• Identify problems according to the 8 principles (actually, 4 pairs of principles)
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Treat by acupuncture and/or herbs according to the 8 principles
• Not either/or, rather is more or less. Perfect balance is being in harmony. Extremes have more problems.
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Further development of the previous idea of yin and yang
The 8 Principles
Exterior/interior
Deficiency/excess
Cold/hot
Yin/yang
Influenced by
External pathogenic factors
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wind (can cause problems like stiff neck, but also associated with things that come and go, including seizures, headaches,
twitching, trembling)
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damp (especially related to cold)
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heat
•
dryness (usually related to heat)
Exterior/interior =acute (exterior) or chronic (interior)
Deficiency/excess
• To much or too little of: yin/yang, cold/heat, damp/dry. Deficient yang can look like excess yin.
• Deficient cold can look like excess heat.
• Excess is more boisterous, loud, aggressive. (Rottweiler personality). Deficiency is weaker, more depleted. (Toy poodle
personality).
• Feral cat: attacks you, excess. Tries to hide, get away at all costs, deficient.
• Identify the basic problem first (heat/cold, yin/yang), then decide if excess/deficiency. If a treatment is not working,
maybe it is the opposite problem.
Cold/heat
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Excess cold and excess heat can invade and cause problems
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Dampness related to cold (accumulates → fluid, phlegm = lumps)
• Dryness related to heat: dry, itchy skin, constant thirst, joint problems, dry cough
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Cooling and warming herbs can be good things to offset pathogens
• Cold signs: thin, watery, clear discharge. Cool extremities, sleepy, sedentary, sluggish
• Heat signs: thick, yellow, green, and/or bloody discharge. Agitation, high fever, swollen glands.
Yin/yang
• Yin properties: cool, moist, quiet, solid organs, fearful
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deficiency, underactivity, hypo, matter, parasympathetic, endorphins
• Yin: hot, dry, boisterous, hollow organs, angry
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excess, overactivity, hyper, energy, sympathetic, epinephrine
