in possible back problems, lethargy and tiredness.
The issue of what exactly is too much sex has been much
debated in many texts throughout Chinese history!
However much we agree or disagree with this Chinese
medicine notion of too much sex, there are some clear and
sensible guidelines we can follow. Young adults have more
energy for sex than older people and can therefore afford to
be more sexually active in their younger years. We can also
have more sex in the summer when we naturally tend to be
more active, than in the winter, when it is more normal for
us to do less. Chinese medicine also advises less sex if we are
ill, as we need to conserve our strength in order to regain
our health.
Of course, there is a natural balance between too much
and too little sex. Too little sex can lead to much frustration
and resentment, also possibly causing illness. In general the
right amount of sex could be said to be as much as mutually
satisfies each couple and is part of a fulfilling relationship for
them both.
How is physical trauma a cause of disease?

Any accident or injury that does not fully heal can later cause
disease to the part of the body involved. Doctors tell us that
a broken bone or a joint strain can be the site of arthritic
changes occurring later on in life. If this happens a patient
can experience pain, stiffness, swelling, heat or limitation
of movement in the area that was previously injured. A
practitioner of Chinese medicine would say that this injury
left the joint vulnerable to Wind, Cold or Damp entering it

or to Heat being formed inside the joint.
Dampness affecting a joint tends to cause stiffness and
swelling. Damp is said to be sticky and lingering. Wind
causes pain that comes and goes and moves from place to
place, just like the wind in nature. Cold causes contraction of
the tendons and sharp pains, like the pain felt in the fingers
caused by holding a snowball for too long. Heat in a joint
causes redness, swelling and pain. This is what we experience
when there is inflammation in the body. These pathogens
entering the joints after injury can often be eliminated by
using Chinese medicine treatments of herbs, acupuncture,
tui na massage or Qigong.
The causes of disease

External causes Wind, Cold, Damp, Dryness, Heat
Internal causes Anger, Fear, Grief, Joy, Worry, Shock
Miscellaneous Constitution, Overwork and Fatigue,

cases Exercise, Diet, Sex, Trauma
Do I have to know the cause of my problem?

For most people the causes of their problems are a
combination of internal, external and miscellaneous factors,
rather than just one. It is unnecessary for patients to be aware
of the specific reasons behind their sickness. Practitioners
will diagnose their patients condition so that they treat
the underlying energetic imbalance and treatment can clear
thesymptoms.
A middle-aged patient, for instance, came for treatment

having been affected by a virus for a number of weeks. She
said, Im aching all over and Im really tired. I also have
loose bowels and Im really bloated in my stomach. These
were all symptoms of an external attack of Dampness. She
received herbs and acupuncture treatment, which cleared it,
but could not remember any time when she had been in
conditions that could have precipitated the condition.
Other illnesses may have taken root in early childhood
and patients often dont know the exact cause of the
resulting problems. In spite of this, they can still be treated
successfully. Sometimes the cause of the condition becomes
clearer and resolves itself as treatment progresses.
How are the causes of disease used

in diagnosis and treatment?
Although it is not always necessary to understand the origin
of a disease in order to cure it, it can be helpful to know the
main reasons why diseases have occurred, especially when
they have arisen due to a persons living habits. Patients may
consider whether they are eating properly, getting enough
rest and exercise or whether they need to work less. This
may help them to understand what brought about their
illness and to make lifestyle changes that could help them
to become healthier.
Not everyone finds it easy to make immediate shifts in
their lifestyle, even if they would be healthier as a result.
They can, however, gain more insight into why they have
become ill and strive towards a healthier balance. Chinese
medicine believes that the best recipe for health is a balanced
lifestyle and avoiding extremes in anything we do. We can
all use this as a rule of thumb when considering the state of

our health.
In the next chapter we will consider how the theories
of Chinese medicine that we have discussed in the first two
chapters are put together to form a diagnosis.
3
Putting it all Together

Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine
Yin and yang, the Organs and the Five Elements and the Vital
Substances, together with the causes of disease are the foundation
of an individual diagnosis for patients. So what is it like to
have a diagnosis?
Here are some comments that patients have made about
their diagnoses.
I remember feeling as if Id had a huge burden lifted
from me and I appreciated that the practitioner had the
time to listen to me.
It was absolutely wonderful, I was asked questions
nobody had asked me before. I also got reassurance that
I might be helped.
It was so thorough that I had the opportunity to say
whatever I wanted about my physical health and also
how I was feeling.
How long will the diagnosis take?

If you decide to go for Chinese medicine treatment, you may
be nervous and might be surprised by the amount of time and
personal care you are given by the practitioner. Acupuncturists,
herbalists or tui na practitioners usually have a strong sense of
vocation and a great desire to assist you to overcome your
illnesses and enjoy a better quality of life.
55
The time taken for a full diagnosis will vary according

to the practitioner, the type of treatment and your individual
needs, so can vary from one to one-and-a-half hours.
Patients often feel that they have established good rapport
with their practitioner during this consultation and that the
act of talking through their problems is in itself very helpful
in understanding their own health needs.
What should I expect at the diagnosis?

Practitioners will ask you why you have come for treatment
and many other details about your problems. They will ask
questions which will vary from How well do you sleep?
or How is your appetite? or How frequently do you
urinate? to Are you currently experiencing any frustrations
or difficulties in your life? or When during the day do you
feel better or worse? These questions and many more are all
relevant to your health.
If you have a musculoskeletal problem practitioners may
also palpate the area, feel its temperature and test the range
of movement in the affected joint.
They may observe other signs, such as facial colour. The
face may show different coloured hues such as green if the
Liver and Gall Bladder are out of balance or blue-black if the
Kidney and Bladder are deficient.
Practitioners will also pay attention to your posture and
even notice the sparkle in your eye, which may tell them
about the state of the Mind-spirit. They will also feel your
pulse and look at your tongue.
How does a practitioner

diagnose using the pulse?
The practitioner feels 12 pulses at both wrists in order to
diagnose the state of your Qi and Blood (see Chapter 1) as
Putting it all Together 57
well as the condition of both the yin and yang Organs. The
pulse is felt with three fingers along the radial artery and
each position corresponds to one of the 12 Organs.
The 12 pulse points

Left wrist Right wrist
Yang Yin Yin Yang

Organ Organ Organ Organ
First Small Heart Lung Large
position Intestine Intestine
Second Gall Liver Spleen Stomach
position Bladder
Third Bladder Kidney Pericardium/ Triple
position (Yin) Kidney Burner
(Yang)
There are many different qualities that are felt on the pulses.
These can tell the practitioner about the balance of your Qi.
For example, when a person has an illness deep inside the
body the pulse will feel deep down or be sinking. If there is
a pathogen such as Wind invading the Lungs (see Chapters1
and 2) and causing a common cold the pulses will float or
feel more superficial as this illness is at a superficial level of
the body. In this case the position of the Lung is often the
most affected.
The pulses also have an overall strength or depletion
according to the patients general Qi balance and according
to which Organs are affected. When people feel uptight
and angry the pulse will often have a stretched tight feeling
known as a wiry pulse. Another pulse quality is a slippery
pulse. This feels as if it is slipping away from the finger and
gives information about the state of the patients BodyFluids.
Altogether there are 28 qualities that can be felt on

the pulse and you will often have more than one quality
manifesting. Pulse diagnosis is a skill that a practitioner of
Chinese medicine develops over a lifetime. It is very different
from pulse diagnosis used in modern Western medicine.
Both practitioners feel the pulse at the radial artery but the
Western doctor or nurse counts the pulse rate and rhythm
only. Practitioners of Chinese medicine will notice the pulse
rate but will also feel the whole range of other qualities that
are also present.
What is tongue diagnosis?

The tongue is a useful diagnostic tool as it is one way in
which a practitioner can observe the condition of the inside
of the body from the outside. Practitioners look at the colour,
shape, moisture, movement, coating and areas of the tongue
to diagnose the state of your internal organs.
Disharmony will often show on the tongue before
symptoms start to manifest. A healthy tongue will be pale
red in colour, fairly moist, fit comfortably into the mouth
and have a thin white coating. Sometimes the tongue looks
redder than normal. This shows the presence of heat whilst
a pale tongue may indicate cold. The tongue is filled with
Blood so it will also naturally become paler when Blood is
deficient.
A tongue can become swollen. This is often due to excess
Body Fluids obstructing the body or deficiency of yang Qi
resulting in cold and causing Body Fluids to stagnate. A thin
tongue body can mean a lack of Body Fluids.
Each area corresponds to different Organs in the body.
These areas can be wet or dry, thin or swollen, pale or red
according to which Organ of the body is out of balance.
For instance, red sides to the tongue can mean Heat in the
Liver and Gall Bladder, red in the centre can mean Heat
in the Stomach or red at the tongue tip can mean Heat in
the Heart. Sometimes the tongue has red spots at the tip
indicating a tendency to become more easily emotionally
upset.
Areas of the tongue
How is the theory of Chinese medicine

used to create a diagnosis?
During the diagnosis the practitioner gathers together
information about your signs and symptoms, observes your
tongue and facial colour and feels the pulses on your wrist.
The practitioner is now ready to make a diagnosis.
Knowledge of yin and yang, the Organs and Five
Elements, and the Vital Substances can lead to a simple
yet elegant diagnosis that can pinpoint the cause of your
problems very accurately, while at the same time continuing
to view you holistically. The cause of your imbalance might
be due to an internal, external or miscellaneous cause of
disease.
To illustrate how a diagnosis might be formed we can
now look at two different patients.
Patient 1
A patient, aged 35, came to treatment complaining,
I get a churning feeling in my stomach whenever
I get upset and my bowels alternate between
constipation and diarrhoea. The practitioner noticed
that she had a slightly yellow complexion and that
she was constantly worrying and thinking about her
problem. Her facial colour, voice tone and emotional
expression all corresponded to an imbalance in her
Stomach and Spleen, the two Organs of her Earth
Element. This was further corroborated by her
gastrointestinal and other symptoms, such as a poor
appetite, weakness in her limbs and a bloating feeling
after eating. The churning feeling came and went
according to the severity of her emotional state, as
did the constipation and diarrhoea indicating that her
Liver was also involved. The diagnosis was Liver Qi
invades the Stomach and Spleen. A change in her
diet and acupuncture relieved her symptoms.
Patient 2
A patient, aged 52, came for treatment complaining,
I get terrible menopausal hot flushes that wake me at
night. On examination the practitioner noticed that
she had a blue-black facial colour especially around
her eyes although she also had a red face caused by
the heat. She had a monotone voice tone, and she
was very fearful and anxious. These symptoms were
connected to her Water Element and her Bladder and
Kidney Organs, which were her primary imbalance.
Her Heart Qi was also affected. This was indicated
by symptoms such as palpitations, poor sleep and
restlessness, which were all symptoms connected with

the Heart. The practitioner diagnosed that her Heart
did not have enough yin Qi and this was causing
symptoms of too much Heat. The diagnosis was
Kidney and Heart yin deficiency. Her symptoms were
eased by Chinese herbs.
Whether the patients condition is caused by Liver Qi

invades the Stomach and Spleen or Heart and Kidney yin
deficiency, the same diagnosis will be made by a practitioner
of any branch of Chinese medicine.
Having understood the basis of Chinese medical theory
we can now go on to examine each of these treatments
inturn.
4
Acupuncture
Treatment
Balancing Your Qi
A close colleagues first patient was in his early 50s. He had

come for treatment for a shoulder problem. After his first
treatment my colleague asked him about his progress and he
replied, Its as if there has been a bud in my chest that has
started to grow into a flower.
My colleague was puzzled and checked his notes to
make sure this really was the patient with the shoulder
problem. Establishing that it was, he asked his patient to say
more about the emerging flower. The patient replied, Well
since your treatment Im happier, I feel more comfortable
with people and my wife says Im easier to live with. My
colleague then asked his patient about the shoulder and he
said, almost as an afterthought, Oh yes thats better too.
Many acupuncture patients notice internal changes from
treatment (not everyone puts it as eloquently!). Like my
colleagues patient they may feel happier and healthier as
well as experiencing changes to their main complaint.
At the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in
Reading, we have regularly monitored the effectiveness of
the acupuncture treatments carried out by students in our
College Teaching Clinic. The study verified that there is a
huge impact on both patients presenting symptoms and
their general health and well-being.
62
Acupuncture Treatment 63
Data from 495 patients was analysed with the

participation of statisticians at Kingston University. One
of the aims of this study was to build up a profile of how
patients viewed their treatment. The results? Interestingly
over 82 per cent of patients reported a large or moderate
change in their main complaint and 88 per cent reported
a large or moderate change in their general health (Shaw et
al., 2007).
Well take another look at this research later in this
chapter as well as considering other acupuncture studies that
are of interest.
Well also look at the most frequently asked questions
about acupuncture such as, what it is like to be treated with
acupuncture? What are needles like? How do we ensure they
are sterile? Does treatment hurt? How does the acupuncturist
know where to put the needles?
Well also take a look in greater detail at what
acupuncture can treat. But first, what is acupuncture and
what are channels and points?
What is acupuncture?
When I first studied acupuncture very few people had heard
of it. Nowadays most people know what it is and may also
know someone who has benefited from it. News of its
effectiveness has mostly been spread by word of mouth
once a person experiences the results they tell others aboutit.
Practitioners treat their patients by inserting ultra-fine,
sterile needles into points. The points lie on channels or
meridians, which are pathways along which Qi flows.
You may have already seen charts showing locations of
acupuncture points (see examples on pages 6567).
The practitioner carefully chooses points to disperse
blockages and to bring a patients Qi into balance. The more
this balance is achieved, the healthier the patient becomes.
Like the patient at the beginning of this chapter, it is common

for people to experience changes not only to their physical
health, but also to their emotional and mental well-being.
The Chinese words for acupuncture treatments are zhen
and jiu. Zhen means needles and jiu means moxibustion.
Interestingly, when Chinese medicine describes acupuncture
treatment it means needles and this other treatment called
moxibustion. Both treatments have been used together
throughout Chinese history. I will explain more about
moxibustion later in the chapter.
What are the meridians or channels?

The channels or meridians are pathways of Qi running
throughout the body. These channels form a network, which
Chinese medicine has compared to an irrigation system. In
China irrigation systems have been used to nourish and water
the land for thousands of years. These systems break down
if they are neglected. The water in the ditches might dry up
and the surrounding areas are starved of nourishment.
Likewise, if our channel system becomes blocked or
depleted this causes an imbalance in our Qi and eventually
illness. Acupuncture helps the Qi to flow freely again,
clearing obstructions and nourishing the Qi. This in turn
restores our health.
Where are the channels and

how many are there?
There are 12 main channels. Branching from them is a
network of other smaller channels that eventually cover
the whole body. The smallest ones are called cutaneous
channels, and they lie just beneath the skin.
Each main channel is associated with and flows through
one of the 12 Organs mentioned in the previous chapters.
Treatment on points on these channels has different
therapeutic effects. Well look at three of the channels the

Heart, the Gall Bladder and the Bladder channel.
The Heart channel

The Heart channel, travels from the heart itself to the
armpit and down the inside of the arm to the little finger
(see below). Western medicine cannot explain why someone
with a heart problem or about to have a heart attack often
has a tingling feeling running down the arm to the little
finger. Not only does this channels pathways explain it,
but Chinese medicine practitioners have understood for
thousands of years that treatment on this channel can be
used to keep the heart healthy.
The Heart channel
The Gall Bladder channel

Another pathway is the Gall Bladder channel. This begins
next to the eye, travels around the side of the head then
down the side of the body to end by the nail of the fourth
toe (see below). Many people have headaches travelling
around this pathway at the sides of their heads and going

to the eye. Treating this channel on the foot can help to
alleviate many headaches or migraines.
NICE has recognised that overuse of painkillers is
a common cause of headaches and has established that
acupuncture is a better alternative in the treatment of
headaches. It recommends that GPs refer patients for a
course of up to ten sessions of acupuncture over five to eight
weeks for the treatment of chronic tension-type headaches
(NICE 2012).
The Gall Bladder channel

The Bladder channel

The Bladder channel travels from the head to the foot and
covers the whole length of the back in two parallel channels.
Back pain is one of many conditions that can be treated
via this channel, and needles in the side of the foot where
the channel ends can alleviate many backaches. NICE has
suggested that GPs should refer patients for a course of
acupuncture comprising up to a maximum of ten sessions
over a period of up to 12 weeks for the treatment of back
pain (NICE 2009).
The Bladder channel

What are acupuncture points?

Acupuncture points lie along the pathways of these channels.
Points are often found at prominences or indentations along
the channels, such as where there is a notch in a bone, a flare
of the bone at a joint or where two muscles meet. They can
be compared to small whirlpools that are formed when the
smooth flowing of a stream or river is disrupted.
There are approximately 365 acupuncture points
positioned along the 12 main channels, as well as many
others that are not located on main pathways.
Tender points
Chinese medicine sometimes discovers a new point that
proves extremely useful. For example, a point on the
Stomach channel of the leg becomes tender on pressure if
a patients appendix is inflamed and can clarify a diagnosis
of appendicitis. Another point on the Gall Bladder channel
below the knee becomes tender when the Gall Bladder is
inflamed.
Not all acupuncture points become tender with pressure
and the locations of all points have been specified so that an
acupuncturist can find their exact location.
Wang Wei Yi and the bronze man

The locations of the acupuncture
points were first standardised
nearly 1,000 years ago in 1026.
At that time a famous Chinese
doctor called Wang Wei Yi wrote a
book called The Illustrated Manual
for Acupuncture and Moxibustion.
This book systematised all of
the point locations for the main
channels. The Emperor of the
time then commissioned two bronze figures of the
points and these were kept in his palace.
Subsequently many more bronze figures were made
and used for acupuncture students examinations. Holes
were made in the bronze statue, which were filled with
water and covered with wax. If the students correctly
located the points the needle went through the wax
and water spilled out confirming that they had passed
the exam!
Can the channels be felt?

Often people who practise Qigong over a period of time
learn to become sensitive to their Qi and are able to feel the
pathways (see Chapter 6). Some people believe that this is
how the pathways were originally found and traced out.
Patients often feel this Qi travelling along their channels
close to where the needle is inserted. This may feel like a
slight tingling sensation or even a numbness. One patient
described what she felt when a point was treated, Whenever
one particular point on my wrist was treated I would feel a
whoosh of energy travelling straight up the inside of my arm
over my head and down my other arm. I then felt completely

at peace and didnt want to move. She had experienced the
Qi of her Heart meridian moving through her channels.
This created a feeling of well-being and relaxation.
Pericardium 6
awellresearched point
Pericardium 6 is located about one-and-a-half inches
above the wrist on the inside of the arm. Although it
has a local effect and can be useful for conditions such
as carpal tunnel syndrome causing a painful wrist, like
many acupuncture points its main influence is on other
parts of the body.
Research has shown that it is effective for treating
many cardiovascular disorders including irregular heart
rhythms or constricted blood flow to the heart (Li et al.,
2012). This is no surprise to acupuncturists who know
that Chinese medicine says it has the ability to settle the
heart, loosen and open the chest and clear chest pain.
This point can also be used to calm a person who
is anxious and it can relieve insomnia, agitation and
panic, or any other nervous upset. It is also commonly
used to calm palpitations.
Many of you might have used this point in another
context. If you feel seasick while on a boat, a seaband
an acupressure wristband placed on this point can
rapidly relieve the nausea. This point will in fact help
with any form of nausea and it is also used for morning
sickness in pregnancy, nausea from chemotherapy,
vomiting and a variety of other stomach upsets. A
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center study using
sea-bands on post-operative patients found it reduced
their nausea by two thirds (Ferrara-Love et al., 1996).
Classically Pericardium 6 has the effect of sending

the Qi downwards. Chinese medicine poetically
describes nausea as the Stomach Qi rebelling upwards.
Acupuncture treatment using this point settles the
Stomach Qi and sends it down so that the nausea
disperses.
What can acupuncture treat?

We can refer once more to the audit carried out in the
College of Integrated Chinese Medicines teaching clinic
when we consider the conditions acupuncture can treat.
Patients came with a variety of complaints. The largest
category of patients (about 30%) came with musculoskeletal
problems, such as joint injuries, arthritis and other painful
conditions. The second biggest area (just over 18%) was
psychological conditions including stress, depression,
insomnia, memory or concentration problems and also
substance abuse. Another category of general conditions
(nearly 15%) included general pain, weakness, tiredness,
allergies, and viral and infectious diseases. Other conditions
acupuncture treated were gynaecological, digestive,
respiratory and skin problems. Many patients also wanted
help with energy levels, their well-being, their emotional
state or other more general factors.
Nearly 75 per cent of patients wanted help with more
than one symptom. Acupuncturists diagnose holistically
so they do not need to treat each symptom separately and
patients often have many symptoms treated at the same time
(Shaw et al., 2007).
An acupuncturist considers both mental and physical
symptoms. The body and mind are linked and, as I said
earlier, one area will affect another. For example, a female
patient aged 37 had digestive problems that took root at a

time of great unresolved anger and frustration. Acupuncture
treatment smoothed the anger and at the same time resolved
the digestive problem. She remarked, I began to feel more in
control of my life and I no longer suffered from a churning
stomach as I no longer felt put upon by other people like
I had done.
Another patient, a man aged 54 years, had become very
depressed after many years of chronic joint pains. As his
physical problem eased and he became more mobile, he also
began to feel better inside and his spirits naturally lifted.
One of his first comments as he became better was, I feel
much better in myself and more contented.
Acupuncture can treat these

general areas of complaint
The following is a list of the general kinds of problems
causing patients to come for treatment.
Breathing and lung problems such as asthma, chronic
breathlessness, bronchitis, coughs, hay fever.
Circulatory problems such as angina, chronic heart
conditions, high or low blood pressure, palpitations,
poor circulation, stroke, thrombosis, varicose veins.
Digestive and bowel complaints such as inflamed
gall bladder, gall stones, gastritis, indigestion, nausea,
stomach ulcers, vomiting, colitis, constipation,
diarrhoea, dysentery, irritable bowel syndromes.
Ear, eye, nose, mouth and throat disorders such as
blurredvision, chronic catarrh, conjunctivitis, deafness,
dry eyes, gum problems, nosebleeds, otitis media,
sinusitis sore throats, tinnitus, tonsillitis, tooth problems.
Emotional and mental conditions such as anxiety,
depression, eating disorders, insomnia, panic attacks.
Gynaecological disorders such as heavy periods,

hot flushes and other menopausal problems, irregular
periods, morning sickness, period pain, premenstrual
tension, scanty or no periods, post natal depression,
vaginal discharge.
Joint problems and pain such as back problems joint
injuries or inflammations, headaches, osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica, Stills disease.
Neurological problems such as Bells palsy, epilepsy,
multiple sclerosis, neuralgia.
Sudden acute disorders such as the common cold, food
poisoning, stomach upsets, influenza, mumps.
Skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis,
urticaria.
Urinary and reproductive problems such as bedwetting,
cystitis, impotence, urine retention, incontinence,
infertility, kidney stones, prostate conditions.
This list is by no means complete it is impossible to include

every illness that acupuncture can treat. Some problems
do not even have a Western medical label. Patients may
say things like, I feel out of sorts or, Im tired and run
down or, I dont feel right but I dont know why. Because
Chinese medicine diagnoses by evaluating patients overall
balance of Qi it may be more appropriate to ask, Can this
particular patient can be helped by acupuncture treatment?
rather than, Which diseases can acupuncture treat?
Generally an acupuncturists holistic approach is of great
help in many situations and a practitioner will objectively
advise a patient as to whether treatment is appropriate or
not. The acupuncturist carries out a thorough diagnosis
in order to discover why a problem has arisen and which

treatment is needed. The patient is then ready for treatment.
What is being treated like?

You will usually sit up or lie on a treatment couch while
having treatment. Most practitioners will first chat to find
out how you have been since the last treatment. They will
then feel your pulses and observe your tongue (see pages
5861) before inserting the needles into carefully chosen
points.
The number of needles used depends on how acute or
chronic your condition is. Practitioners also consider your
age, build and sensitivity. Usually anything from two to
eight acupuncture points are used. The needles are either
removed immediately after being inserted or sometimes they
are left in place for 15 to 20 minutes while you relax on the
couch. The time that the needles are left in varies according
to the effect required on your Qi.
Sometimes patients feel their symptoms improve even
whilst lying on the treatment couch, for instance, one
patient said, I always felt a change during the treatment. I
was immediately better. It felt as if the energy was moving
like a wave through my body. Other patients dont feel any
immediate change but feel the benefits later. For example a
22-year-old builder commented, I didnt feel any different
while the treatment was going on, but my backache soon
felt better.
How long will each treatment take?

