| As a patient under the care of an acupuncturist your | | | | best be described by boiling a pot of water. When |
| diagnosis is based on Traditional Oriental Medicine | | | | boiling a pot of water you place the water over the |
| (TOM) as opposed to a Western medical diagnosis | | | | fire and not the fire over the water, correct? It is |
| (WMD) by a physician. Acupuncture and Oriental | | | | common sense to place the water over the fire |
| Medicine is a pattern-based medicine and not a | | | | because these are natural elements with predictable |
| disease-based medicine. For example, diabetes, | | | | reactions. Fire is hot and rises. Water is cooling and |
| rheumatoid arthritis or hypertension (high blood | | | | sinks. Integrating the two brings the water to boil |
| pressure) are examples of diseases diagnosed by a | | | | causing steam to rise, which symbolizes function and |
| medical doctor characterized by an identifiable group | | | | life - the active principle in nature. Together two |
| of signs or symptoms unique to each disease. Multiple | | | | opposites integrate and action is born. Now the |
| patients presenting with the basic group of signs and | | | | proportions of water and fire are important to |
| symptoms can all be given the same diagnosis of a | | | | maintain proper action or function. Too much fire can |
| specific disease. A pattern-based diagnosis given by | | | | deplete the water too quickly and not applying |
| acupuncturist consists of a pattern of signs and | | | | enough fire may never bring the water to a boil. |
| symptoms unique to each patient. | | | | Conversely, applying too much water may not bring |
| For example; two patients present with Rheumatoid | | | | about a boiling effect and not applying enough water |
| Arthritis of the knee (WMD) with common signs and | | | | may cause the water to boil to quickly. Two |
| symptoms such as pain, swelling, stiffness, and | | | | components - yin and yang - exponentially start to |
| fatigue. In addition, Patient A also presents with pain | | | | add up to a multitude of events or patterns i.e. |
| specifically on the medial aspect of the left knee, | | | | excess fire, excess water, deficient fire, deficient |
| bouts of anger, excessive drinking (alcohol) and | | | | water. |
| migraine headaches where as Patient B experiences | | | | Sometimes when I explain a diagnosis to a patient I |
| pain behind the knee, aversion to cold and wheezing | | | | may say they have too much heat inside or they are |
| only at night. All signs and symptoms are gathered to | | | | cold inside or they have an excess condition or a |
| form a unique pattern, which requires variation in | | | | deficient condition. Based on simple principles of Yin |
| treatment. To further the example, Patient A would | | | | and Yang you can begin to see how a diagnosis is |
| be diagnosed with Liver overacting on the Spleen | | | | formed. Of course it is much more complex and |
| with Liver Yang Rising and Patient B would be | | | | rarely ever so straightforward. |
| diagnosed with Spleen & Kidney Yang deficiency | | | | In regards to treatment let me explain how a variety |
| with Dampness. To clarify two points which will be | | | | of concerns can play a role in restoring balance in |
| further explained as you read on - 1. Both patients | | | | health and creating a path for optimal health. |
| with arthritis (WMD) are diagnosed with different | | | | Recognizing cycles in your lifestyle can help you |
| patterns of signs and symptoms (TOM) collectively | | | | identify ways to bring balance into your life and |
| requiring different treatment plans. 2. Even though it's | | | | promote health and well-being. There are many |
| hard to comprehend these separate patterns of | | | | cycles that can be categorized using Yin and Yang |
| diagnosis without studying acupuncture I purposely | | | | for example - activity compared to rest. You may |
| chose these patterns to identify a basic | | | | not sleep well because you're not active enough and |
| understanding that Patient A presents with an excess | | | | conversely you may not feel energetic because you |
| pattern and Patient B presents with a deficient | | | | don't sleep well. When cycles are out of balance it |
| pattern. | | | | takes consistency to restore balance. You may get |
| A fundamental principle that underlies TOM is Yin | | | | caught up with which one comes first - like the |
| Yang Theory. The symbol is a method of | | | | chicken or the egg problem but you must remember |
| categorizing opposites. It can be referred to as a | | | | this is not a linear / cause and effect model. Yin Yang |
| symbol, which embodies the harmonious transition of | | | | theory is a holistic cyclical model. You cannot have |
| opposites. Looking at the symbol you see the white | | | | one without the other. The focus in not to identify |
| rising up on the left and accumulating toward the top. | | | | the cause but is on restoring balance. Recognizing |
| The black side on the right side of the circle | | | | both sides of the cycle helps identify what is |
| accumulates towards the bottom. Both sides | | | | excessive and what is deficient. Once identified you |
| integrate into each other and are proportionally equal | | | | can apply methods to decrease excess and |
| symbolizing balance or harmony. All things in nature | | | | supplement deficiency through a variety of ways |
| embody qualities of both Yin and Yang. Yin cannot | | | | including exercise, diet, good work habits, nurturing |
| exist without Yang and Yang cannot exist without | | | | relationships, mental-emotional balance and so on. |
| Yin. They are interdependent. Lets place objects into | | | | An acupuncturist does not only works with needles. |
| these categories to bring a deeper understanding. Fire | | | | An acupuncturist is trained to recognize principles of |
| and Water are opposites. Fire belongs in the Yang | | | | Yin and Yang and restore health not only through |
| (white / rising) category and Water belongs in the | | | | acupuncture treatment and herbs but also through |
| Yin (Black / sinking) category. Fire rises - Water sinks; | | | | understanding all the previously discussed lifestyle |
| Fire is warming - Water is cooling; Fire consumes - | | | | concerns that require awareness and care to maintain |
| Water nourishes; Fire is active - Water seeks a low | | | | optimal health for each individual. This is what I call |
| position to become still. These opposite qualities are | | | | preventative medicine and wellness care. To learn |
| found in the human body and we can compare these | | | | more keep a look out for more articles that discuss |
| qualities to identify patterns of imbalance. | | | | wellness care through the important principles of |
| Understanding deficiencies or excesses of Yin and | | | | Traditional Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture, Chinese |
| Yang can help naturally return the body to a state of | | | | Herbal Medicine, Taoist Nutrition, Tai Chi Chuan, Qi |
| balance and wellness. | | | | Gong and Lifestyle counseling to rejuvenate and |
| The interactions of Yin (water) and Yang (fire) can | | | | restore balance for optimal health. |