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VICUS.COM (18 July 2000) — This table lists the eight TCM syndromes of stress and their corresponding physiologic processes that guide all diagnoses in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Syndromes of distress: the eight guiding principles in the TCM diagnosis
| Principle |
Physiologic process |
| Cold |
Retarded metabolic activity |
| Heat |
Accelerated metabolic activity |
| Deficiency |
Hypofunction or diminished capacity of any organ or physiological process;
Decreased resistance to stress or infection |
| Excess |
Hyperfunction or obstruction of any organ or physiological process;
Increased reactivity to stress or infection |
| Internal |
Affecting deeper layers of tissue and levels of function of the visceral organs, brain, spinal cord, bones, deep vessels and nerves, middle and inner ears, lining of body cavities and internal reproductive organs |
| External |
Affecting the superficial layers of tissues and levels of function including the skin, hair, nails, peripheral vessels and nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, eyes, external ears, nose, mouth, teeth, breasts, anus and external genital organs |
| Yin |
Cold, deficient and internal syndromes:
This category summarizes the fundamental or composite nature of a disease process that includes cold, deficient and internal syndromes |
| Yang |
Heat, excess and external syndromes:
This category summarizes the fundamental or composite nature of a disease process that includes heat and excess |
John Russo Jr., Pharm.D, is senior vice president of medical communications at Vicus.com. He is a pharmacist and medical writer with more than 20 years of experience in medical education.
Source: Susan Push, R.N., M.P.H., L.Ac., is a specialist in acupuncture and visualization. She maintains the Life Cycles Acupuncture Center in Parkville, Md., and is an education specialist at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, Md. (Table reproduced with permission.) |