A treatment will take anything from half an hour to an hour,
according to the practitioner and the needs of the patient.
Julia benefits from fertility treatment

Julia is a 35-year-old teacher:
I was desperate when I came to treatment. I wasnt
getting anywhere with normal medicine. Id had
two miscarriages before I came and I wanted
to conceive a baby naturally rather than having
Western medicine for infertility. I needed someone
to look at me as a whole person rather than as an
illness.
I was also easily upset and anxious. My mind
would run away with me and Id imagine all sorts
of awful things happening to my husband. It got
much worse before my period and sometimes even
stopped me from sleeping well at night.
Examination revealed that she was very hot,
like a little radiator, however, her feet and lower
abdomen always felt stone cold. The cold in the
lower part of her body was making it difficult for
her to conceive and remain pregnant.
Treatment was directed towards harmonising
her Kidney and Heart Qi, calming her spirit
and warming her lower abdomen. After a
few treatments she reported, I feel much less
anxious and can stand back and see the imagined
catastrophes for what they are. During treatment
her hands felt cooler and her lower body began to
feel warmer. After the treatment she said:
I was so desperate to sort myself out. Now I
feel a hundred times better! Before, when I
didnt feel well I couldnt handle anything.
Things dont bother me now as they did. I feel
much calmer and more peaceful inside. Im
more independent and I dont worry about
my husband when he is out of the house. Im

physically and mentally on top and much more
in charge of my life.
Seven months ago she and her husband had some
good news. She had become pregnant. They now
eagerly await the birth of their baby.
How does the theory of Chinese

medicine apply to acupuncture?
Most acupuncturists diagnose using the Five Elements and the
12 Organs and will strive to find the root cause of a condition.
Directing treatment towards this cause will rebalance the Qi
of the whole person and restore health.
The acupuncturist is also concerned about the condition
of the other Substances the Qi, the Blood, the Jing-essence
and the Body Fluids. The Substances can become deficient
or obstructed in relation to an Organ. The acupuncturist will
fine tune treatment directed towards that Organ according
to which Substance is affected.
For example, an acupuncturist may realise that the
patients Liver is the underlying cause of the imbalance. A
35-year-old mother who came to treatment for dizziness
said, I have scanty periods and a slight tendency to get
irritable after my periods but I never get very angry. I also
get black spots in front of my eyes and often get muscle
cramps. Her skin was very dry. Her symptoms were caused
by deficiency of the Liver Blood.
A male patient aged 48 years also had a Liver problem
but this was caused by his Liver Qi not circulating properly
and becoming stagnant. He complained, I get severe
migraine headaches that affect my eyes and I feel tired a lot
of the time. I often feel angry and depressed and my mood
changes very easily according to my situation at home or

work.
Both patients had a Liver problem but each manifested
in a different way. This created a different emphasis on the
points used for their treatments.
What are the needles like?

People are often relieved to find that acupuncture needles
are small and fine and nothing like injection needles.
The first needles that were used over 2,000 years ago
were made from sharpened bamboo or from stone. Later on,
iron needles were used. Today, most acupuncture needles
are made from stainless steel. This ensures that they are
very strong and flexible. Acupuncture needles have a coiled
handle and an extremely fine shaft with a sharp point. No
substances are injected into the body by the acupuncturist
and therefore the needles are solid. In comparison, injection
needles are thicker and hollow to allow medicines to be
injected.
Acupuncture needles come in different lengths according
to the area of the body that is to be treated.
How do acupuncturists ensure

good standards of hygiene?
Acupuncturists use single-use disposable needles, which are
made to a very high quality. Practitioners are also aware
of the importance of maintaining an impeccable standard
of hygiene when using needles and this is checked by
the professional body for acupuncturists and by each
acupuncturists local authority.
Will the needles hurt?

Everyone is understandably anxious about pain so it
is not surprising that this is one of the most common
questions people ask. Once they come for treatment
however, their concerns diminish.
These are some comments about needles that
patients have made:
When I was first shown a needle I could hardly
see it it was so fine. I dont feel the needle, just a
tingling sensation when its in the right place.
It hurts much less than an injection!
I only felt the slightest prick as the needles were
inserted, followed by a dull ache. I wondered why I
had been so nervous beforehand.
Once the needles have been inserted I cant feel a
thing even though my acupuncturist leaves them in
for 20 minutes.
The needles are inserted through a sterile tube then
guided to the correct depth. This may be one to two
millimetres in places where there is very little muscle
tissue, such as the fingers or toes, or two to four
centimetres or more where there is more tissue, such as
on the hip or calf. Inserting needles more deeply does
not mean that they cause more pain.
Practitioners are taught to stretch the skin in such
a way that the insertion is painless. The patient should
feel a slight sensation as the needle contacts the Qi.
This feeling is known as deQi. DeQi is not
unpleasant. The practitioner usually feels a pulling
sensation as the needle touches the point, while the
patient feels either an ache, a numbness, a tingling or a
sensation of heat.
The feeling only lasts for a couple of seconds. Very

occasionally the patient may feel more sensation. If this
happens it is often a sign that there is more blockage in
the Qi and a stronger needle manipulation is required.
How does the acupuncturist know

where to put the needles?
Having made the diagnosis, a practitioner draws up treatment
principles. These guide the acupuncturist to the best points
for treatment. So, for example, tonify Lung Qi may be the
suggestion for a patient who is asthmatic because her Lung
Qi is deficient, whilst calm the Heart may be necessary for
a patient who is very anxious.
After deciding on the treatment principles, a practitioner
will then decide where to place the needles. Patients are
often surprised when the practitioner uses points far away
from the area of the complaint. Although points near the
area of the complaint can be used, points that lie at the
extremities of the body below the elbows or the knees are
used more frequently.
Choosing points along a channel

The practitioner might choose points directly associated
with the organs that require treatment. For example, a patient
who described herself as feeling generally tired and below
par benefited greatly from treatments directed at stimulating
points on the Spleen channel, which lies on the leg.
Choosing points for their name

Sometimes points are chosen because of their action that
is described in the name. For instance, some points have
a definite calming effect on the patients Mind and Spirit.

One such point is called Spirit Gate. This lies on the Heart
channel and is located at the wrist. Another point called
Returning can be used to return a patients periods if they
stop or become scanty.
Choosing points for their function

Points are often chosen because they are known to have
functions that may benefit the patient in specific ways. For
example, a commonly used point, Stomach 36, has many
functions including strengthening the immune system,
affecting the digestion and enhancing a patients Qi. It is
called Leg three miles and is said to enable a patient to walk
another three miles after having it! There are also special
points that may be used to affect areas such as the bones, the
Blood or the tendons. Recently I treated a patient who had
severely sprained her ankle. Among the points I used to aid
the healing process was a special point for the tendons that
lies just below the knee.
Can I still have acupuncture if Im not ill?

Yes, many patients recognise the value of optimising their
health and energy even though they have no clear-cut
symptoms. Others continue to come for regular checkups
once they are cured of the illnesses that brought them to
treatment.
Everyone can benefit from treatment and patients who
are not ill often feel better and have more vitality, both
immediately after being treated and in the longer term. I
have a patient who started treatment over 30 years ago. Once
she became well she continued to have regular checkups and
is now a very youthful 76-year-old!
It is said that acupuncturists in China traditionally

only charged their patients when they remained healthy. If
they became sick the practitioner had been remiss in not
foreseeing and preventing the condition and the patients
stopped paying until their health was regained. This is one
area where practitioners no longer follow the old traditions!
A 57-year-old headmistress describes what happened
when she came for treatment:
Id heard about acupuncture and I felt complementary
medicine was a good thing so I asked if I could have an
MOT. After the third treatment Id had a horrendous
day and still felt wonderful at the end of it and I realised
that acupuncture had really made a difference. Work
changed. Prioritising became easy and instead of being
at the back of a pile of work I was on top of things.
Before, I had felt that I was rowing the boat under water
and against the current, now its like rowing on top of
the water and with the current.
How will I feel immediately after a treatment?

Reactions to treatment vary from person to person. Some
people feel an immediate change and their pain or other
symptoms can disappear at the time of treatment. Many
patients leave at the end of the treatment feeling re-
energised, stronger, more centred and/or more relaxed. A
patient recently told me, I always come out walking on air,
its like being smoothed out.
Some patients dont feel an immediate change and the
effects of treatment happen more gradually. For example,
another patient said, I cant say I felt a change immediately.
It was only after three or four treatments that I realised that
I felt much better.
Occasionally a patient may have what is called a

treatment reaction because a condition is clearing from
the body. This is a positive reaction. In this case patients
may feel slightly under-the-weather or have a slight
intensification of their condition for up to 24 hours. After
this the symptom improves and the patient feels better than
before the treatment.
How much treatment will I need?

This depends on how long you have been ill and the depth
of your condition. As a general rule you can expect an acute
condition, such as severe back pain, to be cured in just a few
treatments while a long-term chronic one will take longer.
An illness that started in childhood will often need many
more treatments than one that started in adulthood. A severe
and complicated condition such as a bowel problem with
much bleeding and loose stools may need more treatments
than a simple stomach upset.
Patients with a chronic condition usually start coming to
treatment once a week. As they improve, treatment is spread
out to once a fortnight, then monthly. In time patients may
attend treatment only for a regular checkup as discussed
above. The checkup may be at the change of season
seasonal treatment helps to retain the balance of Qi that has
been achieved.
Sometimes practitioners will propose that patients
make lifestyle changes, such as cutting out fatty foods or
getting more rest and relaxation. When lifestyle is affecting
a patients health, carrying out these suggestions can
considerably shorten their need for treatment.
Amy walks again without pain

Amys left knee swelled up and became sore when she
went camping in damp weather 12 years ago. She is
now 65 years old and has retired from her job doing
accounts. The doctor told her she had arthritis and
gave her painkillers, which she didnt like taking.
Four years later the right knee also started to swell up
and feel painful. When she came for treatment a year
later she told me, Some days I cant walk, I have to
go up and down stairs on my bottom my knees are
so painful. The pain also keeps me awake at night.
Upon examination her knees were found to be
very swollen and stiff. They also felt cold to the touch
and she confirmed that heat on her knees gave her
some relief. Her diagnosis was an invasion of Cold
and Damp in her knees. This was exacerbated by an
underlying Kidney and Spleen deficiency. Her knees
were treated directly with moxa (see pages 8486)
and needles and at the same time the underlying
Kidney and Spleen deficiency was strengthened as
well.
After the first treatment she said, I feel great.
Much better in my spirits and my knees also feel
better. This is how she now reports on how life has
changed.
My life changed immediately. Two big warts Id
had all my life on my hand disappeared and I
stopped having headaches. I began to feel fitter.
The swelling in my knees soon went and I could
walk without undue pain. The acupuncture
worked with everything. Id really thought that Id
be in a wheelchair within six months. My mother
had been crippled with arthritis and I thought
Id go the same way. When I go to hospital for

checks every doctor who has ever examined me
says that they cant believe how well I am for my
age and that I am very healthy. When I say I have
acupuncture they say, Its obviously the right
treatment for you.
How does the practitioner know

treatment has worked?
It is obvious that treatments have been effective if patients
report a change when they return for their next treatment.
However, there are several other signs that an acupuncturist
can observe at the time of treatment.
For example, it is a positive sign when a patient has
an immediate response at the time of treatment. An
improvement in the quality of the pulses after treatment also
gives a reliable indication that treatment has been beneficial.
Small changes in facial colour, voice tone or emotional state
signify a positive effect and a new sparkle in the eyes shows
that the spirits have lifted.
Some other treatment techniques used alongside
acupuncture are moxibustion, cupping therapy, guasha,
electro-acupuncture and auricular acupuncture.
How is moxibustion used?

At the beginning of the chapter I briefly talked about
moxibustion. Moxibustion is a method of burning a herb
close to the body. It both warms our Qi if we are too cold,
and nourishes and regulates our Qi in a more general
sense. Needles and moxa are often used together in the
sametreatment.
This herb artemesia vulgaris latiflora is similar to our native

mugwort. Historically it was first used in the more northern
parts of China where it is colder. To create moxa the leaves
go through a drying process until they become moxa punk
which looks a bit like brown cotton wool. Its appearance
is somewhat deceptive. Anyone who has experienced
moxibustion will confirm that it has a wonderful aroma and
a powerfully warming effect. As well as warming the Qi, the
aroma of moxa is said to enter the channels through the skin
to stimulate the Qi and Blood.
Moxibustion therapy
Moxa can be shaped into small cones and placed on

various acupuncture points to warm the body directly. It may
also be used as a stick known as a moxa cigar. When lit,
this is held an inch or two from the skin and can warm
anything from a small acupuncture point to a large area of
the body.
For deeper penetration of heat, moxa can be placed on
the end of a needle and lit while the needle remains in the
point. The warmth passes down the needle into the point
and feels especially pleasant when a joint or particular part
of the body is cold. Smouldering moxa placed in a specially
made container called a moxa box enhances this effect and
can warm a large area of the body.
A 39-year-old radiographer describes her experience of
moxa, It feels like a relief when I have moxa. Im warmer
inside and funnily enough I also feel warmer towards other
people! Another patient with a back problem says, I love
the feeling of the moxa warming my back. I immediately
feel less achy and more flexible there.
What is cupping therapy and how is it used?

As well as needles and moxibustion, an acupuncturist might
use cupping therapy. Cupping removes congestion in the
body caused by an obstruction by pathogens (see pages
4548).
A common cold is an example of a pathogen that can be
cleared by cupping.
Cupping therapy is carried out by creating a vacuum
between the cup and the skin. This draws out the pathogen.
The vacuum is created by placing a lighted taper into
a glass or bamboo cup then quickly removing it before
swiftly placing the cup onto the skin at the appropriate area.
For a cold this is often on the upper back. The cup is left
comfortably in place for 1015 minutes. After it has been
removed the patient is told to wrap up warmly for a while to

allow the cold to be sweated out of the body.
Cupping can also be used on different areas to remove
obstructions causing such things as joint pains, backaches or
some stomach upsets.
Cupping therapy
What is guasha and how is it used?

Guasha is a treatment that has been passed down through
generations in China since the 7th century. The word gua
means to scrape and sha denotes a red rash. Guasha is
a method of scraping the body with a blunt edged tool in
order to clear pathogens and other obstructions from the
body.
Like cupping therapy it is a very effective way of treating
colds and flu. It can also be used to clear many joint pains.
Traditionally it was used as a health maintenance tool to
treat elderly people. It is usually used alongside other
acupuncture treatment and is a good adjunct when people

have the above conditions.
To carry out a guasha treatment, practitioners first lightly
massage oil onto the surface of the skin. They then scrape
downwards and outwards until red spots arise on the surface
of the skin. The area treated might be the upper back for a
common cold or flu, the lower back for health maintenance
or on a local area to relieve a painful joint.
Scraping does not feel painful and the practitioner
will ensure that the patient is comfortable during the
treatment. The appearance of the red spots indicates that the
obstruction has cleared from the body. The rash will gently
fade over three to seven days. If used for a common cold or
a similar condition the results can be immediate. Sometimes
it will take more than one treatment before the problem has
resolved. If a further treatment is needed it is only carried
out after the initial spots have cleared.
When might electro-acupuncture be used?

Electro-acupuncture is used by some acupuncturists and is
especially helpful for painful conditions. To use electro-
acupuncture a special machine is attached to some of the
patients needles. The machine provides a gentle current to
stimulate points and can be controlled by the patient. The
patient will usually feel a slight tingling sensation, which is
not uncomfortable.
Electro-acupuncture is often used to provide greater than
normal stimulation to acupuncture points and is especially
useful for clearing painful conditions such as joint pains, for
pain relief during labour or for situations of severe pain,
such as when a kidney stone is passed. Sometimes it is used
in conjunction with auricular acupuncture, which I will
discuss next.
What is auricular acupuncture?

Some acupuncturists use auricular acupuncture in their
practice and others do not. Auricular acupuncture is a
relatively new Chinese medicine treatment. It was first
discovered in the 1950s, so from the perspective of Chinese
medicines 2000-year history it is positively modern!
It is unclear whether it was first discovered in France by
Paul Nogier or around the same time by the Chinese. Both
developed this fascinating use of acupuncture simultaneously
and made similar discoveries.
They found that there are points on the ear that coincide
with every part of the body. These points correspond to a
picture of a foetus with its head at the ear lobe, its internal
organs in the deeper part of the ear called the conchae and
its upper and lower limbs on the antihelix and the crura of
the ear.
Treatment using auricular acupuncture

By examining the ear visually and finding sensitive areas,
a diagnosis is made and points are selected for treatment.
About three to five points are usually used. These may be
treated using minute acupuncture needles, or alternatively
tiny seeds or ball bearings can be attached to the chosen
spots using plasters. The seeds or ball bearings will stay in
place on the ear for three to four days and can be pressed to
stimulate the points.
Auricular acupuncture is useful for both acute and chronic
problems and as an adjunct to other acupuncture treatment.
It can be used for painful conditions and infections and may
be effective for treatment during childbirth.
Auricular acupunctures use for drug dependency

Auricular acupuncture is probably best known for its use
in helping patients withdrawal from drug dependency.
A fellow practitioner who works with drug-dependent
patients in a London clinic frequently uses five special
detox points which help to stop drug cravings. She also
uses broader acupuncture treatment alongside the auricular
points to attend to other underlying conditions. By doing
this she treats both the physical and psychological needs of
her patients so that they can remain off drugs in the future.
Research into the effects of acupuncture

There is an increasing body of research into acupuncture
and more and more trials are proving its therapeutic effects.
At the beginning of the chapter I discussed the positive
results from the audit carried out at the College of Integrated
Chinese Medicine in Reading, UK.
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists at least
40diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture
has been proved to be an effective treatment through
controlled trials including: adverse reactions to radiotherapy
and/or chemotherapy; allergic rhinitis including hay fever;
biliary colic; depression including depressive neurosis and
depression following stroke; dysentery; dysmenorrhoea
(period pains); primary epigastralgia; acute and chronic gastritis
and gastrospasm; facial pain including craniomandibular
disorders; headache; hypertension; essential hypotension;
primary induction of labour; knee pain; leukopenia; low
back pain; malposition of foetus; correction of morning
sickness; nausea and vomiting; neck pain; pain in dentistry
including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction;
periarthritis of the shoulder; postoperative pain; renal colic;
rheumatoid arthritis; sciatica; sprain; stroke; tennis elbow.
It also lists another 60 diseases, symptoms or conditions

for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been
shown, but for which further proof is needed (WHO, 2003).
The evidence for the positive effects of acupuncture is
incontrovertible. You can find a list of more research carried
out into acupuncture on the British Acupuncture Councils
(BAcC) website (www.acupuncture.org.uk).
Over a relatively short space of time acupuncture has
become a highly respected form of treatment backed up by
solid research. Those who are put off by the idea of having
needles quickly become converted once they start having
treatment.
As one patient commented:
I enjoy going for acupuncture treatment so much. I had
imagined that Id dread it like when I go to the dentist,
but its not a bit like that. I look forward to going, I
feel better while Im there and Im gaining huge health
benefits physically and mentally as a result.
If you decide to have treatment you could enjoy these
benefits too.
5
Chinese Herbal
Medicine
Remedies to Restore Your Qi
Christine was desperate when she first visited a Chinese

herbalist shed had period pains for eight years.
They were in my lower abdomen and felt like knives
sticking into me. The pain then continued for two weeks
after the period and I felt as if I had been punched in the
stomach. Before the period began my breasts swelled
up and I often felt really angry and easily upset. It was
ruining my life.
The pain had started when she had a fallopian tube
infection at the age of 23. The doctor had told her she had
endometriosis, a disease caused by small amounts of the
womb lining breaking away and growing in other areas of
the pelvic cavity. During menstruation this tissue caused her
extreme pain.
The herbalist prescribed herbs to move the Qi and
Blood which she diagnosed as causing an obstruction
in her lower abdomen (for more about Qi and Blood see
pages2933). Christine boiled up the herbs and drank them
daily. By her next period she was surprised at the extent of
the improvement, I only had very slight and manageable
pain. After another month she had no more symptoms at all,
92
Chinese Herbal Medicine 93
the mood changes and the pain had all disappeared. It was
a miracle! she said.
She had been planning to move abroad for some time
and when she finally left England her herbalist gave her
some herbal capsules to take with her. These were to ensure
that the symptoms didnt recur. Six months later she wrote
to say that the pain had never returned and that she had no
more premenstrual problems. She was also extremely happy
and contented with her new life.1
Lindsey aged 29 years and a university lecturer had a
different problem entirely.
I felt foggy and woolly in my head and I had very little
energy. I couldnt concentrate and was very depressed.
Any energy I had to put into doing things would
disappear. I was quite a mess. It felt like spinning plates
waiting to crash!
She was prescribed herbs to strengthen her Heart and
Kidney Qi.
Id felt ill for about four years. After starting the herbs,
in a matter of weeks I began to feel better. Some months
later I now feel positive, my head is clear and I have
good energy and concentration. Im also much more
consistent in how I feel. Before taking herbs I didnt
know how Id feel from one day to the next.
These are just two examples of some of the spectacular
results achieved by taking Chinese herbs.
1 A feasibility study, the first of its kind in the UK looking at Chinese herbal
medicine in the treatment of women with endometriosis, was completed in
2011. Twenty-eight women with a diagnosis of endometriosis were treated
at an NHS clinic in London or at a private clinic in Hove. They were given
either a placebo or Chinese herbal medicine for 16 weeks. Those taking the
herbal medicine reported relief in menstrual pain. The trial was randomised,
controlled and double-blinded. The results were published in 2011 in the
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 17, 8, 691699.
Chinese herbs can play a role in the treatment of many

medical conditions including skin diseases, gastrointestinal
conditions, gynaecological problems, respiratory conditions,
chronic fatigue syndrome, urinary conditions and
psychological problems. Research is continuing to show
how effective it can be.
Although herbs have been slower to grow in popularity
in England than acupuncture, more and more people are
now turning to them as they hear about their beneficial
effects. It may be a surprise for you to hear that in China and
many other East Asian countries, herbs are more widely used
than acupuncture for many conditions.
In the rest of this chapter we will also be looking at
many aspects of Chinese herbal medicine. These will include
how Chinese herbs differ from Western herbs, how a herbal
prescription is prepared, what the different categories of
herbs are and how they are used, as well as what it will be
like to have treatment using Chinese herbal medicine and
more about what kinds of conditions herbs can treat.
In the past a few controversial issues have arisen about
herbs. One of these concerns the use of animal products
like rhino horn and bear bile. These are banned in the UK
and many other countries. Regulation has also been an issue
following a change in the law in Europe, which affected
the way herbs could be prescribed. Herbs are regulated
differently in different countries. We will discuss these issues
later in the chapter.
What is Chinese herbal medicine?

Chinese herbal medicine is one of the greatest systems of
herbal medicine in the world. It has been used since the
3rd century bc. Throughout the years it has continuously
grown and changed in response to the changing clinical

circumstances and needs of patients.
The term Chinese herbal medicine describes formulae
that are made from the roots, stems, bark, leaves, seeds or
flowers of many plants, both wild and cultivated.2 Herbs are
taken by over one billion people throughout East Asia and
are now also used in many countries in the West. There are
over 400 herbs in common use today.
The herbs are carefully prepared in a variety of different
ways. They are frequently ingested in the form of dried
herbs, which are decocted into a soup, or as powders or
tinctures. Some external preparations are also used on the
skin as ointments, creams or herbal plasters.
Herbal medicines are usually taken in the form of a
recipe known as a prescription. To make up a prescription
a herbalist carefully blends together a number of herbs that
have specific applications.
Many of the prescriptions being used today date back to
around 200 bc when a famous herbalist called Zhong Zhang
Jing wrote a book on how to deal with numerous common
infectious diseases. He was the first person to systematise the
use of herbs, and the tradition continues to this day.
Later in the chapter well look more closely at what
is meant by a herbal prescription. First well evaluate the
main distinctions between Chinese herbal medicine and
Westernherbs.
2 In China, this also includes some minerals and animal products.

Zhong Zhang Jing and his

famousbook
Zhong Zhang Jing lived around
150219 ad. During his life a
plague wiped out many of his
family where he lived in the south
east of Henan province in China.
It is thought that this motivated
him to study Chinese herbs.
He is famous for formulating a
theory that describes how cold
progresses through six stages in
the body. He collected and systematised formulae that
could help these fevers and conditions. His work is
called the Shang Han Za Bin Lun or The Treatise of Cold
Induced and Miscellaneous Diseases and his writing is still
considered a masterpiece. This was a seminal work and
the formulae have been adapted and are still used by
many herbalists today.
How does Chinese herbal medicine

differ from Western herbs?
There are two main differences between Chinese and
Western herbal medicine. First, a Chinese herbalist diagnoses
a patient using the theory of Chinese medicine. This is the
same theory that is used by practitioners in all of the Chinese
traditions mentioned in this book.
A Western trained herbalist will use a Western diagnosis,
which is the same as that used by Western doctors. This was
not the original method of diagnosis used by herbalists in the
West. Western herbal medicine, like its Chinese counterpart,
has a long history. Unfortunately much knowledge of this

tradition has now been lost and this includes many of the
diagnostic techniques. The understanding of many of the
functions of the herbs has survived, however, and remains
useful.
Second, the herbs are prescribed differently. A practitioner
of Chinese herbal medicine will use a prescription made up
of a combination of a number of herbs. These herbs will be
chosen to fit the patients energetic state.
A Western herbalist prescribes herbs separately and will
use individual herbs to treat a patients complaint. Although
a number of different herbs might be used, they will not be
combined together into a prescription in the same way as
Chinese herbs.
How are the herbs categorised?

Altogether there are more than 21 main groups of herbs
that are blended together to make up a herbal prescription.
Examples of categories are Move Qi, Drain Damp, Scatter
Cold, Move Food Stagnation, Transform Phlegm or
Clear Heat.
Included in these actions are tonic herbs which Tonify
Qi or Tonify Blood. These strengthen the body when
there is deficiency.
Sadly there are very few tonics found in Western
medicine nowadays although in the past they were often
prescribed when a person felt run down or out of
sorts. Today there are many people who feel depleted,
and fortunately Chinese medicines can help to replenish
exhausted energy.
Herbs can also be used to Calm the Spirit when a
patient is anxious or jumpy or to release the exterior when
a patient has an infection. Within each group are many herbs
that have specific uses and these are blended together to

form a prescription.
What is meant by a herbal prescription?

A prescription or formula prescribed by a herbalist is
tailor-made for each patient. There can be any number of
ingredients ranging from one to 20 in a herbal prescription,
although six to eight is more usual.
The herbs are carefully balanced together. Prescriptions
are constructed using a clear organising principle in order to
have the optimum effect on the patient. There are four main
components in a prescription. These are the Emperor herb,
the Minister herb, the Assistant or Adjutant herb and the
Messenger herb. The component herbs have traditionally
been named after different positions of responsibility
in Chinese society. We will briefly discuss each of these
components in turn.
The Emperor herb

This is the main herb in a prescription and may also be
referred to as the Sovereign herb. Many people who have
read the book or seen the film The Last Emperor understand
the importance of the emperor in Chinese society. He was
considered to be almost godlike in his position and carried
out ceremonies and rituals that ensured the well-being
of all of his subjects. The importance of this herb cannot
be underestimated. This herb treats the main cause of the
patients imbalance and forms the highest proportion in
theprescription.
The Minister herb

The Minister herb has the job of assisting the Emperor
herb or of treating another co-existing imbalance. Its job
is similar to an important minister in the emperors court.
There is often more than one minister herb in a prescription
and there is less of this herb in a prescription than of the
Emperor herb.
The Adjutant herb

The word Adjutant describes an army officer who does
administrative work. This herb is added to the prescription
to moderate any effects of the main herbs if necessary the
important administrative details we might say! For example,
if the main herb is very tonifying to the Qi, the Adjutant
herb may be added to move the energy so that it doesnt
build up in one place but can also move around the rest of
the body.
The Messenger herb

This has the job of carrying the other herbs in the
prescription to the affected area and also of harmonising all
of the ingredients. The job of a messenger in the emperors
court was a lowly one but as essential as the position of the
emperor himself. If the messenger stopped working the court
would no longer run smoothly and harmonious relations
among the subjects would break down. Traditionally the
Adjutant and the Messenger herbs make up the smallest
proportion of the prescription.
Ginseng one of Chinese

medicines most famous tonics
The word ginseng is derived from its Chinese name ren
shen. Ren means man. This herb is a root with a fork-
like appearance resembling a man on two legs hence
its name. Its full name is panax ginseng and the word
panax derives from the Greek word for panacea. A
panacea is a cure-all for many problems. Ginseng is one
of Chinas most famous and highly prized medicines,
with many uses.
There are two main types of ginseng white
and red. These are harvested after four to six years
depending on the species and are sun dried before
being used therapeutically. Wild ginseng is another
variety but this is now an endangered species due to
the high demand for it and the length of time it takes
for it to reach maturity.
Ginsengs therapeutic effects are numerous,
especially as a tonic. Some people claim that it helps
them with stress and improves their general well-
being. It has been said to act as a stimulant, which
promotes endurance, increases life expectancy, relaxes
the nervous system, improves mental awareness,
encourages balanced hormonal function, improves lipid
levels, lowers cholesterol, improves nerve growth and
increases resistance to disease. It is said to act as an
antioxidant, autoimmune stimulant, psychotropic and
to have anti-tumour actions.
Beware of overdosing on this herb, however.
Although it is relatively safe, too much, especially of
the red form, can cause the body to become overheated
and so it should not be used by those who are naturally
very hot as it could cause symptoms of heat or

bleeding. It should also not be used when a person has
an infection it is such a wonderful tonic that it could
tonify the infection too. To be safe it is always best to
get your herbs prescribed by a qualified herbalist.
There are other varieties of ginseng, such as
American or Siberian ginseng. They also have
therapeutic properties but are different from Chinese
ginseng.
How does the herbalist create a prescription?

Many basic prescriptions have been created by eminent
herbalists over the last 2,000 years, for example, the
prescriptions created by Zhong Zhang Jing that were
described earlier. These combinations are set down in
Chinese herbal books and most of them have now been
translated into English. Having diagnosed the patients
imbalance the herbalist can then choose which prescription
is best suited to the patient and how it can then be modified
to precisely fit the patients needs.
Practitioners will then add extra herbs, powders
or tinctures or subtract any unnecessary ones from the
prescription. They may also change the quantities of the herbs
being used. Finally the exact combination of ingredients is
blended together to match the patients requirements.
How are the herbs prepared?

Most Chinese herbs used in the West are imported from
East Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong or Taiwan.
The herbs are all picked at the most appropriate time and
prepared in the traditional manner.
Choosing when to pick each individual herb can be

very important. Often the plants are picked when they are
fully mature. The gatherer knows exactly which is the best
time to harvest each herb. Many roots are most powerful
in late autumn and early spring, whilst leaves are collected
just before the flower reaches full bloom. The flower is then
gathered later, either in bud or in full blossom. Some fruits
are used before they are ripe and need to be picked earlier.
For example, immature tangerine peel has a different effect
to mature tangerine peel. Both move the Qi but the mature
peel is used more in conditions relating to the Stomach
and Spleen, whilst the immature one is often included in
prescriptions for Liver complaints.
Once collected, the herbs need to be prepared. After
being thoroughly washed and separated out, they are usually
dried in the sun or in a dry, well-ventilated area. When they
are thoroughly dry they are cut to a usable size, labelled and
stored ready for use. The dried herbs can then be used to
make herbal decoctions or they are made into tinctures or
powders.
What is the difference between dried

herbs, tinctures and powders?
Dried herbs
The most common way in which the herbs are prescribed is
in the form of a herbal decoction boiled up from dried herbs.
The advantages of this method are that the herbalist can
use the herbs in a fairly natural state and precisely weigh
the quantities to be used. The herbs are then put into bags
and are boiled up freshly every day. The disadvantage of
using the dried herbs is that patients do not always want to
boil herbs up every day and must be highly motivated to
do so. Useful alternatives are powdered herbs, freeze-dried

concentrates, granules or tinctures.
Powdered herbs and freeze-dried concentrates

Powders are a useful way to take herbs as they are slightly
easier to use than the dried herbs. The powders are ground
up to make either a coarse or a fine powder. They can be
taken directly or they are mixed with water and taken as a
drink rather like instant coffee! Many people like to take
their medicines in pill form and one way they can do this is
to take capsules of powders that the practitioner has made
up for them. Powders are quite widely available from many
distributors and are used as a matter of choice by some
herbalists.
Tinctures
Tinctures are made by extracting the constituents of herbs
in a mixture of alcohol and water. They are often taken by
the spoonful or in water. Although tinctures are easy to take,
their main disadvantage is that alcohol is known to have a
slightly heating effect on the body and so should be avoided
in patients with hot conditions.3
3 The type of herbs used by a practitioner depends to some extent on which

country they live in. Patent herbal pills are not currently used in the UK and
many parts of Europe but they are used in the US. These pills are made by
grinding the herbs, preparing the formulae in the traditional manner and then
concentrating the result and forming it into a pill. The pills are often slightly
cheaper than dried herbs and are commonly used for treating deficiencies or
for acute problems. The disadvantage of pills is that the patent herbs dont
cover every possible condition a patient may have and cannot be adjusted for
the patient, so they are not suitable in all circumstances.
Two useful Chinese herbal formulae

Below are two useful Chinese medicine formulae that
your herbalist can prescribe to help you to stay healthy.
Honeysuckle and forthysia decoction or Yin
Qiao San (pronounced yin chow san) can
be taken at the first signs of a cold or when
you have a sore throat or flu signs with a
temperature, chills and muscle aches. Many
of my patients take this to prevent colds from
developing and often with great effect if the
cold is caught in the early stages. There are two
main herbs in this prescription and both are
used to clear what is called Wind-Heat from
the system. Hence it is especially beneficial
if the infection is of a Hot nature such as
when an infection starts with a sore throat.
The Eight Treasures Decoction or Ba Zhen
Wan is another famous and widely used
prescription, often, although not always,
prescribed for women. It is a tonic formula
containing eight very potent herbs that can
strengthen the body. I often prescribe it for
people who feel weak and tired, look pale and
have a lack of stamina. It will give people an
energy boost, especially if they have lost blood
through heavy periods or have Qi and Blood
Deficiency caused by a poor diet or a lack of
meat or have just become worn out through
overwork.
What kinds of herbs are used in a prescription?

Here is an example of how a common herbal prescription
was modified to suit the needs of a patient. A 45-year-old
man came for herbal treatment complaining of digestive
problems. He had a very poor appetite and felt bloated and
full after only a small amount of food. He also had slightly
loose stools. When the practitioner enquired further he told
her that his energy has been low for a long time and he had
difficulty concentrating. His head also felt muzzy and full
as if he had cotton wool in it and he was unable to think
clearly. His symptoms became worse in damp weather.
The herbalist diagnosed that his Spleen Qi was deficient.
One function of the Spleen, according to the theory of
Chinese medicine, is to transform and move Fluids and Qi
in the body. Because the Spleen was deficient, the patient
experienced a poor appetite and low energy. The Spleen
energy was too deficient to move the Body Fluids and they
were accumulating and causing him to have a bloated feeling
and a muzzy head. Chinese medicine calls this Internal
Damp.
The prescription that the herbal practitioner chose is
one called The Four Gentlemen. This prescription is made
from a basic recipe containing four herbs. The Emperor
herb in this prescription is ginseng (see pages 100101).
The tonic properties of ginseng can especially stimulate the
Spleen Qi. The Minister herb is called white atractylodes.
Atractylodes also tonifies the Spleen as well as clearing some
Damp and is used to assist the main herb. The third herb
in the prescription is the Adjutant herb and is called poria.
Poria clears Damp in the Spleen and in this way modifies the
action of the first two herbs so that they do not tonify the
patient too strongly. Finally the fourth Messenger herb in the
prescription is baked licorice. Licorice is a herb that blends
together the other herbs in this prescription.
To modify the prescription to fit this patient more

precisely the herbalist added two more herbs. The first one
was tangerine peel, which has a slightly stronger action of
moving Damp. The second was pinella, which also dries up
Damp as well as keeping the digestive organs warmed. The
addition of these two herbs turns the prescription called the
four gentlemen into the six gentlemen. The six gentleman
prescription will tonify the Qi of the Spleen and clear Damp.
After taking this prescription for some weeks the
patients symptoms cleared. He was delighted to find that
his appetite improved, he stopped bloating after eating, felt
clearer in his head and that in general he felt much stronger
and more energetic. He also no longer fell asleep after his
midday meal. This surprised him as this afternoon energy
dip had been going on for so long that he thought it was
normal.
Are any animal products used in

Chinese herbal medicine?
The use of any animal products in Chinese medicine is
banned in the UK and no herbalist is allowed (and nor would
they wish) to participate in any illegal trade in endangered
plant and animal species. Members of professional bodies
are subject to strict rules that prohibit the use of any such
material.4
How are herbs regulated?

Regulations vary according to different countries. A European
directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products came into
4 As I said earlier in the chapter, two very controversial animal products are
rhino horn and bear bile. One of my colleagues gave a helpful analogy when
he said, These products have about as much to do with real Chinese medicine
as taking Viagra recreationally has to do with Western medicine.
force in April 2011. This prevented some herbs, especially

prepared pills, from being sold in shops or being prescribed.
Qualified Chinese herbal medicine practitioners in Europe
and the UK still prescribe herbal formulae as usual, although
they no longer prescribe them in this pill form.
In the US the ban described above does not exist and
all types of herbal products can be brought and prescribed,
including Chinese herbal pills.
How is the theory of Chinese medicine used

when a herbalist diagnoses a patient?
When a patient goes for Chinese herbal treatment, the
practitioner will carry out a diagnosis in much the same way
as an acupuncturist. The aim of the diagnosis is to find out
which of the 12 main Organs are out of balance, how the yin
and yang Qi are balanced in relation to each other, which of
the Vital Substances are deficient or obstructed and whether
there are any pathogenic factors which need to be cleared from
the body (see Chapters 1 and 2).
For example, a patient with eczema may be diagnosed
as having an imbalance in one of the Organs and a related
Substance such as Qi, Blood, Body Fluids or Jing-essence.
Eczema can have many different causes and the herbalist will
treat each individual differently according to the underlying
root of the problem.
He or she may choose to treat the Qi of the Lung Organ,
which is commonly associated with disorders of the skin,
or nourish the Blood of the Liver. The Liver Blood would
normally moisturise the outside of the body. If it is deficient
the skin can become dry.
The underlying Organ and Substance imbalance may
cause depletion, allowing the skin to be more easily invaded
by a pathogen from the outside. For example, if heat affects
the skin it can create a red, raised, painful and sometimes

itchy rash. If Damp is involved the rash may ooze more or
even become inflamed and pus filled.
Imbalances are often caused by mental or emotional
stress. Other causes may include a bad diet or exhaustion
due to overwork.
Gathering information about the patients problem is
important so that the practitioner can make a clear diagnosis.
The diagnosis is made at the patients first visit to the
herbalist and in turn leads to precise treatment. The amount
of time spent on the diagnosis depends on the individual
patient and the practitioner, and may vary from an hour to
one-and-a-half hours. Subsequent treatments take less time,
usually 2045 minutes.
After the diagnosis the herbalist will either make up a
prescription from their own herbal dispensary or obtain the
herbs from a herbal supplier. The patient will also be given
an appointment to return for the next treatment.
Sally recovers from post-viral syndrome

Six years ago Sally had glandular fever from which
she didnt fully recover. She was later diagnosed as
having myalgic encephalomyelitis commonly known
as ME, a post-viral syndrome. She is 46 years old, a
trained doctor and is married with two children. She
has been taking Chinese herbs for 18 months.
I felt dried out and there was nothing left of my
energy. I had terrible fatigue and exhaustion that
went right to my bones, but even when I was lying
down I still couldnt rest. I also had a tight chest,
and was short of breath as if I was breathing in my
throat. My digestion was terrible and I had nausea
and very loose bowels. Id have to run to the loo
in the morning and afterwards I felt completely

exhausted. I also had a permanent ringing sound
in my ears, my back felt weak all the time and if
I tried to walk anywhere my muscles would ache.
I had mental symptoms that were even worse.
I felt as if I had inflammation in my brain and
I couldnt think straight, concentrate or take in
information. I was in complete despair. It was as if
my whole body was collapsing. Id wake at night
with night fears and a sense of total hopelessness
and Id have panic attacks during the day. I had
thought my life was over and I was going to die
and I was even suicidal at times. Taking the herbs
was the turning point. As soon as I started taking
them I knew I was going to recover.
The first herbs were to clear the pathogen that had
remained in Sallys system since the glandular fever,
I felt different the next day. The terrible exhaustion
began to lift and lighten. After about a week she
was given a herbal tonic and again felt dramatically
different, Ive got stronger and stronger ever since.
Now all my physical symptoms have gone. I get
mild ringing in my ears sometimes and a slight
ache in my lower back. My digestion is better
and I have no shortness of breath. My hair has
started to grow back. Best of all I can now read
books again and take in information. I can even
dig my allotment without collapsing! I have a lot
more energy and at times it feels normal. Its such
a relief to feel better. I can look to the future now
and it looks bright.
What problems are commonly

treated by herbs?
All problems that can be treated by acupuncture can also
be treated by a Chinese herbalist. Herbal medicines
are used to treat many physical, mental and emotional
problems. Herbs have come to be known in the West to be
especially beneficial for patients with skin conditions and
gynaecological problems. They can be especially useful as
tonics for building up Substances like Qi, Blood or yin. They
are also useful when patients have an acute illness.
These are by no means all of the diseases that herbs can
help. For a more detailed list of the types of complaints that
herbs can treat, please refer to the list in Chapter 4.
Current research into Chinese herbs

There are over 17,000 trials into the efficacy of Chinese
herbs published in China but many of these still need to be
subjected to the rigor of Western methodology before they
are accepted.
A review from the Cochrane library in 2009 suggested
that there are intervention benefits from Chinese medicine
for the following conditions: dysmenorrhoea (period pains);
type 2 diabetes; Alzheimers disease; acute ischemic stroke;
heart failure; unstable angina pectoris; schizophrenia;
hepatitis B; viral myocarditis.
Reviews also show the potential for Chinese medicine
in the management of: the common cold; mild cognitive
impairment; acute pancreatitis; functional dyspepsia;
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS); endometriosis;
nephrotic syndrome associated with kidney disorders;
heroin withdrawal; lung cancer and breast cancer used in
conjunction with chemotherapy.
There is evidence to suggest that when treating other

cancers Chinese medicinal herbs can reduce side effects and
improve quality of life and, in some cases, show enhanced
tumour regression and increased survival rates.5
What do the herbs taste like?

The herbal decoctions or powders vary in their taste
according to why they are prescribed. Tonic herbs are usually
fairly sweet tasting, for example, licorice is often used to
harmonise a tonic prescription. Other herbs can taste less
pleasant, for example, bitter herbs can be used to clear heat
or sour ones are more astringent. Comments from patients
vary according to their own likes and dislikes in taste and the
type of herbs they have been prescribed. Many say that they
dont mind, or even enjoy, the taste. Some describe them
as an acquired taste or that they are quite bland, whilst
others say they can have more difficulty getting them down,
especially if they need strong tasting herbs.
To help us to understand more about the various tastes
it is useful to understand the way the Chinese classify the
five tastes.
What are the five tastes and what do they do?

By using herbs over thousands of years, the Chinese found
that the five main tastes have differing effects on the body.
The five tastes are Pungent, Sour, Sweet, Bitter and Salty. There
is also a neutral or bland taste, which has no clear flavour.
Herbs are classified as having one or a combination of more
than one of these flavours. The Sour, Bitter and Salty herbs
are more yin in their effect, that is, they have a downward
moving and internal effect. The Sweet, Pungent and Neutral
5 For more information see the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine website:
www.rchm.co.uk.
herbs are more yang, they have a more outward moving and
exterior effect. Well consider each of them in turn.
Pungent
Pungent herbs are sharp and acrid in their taste and include
common foods and herbs such as garlic, ginger, chilli pepper,
black pepper, peppermint and cinnamon. The effect of the
pungent taste is to disperse and move obstructions in the
Qi and Blood, and should be taken with care by a patient
with very deficient energy. They are often used when people
have colds and flu and will clear an infection by opening the
pores and promoting sweating. The sweating thus eliminates
the pathogen that has caused the illness.
Sour
These herbs have the opposite effect to pungent ones in that
they stop discharges and are astringent in their action. They
are used to help problems such as urinary incontinence,
excess sweating, haemorrhaging or diarrhoea. Sour herbs
and foods that we can recognise include vinegar, unripened
plums, lemons and crab apples.
Sweet
The Sweet flavour described in Chinese medicine is a subtle
flavour, different from the strong sugary taste of sweet that is
often used in the West. It is probably one of the most frequent
tastes found in food and herbs, and includes common herbs
such as licorice, Chinese dates and ginseng, as well as many
vegetables, fruits and meats, such as carrots, lamb or sweet
potatoes. If taken in small quantities the sweet taste will have
a tonifying effect on our bodies but in excess it will have a
Dampening effect. Bland tasting herbs or food also have a
slightly tonifying effect.
Bitter
This taste cools and travels downwards through the body.
It will remove Heat and clear through the body and is used
to stimulate the digestion, to cool fevers and to clear bowel
problems due to heat. Because of its purging action on
the body it, like the Pungent taste, should not be used in
large quantities when a person has deficient energy. Some
examples of common Bitter herbs and foods are rhubarb
root, dandelion, chicory and bitter oranges.
Salty
Finally the Salty flavour is found in foods and herbs such
as algae, seaweeds and seafoods like mussels, oysters and
cuttlefish. The salty taste will soften hard lumps in the body
causing anything from a nodule below the skin to a goitre.
This taste will also act as a diuretic and will clear excess
water from the system.
This description of the five tastes and their effects
demonstrates why some prescriptions taste different from
others. A tonifying herbal prescription will taste more sweet
than a purging one, which can be quite bitter. A prescription
for an astringent will be more sour tasting than a pungent
one, which may be used to clear the system of an infection.
For a more complete list of food tastes see Chapter 8 on
dietary therapy.
What are the four energies and

how are they used?
Along with the five tastes, the four energies are also important
when deciding on the correct herbs for a prescription. The
four energies are Hot, Warm, Cool and Cold temperatures.
Most people in the West dont realise that knowing the
temperature of foods and herbs can be very useful when
we choose what to eat in our diet. In Chinese medicine, the

temperature of herbs or food is not decided by whether they
are physically hot or cold but by the Heating or Cooling
effect they have on the body. The temperatures of foods are
described in more detail in Chapter 8.
How often will I need to visit my

herbalist and for how long?
The two main herbal bodies in the UK are the Register of
Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) and the Association of
Traditional Chinese Medicine (ATCM). They state that a
practitioner must see a patient to check on his or her progress
at least once a month. Most patients visit a herbalist for the
treatment of long-term chronic problems. They will see the
practitioner for a new prescription every three to four weeks.
It is difficult to be precise about the length of time that is
needed to cure any one patient, as everyone is different. The
length of treatment will depend on the patients underlying
constitution and strength of Qi as well as the condition
being treated. Treatment will vary from weeks or months to
over a year if the problem is more severe. Throughout the
course of treatment the patient will be progressing towards
a better balance of health.
If a patient has an acute problem such as a cold, cough,
urinary or other infection or stomach or bowel upsets, herbs
can also be very helpful. In the case of an acute condition
the herbalist will want to see the patient more frequently and
may prescribe herbs for a few days only. Treatment for acute
conditions is less prolonged than for more chronic ones.
As with all of the Chinese therapies it is important
that a Chinese herbalist is well qualified. Membership of
a reputable professional body is one way of ensuring this.
They will give clear guidelines that ensure the careful use of
all herbs that are used in treatment.
A traditional herbalist weighing herbs
Margarets psoriasis is magicked away

Margaret came to treatment with the skin condition
psoriasis when she was 64 years old. It had come on
badly two-and-a-half years before although she had
always had allergic tendencies. There was a change
in my home circumstances, she said matter-of-factly.
My husband retired and things were very difficult to
begin with.
I tried every cream the doctors could prescribe,

but I wanted to get to the inside of the problem
rather than putting ointment on. It was practically
all over my body, my legs, my arms, in my hair,
even in my ears, my nails and the bottom of my
feet. It covered 85 per cent of my body. The skin
looked red and raised and it was very flaky. My
legs were completely red and there was very little
clear skin. My body was covered all over in red
areas the size of ten pence pieces.
Margaret took Chinese herbs for about three months
then suddenly and spectacularly her arms and body
cleared overnight. I couldnt believe it! she said.
Margaret still sounds surprised as she relates this
story. A few patches on her elbows and a patch at
the top of her left leg remain. Her nails and feet have
cleared completely and her hair is almost clear. She
looks forward to the time when she is completely
cured of her symptoms but is delighted with the
change so far.
6
Qigong Exercises
Transforming Your Qi
Since Bill has been practising Qigong his shirt-sleeve length

has changed from 34 to 39 inches! He is a friend who has
been doing Qigong for 32 years. Did his arms grow five
inches longer? No, of course not. He had a lot of tension
though. Letting go of all the tension in his neck, shoulders,
upper back and chest let his arms grow several inches. He
now has to have shirts custom made but he thinks it is
worth it!
He describes what happened to him.
Before I started doing Qigong I was a stress case. I
was working 6070 hours a week for an environmental
consulting firm on what was the beginning of computers
at that time. My shoulders were up to my ears! I knew
how to stand straight like a soldier but my back was as
stiff as a board. Because I was so stiff, when I started
practising, the other students called me the man of
steel. I was holding so much tension in my body. People
would come up to me and beat on my shoulders trying
to loosen them up but it was initially hard to let go.
Over the years of practising he began to melt the steel away.
I began to let go of the physical tension as well as all
the holding in my nervous system caused by the stress.
I kept practising because even though I was stiff and
117
couldnt feel anything to do with Qi initially, at the end

of class I generally just felt better than when I started,
a bit more mentally relaxed and emotionally lighter
and happier. About a year into things, I started to get
an occasional glimpse of weird feelings of Qi, and that
really got me hooked.
Bill is now 58 and far, far more flexible than when he started.
He is now a full-time Qigong teacher. In fact people look
at the fluidity and looseness of his Qigong movements and
want to be like him. People notice how relaxed Bills body
is and are shocked when he tells them how stiff and stressed
he used to be. Along with this he looks many years younger
than his age and regularly helps other people by using his
Qi for healing using Qigongtui na bodywork. I practise
Qigong regularly and for me he is an inspiration.
How has Qigong developed?

So what is Qigong (pronounced chee gong)? It is, in fact, an
umbrella term that covers a vast array of Chinese exercises.
The word Qigong was coined in China in the 1950s and
covers sitting, standing and moving exercises all used for
specific purposes. Many of these exercises had previously
been closely guarded secrets which were passed down within
families or from master to pupil over thousands of years.
Qigong practice mushroomed in popularity in China
in the mid 1980s. Encouraged by increased freedom in
China, many Qigong masters came out of hiding and taught
their craft to the Chinese people. Thousands of Chinese
people rediscovered their heritage and learned the exercises
to strengthen and transform their Qi. At one time it was
estimated that one in five members of the Chinese population
did some form of these internal exercises.
Qigong Exercises 119
The excitement has died down now in China but many

people in both the East and West, young and old, are
seriously practising these exercises on a daily basis. Many of
the Qigong masters came to the West, attracted by serious
students, and there are now many Western teachers who
have learned and are teaching this art.
What is the essence of this ancient and fascinating form
of exercise that entranced so many Chinese and is now
captivating Western people as well?
What is Qigong?
The word Qigong (called Chi Kung in some books) is
made up of two words Qi and gong. We have already
examined the word Qi in the first chapter of this book. It
loosely means energy or, alternatively, life force or life
energy. The word gong can be translated as practice. The
word Qigong conveys the meaning of Practice concerned
with Qi or we might even define it as, Any practice which
is concerned with moving and transforming our Qi.
In the rest of this chapter we will be exploring this
method of moving and transforming our Qi and discover
what the various types of Qigong have in common and how
they differ. Well consider the theory behind Qigong, how it
compares with exercises traditionally done in the West and
how to practise it. Well also look at some simple exercises
and how Qigong can benefit us.
What are the benefits of practising Qigong?

Some of the reasons why people say they practise Qigong
are, to improve my health, for spiritual development, to
keep healthy and to fulfil my potential. Many practitioners
of acupuncture or massage say they do Qigong to improve
my healing ability. Qigong has also been used by those
who practise martial arts as a way of increasing the power

of their fighting techniques. We will not be covering this
application in this book. Lets now look at the other benefits
individually.
How could Qigong improve

or maintain my health?
Improving and maintaining health was one of the first
uses of Qigong and it is mentioned in the Yellow Emperors
Classic of Internal Medicine written in about 200 bc. Chinese
doctors realised that gentle exercise can stimulate the flow
of our Qi. We already know that when our Qi runs smoothly
throughout our bodies we remain healthy. If our Qi is
blocked or weakened this results in ill health.
There are many reasons why our Qi becomes obstructed
or weak. One major cause of illness is tension or emotional
upsets. These may cause us to tighten up inside and constrict
the movement of Qi. Short-term problems will resolve
themselves fairly easily, but more long-term emotional
problems will upset the healthy flow of our Qi.
Qigong exercises stimulate the circulation of energy in
the body to improve our health. Some of the exercises are
specifically designed to improve the functioning of different
organs in the body. For example, some exercises will help
to improve the kidney, liver, lung or heart function, whilst
others are aimed directly at other functions such as helping
the digestive system, improving the circulation or clearing
the head.
Most exercises have more than one beneficial effect. For
example, one exercise called Dragon and Tiger Qigong has
many health benefits and was used extensively in China in
the 1980s for treating cancer. Dragon and Tiger Qigong is
known to release stagnant Qi that cannot move freely. This
stagnant Qi can manifest as a physical, emotional or mental

blockage and can contribute to many different illnesses.
Dragon and Tiger also increases the speed, strength and
evenness of the circulation of Qi, blood and other fluids. It
also quickly raises the energy levels of the body to boost
peoples vitality and natural healing capacities. Maintaining
this balance of Qi in the body is one of the best methods of
health maintenance.
The practice of all Qigong exercises tends to induce
a calm and peaceful feeling and this in itself creates good
health. Huang Fu Mi (pronounced Hwang Foo Mee) was
a famous Chinese physician who was born in 215 ad. He
suggested that the best form of treatment is carried out before
a disease has manifested. Qigong is one way in which we can
stop disease from occurring, as well as positively improving
our health.
A 43-year-old translator who practises regularly says,
One reason why I practised Qigong is that it had an
immediate impact on my health. I realised that Qigong could
make very quick improvements in things like headaches,
indigestion and incipient colds and that has encouraged me
to carry on. Another woman aged 44 who practises every
day comments, I have lost weight, I eat less, I have more
energy and I need less sleep. Emotionally I feel less stuck
and my mind is freer.
Whether Qi exercises are initially used for spiritual
development or for better health, continued health
maintenance is a positive side effect.
Hua Tuo and his Five Animal Frolics

Hua Tuo was a physician
celebrated for his practice of
acupuncture, herbs and Qigong
and for his ability to transmit
his Qi when he treated. He also
developed skills as a surgeon. He
lived around 140208 ad.
He is famous for a Qigong
form he developed called wu
qin xi the Five Animal Frolics. He developed this by
studying the movements of the tiger, deer, bear, ape and
crane and he recommended the use of these physical
exercises to his patients. These five animal movements
had a profound influence on the development of
Qigong practices and are still taught by some Qigong
teachers today, although it is doubtful if they are still
taught in the same way as used by Hua Tuo all those
years ago.
Hua Tuo is famous for curing the illness of a
king Cao Cao who later put him to death. Hua Tuo
preferred not to work as Cao Caos personal physician
and made excuses for not seeing him. When the king
discovered this deception he condemned him to death.
Whilst in prison Hua Tuo wrote down his medical
techniques and handed it to the jailer, saying, This can
preserve peoples lives. Fearful of the law, the jailor
would not accept it, nor, it is said did Hua Tuo force it
on him. Instead, Hua Tuo asked for a fire on which he
burned the scroll. Cao Cao later regretted the execution
as well as killing a legendary physician, many
important Chinese medicine texts were lost forever.
How do people use Qigong for

spiritual development?
One 38-year-old teacher says of his Qigong practices, As
I practise I start to feel more harmonious and vibrant yet
still, I also feel more aware and connected. A 34-year-old
woman from London said, I feel more integrated within
myself and more in the moment. These people and many
others have become aware that practising Qigong hasnt
only had an effect on their health but it has also altered their
consciousness.
Qigong includes many techniques for cultivating
spiritual energy. One of the first stages of this is to develop
good breathing habits and to breathe by letting the breath
fall into the lower abdomen, back and sides (see page 137).
Other forms have the effect of transforming Qi in order to
enhance our Shen or Mind-spirit. Although many Qigong
exercises are rooted in Taoism and Buddhism, the practice
of Qigong for our spiritual development does not entail any
religious commitment or observances.
Can Qigong really be used to heal people?

Yes. People usually begin to practise Qigong to help maintain
their own health. As their Qi transforms, however, they may
find that they can transmit and use the extra energy to heal
others. This kind of Qi is emitted because a persons internal
Qi has become strong and is flowing without obstruction.
Many practitioners who use acupuncture, massage or healing
like to develop this ability to use when they practise.
One acupuncturist mentioned recently, I like to practise
Qigong alongside practising acupuncture and find it
enhances my results. Another commented, Since I learned
Qigong my needle technique is more powerful and I am
more sensitive to my patients needs.
A cure for Steves shoulders

Steves shoulders had been a problem for so long that
he had resigned himself to them being achy and stiff
nearly all the time. The problem had started 15 years
before when he had a job that strained his shoulder
area. At the same time the breakup of a relationship
put him under severe emotional strain. Sometimes
they werent too bad at all but if Id been working
hard or if the weather was damp theyd be much
worse.
He was 45 years old when he heard about a Qigong
course that was about to start, and was especially
attracted when he heard about the health benefits
Qigong might bring. During the first few lessons
he learned a number of different exercises aimed at
strengthening his Qi. He was told that one particular
exercise was especially helpful for the shoulders so
he spent more time doing this. His teacher was well
known for his healing ability and for projecting Qi,
so Steve also went to him for treatments.
He sat me down and stood with his palms
facing me and started moving his hands so that
he projected Qi towards me. He was about one
metre away from me and he didnt touch me. As
he was making these movements I could feel his
energy very powerfully. In fact it was so strong
that I started to sway and found I couldnt resist
the strength of it.
Steve was surprised to find that his shoulders felt
much better even after the first treatment. With a few
more treatments and regular Qigong practice he had
no more trouble with them. That was three years ago.
My shoulders have been much better since that

time. I still regularly practise Qigong because I
enjoy doing it and because I feel much healthier
now. I have more stamina and energy generally
than I ever had before so I cant imagine a time
when Ill want to stop.
What do the different Qigong

practices have in common?
We emphasised earlier that Qigong exercises are all different.
However its also important to note that they have many
similarities.
First, they are usually performed slowly and gently.
When doing some Qigong practices, such as one called zhan
zhuang or standing like a tree, the only movement taking
place is on the inside of the body and the person appears
to be completely still on the outside. At other times there
are more perceptible movements. In this case the movements
tend to be flowing and relaxed.
Types of practice can be broadly grouped into three
main categories which are:
1. sitting Qigong
2. standing Qigong
3. moving Qigong.
Second, whether there is external movement or not, the mind
is usually focused during the practice of the exercises. People
practising Qigong are usually paying attention to their body,
their movements, their posture and, with experience, to the
feelings of Qi generated from their practice. The eyes tend
to have a soft focus. Sometimes people will feel Qi with the
hands a little distance away from the body. At other times

the attention is more on the internal sensation of Qi.
Third, although people practise Qigong for various
reasons, all agree that one of the end results is to feel calmer
and more relaxed. They also feel healthier and have a greater
sense of well-being if they practise regularly.
Fourth, one of the theories behind Qigong is that we
can unblock and strengthen the Qi that runs in the meridian
pathways (see Chapter 4) and that the exercises are generally
aimed at cultivating and transforming the Qi.
So what is the theory behind using these exercises?

medicine fit in with Qigong practice?
Anyone who practises Qigong may hear the words yin/
yang and Five Elements mentioned fairly often. They may also
notice the words Kidney, Liver, Heart, Spleen, Stomach or Lungs
being referred to more in a Chinese than a Western context.
In spite of the frequent use of these Chinese medical terms,
knowledge of Chinese medical theory is not necessary in
order to do Qigong.
People who practise Qigong do, however, need to learn
how to do the exercises correctly, as well as understanding
why they are using them. If they then use the exercises they
will experience the beneficial effects.
When practising Qigong people might notice tingling
feelings, numbness or a rushing feeling as the Qi moves.
Often these sensations will be found to correspond exactly
to the pathways of the meridians, which are referred to in
more detail in Chapter 4. One of the aims of some forms
of Qigong is to open up the pathways of the 12 main
meridians as well as some deeper reservoirs of Qi.1 When
1 The form called Dragon and Tiger Qigong mentioned earlier in the chapter
can do this.
these channels are open and balanced the natural result is

good health and a feeling of well-being.
In Chapter 1 we examined the Vital Substances, which
are the underlying matter from which we are made. In the
practise of Qigong, the Jing-essence, the Qi and the Shen or
Mind-spirit are the most significant Substances. Together
they are known as the three treasures. By practising Qigong
on a regular basis we can strengthen these three Substances
and increase our vitality and well-being. The Jing-essence,
Qi and Shen correspond to three important areas in the body.
These are called the upper, middle and lower dan tian. The
lower dan tian in the lower abdomen is the seat of our Jing-
essence.
Why is it important to activate

the lower dan tian?
The Jing-essence is the root of our constitution and vitality.
By activating this dan tian, which is approximately four
finger widths below the navel and deep in the core of the
body, the vital energy that is stored there is awakened. When
this region starts to become active a vibration can sometimes
be felt in the area and it may feel warmer. Awakening the
energy in the lower dan tian conserves our supply of Jing-
essence and in turn strengthens our Qi. This is important
for our overall health. As this Qi builds it will also help to
develop Qi, which can be used for healing.
How do I activate the lower dan tian?

There are three main ways to activate or awaken the lower
dan tian.
1. Learning to breathe properly is a fundamental way to
activate the lower dan tian (see breathing exercise on
page 137). Deep breathing into the lower abdomen
naturally relaxes us and this in turn builds our Qi. Just

be sure you feel no physical pressure exerted below
the top of your pubic bone.
2. Adjusting our posture during Qigong so that the
centre of gravity naturally falls to the dan tian will
also aid its activation (see the description of the
basic standing posture on pages 132133). It will
also enable us to sink our Qi so that we can become
calmer, more settled and less stressed in everyday life.
3. Finally putting our attention on this area in the lower
abdomen and making it a centre of gravity in our
day-to-day life. This is a very simple yet effective way
to awaken it.
If we develop our internal centre, our Qi is awakened and
strengthened. Additionally we become more relaxed, our
emotions become more settled and our minds become
clearer. Without strengthening this centre we will be weaker
and more prone to ill health.
One 30-year-old mother of a three-year-old mentioned,
Since I have been doing Qigong I feel that my body can
recentre itself almost spontaneously. I find it much easier
to bring about a balance and clear my system and I often
practise whilst walking or playing with my son.
How is Qigong different from

exercises usually done in the West?
If we compare Qigong to exercises that are traditionally
done in the West we will notice that the major difference
is what is being exercised.
Exercises, such as running, jumping, swimming,
cycling or playing competitive sport all involve
exercising the physical body only. This exercise is quite
vigorous. The body grows stronger and fitter as a result,
but changes to the mind and spirit are not emphasised.
The Chinese call such exercise external exercise as
only the outside is being moved.
Qigong practice exercises our Qi. Our Qi is moved
by directing our attention to our internal state and
staying relaxed while we move. The movements of
Qigong tend to be gentler and more relaxed than purely
physical movements. The result of Qigong practice
is that we become calmer and more serene inside as
well as healthier physically as both the body and the
mind are affected. Because Qi circulates on the inside
of the body most Qigong exercises are called internal
exercises.
Chinese medicine does not discount the beneficial
effect of external exercise. In fact, exercising in the
ways suggested above, such as walking, light jogging,
cycling, and swimming can be very beneficial as long as
people dont overdo it.2 This is not, however, the only
way of exercising. Both styles of practice are useful for
different reasons.
2 See Some important principles for good Qigong practice on page 136 and
the 70 per cent rule under Do not strain on page 138.
What are the different types

of Qigong exercises?
We mentioned earlier in the chapter that the main types of
Qigong are sitting, standing and moving Qigong. We will
look at them individually to get a better sense of what they
are used for. Most Qigong teachers will be experienced in
teaching more than one of these different styles.
Sitting Qigong
Sitting Qigong is mainly used when doing breathing
exercises or when meditating. Some movements usually done
while standing can also be practised sitting down or we can
practise sitting (or lying) down if we are injured or ill.
Sitting practices are all aimed at cultivating the Qi for
better health or spiritual development. Being able to sit in a
correct posture is important and enables us to relax when
breathing or meditating. Breathing into the lower dan tian is
an important way to help us to feel our body and can be a
precursor to meditation.
Aligning our sitting posture

When we sit to breathe or meditate, it is important that
we choose a chair that is at the correct height so that
the feet can be flat on the floor, the lower legs can be
at a right angle (perpendicular) to the floor and we can
sit comfortably.
1. The back should be straight and the front of the
chest, throat and belly correspondingly relaxed.
2. The head is lifted slightly from the top of the neck
and aligned with the centre of the torso and pelvis.
3. The armpits are open and the groin slightly lifted.

Both should remain relaxed.
4. Finally, it is also important that the midriff, which
is between the ribs and the groin area, is kept open.
Often the midriff starts to close up as people sit
for long periods and sag. This then squashes the
internal organs. The midriff can also close as we
age. If we ensure we keep it open it can keep us
younger and more healthy.
Sitting Qigong
Standing Qigong
Standing Qigong describes exactly what it does standing
completely still in one posture in order to develop the Qi. As
I mentioned earlier, traditionally this is known as standing

like a tree. Some people use this as their main practice.
The posture itself has to be correctly positioned with the
legs very slightly bent and the head upright so that the full
benefit is achieved. The hands may be held in a variety of
positions including the sides of the body, in front of the
body as if holding a balloon and holding the hands together
in a prayer position.
Standing Qigong develops our ability to concentrate
and develops our stamina as well. It also strengthens our
overall energy, facilitates the flow of Qi throughout the body
and helps our ability to sink our Qi (see page 135). By
standing in one place the legs are strengthened as we become
better connected to the earth (see the following page for an
illustration of the basic posture).
Aligning our standing position

1. Stand with the feet approximately shoulder width
apart and facing forward.
2. Allow the knees to bend slightly. They should not
be locked. The knees should not take the weight of
the body as they are not weight bearing joints. If
your knees hurt, you are standing incorrectly.
3. Tuck your the tailbone down so that the lower back
is straight. Relax the hips and lower abdomen, but
dont collapse into your knees. Allow the weight
to travel down from the hips and lower abdomen
through the back of the knees to the bottom of
the feet.
4. Let the chest relax and sink downwards towards
the lower abdomen as the spine raises up through
the head. This is like the posture of a baby.
5. Allow the neck and head to be upright and look

ahead with soft eyes. At the same time relax the
neck and shoulders.
6. As with the sitting posture keep the midriff, groin
area and armpits open and relaxed.
Standing Qigong
Moving Qigong
There are many moving Qigong exercises, some of which
are well known and others that are less so. Earlier in the
chapter I mentioned the the Five Animal Frolics that were
developed by Hua Tuo, a famous Chinese doctor. These
exercises are still very popular and are performed in numerous
different ways. The eight brocades are another set of famous
exercises that were developed in the Song dynasty, which

lasted from 1127 to 1279 ad, by an army officer who wished
to maintain the health and strength of his soldiers. There are
countless forms taught by different Qigong teachers
including Dragon and Tiger mentioned earlier and others
such as Gods Playing in the Clouds, Marriage of Heaven
and Earth and Bend the Bow to shoot the Arrow.
What is the difference between

Qigong and tai ji quan?
Most people have heard of tai ji quan (sometimes
called tai chi chuan). It is another very popular moving
form that is performed in a similar way to Qigong. It
could loosely be said to come under the same umbrella
of Qigong as it is a Qi practice and is more usually
regarded as a more complex and sophisticated form of
Qigong.
Tai ji quan forms tend to be longer than ordinary
Qigong. The shorter Qigong forms tend to be more
specific and easier to learn. Tai ji takes longer to learn
and many teachers do not teach the internal aspects
of the movements, only the outside form. If taught
well both tai ji and Qigong can make excellent daily
exercises.
Tai ji arises from specific traditions with styles often
named after families who began the tradition. Some of
the most common ones are called Yang style, Wu style
and Chen style tai ji.3
3 For more information about tai ji see Frantzis (2009).

A moving exercise
Below is a simple five to ten minute Qigong exercise to
help us to sink our Qi, gain better balance and become
more aware of the sensations and energy in our feet.4
1. Stand with the feet shoulder width apart and in the
standing posture described above.
2. Slowly shift the whole weight of the body to the
right leg and lift the left leg up from the ground to
about ankle height.
3. After a few seconds put the left foot down and lift
the right foot.
4. Repeat by slowly alternately shifting the feet back
and forth from left to right and right to left for a
few minutes.
5. Now stand still with the feet on the ground and let
your mind feel your legs and feet. Allow yourself
to feel all the parts of your feet and also your
connection to the ground.
6. Once you feel your legs and feet more clearly keep
this attention and repeat the alternating lifting of
the feet as before.
7. Notice the difference in your experience as you
shift the second time and feel your legs and feet
with more awareness.
4 For more on this exercise see Frantzis (2001).

Moving Qigong is usually performed in a gentle and relaxing

way. The movements tend to be performed slowly and
gently and with fluidity. They enable people who practise
to gradually feel a connection to their whole body. Some
moving forms are carried out more vigorously, although the
rule is not to push too hard or to force anything. While
doing them it is important to remain attentive and in a good
posture.
There are many, many Qigong moving exercises and
most of these are best learned from a teacher. Usually this
is best in person but with the coming of sophisticated
technology this can also be done effectively with simpler
Qigong practices by DVD or online video courses.
Some important principles for

good Qigong practice
Sink your Qi
This is an important principle of Qigong practice little
understood in the West. When we feel angry, afraid or tense
our Qi will naturally travel in an upward direction. This will
cause us to tense the neck and shoulders, and sometimes
give us headaches, a hot, flushed face or a tight jaw.
If our energy tends to go primarily in an upward
direction we will always feel uncomfortable and slightly ill
at ease. We will then become more stressed. If our energy
sinks down to our lower abdomen (or dan tian) and our feet,
this enables us to become more relaxed and calm, clearer
headed and better able to cope in our daily lives. There is a
saying that We die from our feet upwards. If we can learn to
sink our Qi it is said that it will help us to stay younger and
fitter and increase our overall longevity.
Breathe into your lower abdomen

It is impossible to be stressed if we are breathing into our
lower abdomen! Breathing properly gives us huge benefits.
For example, it enables us to relax, it loosens and energises
our internal organs and it increases our blood circulation and
the strength of our Qi.
We can breathe when sitting, standing or moving. It
takes time to learn to breathe properly so this should be
done slowly without strain.
Qigong breathing practice

Breathing should be done in a relaxed way and the
breath should not be held or be jerky. To breathe
effectively:
1. Breathe in through the nose into the lower abdomen
so that it expands and fills out like a balloon. Be
careful that you feel no physical pressure below the
top of your pubic bone.
2. Keeping the breathing smooth exhale and let the
balloon in the abdomen deflate.
3. Allow these breathing movements to be rhythmic,
slow and even.
4. As you practise you can also learn to breathe into
your sides and back and kidneys. Later you can
learn to breathe into the upper sides and upper
back as well.
Keep relaxed
Many people think they are relaxed if their body becomes
limp. We wouldnt be able to practise Qigong in a relaxed
way if this were the case as we would be in a heap on the
floor! The relaxation of Qigong is very alive and dynamic
because our mind is focused as we relax. This creates a
living relaxation rather than a dead and floppy relaxation.
This relaxation is important as it also helps to free the energy
flow and enhance our vitality.
Do not strain
It is sometimes tempting for us to do more and more practice
when we learn and get interested in Qigong. The golden
rule with Chinese medicine is balance. It is fine to increase
our practice but not to overdo it. The rule of thumb is not to
practise to more than 70 per cent of our capacity. Often in
the West we think it is good to do it as if it is 110 per cent
or 120 per cent! Chinese medicine is different and says only
do it to 70 per cent. If you are in pain it is a sign to do less
and everything you do should feel comfortable.
How will I feel while practising Qigong?

There are some generalisations that can be made concerning
what happens during Qigong practice but this will vary
according to which exercise is being done and who is
doingit.
Although some people have an immediate positive
experience when they first start to practise, for many others
it can take plenty of motivation and much determination to
continue to practise regularly and feel the beneficial effects.
In fact, some of the exercises can feel strange at first while
better energy flows are established, new muscle groups are

used and areas gradually loosen up.
The effort is worth it as Bill, described at the beginning
of the chapter, would concur. The later positive effects far
outweigh any initial struggle and all will be forgotten as the
feelings of well-being manifest.
Here are some comments people have made about their
experiences during Qigong practice.
I often get a sense of my Qi shaking down and
beginning to flow more smoothly as well as a sense of
warmth and general well-being.
It can vary enormously from very serene to quite
disturbed, but it usually settles into a more harmonious
feeling of being more aware and connected.
I sometimes feel big sensations my hands can feel
enormous, I feel movements in places where I usually
dont move.
There is a definite change in my state of mind, it
becomes quieter and I feel an expansion beyond my
physical body.
How Carol benefited from Qigong

Before I started practising Qigong I was very
depressed, Carol told me. In fact its hard to recognise
me now because I feel so different. She went on to
tell me how she felt at that time, four years ago.
I felt heavy and pessimistic about everything, but
also very unsettled and nervous all the time to
such an extent that I could never keep physically
still. I only went to a Qigong class because a
friend was going and persuaded me to go along

too I decided that it would be better than sitting
at home smoking cigarettes and feeling bad, but
I wasnt very interested. From almost the first
session I noticed something was different I felt
more expressive and outgoing, my voice had more
volume and I noticed an inner feeling of peace.
This gradually built up although at first I felt
better after some classes than others. Now I can
honestly say that Qigong has transformed my life.
I sleep better, I feel much calmer and I no longer
move about like I used to. My head is clearer and I
am a stronger more positive person altogether. As
well as doing formal Qigong practice every day
I also try to bring it into my work as a gardener.
For example, when Im doing things like raking
leaves, digging or cutting hedges I find that I can
do them in such a way that I feel energised instead
of worn out as I would have done before.
There are three added bonuses for Carol one is that
as she felt better she also found the strength to give
up smoking, the second is that she met someone at
the class and she now has a committed relationship
with him and the third added bonus is that they
practise Qigong together.
How will I feel immediately

after practising Qigong?
We have already looked at Qigongs beneficial long-term
effects whether used for healing, health maintenance or
spiritual development. Here are some observations people
have made concerning how they feel immediately after

practising.
A 40-year-old mother of two says, I have an immediate
feeling of relaxation yet alertness and aliveness, a sense
that anything is possible and that Im no longer restrained
[by my] own self limitations.
Another comment was made by a 42-year-old Londoner,
Troubles of the mind disappear! I feel cleansed, very centred
and I usually feel happier.
The next comment made by a 35-year-old computer
programmer reflects a common experience, I feel increased
calmness and more aware of what is going on around me.
Finally a comment by a man of 45, I have more feelings
of well-being, feel free of stress, exercised and energised and
clearer mentally.
Do I need to have a teacher?

The simple answer to this is yes. Exercises practised badly
can be ineffective at best and at worst dangerous. Each
Qigong exercise is carried out in a specific way that requires
feedback on posture and the technique of performing the
movement. A Qigong teacher once said to me, What you
learn from a teacher is yours for life. Once you have learned
from a teacher you can carry on practising independently
and reap all of the benefits.
When Qigong became popular in China many people
set themselves up as Qigong teachers when they had very
little real training in the exercises themselves. It is important
that a teacher understands what they are doing and what
you need. It is all too easy for Westerners to think that just
because someone is Chinese they must be a good Qigong
teacher. Conversely a Westerner may be well qualified
toteach.
How do I find a good teacher?

As Qigong grows in popularity, there are more and more
Qigong teachers appearing on the scene so it is important to
find a good one.
The best way to know whether a tree is healthy is by the
fruit it produces. The best way to tell whether teachers are
competent is by the pupils they produce.
First we need to decide what kind of Qigong we wish
to practise. It is no use going to a teacher who is primarily
teaching a martial art when what we really wanted was
Qigong for health maintenance. Many experienced teachers
will teach Qigong for a combination of uses, which include
martial art and healing as well as spiritual development. In
general it is best not to do Qigong that pushes your energy
too much. Some teachers teach a more yin or water style of
Qigong and this is gentler than some more yang or fire styles,
which can force the Qi more.
A good way of finding out about a teacher is to talk to
the students and find out about the benefits they reap from
their practice. Another way is going to see the teacher to
find out whether he or she seems trustworthy and therefore
the teaching he or she is giving is sound. We can also find
out about teachers track records and how long they have
been teaching.
If all this seems good then go for it!
How much do I need to practise?

For the maximum benefit it is best to do Qigong every day.
People who practise regularly notice the most beneficial
effects. Most practise for at least half an hour every day, some
practise for longer but it is still possible to feel beneficial
results with less time devoted to doing the exercises as long
as they are done regularly. In general it is better to do five to

ten minutes a day regularly than two hours followed by no
practice for a fortnight.
Regular practice is important for a number of reasons.
First, we need to have a routine. A regular routine means
that we will continue to exercise through the difficult times
as well as when it is easy. Second, practising every day takes
self-control and is also a way of developing strong mental
discipline. Third, regular practice also gives us something
to build on. If we only do Qigong intermittently we never
build our energy and will find that we always go back to
square one and never progress.
Here is an interesting comment from a mother of two
children:
For the last two years I have stopped doing Qigong
during the summer break due to a lack of personal space
and my classes stopping. Each time I have found that at
the end of the six weeks, in spite of going on holiday, I
am a wreck I feel exhausted and out of sorts. As soon
as I start practising Qigong regularly my vitality returns.
Having made the mistake for two consecutive years I
hope that Ive learned my lesson.
Where should I practise?

Although it is important to have a good teacher, our actual
day-to-day practice goes on at home. It is best to have a
regular place to exercise. A quiet room or a special space in a
room can make a regular routine easier to maintain.
Practising with a group is a very different experience
from practising alone. The energy in the room is heightened
by the presence of more than one person doing Qigong.
This in turn can improve the results of the practice. A good

teacher will create an even stronger Qi field in the group,
which can form the basis for breakthroughs in Qigong
practice.
This chapter is a brief description of Qigong. The proof
of its effects are in the practice, and we have to do the
exercises in order to achieve the benefits described. Qigong
is one way that we can take responsibility for our own health,
especially when we have already obtained a better balance
of Qi from having acupuncture, herbs or tui na.
7
Tui Na Chinese
Massage
Feeling Your Qi
I recently watched a mother with her young son. He was

wailing in pain having fallen over and banged his knee.
His mother instinctively hugged him and rubbed it better.
Almost instantaneously he was pacified and stopped crying.
The support from his mothers touch helped him to quickly
get over the trauma.
While sitting in a cafe having lunch, I watched a couple
together. One of them was clearly in distress. Her partner
reached out to hold her hand as she talked. She visibly
relaxed. Holding her hand seemed to support her as she let
her feelings out. Her renewed sense of strength resulting
from this touch was almost palpable.
Some weeks earlier a colleague had a headache a tight,
throbbing pain. I saw him intuitively massaging the area and
finding pressure points to rub on his neck and temples. He
told me that kneading these points had relieved the headache
and he clearly also found it comforting.
To reach out and touch another person is a natural
reaction when someone is in physical or mental distress. The
incidents described above are all examples of how touch
can give a clear and direct message of warmth, comfort
orhealing.
145
Chinese massage known as tui na is one of the oldest of

the Chinese medicine therapies. It was originally born from
our instinct to make physical contact with someone in need
of healing and support. The desire to reach out and touch
others is one of the most basic ways for people to show
support and caring for each other. Tui na takes the power of
touch one step further, however. It is a highly developed and
skilfully applied method of treatment that can relieve many
musculoskeletal problems and pain.
In this chapter I will put the spotlight on this therapy
and answer all your questions about it. You will find out
more about what happens during a treatment, the different
ways tui na can be used and what it can treat. I will also
examine how tui na is different from other forms of massage
and in what way it uses the theory of Chinese medicine for
diagnosis.
What is tui na?

Tui na is Chinese therapeutic massage. It is currently used
in many hospitals throughout China to cure a wide range
of illnesses. It is also used by many Chinese medicine
practitioners in the West, sometimes in combination with
other Chinese medicine therapeutic treatments such as
acupuncture.
The name tui na actually means push grab. This is a
term that has been used since the Ming dynasty, which began
around the mid 14th century. In this book tui na refers
to all therapeutic massage, but before the Ming dynasty all
massage was called an mo, which means press rub. The
term an mo now describes domestic or relaxing massage only.
The roots of tui na

This therapeutic massage has a long and diverse history.
Different styles developed in different regions of China.
Tui Na Chinese Massage 147
The northern areas of China are well known for their more
vigorous style of massage and the southern regions for their
fine and gentler techniques. All styles have their own unique
uses and many different massage techniques have evolved
from them.
Although tui na today can vary slightly according
to where it is taught, there are certain common massage
techniques that are used throughout all the teaching centres
in China and the West. We will look at some of these
techniques as this chapter progresses.
What is the difference between tuina

and other styles of massage?
There are two main uses for massage the first is to relax a
person. Relaxing massage is often practised in the West and a
style called Swedish massage is commonly taught. Swedish
massage can be very useful when a person has tight muscles
and tension, but it is not used to cure specific ailments. An
mo, which was mentioned in the previous paragraph, is
different from Swedish massage but is used in a similar way.
The second use of massage is to cure illness. A
physiotherapist may apply forms of massage to ease joint
and muscle problems, but no form of Western massage
practised today is actually used to cure disease in the same
way as tui na.
Another form of popular therapeutic massage used in the
West is shiatsu. Shiatsu massage, which comes from Japan,
originated in China and was taken to Japan in the Tang
dynasty which began in 618 ad. During this time in China,
massage was carried out on the floor with the practitioner
kneeling next to the patient. This part of the tradition
continues in Japan to this day where shiatsu massage is still
always carried out on the ground. In China these days most
massage is practised on treatment couches that come up to

waist height.
Some forms of shiatsu massage practised in Japan are
still similar to tui na. There are many different traditions of
shiatsu and most of those done in England and the US are
similar to, but are not the same as, tui na. It has been 1,350
years since tui na was first taken to Japan so it would be
surprising if they were still the same after all these years!
So what should we expect when we first visit a tui na
practitioner?
Bian Que and the first recorded use

of tui na
The history of Chinese Medicine
records that a famous doctor
called Bian Que was a master of
tui na. He is said to have used
massage to treat his patients
during the Qin Dynasty around
500 bc. Legend has it that he
revived the dying crown prince of
the Zhao State using acupuncture
and massage, which won him great admiration. This is
claimed to have become the first written successful case
of tui na being listed in the Records of the Historian.
These records were an account of Chinese history that
dated from approximately 2600 bc until 100 bc. There
are countless other recorded stories relating to the uses
of tui na in ancient China. These records indicate the
valid effectiveness of tui na as a powerful therapeutic
treatment.
What will happen when I first

come for treatment?
If you go for a tui na treatment one of the first things your
practitioner will do is take a case history in order to clarify
the diagnosis. She or he will be looking for the cause of
the main problem as well as taking into consideration your
overall health.
During the diagnosis your practitioner will ask many
questions which will vary from, How do you sleep? to,
How is your appetite? or, How do you relax? Practitioners
will also take the 12 pulses on the wrist and look at the
tongue (see Chapter 3).
As one patient described, My practitioner asked me
common sense questions really, she was getting to know all
about me and my lifestyle. Another said, The consultation
made me think about my past illnesses and how they are
connected with my health now.
How is the theory of Chinese medicine

used by a practitioner of tui na?
When taking a case history, practitioners will be looking at
three main areas.
First, they will want to find out about the balance of the
Vital Substances in the body. As described in greater detail
in Chapter 1, these Substances are Qi, Blood, Body Fluids,
Jing-essence and the Shen. The Qi and the Blood are the most
important of these five Substances to tui na practitioners.
They will notice if the Qi and Blood are deficient or
moving sluggishly in any parts of the body. Massage will
naturally move the Qi and the Blood and will help to restore
better health.
Second, practitioners will want to find out about the
state of the internal organs and can, when necessary, use
massage to harmonise the Qi and Blood in these organs. For

example, massage techniques can be used to clear headaches,
which are created by imbalances in many organs including
the Liver. They can also be used to treat back problems,
which have numerous causes including weakness of the
Kidneys or even loose bowels, which can be brought on by
an imbalanced Spleen. The practitioner may then choose to
treat points or Qi pathways known as channels, which are
connected with these organs. These pathways are described
in greater detail in Chapter 4.
Third, the practitioner will be diagnosing any
pathogens in the body. These pathogens are called Damp,
Wind, Cold, Dryness or Heat and are described in more
detail in Chapter 2. Their presence in the body can create
many symptoms including colds and flus, joint problems,
stomach disorders or bowel complaints. Tui na can clear the
pathogens when they cause obstructions. This will in turn
free up the circulation of the Qi and Blood and can help the
condition. Many joint problems are caused by these stuck
pathogens being caught in the joints and tui na is especially
beneficial in many of these disorders.
Tui na massage therapists will form their diagnosis
based on their questioning and observation of their patients.
Having made the diagnosis they will then treat the patient.
What illnesses can tui na help?

Tui na is particularly well known for the relief it can bring
to many joint problems. These may range from bad backs,
painful shoulders, any joint problems of the arms and
hands or legs and feet as well as helping neck problems or
headaches. It can benefit both acute injuries and longer term,
more chronic complaints.
Tui na can also help a person to relax. Although it is

not specifically used for relaxation, treatment does have the
effect of relaxing a person both physically and mentally.
Although it is best known for its capacity to heal joint
problems and create relaxation, it can also help many of the
complaints listed in Chapter 4. These include digestive and
bowel disorders, lung complaints, gynaecological problems,
urinary diseases and acute infections.
Beverleys stomach is cured by tui na

Beverley has every reason to be grateful to tui na for
solving her stomach problems. She is 49 years old
and works as a rep for a large drug company. She
describes how she was before starting treatment.
Id had stomach disorders for over 20 years
and took many different medical drugs for the
problem. None of them was really effective and
the problem gradually became worse. By the time
I went for tui na I had severe pain in my stomach
that rose up to my breast bone and through to
my back. The only thing that relieved the pain
was being sick. When I was sick it came out in
jets and I would also vomit blood as the blood
vessels burst. It got to the stage when I was given
a special phone number for an ambulance and if
I rang theyd come and fetch me straight away.
The doctors diagnosed me as having diverticulitis
then they thought it might be an ulcer or irritable
bowel. When they wanted to cut out some of my
gut I decided to try tui na.
Beverley started treatment over a year ago and she is
now completely cured of all her problems.
Im completely well now. I can do everything

and I dont get any pain any more. I used to get
such discomfort in my stomach that I even hated
clothes being near the area and couldnt put my
hands on my stomach at all. Thats all gone now.
After the first few treatments the sickness stopped
and the stomach eased. Now Im off all my
drugs and I also feel fantastic in my spirits. This
treatment doesnt just treat one thing; it treats the
whole person.
Beverleys life has been transformed by having tui na
treatment. Ironically she was voted rep of the year
by the drug company she works for last year, but is
relieved that she no longer needs to take medical
drugs in order to do her job well. What does the
future hold? Shes decided to change her job and
train to use Chinese herbs.
What will I experience during the treatment?

Having made a diagnosis, the practitioner will choose
the treatment technique that is needed. Each individuals
treatment will be designed differently according to the
patients energetic balance.
When you have a treatment, practitioners check your
progress in two ways. They will find out how you have been
since the previous treatment and they will also observe and
palpate your body. Your practitioner will also feel 12 pulses
on your wrist and look at your tongue (see Chapter 3).
The practitioner will then begin your treatment. He or
she will not usually ask you to remove any clothes instead
they will usually cover the area to be massaged with a towel
or cotton cloth.
Having tui na is usually very relaxing and pleasant.

Here, three patients describe their experiences.
It is really comfortable having the massage, if my back
is a bit achy or in spasm it can hurt a little bit but thats
unusual and its usually very pleasant. The massage is
quite vigorous and very effective.
I drift off. It feels wonderful. Its very fast and precise
and I can feel the pain falling out of my body.
At first some areas hurt a lot and it was as if my
practitioner could pick up every sensitive place on my
body, but as Ive got better the pain is not as bad.
As I said earlier in the chapter, the practice of tui na is very
precisely carried out and the practitioner uses many different
massage techniques according to the patients presenting
problem.
What are tui na massage techniques like?

Rolling, pushing, grasping, kneading, rubbing, nipping,
vibrating, chopping, revolving, pinching and pressing are
but a few names of the many tui na massage techniques that
are commonly used.
Two massage techniques are used extensively and the
tui na practitioner practises these for at least a year on a bag
filled with rice or sand in order to competently master the
technique.
Gun fa
The first of these techniques is called Gun fa (pronounced
goon fa), which is a rolling technique. The back of the hand
is rotated and rolled to and fro over the body using flexion
and extension of the wrist. It is used for deep massage over
large areas such as the lower back, shoulders or the thick

muscles of the limbs. It can powerfully strengthen or relax
areas of the body as well as clearing blockages and it is
known to have a remarkably penetrating effect.
Yi zhi chan
The second technique is called Yi zhi chan (pronounced ye
je chan), which translated means one finger oscillation. To
use this technique the practitioner presses on a chosen area
using the tip of the thumb at the same time he or she
keeps the shoulder, elbow and wrist relaxed and moves the
thumb inwards and outwards using flexion and extension.
The result of using this technique is to create a potent and
intense stimulus, which can work directly on an acupuncture
point when stimulation is needed. It is used for many of
the medical problems that tui na can treat and is especially
valuable on the abdomen for conditions such as abdominal,
gastrointestinal and gynaecological diseases. It can be
applied to very sensitive areas such as around the eyes and
other sense organs.
Other techniques
By perfecting these two massage techniques tui na
practitioners strengthen the muscles of their arms and hands
and loosen their wrists. All of the other massage techniques
spring from these two basic ones and once these movements
have been mastered the other actions come naturally.
The massage techniques are used individually or
combined together to create more sophisticated techniques.
A practitioner will carefully choose the best manoeuvre for
the patient as well as which areas to treat.
What areas of the body will

the practitioner treat?
Sometimes tui na practitioners will massage specific
acupuncture points on the body, at other times they may treat
along a channel or energy pathway and on other occasions
they may choose to massage a whole area of the body.
Practitioners may choose individual points because they
have a particular effect or because they lie along a pathway
that is connected to an organ. For instance, the patient in the
example above who had severe digestive problems was often
treated using Stomach and Spleen channel points on the leg
known as Stomach 36 and Spleen 6. This was because
of the nature of her illness and because the complaint had
originated in her Stomach and Spleen organs. Sometimes,
however, her practitioner would also use other points on
different channels such as a Pericardium point on the arm
called Pericardium 6 and Directing vessel 12 which lies
over the Stomach area. He or she would choose these points
as they were particularly beneficial for the specific complaint
and would often use the one finger oscillation technique to
massage the points.
A practitioner may also decide to treat along a whole
pathway on the body rather than on an individual point.
This may have a more generalised effect on the channel
rather than the specific effect obtained from using individual
points. For example, a patient with a severe headache may
have massage along the channels of the shoulders and neck
as well as the head.
Sometimes the practitioner may massage a whole area
on the body, such as the lower back or the lower abdomen.
One tui na patient aged 31 years is a futures trader in the
city of London. His work involves him standing in one spot
for many hours at a time; after a period of doing this his
back can seize up. He has regular treatment, which pummels
the stress out of it. He feels much better and more relaxed
afterwards and it also helps him mentally and physically.
Although tui na is not used merely for relaxation, there are
times when it is important to relax a whole area of the body
for it to have its therapeutic effect.
What skin preparations will

the practitioner use?
Western trained practitioners often use a massage oil directly
on the skin; Chinese massage is different. Sometimes the
practitioner will use a medium on the skin and sometimes
not. As discussed earlier, one traditional way of carrying
out a massage is to place a cotton cloth over the area being
treated. This is a common practice and creates a flat area on
which the massage is given. If this is used, no clothes need
to be removed.
If a medium is used on the skin, it is chosen according
to the diagnosis. For example, if a patient is too Damp and
is holding water under the skin, pure talcum powder can
be used as it has a drying effect. If a condition needs to be
warmed, such as a cold achy back, then hot substances can
be used on the area. These may be tiger balm, another balm
called essential balm or a warming oil called woodlock
oil. Woodlock oil may be applied after a massage and it
will deeply penetrate and warm an area at the finish of the
treatment. One patient commented, She rubbed an oil into
my lower back and I felt the warmth sinking into my bones.
Dong Qin Gao (pronounced dong chin gow) is another
oil that is frequently used. It has a Vaseline base and is made
from wintergreen mixed with menthol. It is commonly used
for lumbago or sciatica and is applied to large areas such as
the back or the legs to move congested Qi and Blood.
Vinegar is often used on injuries and sprains and may be

mixed into a paste with other substances such as jasmine and
ginger. This clears swellings and relieves pain. Chinese herbs
are also sometimes used on the skin to add to the effects of
the massage.
Will the practitioner ever manipulate my spine?

It is very unusual for a practitioner to manipulate the spine.
Often a displaced vertebra will automatically correct its
position after a tui na treatment. The muscles around the
spine become relaxed and loosened after massage allowing
the spine to naturally realign itself.
A cure for Terrys back after 20 years

Terry decided to try tui na after being impressed by
how much it helped his wife. Hed had a fall over
20years ago and had a back problem ever since.
Id had some osteopathy and it had temporarily
relieved it for a few days but never on a long-term
basis. The doctor had told me that Id have to live
with it. Most of the time Id tried to ignore it as
I thought Id have it for the rest of my life. The
problem was always there. It was a dull ache, on
the right hand side of my back and the pain also
went to my hip and travelled down my leg. Id
wondered if I had anything wrong with my hip as
well, but when my practitioner examined me she
said that the main problem was in the lower back.
The treatment itself was not uncomfortable, in
fact I was nearly going to sleep sometimes while
she was treating me. After the first treatment I
felt slightly better, then after the second one I
dramatically improved. The third treatment was
just the finishing touches really and that was all

I needed. Ive had no problems since. Tui na was
able to do for my back what nothing else could
do that is it has helped me on a permanent basis.
Terry has been better for six months now and
although hes had a few slight twinges his back has
been fine. He still treats his back with respect and
he does some Qigong and other exercises that his
practitioner recommended because, as he says, I
think they help me to stay healthy.
How long will a tui na treatment take?

A treatment will usually last from three-quarters of an hour
to one hour, but this depends on the nature of the problem
that is being treated. If you have a joint problem some
acupuncturists use this treatment alongside acupuncture. In
this case you may have a shorter session of tui na as both
therapies are being used.
How often will I need to come for treatment?

An acute condition will require more frequent treatments
than a chronic one but fewer treatments will be needed
overall. For example, a patient with an acute sprained ankle
may require treatments every other day but the problem can
be cured in a short number of treatments.
A patient with a chronic problem, such as long-term
joint problems, back problems or digestive complaints, may
initially need weekly treatments. These will be spread out to
increasingly longer intervals, such as fortnightly, monthly
and two monthly, as they get better.
A patient with a chronic complaint can expect to need
more treatments before getting better than those with an
acute complaint. The amount of treatment needed will vary

from individual to individual and depend to some extent on
a patients lifestyle as well as how long they have been ill
and the treatments they have already had.
Can tui na be used to treat children?

There is a long tradition in China of tui na being used
to treat children. Children respond very quickly to
massage treatment as their energy is usually strong and
vibrant. Changes in health tend to be more immediate
in the treatment of many conditions than when adults
are treated. This is not to say that adults cannot also
respond quickly to treatment they can, but they
tend to take longer to change than children as their
energy has often become more depleted or blocked as
life has taken its toll some cynics may even add that
sometimes its having children that causes life to take
its toll!
Childrens tui na is slightly different from that used
on adults and employs its own specific techniques. It
is usually carried out on children under 12 years of
age, and is especially effective on infants under five.
In China the tui na clinic is often the first port of call
for children who are ill and treatment is used for a
wide variety of complaints from asthma and infantile
diarrhoea to paralysis due to polio.
The other bonus of using this treatment is that,
besides being effective, children usually enjoy the
treatment. In some cases some treatment can be applied
by caring relatives at home, once the practitioner has
directed them in what to do.
How will I feel immediately

after the treatment?
After a treatment patients often feel pleasantly relaxed.
Depending on the length of the session and the nature of the
treatment, patients who have had tui na may feel lighter, more
centred or warmer. Some patients feel so relaxed they need
to have a short sleep. Others may feel more invigorated. The
area being treated often feels immediately better although
in some rare cases there may be a slight exacerbation of the
pain for a short time before feeling better. This is known as
a treatment reaction and is a good sign.
Can I use massage techniques on myself?

Sometimes the tui na practitioner will instruct a patient on
how to do a self-massage technique. The patient can then
use it at home and it will support the treatment. This is
especially useful when someone has an injury or a more
chronic musculoskeletal disorder and when the area in need
of treatment is easy to locate. Practitioners may also suggest
exercises that can be practised daily in order to aid healing.
Tui na is now a popular treatment and there are an
increasing number of practitioners learning how to give
this treatment. Many practitioners have also been trained in
another Chinese medicine therapy, especially acupuncture,
so at times your practitioner may give some tui na during an
acupuncture treatment and this can be a useful combination.
Five-minute self-massage
for tired eyes
Although not specifically a tui na technique this exercise
is taught to schoolchildren in China to relax their eyes
when they do schoolwork. It is useful during or after
any activity that may strain the eyes.
1. Place thumbs level with the inner corner of the
eyes at the side of the bridge of the nose. Rest
the fingers on the forehead. Lightly massage in a
circular motion towards the nose with the thumbs.
2. Place thumb and first finger on the side of the
bridge of the nose and lightly massage in a circular
motion concentrating on pulling downwards and
releasing slightly.
3. Place first finger lightly on either side of the bridge
of the nose and gently massage outwards following
the line of the bone below the eye.
4. Place first finger in the hollow of the temple at the
outer corner of the eye and massage clockwise then
anti-clockwise.
5. Place the first and second finger in the hollow at
the back of the neck which is below the base of
the skull and about one-and-a-half inches from the
midline (the first prominent hollow), press in on the
point and massage clockwise then anti-clockwise.
Tui na being used on a baby

8
Chinese Dietetics
Nourishing Your Qi
Before I studied Chinese medicine I considered that I

was eating healthily. I ate unsoaked muesli for breakfast,
consumed lots of salads and, as a vegetarian, ate lots of
cheese and other dairy products to replace meat. I thought I
knew a lot about diet. I had to admit that I didnt enjoy what
I ate very much. I didnt feel that healthy either.
As I studied Chinese medicine I slowly changed my
diet. Learning Chinese medicine gave me an inherent
understanding about the nature of food and diet. I also
learned how to eat holistically, rather than looking at the
health benefits of individual ingredients in isolation. I found
a new regime that was healthier and more nourishing and
also much more tasty phew!
There is a saying in Chinese medicine that food and
medicine come from the same source. In this chapter you will
learn some basics about diet in Chinese medicine including
some things that surprised me, such as the importance of the
temperature of foods. As I easily felt cold I needed to avoid
foods that were cold in nature (I didnt have to eat all of
those salads anymore!). I also discovered that all foods have
an inherent temperature even if they not outwardly cold
or hot.
163
Chinese dietary therapy tells us much more about the

need for balance. There is also a balance in the proportions
of food in our diet, a balance of how and when we eat and
a balance of the five tastes Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent
and Salty.
You will also find out about the need to eat a Blood-
nourishing diet and how this can help us to keep emotionally
stable and free from many other physical symptoms, as well
as how some foods are more Phlegm-forming these can
block us up and make us feel lethargic, muzzy headed, stiff
and heavy.
Unlike some of the more modern dietary fads, basic
dietary rules of Chinese medicine havent changed over
thousands of years. Chinese dietary therapy does not follow
a rigid regime. It is adjusted according to a persons age,
build, health and living conditions.
There are five main dietary recommendations in Chinese
medicine. If we follow them we will be eating balanced and
healthy meals and get the best possible nourishment from
our food.
They are:
1. the proportions of different types of food
2. the temperature
3. the taste
4. the quality of the food
5. how and when we eat our food.
In this chapter I will look at each of these in turn. First lets
look at how diet relates to Chinese medicine.
Chinese Dietetics 165

medicine apply to diet?
The Stomach and Spleen are the two main organs of
digestion. We can care for and maintain these organs by
eating well. Most Chinese people are taught the importance
of diet from an early age, and love to eat healthily and well.
This is a fact born out by a quote from a Chinese person, If
theres one thing were serious about its neither religion nor
learning but food (Zhang and Rose, 1999, p.50).
The role of the Stomach and Spleen

Chapter 31 of Classic of Difficulties says the Stomach is
responsible for rotting and ripening food and drink.
This rotting and ripening process is the first step in the
assimilation of what we eat. I need to send down digestible
food to the Stomach at the correct temperature, at regular
times and in the right quantities.
As I noted earlier, cold food puts a strain on the stomach.
Too much cold food chills the body and the digestion is
slowed down. The stomach has to use extra energy to heat it
up, as the process of digestion requires warmth. A Chinese friend
of mine was shocked by the American habit of drinking
iced water even at breakfast. This strains the stomach and
spleen to the extent that it can bring the digestive process
to a standstill and cause many digestive problems as well as
contributing to some people retaining water or becoming
obese.
Insufficiently chewed or indigestible food (like my
unsoaked muesli!) will also put a burden on the stomach,
which has to use up large quantities of energy to break the

food down to a digestible liquid. Chinese medicine therefore
puts great emphasis on the quality of the food sent down to
the stomach to be digested.
After food has been rotted and ripened by the
Stomach, the Spleen transforms and moves it. Each nutrient
will ultimately become one of the Vital Substances such
as Qi, Blood, Body Fluids, Jing-essence or Shen. This will
in turn nourish us physically, mentally and emotionally. If
the Spleen is functioning poorly, or we eat badly, this can
cause tiredness, poor skin and hair quality, bowel problems,
stomach ache, weak limbs and poor muscle tone (Hicks,
2005, pp.141144). It can also affect our concentration and
memory. A weak Stomach and Spleen can lead us to start
worrying and over-thinking.
The Large and Small Intestine

Chinese medicine also recognises the role of the Large and
Small Intestine in the process of assimilating our food and
drink, as does Western physiology. If they are weak this may
result in digestive problems such as loose stools, constipation,
rumbling bowels or bloating in the abdomen.
Chinese medicine notes that a weak Small or Large
Intestine can also affect us mentally. If the Small Intestine
function is weakened we may have difficulty separating the
pure from the impure physically. This can in turn affect our
mind and we can have trouble making clear choices in our
life. If the Large Intestine is imbalanced we may be unable to
excrete mental waste and may hang on to old resentments
and feelings. We may also harbour negative thoughts that
are better discarded (Hicks, 2005, pp.135137 and pp.147

148). A good diet is important for our health at all levels of
our being.
Ill now look at the first of the five aspects of eating a
healthy diet the proportions of the food we eat.
What are the best proportions of grains,

pulses, vegetables, fruit and meat in the diet?
Chinese medicine recommends a diet containing more fruit,
vegetables, grains and other carbohydrates, and less meat,
sugar and fat than most Western diets. As a general measure
of proportions, a diet should be made up of 4045 per cent
fruit and vegetables, 4045 per cent grains and pulses and
about 1015 per cent meat, fat, seafood and dairy produce,
which are considered to be rich foods. I will look at each
of these in turn.
Vegetables and fruit

Grains, pulses and
other carbohydrates
Rich foods such as meat, fish, poultry,

eggs, dairy produce, fats and oils
Pie chart of proportions of food

Fruit and vegetables

Chinese medicine considers fruit and vegetables to be
nutritious because they are a living food, rich in Qi. In spite
of much publicity about eating five a day, they are still
sadly lacking in many Western diets especially among
some teenagers who badly need them in order to grow into
healthy adults.
Cooked vegetables are considered to be more easily
assimilated by the body than raw ones. Because they are
warm they also put less strain on the digestion than cold
raw vegetables. Raw vegetables and fruit are also more
eliminating, whilst cooked ones are more building for the
body. Anyone who is depleted in energy will benefit from
eating cooked vegetables. It is best to eat organic and fresh
vegetables and fruit, in order to gain the full benefit of the
vitamins and minerals available from them. There will be a
more detailed explanation of the difference between cooked
and raw food later on in this chapter.
Grains, pulses and other carbohydrates

We can incorporate grains into our diets in the form of
cooked grains, bread, noodles and porridge and include
them in soups and stews. Chinese medicine considers
rice to be one of the most nourishing grains to eat as it is
neither too Hot nor too Cold. It also clears away Dampness.
Dampness is formed when Body Fluids dont move through
the body properly and it can generate symptoms such as
retention of body fluids, heavy limbs, a bloated sensation in
the abdomen as well as poor concentration, lethargy and a
muzzy, heavyhead.
As well as rice, other grains, such as millet (eaten more

in Northern China) and also wheat, oats, barley and rye can
be used. Wheat, oats and rye are considered nutritious but
tend to be more Damp forming than rice although Spelt
or Kamut varieties of wheat are less so as they have a low
gluten content. Wheat has been selectively bred over the last
50 years so that it has become more glutinous. This makes
it more sticky for the baking process and thus more Damp
forming. Many people find they are wheat intolerant and too
much wheat can make them put on weight even if they are
not a coeliac with an allergy to wheat.1
A simple way to lose weight?

A colleague, aged 50, was overweight and had found
it difficult to lose it for as long as I had known her,
until recently when a miracle happened over the last
year she has lost six stone! She told me that as well
as eating a balanced diet, the weight loss is mainly
down to the fact that she has stopped eating wheat.
I used to work in a bread shop and bakery when
I was 16 and I remember the atmosphere being
foggy with flour everywhere. Before I worked
there I was quite skinny. Then suddenly I started
putting on weight. I ate a lot of wheat when I
worked there but it was almost as if the wheat got
into me through my skin as well.
I now find that whenever I eat wheat I put
on weight immediately. As long as I stay off it I
continue to stay slim. When I eat wheat I also crave
chocolate and sugar more. When I stop eating
wheat it stops all cravings not just for wheat.
1 For more information on coeliac disease see www.celiac.com.

I have heard similar stories repeated by many other

people. In fact I avoid wheat myself as eating it makes
me hold water in my body. If you notice you put on
weight easily and for no reason, although this might
not be the cause, it is worth investigating just in case.
Pulses
Pulses include lentils, aduki beans, kidney beans, chickpeas,
mung beans and tofu, which is made from soya beans. Soya
bean products and mung beans are both considered to be
Cold foods and should be balanced with more Warming
food. It is best to eat fermented soya, which is more easily
assimilated than modern alternatives such as soya milk and
other processed soya products (Fallon and Enig, 2001).
Rich foods
Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy produce, fats, oils and sugar
are highly nutritious foods that are very rich in quality.
Because of the high concentration of nourishment they
contain, Chinese medicine considers that they should only
be eaten in small amounts and make up 1015 per cent of
the whole diet. Many Western diets are too heavily biased
towards meat and dairy products, with far too few cooked
vegetables.
The result of eating too much of these foods is that the
body can produce Damp and Heat. Some examples of these
symptoms are inflammation and some headaches, as well as
aggression and irritability.
Some people react against a diet that includes large

quantities of meat. They may decide to become vegetarian
instead but is this a healthy option?
Is it better to be a vegetarian or a meat eater?

A vegetarian diet
It is becoming increasingly popular for people to become
vegetarian. There are a number of reasons for this. One
reason is that many people decide to stop eating meat on
ethical grounds as they feel that it is incompatible with their
spiritual beliefs. A second reason is that people dont like
to think of eating animals that have been badly treated or
cruelly slaughtered and decide not to eat any meat as an
expression of their feelings. A third reason for not eating
meat is that some people say that it is healthier to be a
vegetarian than to be a meat eater.
Chinese medicine would disagree with this last
suggestion although practitioners wouldnt recommend
that people eat large quantities of animal products. A small
amount of meat can be a vital constituent of many peoples
diet as the protein found in animal products helps to form
the Blood in our bodies.
Blood deficiency is different from anaemia, as you will
see in the case study below. It can lead to insomnia, poor
short-term memory, anxiety and jumpiness, cramps, pins and
needles and brittle nails. Another symptom is a pale dull
face. I had recently heard that some young girls had become
vegetarian to make themselves look fashionably paler. I
wonder if they would have been so keen on this diet if they
had known the other effects it was having on their health.
An almost vegetarian diet

In general, a diet with a small amount of meat products is
considered the healthiest. Some people have called this an
almost vegetarian diet. About two to three ounces of meat
three to four times per week is a good balance. If a person
decides they cannot eat meat for religious or ethical reasons
then it is important that the rest of the diet is as well balanced
as possible.
Chinese people often cut their meat, fish or poultry
into small strips and mix it with their rice or noodles.
Vegetarianism in China is rare. I was once told by a Chinese
colleague that some people in China are now becoming
vegetarians. He added that they usually put gravy on their
food in order to substitute for the meat!2
Patricias dietary headache

Patricia looked tired and pale when she came for
treatment. She was 18 years old and studying for her
A levels.
Sometimes I get headaches every day and then
none at all. I last had some a fortnight ago and
they went on continually. Theyre a constant dull
ache usually across my forehead but occasionally
all over my head. When I have them its hard to
concentrate on my studying. They often start in
the middle of the day and I can go to bed with
one and wake up with it again in the morning.
She had very few other symptoms that she was
aware of although her periods were rather scanty,
her nails broke easily and she also occasionally felt
2 There are some Chinese herbal formulae that can help people who need more
nourishment because they are vegetarian. For more on this see Chapter 5.
light-headed. The symptoms she related added up

to a picture of Blood deficiency. I wondered why
this was happening. The answer was provided when
she talked about her diet. She had become vegetarian
18 months before and when she recounted what
she ate on a normal day she described a diet of
sandwiches, crisps and chocolate bars. A few cooked
meals were thrown in and she ate very few vegetables.
She had become vegetarian along with many of
her friends. She was not morally opposed to eating
some meat but was a little resistant to the idea. I
explained that it would help to strengthen her
Blood and that a better diet generally would make
her feel better.
She came to see me again a week later telling
me, Im not Blood deficient. Ive had a blood test
and my doctor says my red blood cell count is fine.
Like many people she had thought that the Chinese
term Blood deficient meant that she was anaemic. I
explained that this not the case and Blood deficiency
was determined by a pattern of signs and symptoms
that a person has, not by a low blood count.
Armed with her new understanding she went
away and decided that she would see what happened
if she ate some meat as well as more vegetables for
a while. Her headaches gradually improved. She
reported feeling more energetic and that she could
concentrate better on her studying. She got through
her exams without having any headaches at all and
decided to stay on her new diet and continue to eat a
small amount of meat.
How is the temperature of food

important in our diets?
As well as eating food in the correct proportions we can also
take care over the temperature of the food we eat. This is the
second important aspect of a healthy diet. The Chinese class
all food as either Hot, Warm, Neutral, Cool or Cold.
The term temperature means the Warming or Cooling
effect they have on the body rather than whether they are
physically hot or cold.
Lamb, chocolate, eggs and butter are all Heating or
Warming, as are many foods that have a high fat content.
Mangoes, bananas, grapes and bean sprouts are all Cooling
or Cold, as are many fruits or raw foods. The list in the box
on the following pages describes some of the most common
foods and their temperatures.
The effect of food on our digestion

By closely observing our bodies we can often tell if a food is
more Heating or Cooling; for example, a friend of mine will
sweat on his head if he eats garlic, which is a warming food.
A hot toddy made from whisky, lemon and honey is a sure-
fire way of heating us up so that we can sweat and eliminate
a common cold from the body.
We can notice the effect of too much Cold food on
our digestion, which needs to be kept warm. For example,
we may get a stomach upset if we eat too much fruit, or
stomach pains from drinking too much cold beer in the
summer. A close colleague had loose bowels all through
his student days; it was only when he later learned about
Chinese medicine that he realised that it had been because
of his diet. He had almost lived on yoghurt during that time
and said, I had thought that such vast quantities were good
for me! Like many of us he hadnt known that yoghurt was

an extremely Cold food.
Eating more Cool, Warm and Neutral food

In general, it is better to eat foods that are neither too Hot
nor too Cold in their nature. We can also endeavour to
balance the Hot and Cold foods we eat. Eating too much
Hot food will give us health problems concerned with Heat,
which may be headaches, red bloodshot eyes, night sweats
and generally feeling physically hot and hotter tempered.
Eating too much Cold or Cooling food can often affect the
digestion and cool down the Stomach giving us bloating,
stomach pains, diarrhoea, cold limbs and even period pains
in women if the lower abdomen gets too Cold.
If we eat extremely Hot food we can balance it with
more Cooling food and vice versa. We can also balance our
food according to the climate a warming soup or stew
will nourish us on a cold winters day especially if it has a
small amount of ginger added, whilst fruit can be far more
appetising in extremely hot weather.
Some common foods and

their temperatures3
Hot
Black pepper, butter, chicken fat, chillies, chocolate,
cinnamon bark, coffee, crispy rice, curry, ginseng
(Korean), dried ginger, lamb, onions, peanut butter,
sesame seeds, smoked fish, trout, whisky, white pepper.
Warm
Barley, beer, beef, black-eyed beans, brown sugar,
chamomile, caraway, cheese, chestnut, chicken,
chive, egg yolk, dates, garlic, fresh ginger, ginseng
(Chinese), green (bell) pepper, ham, kale, kidney beans,
leeks, lobster, miso, molasses, mussels, oats, parsley,
parsnip, peach, pomegranate, potato, prawns, quinoa,
raspberries, sage, shrimps, soya oil, squash, sunflower
seeds, thyme, turkey, turmeric, walnuts, vinegar, wine.
Neutral
Aduki beans, apricots, beetroot, black tea, bread,
broad beans, brown rice, buckwheat, cabbage, carrots,
cherries, corn, egg white, chickpeas (garbanzos),
ginseng (American), grapes, honey, hot water, lentils,
kidney beans, milk, olive oil, oysters, peanuts, peanut
oil, peas, plum, pork, raisins, rosehip, red beans, rye,
salmon, soya milk, sugar (white), sweet potatoes, turnip.
3 Originally published in the first edition of this book and subsequently in

Hicks (2011).
Cool
Alfalfa sprouts, almonds, amaranth, apples, asparagus,
barley, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, chicory, corn, fish,
mushrooms, mango, millet, mung beans, oranges, pears,
pineapple, radishes, rhubarb, salt, seaweed, soya beans,
soya sauce, spinach, strawberry, tangerines, wheat,
wheat bran, wild rice.
Cold
Banana, bean sprouts, cucumber, duck, grapefruit, green
tea, lettuce, ice cream, kelp, peppermint, salt, seaweed,
sorbet, sugar cane, tofu, tomato, water melon, yoghurt.
Should we eat cooked or raw food?

Some books tell us that eating raw food is one of the best
ways to get all of the nutrients we need from our diet.
Chinese medicine would disagree. It maintains that we
should lightly cook most of our food. Raw food is Cold
and is also less digestible. Digesting cold raw food takes
more heat and energy from the Stomach than warm cooked
food. Raw food, if analysed scientifically, may be found to
be higher in certain nutrients such as vitamin C than food
that has been cooked, but this does not mean that this extra
nourishment is assimilated better by the body during the
process of digestion.
A patient told me that he was worried about his daughter
who was going through a nervous breakdown and I agreed
to see her without delay. The daughter, who was 25 years
old, told me, I started eating a raw food diet six months ago.
At the time I felt better and had much more energy. She had
started the diet in June when it was warm. By December she
didnt feel well. It was a very cold winter and she was still
eating mainly uncooked food. When I saw her in February
she was hardly coping with her life at all, I have no energy
and I keep bursting into tears at the slightest difficulty. I
advised her to change her diet immediately. She started
eating more balanced quantities of food as well as cooking
it, and over some months gradually regained her health and
equilibrium.
A 30-year-old female patient complained that she felt
the cold very badly. She was surprised when I suggested that
she should stop eating salads and change to cooking her
vegetables. Her reaction was a mixture of surprise and relief.
Like me she had been trying to eat salads every day as she
was told they were good for her, but she had never really
enjoyed them. My suggestion made her realise that she
instinctively preferred to eat Warmer food. Many people are
similar to her and if they listen to their body they will
naturally change to a more balanced diet. Others who are
more sensitive to heat may benefit from Cooler food. In
general, it is best not to eat a lot of extremely Cold or Hot
foods. If possible, it is best to choose foods from the Cool,
Warm or Neutral categories.
Flavour of food and their

associated organs
Bitter (Heart and Small Intestine)
Alfalfa, asparagus, beer, broccoli, celery, chicory, coffee,
grapefruit rind, lettuce, radish, raspberry leaf tea, turnip,
vinegar, watercress.
Sweet (Stomach and Spleen)

Aduki beans, apple, apricot, barley, beef, beetroot,
cabbage, carrot, celery, cheese, cherry, chicken,
chickpeas, coffee, courgette (zucchini), corn, cucumber,
dates, grapes, grapefruit, honey, kidney beans, lamb,
lettuce, malt, mandarin, mung beans, mushroom,
orange, milk, oats, peach, peanuts, pear, pineapple,
plum, pork, potato, radish, raspberry, rice, spinach,
strawberry, sugar, tomato, walnut, wheat, wine.
Pungent (Lung and Large Intestine)

Black pepper, cayenne pepper, cabbage, cherry,
chilli, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, garlic, green (bell)
pepper, horseradish, leek, marjoram, mint, mustard,
nutmeg, peppermint, radish, rosemary, soya oil, turnip,
watercress, wheat germ, wine.
Salty (Kidney and Bladder)

Barley, crab, duck, garlic, ham, kelp, lobster, millet,
mussel, oyster, pork, salt, sardine, seaweed.
Sour (Liver and Gall Bladder)

Aduki beans, apples, apricot, blackberry, blackcurrant,
cheese, crab apple, gooseberry, grape, grapefruit,
green leafy vegetables, lemons, lychee, mandarin
orange, mango, olive, peach, pear, pineapple, plum,
pomegranate, raspberry, sour plums, strawberry, tomato,
trout, tangerine, vinegar.
How are the flavours of food important

for maintaining our health?
The flavour of our food is the third major aspect to consider
in our diet. There are five main flavours: Bitter, Sweet, Sour,
Pungent and Salty. Many foods have two tastes; for example,
vinegar is both Bitter and Sour, barley is both Salty and
Sweet and turnip is a combination of Pungent and Bitter. For
a more detailed account of the effects of the flavours on the
body see Chapter 5.
Sweet foods
You may notice from the list of the foods in the box on page
178 that many of them have a Sweet taste. Sweet is the flavour
that affects the Stomach and Spleen. A certain amount of a
mild Sweet taste will benefit our digestion and support our
Qi. It is interesting to note that Chinese medicine considers
many foods, such as rice, chicken, cabbage and carrots, to
have a sweet taste and to be nourishing. This mild and Sweet
taste is very different from the taste of sweet associated with
chocolate and candy.
People frequently crave chocolates and sweets because
their Stomach and Spleen have been weakened. A small
amount of mildly Sweet-tasting food will strengthen the
Stomach and Spleen, whilst extremely Sweet foods will
make them more deficient. This creates a vicious circle of
craving more and more Sweet foods whilst the Stomach and
Spleen become increasingly weak. We already know that
the Stomach and Spleen are responsible for transforming
all of our food and drink in order to nourish us. A weak
Stomach and Spleen cannot carry this out and this can result
in malnutrition and very deficient Qi.
The correct balance of each taste

Although it is important to balance the tastes in our diet, this
doesnt mean that we should eat them in the same quantities.
Bitter food is Cooling and can help to cool fevers and other
Heat problems such as inflammation. Pungent foods move
obstructions in the Qi and can help a common cold or clear
phlegm or mucus in the body. Because of their dispersing
actions, bitter and pungent food should only be used in
small quantities if our Qi is deficient.
People are frequently advised to avoid salt in their
diet. Salt is the taste connected with the Kidneys this is
understandable as it regulates the amount of moisture in
the body and one function of the Kidneys is to balance the
fluids in the body. An excessive amount of salt in the diet is
not appropriate, as this will deplete the functioning of the
Kidneys, especially if a person retains fluids. A small amount
of salt, on the other hand, can be beneficial if a person is too
Dry as it will encourage moisture in the body.
The Sour taste has an astringent action, so it stops
leakages and firms up tissues in the body. It is helpful for
a number of conditions, including loose bowels, urinary
incontinence or prolapses. A milder Sour taste can be taken
in larger amounts than a strong Sour flavour.
Sweet can also be taken in larger quantities, as long as it
is the mild variety described above.
The quantity of each taste we need also depends on the
constitutional balance of our Organs as well as our current
health. For example, if we have a certain condition, such as
a cold or flu, we may eat foods with certain tastes in small
amounts and this can be helpful. We need to be careful,
however. Sometimes if we know that a food is beneficial
in small quantities we can get overenthusiastic and start
to overeat it. It can then have damaging effects instead of

benefits. Often it can be easier to avoid the foods that may
be detrimental rather than including too many foods for
their specific benefits and then overeating them!
Craving foods
If we crave a certain taste in food this may be an indication
that the associated organ is out of balance. A small amount
of the food may enhance the functioning of that organ.
Large quantities may make the imbalance more extreme.
How can we ensure that the food

we eat is of good quality?
You now know that you can eat a healthy diet simply and
easily by balancing the proportions of grains, beans and
carbohydrates, vegetables and fruit, and meat, and that you
can adjust the temperature and tastes of your food according
to your needs. Well now consider the fourth of the five main
aspects of our diet, which is to eat good-quality food. Here
are some simple guidelines about the quality of the food we
eat.
We can endeavour to eat pure, fresh food whenever
possible, to take food that is in season and grows in our own
area and to eat a wide variety of foods. We shall discuss each
of these in turn.
Eat fresh, organic food

The 20th century has brought about the bulk production
of food. Crops are sprayed with chemicals, animals are
injected with drugs and both are produced on a mass scale
instead of cared for on small farms. We have easy access to
a huge variety of foods that were unobtainable to previous
generations, who ate the simple foods that grew around

them. It is impossible and unnecessary to reverse this process
of change, but the broad rules that we can follow are the
same as in the past.
In general it is best if we eat vegetables and meat that
are organic or homegrown, fresh and in season. Most
supermarkets now sell organic food and there are an
increasing number of local farmers markets or companies
that deliver. It is horrifying to realise that an apple has
probably been sprayed over 26 times in its short life or that
with much of the meat we eat we are also eating hormones,
antibiotics and other chemical additives!4
Processed food
We can also avoid food that is over-processed. You may be
surprised to know that frozen peas often have added sugar
to enhance the taste and oranges are often injected with
colour so that they look nice.
Strong foods and neutral foods

We can avoid an excess of any one food in the diet. It is
natural to eat some foods, such as grains and vegetables,
regularly, especially a particular vegetable which is in season.
It is less useful to eat one food in large amounts, even if it is
good for us in small quantities. For example, an occasional
orange might be very healthy, but an excess of oranges in
the diet or in the form of juices can encourage the formation
of phlegm in the chest. A small amount of coffee can be
a special treat, but large amounts taken throughout the
day can cause us to become over-stimulated. In this state
we override our bodys messages telling us to stop when
4 For more information go to PETAs (People for the Ethical Treatment of

Animals) website: www.peta.org.
we need to rest. In the short term we get much work done;

in the long term we may become exhausted and drain our
reserves of energy. We then need even more coffee to keep
us going. The end result of this lifestyle can be severe health
problems.
If we eat these strong foods in small amounts, and more
Neutral foods in larger amounts, we will feel healthier
mentally as well as physically. Many hyperactive children
calm down if they have sugar and food additives cut out of
their diets. Balancing our diet as adults can also have far-
reaching effects and allow us to become more settled and
peaceful inside. How we feel inside is also affected by the
way we eat our meals.
Sun Simiao the king of medicine

and innovator in dietary therapy
Sun Simiao was born around
581 ad and is one of Chinas
most famous doctors, often
known as the king of medicine.
Temples to his memory were
built in Beijing and Jiangxi in
China.
He is said to have been a
sickly child and strengthening
his own health encouraged him to become a Chinese
medicine doctor. He was an advocate of good nutrition,
having noted that many diseases were curable by
consuming the proper foods and that diseases could
be caused by eating food that was uncooked, unclean,
or poisonous, or by overeating or not chewing ones
foodwell.
He practised all areas of Chinese medicine and wrote

books on acupuncture and herbs as well as lifestyle
generally. He is credited with recognising that goitre
could be cured with seaweed, which contains iodine,
and thyroid glands from deer and sheep. He successfully
treated night blindness with livers from oxen and sheep,
which contain vitamin A, and treated beriberi caused
by vitamin B1 deficiency by using unpolished rice.
He was especially concerned that all patients
should be treated equally and is known for his text On
the Absolute Sincerity of Great Physicians where he wrote:
A Great Physician should not pay attention to status,
wealth or age; neither should he question whether the
particular person is attractive or unattractive, whether
he is an enemy or friend, whether he is a Chinese or
a foreigner, or finally, whether he is uneducated or
educated. He should meet everyone on equal grounds.
He should always act as if he were thinking of his close
relatives (Ass, 2005).
How is it best to eat our food?

The last of the five aspects of good dietary practice is how
and when to eat our food.
Many people eat their lunch as they walk along the
street while shopping or going about their business. In the
US it is even common for snack bars to have tables where
people stand to eat this is presumably better for business
as it gives a quicker turnover than if seating is provided!
Eating on the run is a bad Western habit that leads us to eat
overstimulating foods because we dont take the time to sit

and let a simple diet nourish us properly.
If we follow the rules below we will get more
nourishment from our food.
Relaxing whilst eating

First, we really need to relax while we eat and give our digestion
time. It is best to eat in pleasant, relaxing surroundings. This
is not always possible for those who have small children or
a busy life but we can avoid over-stimulating circumstances,
such as eating while watching the television or reading. It is
best to give our food our full attention, to take the time to
sit down and eat our meal and to allow time after eating for
digestion to take place. Chinese people will often take two
hours for their lunch, eat at a leisurely pace and even take a
short nap after eating.
Chewing our food

Second, we need to chew our food thoroughly. There is a
saying that we should, drink our food and chew our drinks.
If we chew our food until it becomes a fluid it will aid the
first stage of digestion, which is in the mouth. Here the
saliva starts to break down the food, which then gets passed
on to the Stomach in a predigested state. Allowing ourselves
time to eat will remind us to chew our food thoroughly and
enhance our digestion.
Dont wash down your food

Third, it is best not to drink too much while we are taking
our meals. If we chew our drink we will take it in small
amounts. Drinking too much fluid at mealtimes swamps the
digestion and washes our food down rather than allowing it
to be thoroughly rotted and ripened. A small warm drink

can be taken a little before the meal and our main fluids
between meals when we are not digesting our food.
Eat until you are 75 per cent full

Fourth, it is a good idea to eat until we are 75 per cent full. This
will allow our Stomach and Spleen to digest their contents
thoroughly. If we overeat and then feel full and bloated, we
are straining these organs and food will sit in the Stomach
for too long. This will, in turn, make us feel tired after the
meal as we are using extra energy for digestion.
To sum up, it is best for us to eat our food without
distractions and to give ourselves time to digest it properly.
If we chew our food thoroughly this will help the process
of digestion. Sipping only a small amount of warm liquid
before eating and nothing during meal times will allow
the food to be digested properly rather than washed down.
Finally, we only need to eat until we are 75 per cent full
so that the Stomach and Spleen dont have too much to
assimilate.
When is it best to eat?

Eat regularly
It is best to eat at regular times. The Stomach likes regularity.
Sometimes we have to miss a meal or eat at an unusual time
if an unexpected situation arises, but this is preferably the
exception rather than the rule.
There is a saying that we should eat breakfast like a
king, lunch like a prince and a supper like a pauper. If we
eat well at the beginning of the day it will set us up with
enough energy to last through the morning. If we dont
eat any breakfast we can become exhausted well before
lunchtime and our blood sugar will drop. People often crave
something sweet like cakes or chocolate bars to get a quick
energy boost when they feel this drop. These will then over-
stimulate the Stomach if they are eaten regularly.
Dont eat late at night

If we eat heavy meals very late at night our digestive system
will be actively digesting food when we should be sleeping.
This may result in insomnia or vivid dreams and we then
dont feel rested when we wake in the morning. On the
whole it is best that we eat our last meal of the day in the
early evening so that our food is digested before we go to
bed.
In the next part of this chapter I will talk about which
foods we can include or avoid in our diet to help us when we
have specific imbalances.
What foods can I avoid for

specific health problems?
Following a healthy diet in the way that I have described
that is by eating the correct proportions of food and
balancing the temperatures and tastes will usually be
enough to keep us in reasonable health.
For severe health problems it may be advisable to see
a practitioner of one of the branches of Chinese medicine
described in the other chapters of this book. Treatment
with acupuncture, herbs, massage or Qigong can then be
supplemented with a healthy diet for the maximum effect
from the treatment.
There are some foods that we can avoid in order to
gently shift the balance of our health in a positive direction.
If we are too Hot we can avoid foods that will heat us up.
These include red meat, curries, greasy foods, alcohol and
coffee. Other foods are listed in the Hot and Warm section
of the box on page 176. We will know if we are too Hot by
our symptoms. These may include feeling hot all over or on
our hands, feet and chest, also symptoms of bleeding such
as nose bleeds or excessive uterine bleeding, hot flushes,
restlessness, dry red eyes, night sweats or a red face. A person
may also be prone to getting angry or irritable.
Cooling foods can be avoided if we are too Cold. These
include any food taken straight from the refrigerator as well
as raw vegetables and fruit, mung beans and soya produce.
Other Cold or Cooling foods are mentioned in the box
on page 177. If we are too Cold we may become more
listless and tired, feel the cold very easily and even get numb
extremities in cold weather. We may also get aches and pains
such as joint, stomach, abdominal or period pains, which
feel better with the application of heat.
If we have too much Dampness or Phlegm we may get
symptoms such as oedema, swelling and bloating, poor
concentration, heavy limbs or a muzzy head. Foods that
should be avoided are dairy products, which create mucus in
the system, greasy food such as French fries or fatty meats,
peanuts, concentrated fruit juices, especially orange juice and
tomato juice, and also sugary foods.
There are some situations where we can include foods in
the diet rather than avoid foods.
Are there any foods that I can include in

my diet for specific health problems?
If we are too Dry we may have symptoms such as dry skin, or
any extreme dryness in other body parts such as the eyes, lips
or throat. To remedy this imbalance we can include wetter

food in our diets such as sauces, stews and porridge. Dryness
can also be caused by Blood deficiency (see below). If, on
the other hand, we are too wet or have Damp symptoms we
can eat drier food and cook our food by grilling or baking.
It is also possible to include small amounts of heating
foods in our diet if we are too Cold, such as adding a little
ginger to our morning porridge or garlic to our soups and
stews. We can add Cooling foods if we are too Hot. Chinese
medicine considers mung bean soup a Cooling meal on a hot
summers day and soya produce is also very Cooling. Very
Hot or Cold foods should only be taken in small quantities.
As I said earlier, it is better to stick with Warm or Cool
foods. We also need to include lots of neutral foods to keep
our diet balanced.
If we are deficient in Blood, with symptoms such as poor
memory, excessive anxiety, a pale dull face, scanty periods,
pins and needles or cramps from poor circulation, then we
need to eat more Blood-forming foods. The most common
of these are animal products such as meat, poultry and fish.
Leafy green vegetables and beans are also helpful, as well as
dates, apricots and figs.
Christine stops dairy produce

Christine is 43 years old and is an acupuncturist.
Looking at her now it is hard to believe that she was
permanently ill until her mid 20s. A change in her
diet restored her health and created an interest in
alternative medicine.
I was a district nurse and I was permanently
exhausted and depressed, in fact I had been like
that for as long as I could remember. I also had very
loose bowels and discomfort in my abdomen, and

every time I ate I got palpitations. I decided to go
to my GP, who suggested that I saw a cardiologist.
Frightened by this I looked around for something
else. Fortunately a colleague suggested that I tried
cutting out dairy produce.
Within three weeks everything had changed
completely, my heart had stopped pounding, my
bowels improved and best of all my energy was
wonderful. I was enjoying activities like swimming
that I had never done before. Everything about
my work and life shifted in perspective. Id been
so gloomy and flat and now I was enjoying my
life like never before and it has continued to this
day.
In time, Christine decided to train to become an
acupuncturist. She now has a large thriving practice.
From the perspective of Chinese medicine my
symptoms were caused by a weak Stomach and
Spleen which couldnt digest the milk leading to
a milk allergy. With hindsight I think I would
have gone on to get a serious bowel disease if I
hadnt changed my diet at that time.
How should I go about changing my diet?

To recap, the five main aspects of eating healthily are eating
the correct proportions of food, balancing hot and cold food
and eating lots of neutral foods, including many tastes in our
diet, eating good-quality food and remembering the best
times and conditions in which to eat.
The best method of making lasting changes is to make

them slowly. A rapid change will often just as rapidly reverse
itself and old habits will then easily reinstate themselves. We
can look at our diet as a whole and decide which healthy
foods can easily be included. This will often involve taking
more cooked vegetables and grains. Once we have included
good new habits in our diets, the bad old ones will often
naturally drop away. If they dont, we can decide to reduce
unhealthy foods slowly until we have cut them out.
Sometimes it is best to go to a practitioner of Chinese
medicine to get advice about changing the diet. The
practitioner will then give support while the changes are
being made.
Will changing my diet be enough

to restore my health?
This may depend on a number of factors the main one being
whether a bad diet is the root cause of our ill health. If it is,
then a change in diet will improve our health substantially.
Often dietary changes will maintain good health in a patient
who has been helped by acupuncture, herbs or massage
treatment. It will also help the process of change to better
health if used alongside other treatments.
We are in charge of what we eat. By eating well we
can take responsibility for our own well-being. When is the
right time to change my diet? you might ask. The answer
is, start right now.
Hot, Warm, Cooling, Cold and Neutral foods

9
Which One Shall

I Choose?
The Right Treatment for Me
This last chapter is dedicated to discussing some of the

practicalities of having Chinese medicine treatment and
finding a good practitioner.
We will consider these questions.
How do I decide whether I need treatment?
Which treatment shall I choose?
Whats the best way to find a practitioner?
How can I tell if my practitioner is well qualified?
How can I tell if this practitioner is right for me?
Should I consult my doctor before seeing a
practitioner?
How can I keep myself healthy?
How do I decide whether I need treatment?

In this age of pollution, industrialisation and fast living
everyone can benefit from some form of treatment if they
wish to have it.
It is a challenge for many people to live a balanced
lifestyle and they may not get enough nourishment from
194
Which One Shall I Choose? 195
eating, sleeping, working and exercising. Wind, Cold,

Damp, Dryness and Heat the external causes of disease
can still affect us too. Most of us have warm and well-
protected houses, but we are not immune from the effects of
the climate.
Internal causes of disease, such as sadness, grief, anger or
fear, could have caused us distress in recent years or during
our childhood and still be negatively influencing our health.
We may decide that now is the time to deal with them.
Having said this, some people need treatment more than
others and people who generally feel well may prefer to
look after their health by caring for their diet and exercising
regularly (see Hicks, 2011).
People go for treatment for different reasons. Many
would like help with specific symptoms. Some dont have a
named condition but know they feel unwell. Others want
treatment in order to stay well or even prevent disease. The
nature of Chinese medicine diagnosis is to look for the
potential cause of a problem and not merely to deal with
named complaints, so treatment can help in any of these
varying circumstances.
Here are some different reasons why people decided to
try Chinese medicine.
I knew that if I didnt act now I would be put on strong
medicines and I decided to try and avoid them.
I went to my doctor complaining that I felt tired and
unwell. He could find nothing wrong with me. I felt
as if I was making it up. I was so relieved when my
acupuncturist said that something could be done forme.
When I decided to try herbs it was really a last resort,
I dont know what I would have done if they hadnt
worked.
I didnt have much wrong with me but I was clear that

my health was important and I wanted to remain well.
So which treatment shall I choose?

We may decide to have a particular treatment for one of
these reasons.
1. We have a preference for that treatment.
2. The treatment is available to us in our area.
3. We think a particular treatment can help us best.
4. A particular practitioner has been recommended.
Well talk about each of these in turn.
We have a preference for one

particular treatment
The best Chinese medicine treatments to choose are the ones
that we feel drawn to. Having read this book we may feel
excited by the idea of being treated by acupuncture, curious
about tui na, intrigued by Qigong or fascinated by Chinese
herbs. If we do feel a strong pull towards a particular
treatment, thats the one to choose assuming it is available.
The treatment is available to us in our area

It is no use choosing to have acupuncture or learn Qigong if
we cant find a competent practitioner or teacher. At present
there are some areas where there are many practitioners
available so it may be hard to choose between them
all. There are also other areas where there are very few
peoplepractising.
In the UK and many parts of the US and Europe there are

many more people qualified in acupuncture than in any of
the other forms of Chinese medicine. This is partly because
acupuncture was the first Chinese medicine treatment for
which training was available in the West and also because it
is a very effective treatment.
Many, though by no means all, practitioners use
more than one Chinese medicine therapy. For example,
most herbalists are also qualified acupuncturists. Many
acupuncturists also practise some tui na. Although Qigong
practitioners are often based in the cities rather than in the
small towns, their numbers are growing too. Dietary advice
can usually be obtained from any practitioner of Chinese
medicine.
We think a particular treatment can help us best

Different treatments certainly have a reputation for treating
specific conditions. Acupuncture is well known for treating
joint problems, arthritis, headaches and other kinds of pain.
However, acupuncture is an effective treatment for countless
other complaints, including emotional and mental problems,
digestive disorders, gynaecological complaints, fatigue and
general weakness, as well as being used as a preventative
treatment.
The same goes for treatment using herbs, which
have gained a reputation for treating skin disorders and
gynaecological complaints and improving general deficiency
disorders with great success. Herbalists might be proud to
tell you of all of the other problems they have treated such as
joint problems, allergies, bowel complaints, chest conditions
and many other disorders.
The list of conditions that each branch of Chinese

medicine can treat is endless and the distinction between
which treatment is best for which disorder is blurred. Once
more, it is not so much a question of which condition can
this treatment help, as can this treatment help this particular
patient?
A particular practitioner has been recommended

A recommendation is an excellent way to help us to decide
where to go for treatment. When we hear that a particular
practitioner has helped someone else with treatment it
reassures us that she or he is trustworthy and has knowledge
of the potential effectiveness of her or his treatments.
Choosing a therapy
In general it is best to use acupuncture, herbs or tui na when
we are already ill. The help of a supportive practitioner can
be very important when we are going through difficult times
and to assist us back to health. Qigong and dietary advice
will support us alongside these treatments.
Qigong and diet are also useful to help us to maintain
our health and can be used once we have regained our health.
If we decide to practise Qigong or to have dietary advice it
is best to go to classes or to get good advice to start us off.
Whats the best way to find

a good practitioner?
You dont necessarily need to go to the first clinic you find.
Many excellent practitioners are not the ones you first come
across on the high street.
The best way to find a good practitioner is by word of
mouth. We can ask around among our friends, colleagues
and acquaintances to find out who has a good reputation in

our area. Some clinics of complementary medicine are well
known and can be recommended for having high-quality
practitioners who give first-rate treatment. Before going to
any practitioner make sure they are properly qualified.
If there is nobody around to recommend a practitioner,
the next best way to find out who is in your area is from the
professional body of that therapy. Most have a database or
list of practitioners on their website and this will help you
to find a good local practitioner if one is available. Some of
these professional bodies are mentioned at the back of this
book.
Another way of finding a practitioner is to use Google or
another search engine. Again, make sure that any practitioner
you choose is well qualified, belongs to a professional body
and has good communication skills. Be aware that a flashy
website does not show that someone is well qualified so
always check someone out.
Many practitioners are happy for you to come for a
20-minute chat to help you to decide if this is a practitioner
you think could help you.
How can I tell if my practitioner

is well qualified?
Acupuncture, herbs and tui na
Make sure that your practitioner is registered with a
recognised professional body. Members are bound by the
Code of Ethics and Code of Practice of that society, which
will maintain high standards of discipline and health and
safety to protect the general public.
Acupuncturists, Chinese herbalists or tui na practitioners
who are members of a professional body have probably been
well trained over a period of at least three years.
Practitioners who are well qualified will ask questions

about your health and other important areas of your life in
order to make a full diagnosis at the first appointment. If
they practise acupuncture, Chinese herbs or tui na they will
also feel the 12 pulses at the wrist and look at your tongue.
If necessary they will also examine your spine or joints and
feel for any temperature variations on your body.
Dietary therapy
As I said earlier, most Chinese medicine practitioners will
also give you dietary advice, as this is an integral part of
their basic training.
Qigong
Qigong is different. To tell whether Qigong teachers are well
qualified a person can ask them who they trained with and
their lineage of teachers. A lineage is the traditional line of
teachers who have passed on their knowledge from teacher
to student. It is also advisable to ask the other students in the
group how they have benefited from the practice.
How can I tell that this

practitioner is right for me?
It is crucial that we trust that our practitioner is capable of
helping us. We dont have to believe in any of the treatments
for them to work in fact they can all be used successfully on
animals or children but treatment tends to progress faster
if the patient feels safe in the care of his or her practitioner.
Some practitioners will talk to their patients more than
others and patients themselves each prefer different amounts
of conversation. No matter whether we discuss our condition
and other health needs or not, another essential ingredient
of successful treatment is good rapport. The patient might

ask, Do I like this practitioner and feel he or she likes me?
One famous traditional doctor has described it as essential
for a practitioner a have a good heart.
Some comments patients have made about their
practitioner are listed here.
She made me feel comfortable when I talked to her and
I knew without doubt that she could help me.
I felt an immediate sense of I can trust this person and
I felt the same way throughout treatment.
I felt great empathy from him, I think he understood.
Ive been to three practitioners. Theyve all been very
different and have helped me in different ways.
Should I consult my doctor before

going to a practitioner?
Although it is unnecessary for patients to tell their doctor
that they are receiving treatment, there is no harm in letting
him or her know. If, however, patients are taking medication
or are under the constant care of a doctor then it is advisable
to inform the doctor of their intentions.
Many doctors welcome the idea of their patients trying
one of these complementary treatments. When I first started
practising acupuncture 35 years ago, many doctors actively
told their patients not to have treatment and, as a result,
patients would often lie to their doctors or at least not
mention their complementary treatment. The climate has
changed radically in a short space of time.
What if I am already taking prescribed

drugs for my condition?
Acupuncturists, Chinese herbalists and tui na practitioners
are trained to understand the effects of prescribed medication
and will only ask patients to reduce their drugs when they
are ready and if it is appropriate. Mild medications are usually
reduced slowly as patients health improves. For example,
patients will stop taking painkillers as their pain decreases or
stop taking sleeping pills as their insomnia improves. If you
are on stronger medication your practitioner will usually ask
you to consult your doctor so that you can withdraw your
medication with your doctors support.
Treatment will continue for as long as a patient needs
it. In some cases, coming off medications can take a long
time and the support of the practitioner can be helpful.
Patients may never come off some medications but can still
benefit from Chinese medicine treatment. This applies to
replacement drugs. For example, patients may always require
insulin for diabetes, vitamin B12 for pernicious anaemia or
corticosteroids for a condition known as Addisons disease.
Whatever our condition when first coming to treatment,
at some point we might expect to attain relatively good
health. So once we are healthy how do we maintain it?
How can I keep myself healthy?

Once you have regained your health, many practitioners will
suggest that you continue to have treatment less frequently
or at the change of season in order to keep your energy
strong.
A healthy lifestyle is also advisable. A good diet, a
positive attitude in all situations and regular exercise will
also support your health (for more information on lifestyle
see Hicks, 2011).
Exercising
Regular exercise can become a valuable routine in a persons
life. When I visited China and Hong Kong I was surprised
by the number of Chinese men and women who regularly
exercised every morning in order to keep well. Many people
practised Qigong or other health exercises every day in
the parks or in their homes before starting work. This was
followed by a healthy breakfast to set them up for the days
work.
Diet
Eating healthily means being careful about our diet without
being rigid. We can strive to carry out the guidelines
suggested in Chapter 8, on diet which are:
1. Eat the correct proportions of food.
2. Balance Hot and Cold food and eat lots of Neutral
foods.
3. Include many tastes in our diet.
4. Eat good-quality food.
5. Remember the best times and conditions in which
to eat.
A positive attitude
Finally a positive attitude will go a long way to keeping us
healthy. As Confucius said:
If I were to sum up my whole philosophy in one sentence
I should say: allow no negativity into your thoughts.
When life presents us with adversity, it is not always easy to
find the positive lessons that come from those situations,
especially when they are painful. There are always things we
can learn, however, and finding them rather than hanging

on to bitterness or regrets can change a destructive attitude,
which leads to poor health, into one from which we can
grow and change and consequently become healthier.
A final thought
By the time you have read this book you will have a good
overview of Chinese medicine and its possible effects in
treatment. If we respect and care for ourselves we are capable
of leading long, happy and healthy lives. Chinese medicine
understands the importance of good health and that it is the
root of a satisfying life. They also say that, Even a journey
of one thousand miles begins with a single step. We can
decide to take that step now so that we can be empowered
to take our good health into our own hands. I hope you
enjoy your journey!
References
Ass, H.-M. (2005) Emergency management in public health ethics: triage,

epidemics, biomedical terror and warfare. Eubios Journal of Asian and
International Bioethics 15 (September 2005).
Cherkin, D.C. (2009) A randomized trial comparing acupuncture,
simulated acupuncture, and usual care for chronic low back pain.
Archives of Internal Medicine 169, 9, 858866.
Ee, C.C., Manheimer E., Pirotta M.V. and White A.R. (2008) Acupuncture
for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy: a systematic review. American
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 198, 3, 254259.
Ferrara-Love, R., Sekeres, L. and Bircher, N. (1996) Nonpharmacologic
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11, 6, 376383.
Frantzis, B. (2001) Relaxing into Your Being. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic
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Frantzis, B. (2006) Tai Chi Health for Life. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic
Books.
Haake, M. (2007) German acupuncture trials for chronic low back pain.
Archives of Internal Medicine 167, 17, 18921898.
Hicks, A. (2005) The Acupuncture Handbook. London: Piatkus.
Hicks, A. (2011) 88 Chinese Medicine Secrets. Oxford: HowTo Books.
Lewis, K. and Abdi, S. (2010) Acupuncture for lower back pain: a review.
Clinical Journal of Pain 26, 1, 6069.
Li, J., Li, J., Liang, F., Hong, Y. et al. (2012) Electroacupuncture at PC6
(Neiguan) improves extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling
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back pain: Early management of persistent non-specific low back
pain. Clinical Guideline 88. London: NICE.
205
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (2012)

Headaches: Diagnosis and management of headaches in young
people and adults. Clinical Guideline 150. London: NICE.
Sawazaki K., Mukaino Y., Kinoshita F., Honda T. et al. (2008) Acupuncture
can reduce perceived pain, mood disturbances and medical expenses
related to low back pain among factory employees. Industrial Health
46, 4, 336340.
Shaw, J., Bidgood, P. and Sacbi, N. (2007) Exploring acupuncture
outcomes in a college clinic. Patient profile and evaluation of overall
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Sherman, K.J. and Coeytaux, R.R. (2009) Acupuncture for the treatment
of common pain conditions: chronic back pain, osteoarthritis, and
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Weidenhammer W., Linde K., Streng A., Hoppe A. and Melchart D. (2007)
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Witt, C.M. (2006) Pragmatic randomised trial evaluating the clinical and
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Further Reading
Acupuncture
Hicks, A. (2010) The Acupuncture Handbook. London: Piatkus.
A comprehensive look at acupuncture for patients and the general
public, giving information about all aspects of acupuncture theory,
diagnosis and treatment, as well as a list of the wide-ranging
conditions that acupuncture can treat.
Hicks, A., Hicks, J. and Mole, P. (2010) Five Element Constitutional
Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Elsevier.
A textbook for those who want to explore Five Element Acupuncture
more deeply. This describes the main features of treatment using the
Five Element Constitutional style of acupuncture.
Kaptchuk, T. (2010) Chinese Medicine: The Web that has no Weaver. London:
Rider.
A classic, comprehensive guide on the theory and practice of Chinese
medicine.
Maciocia, G. (2005) The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh:
Elsevier.
A textbook for those who want to study traditional Chinese medicine
in depth.
Herbs
Hicks, J. (2013) Principles of Chinese Herbal Medicine. London and
Philadelphia: Singing Dragon.
An introductory book giving you everything you need to know
about Chinese herbal medicine, for the general public and patients.
Warner, J.W. and Fan, A. (2005) Manual of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Principles
and Practice for Easy Reference. Boston, MA: Shambala Publications Inc.
A book for Chinese herbal medicine study and reference.
207
Yi, Q. (2000) Formula Study Guide. Boulder Colorado: Snow Lotus Press.
A more in-depth guide for practitioners giving Chinese herbal
medicine formulae.
Qigong
Frantzis, B. (2006) Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body: Chi Gung for
Lifelong Health. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
This book has become a classic that has inspired tens of thousands of
Westerners to practise Qigong. It suits beginners, with enough meaty
detail and depth for the advanced martial artist, healer or meditator.
Frantzis, B. (2010) Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong. Fairfax, CA: Energy
Arts Inc.
Describes the Dragon and Tiger Movements that are mentioned in
this book. A DVD of this simple practice is also available from: www.
energyarts.com.
Lam, K.C. (1991) The Way of Energy: Mastering the Chinese Art of Strength
with Chi Kung Exercises. New York: Gaia Books.
An easy-to-read and comprehensive guide to standing like a tree
Qigong.
Tui na
Jiangshan, L. (2011) Tuina/Massage Manipulations: Basic Principles and
Techniques. London and Philadelphia: Singing Dragon.
This comprehensive introduction is written with the needs of the
student and beginning practitioner in mind and covers all the basic
principles of the manipulation techniques required to practise tui na.
Pritchard, S. (2010) Tui na: A Manual of Chinese Medical Massage Therapy.
Edinburgh: Elsevier.
This book is for practitioners of tui na and provides a clear and
complete introduction to the principles and practice of tui na. It
covers all of the techniques, from the basic techniques, compound
techniques and most commonly applied techniques through to
passive movements.
Further Reading 209
Diet
Hicks, A. (2011) 88 Chinese Medicine Secrets. Oxford: HowTo Books.
A self-help book that reveals the profound yet simple health
maintenance secrets that Chinese medicine has developed over many
centuries. It has a substantial chapter on Chinese dietary therapy.
Lampert, G. and Blyth, D. (2006) Chinese Dietary Wisdom. Reading: College
of Integrated Chinese Medicine. Available from: www.cicm.org.uk.
Chinese dietary advise for each constitutional type, arranged for
everyday use. Simple and useful.
Leggett, D. (1999) Recipes for Self Healing. Totnes: Meridian Press.
Explains how to apply dietary principles with simplicity and
elegance. This book conveys the wisdom and insights of Chinese
medicine and makes them both relevant and accessible to the modern
Westerner.
Pitchford, P. (2002) Healing with Whole Foods: Oriental Traditions and
Modern Nutrition. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
A more comprehensive primer on nutrition, which includes facts
about many different foods, along with an inspiring cookbook with
more than 300 mostly vegetarian, nutrient-packed recipes.
General
Hicks, A., and Hicks, J. (1999) Healing Your Emotions. Reading: College
of Integrated Chinese Medicine. Available from: www.cicm.org.uk.
This book describes how peoples emotions relate to the
characteristics of their Five Element constitutional types.
Frantzis, B. (2008) The Chi Revolution. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
This book shares once closely guarded, ancient secrets of chi and
gives simple, low-impact exercises to give you energy for life.
Weeks, P. (2011) Make Yourself Better. London and Philadelphia: Singing
Dragon.
A holistic and simple guide to using natural techniques including
diet and herbal medicines.
Useful Contacts
Most of the professional bodies listed below are for

acupuncturists and herbalists. Most acupuncturists and
herbalists also advise on diet. Many tui na practitioners are
also acupuncturists and herbalists. For Qigong practitioners
you will need to find details of individual teachers.
UK
British Acupuncture Council
63 Jeddo Road
London W12 9HQ
Tel: 020 8735 0400
www.acupuncture.org.uk
Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine
Office 5
1 Exeter Street
Norwich NR2 4QB
Tel: 01603 623994
www.rchm.co.uk
The Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and
Acupuncture UK
5 Grosvenor House
1 High Street
Edgware
London HA8 7TA
Tel: 020 8951 3030
www.atcm.co.uk
210
Useful Contacts 211
UK Register of Tui na Chinese Massage

184186 Westcombe Hill
London SE3 7DH
Tel: 07503 737904
www.ukrtcm.org
Tai Chi Arts UK
www.taichiarts.co.uk
If you wish to find out more information from the author
you can contact her at:
College of Integrated Chinese Medicine
19 Castle Street
Reading
Berkshire RG1 7SB
Tel: 01189 508880
www.cicm.org.uk
US
Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine
600 Wyndhurst Avenue
Suite 112
Baltimore MD 21210
Tel: 410 464 6040
www.ccaom.org
American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda
Maryland 20814
Tel: 866 455 7999
www.aaaomonline.org
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture

and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
76 South Laura Street
Suite 1290
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Tel: 904 598 1005
www.nccaom.org
Qigong Energy Arts
www.energyarts.com
Europe
Pan European Federation of TCM Societies
(PEFOTS)
Geldersekade 87 A
Amsterdam
Noord Holland
The Netherlands
Tel: 20 6892468
www.pefots.com
European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association
(ETCMA)
Servaasbolwerk 28
Utrecht
The Netherlands
3512 NK
www.etcma.org
Professional bodies who are members of ETCMA:

Belgium
EUFOM
www.etcma.org
Useful Contacts 213
Belgian Acupunctors Federation

www.acupunctuur-baf.be
Czech Republic
Komora TCM
www.komoratcm.cz
Denmark
Praktiserende Akupunktrer
www.aku-net.dk
Finland
The Finnish TCM Society of Acupuncture and Herbs
www.finnacu.fi
France
Fdration Nationale de Mdecine Traditionnelle
Chinoise
www.fnmtc.fr
Germany
Arbeitsgemeinschaft fr Klasssiche Akupunktur und
TCM e.V.
www.agtcm.de
Ireland
The Irish Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine
www.irchm.com
Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association
www.afpa.ie
Netherlands
Nederlandse Vereniging voor Acupunctuur
www.acupunctuur.nl
Norway
Akupunkturorening
www.akupunktur.no
Norske Naturterapeuters Hovedorganisasjon
www.nnh.no
Sweden
Svenska Akupunkturfrbundet
www.akupunkturforbundet.se
Switzerland
Schweizerische Berufsorganisation fr TCM
www.sbo-tcm.ch
UK
British Acupuncture Council
www.acupuncture.org.uk
Australia
Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Association Ltd (AACMA)
PO Box 1635
Unit 1
55 Clarence Street
Coorparoo
Queensland 4151
Tel: 733 242 599
www.acupuncture.org.au
Useful Contacts 215
Australian Traditional Medicine Society

PO Box 1027
Meadowbank
New South Wales 2114
Tel: 028 878 1500
www.atms.com.au
Canada
The Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association
of Canada
154 Wellington Street
London
Ontario N6B 2K8
Tel: 519 642 1970
www.cmaac.ca
Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute
2131 Lawrence Avenue East
Suite 204
Scarborough
ON M1R 5G4
Tel: 416 752 3988
www.afcinstitute.com
Index
Entries in italics indicate figures appendicitis 68

and tables arthritis 52, 71, 90, 197
case study 834
Abdi, S. 18 Ass, H. M. 185
acupuncture 13, 17, 19, 20, Association of Traditional Chinese
52, 53, 624, 144, 196, Medicine (ATCM) 114
199200 asthma 16, 79
acupuncture points 68, 7980 atractylodes 105
arthritis 834 auricular acupuncture 84, 88,
auricular acupuncture 8990 8990
channels 648, 6971 autumn 23, 26, 45
conditions treated by
acupuncture 714, 90 Ba Zhen Wan 104
cupping therapy 867 back problems 1718, 25, 67, 82,
electro-acupuncture 88 86, 87, 150
emotions 44 case study 1578
fertility treatment 756 balance 245, 138, 164
guasha 878 Bian Que 148
health 801 Bladder 27, 38, 39, 56
hygiene standards 77 Bladder channel 678
moxibustion 846 Blood 28, 32, 34, 37, 76, 80,
needles 779 107, 110, 149, 150, 156,
NICE recommendation 1718, 166
67 Blood and the Heart 33
reactions to treatment 812 Blood and the Liver 323
research 623, 712, 901 Blood and the Spleen 33
tender points 689 diet 164, 171, 173, 190
theory of Chinese medicine tongue 58
767 Body Fluids 28, 36, 37, 76, 107,
treatment 74, 82, 84 149, 166
yin and yang 25 Body Fluids and the Spleen 36
acute conditions 73, 82, 89, 110, pulse 57
114, 150, 151, 158, 159 tongue 58
animal products 94, 106 body-mind connection 1617
216
Index 217
breathing 137 dairy produce 167, 170, 1901

British Acupuncture Council Damp 14, 30, 36, 45, 48, 52,
(BAcC) 91 150, 195
Buddhism 123 diet 1689, 170
skin 108
cancer 11011, 120 symptoms 53, 105
carbohydrates 1689 dan tian 127, 130, 136
channels 63, 648, 6971, lower dan tian 1278
1267 diagnosis 17, 18, 201, 54, 556
choosing points along a theory of Chinese medicine
channel 79 5961
Cherkin, D. 18 tongue diagnosis 589
children 25, 35, 50 using the pulse 568
Chinese medicine 1314, 1417, diet 13, 19, 20, 49, 1634, 200,
1819, 201, 204 203
Blood 323 almost vegetarian diet 172
Body Fluids 36 carbohydrates 1689
Five Elements 3741 changing diet 1912
Jing-essence 346 cooked and raw food 1778
Qi 2931 food flavours 17882
Shen or Mind-spirit 334 food temperature 11314, 163,
Vital Substances 289, 37 1747
yin and yang 217 foods to avoid for specific
chronic conditions 67, 72, 74, 82, health problems 1889
89, 114, 1589 foods to include for specific
climatic conditions 457 health problems 18991
Some golden rules to protect fruit and vegetables 168
ourselves from external how to eat 1857
conditions 48 nutritional recommendations
Coeytaux, R.R. 18 16771
Cold 30, 45, 48, 52, 150, 195 pulses 1689, 170
colds 30, 49, 87, 88, 104, 112, quality of food 1825
150, 181 rich foods 1701
College of Integrated Chinese theory of Chinese medicine
Medicine, Reading 623, 1657
71, 90 vegetarian diet 171, 1723
Confucius 203 weight loss 16970
cupping therapy 84, 867 when to eat 1878
digestive problems 15, 31, 44, facial colour 56

71, 72 Fallon 170
case studies 60, 1056, 1512 fats 167, 170
disease 14, 18, 26, 40 Ferrara-Love, R. 70
balancing work and play fertility treatment 756
4950 Five Elements 378, 40, 55, 76
climatic conditions 457, 478 associations 401
emotions 435 Five Elements and the Sheng and Ke
exercise 501 cycles 39
how disease arises 43, 523 interaction 3840
internal causes 43 The Five Element associations 41
miscellaneous causes 49 food 167
physical trauma 512 cooked and raw food 1778
sex 51 cravings 182
The causes of disease 52 digestion 1745
The external causes of disease eating habits 1858
467 food flavours 17882
treatment 54 food temperature 11314, 163,
Dong Qin Gao 156 1747
drug dependency 90 processed food 183
Dryness 45, 48, 150, 195 quality 1823
specific health problems
eating habits 1856 18890
chewing thoroughly 186 strong foods and neutral foods
drinking during meals 1867 1834
eating late at night 188 Sweet foods 180
eating regularly 1878 four energies 11314
eating until you are 75 per cent Frantzis, B. 134, 135
full 187 fruit 167, 168
relaxing whilst eating 186
eczema 107 Gall Bladder 27, 38, 39, 56, 59
Ee, C.C. 18 Gall Bladder channel 667, 68
electro-acupuncture 84, 88 ginseng 1001, 105
emotions 31, 3940 grains 167, 1689
disease 435, 195 guasha 84, 878
endometriosis 923 gynaecological problems 15, 31,
Enig 170 73, 94, 110, 151, 154, 197
exercise 501, 129, 203
Index 219
Haake, M. 18 research 11011

headaches 31, 3940, 67, 145, Sovereign herb 98
150, 170, 175 taste 11113
case study 1723 theory of Chinese medicine
health 40, 423, 534 1078
acupuncture 801 tinctures 103
Qigong 1201, 1235 Western and Chinese herbal
Heart 27, 32, 38, 59 medicine 967
Blood and the Heart 33 Yin Qiao San 104
Heart channel 65, 80 Hicks, A. 166, 167, 195, 202
Shen or Mind-spirit and the holistic approach 1516, 712,
Heart 34 734
Heat 30, 45, 48, 52, 150, 195 Hua Tuo and his Five Animal
diet 170 Frolics 122, 133
skin 1078 Huang Fu Mi 121
tongue 589
herbs 13, 19, 20, 52, 53, 924, Jing-essence 14, 28, 345, 49, 76,
144, 196, 199200 107, 127, 149, 166
Adjutant herb 99 Jing-essence and the Kidneys
animal products 106 356
application to skin 157
Ba Zhen Wan 104
categories of herbs 978 Kidneys 15, 16, 17, 27, 34, 38,
Chinese herbal medicine 946 39, 56, 150, 181
conditions treated by herbs 94, Jing-essence and the Kidneys
110, 11011 356
dried herbs 1023 Kidney Qi 40, 51
Emperor herb 98 Kingston University 63
four energies 11314
freeze-dried herbs 103 Large Intestine 27, 1667
ginseng 1001 Lewis, K. 18
herbal prescriptions 98101, Li, J. 70
1056 life cycles 256
length of treatment 11415 lifestyle changes 534, 82, 202
Messenger herb 99 liquorice 105
Minister herb 99 Liver 15, 16, 27, 38, 39, 56, 59,
post-viral syndrome 1089 107, 150
powdered herbs 103 acupuncture 767
preparation of herbs 1012 Blood and the Liver 323
psoriasis 11516 herbal medicine 102
regulations 1067 Qi and the Liver 31, 3940
Lungs 16, 27, 38, 57, 79, 107 period problems 15, 32, 33, 73,
Qi and the Lungs and Spleen 80, 190
301 Phlegm 16
physical trauma 512
martial arts 120 pinella 106
meat 167, 1701 poria 105
menopause 25, 35 positive attitude 2034
case study 601 post-viral syndrome 1089
mental health problems 16, 34 pregnancy 18, 70, 75, 76
meridians 63, 64, 1267 psoriasis 11516
moxa (Artemisia vulgaris latiflora) pulse 568
83, 846 The twelve pulse points 57
moxibustion 64, 846 pulses 167, 1689, 170
nausea 701 Qi 14, 24, 28, 37, 76, 107, 110,

NICE (National Institute 127, 144, 149, 150, 156,
for Health and Clinical 166
Excellence) 1718, 67, 68 acupuncture 634
Nogier, Paul 89 Blood 32
channels 6971
definition of Qi 2930
organic produce 1823 pulse 56, 57
Organs 26, 27, 37, 40, 55, 76, Qi and the Liver 31, 3940
107 Qi and the Lungs and Spleen
Blood 32 301
Five Elements 38, 39 Spleen 36
food flavours and associated yin and yang 245, 25, 26
Organs 1789 Qigong 13, 19, 20, 52, 11718,
interaction with Vital 119, 200
Substances 289 a moving exercise 135
pulse 57 aligning sitting posture 1301
The connection between the aligning standing posture
yin Organs and the Vital 1323
Substances 29 benefits 11920, 13841
The yin and yang Organs 27 breathing into your lower
tongue 589 abdomen 137
osteoporosis 35 development 11819
different practices 1256,
pathogenic factors 107, 150 1306
Pericardium 27, 32, 38 do not strain 138
acupuncture point 701 Dragon and Tiger 1201, 134
Index 221
eight brocades 1334 Small Intestine 27, 38, 1667

health 1201, 1235 spiritual development 123
how often to practise 1423 Spleen 15, 27, 32, 38, 39, 150
Hua Tuo and his Five Animal Blood and the Spleen 33
Frolics 122, 133 Body Fluids and the Spleen 36
keeping relaxed 138 diet 165, 166, 180
lower dan tian 1278 herbal medicine 102, 1056
moving Qigong 125, 1336 Qi and the Lungs and Spleen
Qigong breathing practice 137 301
sinking your Qi 136 Spleen channel 79
sitting Qigong 125, 1301 Spleen Qi 44
spiritual development 123 spring 23, 26, 45
standing Qigong 125, 1313 stiffness 11718, 1245
tai ji quan 134 Stomach 27, 36, 38, 39, 59
teachers 1412 acupuncture points 80
theory of Chinese medicine diet 1656, 180
1267 herbal medicine 102
Western exercise 129 Stomach channel 68
where to practise 1434 Stomach Qi 44
summer 23, 25, 26, 45
Register of Chinese Herbal Sun Simiao On the Absolute Sincerity
Medicine (RCHM) 114 of Great Physicians 1845
regulation of herbal products Swedish massage 147
1067 symptoms 1415
rest 4950
Rose, K. 165 tai ji quan (tai chi chuan) 134
tangerine peel 106
Sawazaki, K. 18 Taoism 123
seafood 167 tastes 11112
sexual activity 51 balance of taste 182
Shaw, J. 63, 71 Bitter 113, 164
Shen or Mind-spirit 28, 334, 37, food flavours and associated
127, 149, 166 Organs 1789
Qigong 123 Pungent 112, 164
Shen or Mind-spirit and the Salty 113, 164
Heart 34 Sour 112, 164
Sherman, K.J. 18 Sweet 112, 164
shiatsu 1478 Three Treasures 37
skin problems 71, 73, 94, 1078, tiger balm 156
110, 11516, 197 tiredness 30, 31, 36, 51, 71, 187,
189
tongue 589 vegetables 167, 168

Areas of the tongue 59 Vital Substances 27, 28, 37, 40,
tonics 97, 104, 110 55, 76, 107, 127, 149, 166
touch 1456 interaction with Organs 289
treatments 16, 1718, 1946 The connection between the
assessing practitioners 199 yin Organs and the Vital
200, 2001 Substances 29
choosing treatments 196
finding practitioners 1989 Wang Wei Yi The Illustrated
medical prescriptions 202 Manual for Acupuncture and
positive attitude 2034 Moxibustion 69
preferences 1968 Weidenhammer, W. 18
seeking doctors opinion 201 Western medicine 1314, 1417
staying healthy 2023 medication 202
Triple Burner 27, 38 wheat 16970
tui na 13, 19, 20, 52, 118, 144, Wind 14, 30, 45, 48, 52, 57,
1456, 199200 150, 195
benefits 160 winter 23, 25, 26, 45, 46, 47
Bian Que 148 Witt, C.M. 18
children 159 woodlock oil 156
conditions helped by tui na work 4950
1502 World Health Organization
how often 1589 (WHO) 901
roots of tui na 1467
self-massage 160
self-massage for tired eyes 161 Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal
skin preparations 1567 Medicine, The (Huang Ti Nei
spine manipulation 1578 Jing) 21, 120
theory of Chinese medicine yin and yang 14, 21, 37, 40, 55,
14950 107, 110
treatment 149, 1523, 1534, balance 245
1556, 158 four aspects of yin and yang
tui na and other styles of 213
massage 1478 life cycles 256
Organs 26, 27
Somecharacteristics useful to
University of Pittsburgh Medical Chinese medicine practitioners
Center 70 24
urinary problems 73, 94, 112, The connection between the
114, 151, 181 yin Organs and the Vital
Substances 29
Index 223
The yin and yang Organs 27

use by Chinese medicine
practitioners 234
Yin/yang and the cycle of seasons
26
Yin/yang symbol and the cycle of
day and night 22
Yin Qiao San 104
Zhang, Y.H. 165

Zhong Zhang Jing The Treatise of
Cold Induced and Miscellaneous
Diseases 95, 96, 101

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P R I N O F

London and Philadelphia

First published in 1996 by Thorsons, an imprint of HarperCollins

Copyright Angela Hicks 1996, 2013

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

ISBN 978 1 84819 130 3

This book is written as an informative guide to Chinese

My thanks to all of the people who have helped me to write

The aim of this book is to give you a clear explanation about

1 These are all described in the chapters that follow.

and Western medicine are more mutually respectful than

The differences between Chinese

Treat the person rather than the symptoms

Liver, Kidney or Spleen energy.2 Treatment will aim to help

Generalise rather than specialise

syndrome and their mental health problems. Each symptom

Prescribe individualised rather

See body and mind as connected rather than separate

Kidney energy and help both problems simultaneously. A

Use observations rather than tests

Treatment using Eastern and Western medicine

3 NICE provides independent, authoritative and evidence-based guidance to the

This recognition follows many research studies that

The principles of Chinese medicine

In the following five chapters I will then discuss the

The five therapies of Chinese medicine are acupuncture,

What is the theory of Chinese medicine?

allow the practitioner to find the underlying cause of a

What is meant by yin and yang?

What are the four aspects of yin and yang?

Yin and yang are:

Midday Yang Midnight

Yin/yang symbol and the cycle of day and night

At the height of midday there is maximum light, which

How are yin and yang useful for

Some yin and yang characteristics useful

How can Chinese medicine be used

deficient. There is not enough expansive and active energy

How do yin and yang affect our life cycles?

1 Although this may be changing as Chinese women adopt a more Western

Yin/yang and the cycle of the seasons

When acupuncturists examine a patient they will look at

What are yin and yang Organs?

The yin and yang Organs

What are the Vital Substances?

How do the Vital Substances

The connection between the yin

Chinese medicine describes Qi more by what it does than

Qi and the Lungs and Spleen

limbs to lack nourishment and become weak or our digestive

Qi and the Liver

What does Chinese medicine mean by Blood?

Blood and the Liver

because there is not enough Blood reaching our head when

Blood and the Spleen

Blood and the Heart

What is the Shen or Mind-spirit?

allows us to have a good memory

The Shen or Mind-spirit and the Heart

and generally abuse their bodies without any apparent

Jing-essence and the Kidneys

A 31-year-old patient had slightly deficient Jing-essence