Foundations of Oriental Medicine Flashcards

A patient presents with a chief complaint of seasonal allergies, which worsen in the spring. Symptoms include itchy eyes, irritability, and a wiry pulse. According to Five Element theory, which element is most likely in disharmony?

Answer: Wood

In Five Element theory, the Wood element is associated with the season of spring, the Liver and Gallbladder organs, the eyes, and the emotion of anger or irritability. A wiry pulse is also a classic sign of Liver Qi stagnation, which pertains to the Wood element. The symptoms described align perfectly with a disharmony in the Wood element.

Which of the following is the primary function of Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi)?

Answer: To nourish the internal organs and produce Blood

Ying Qi, or Nutritive Qi, circulates within the blood vessels and meridians. Its principal roles are to provide deep nourishment to the Zang-Fu organs and the entire body, and it is the foundation for the formation of Blood. Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) protects the exterior, Yuan Qi (Original Qi) warms the organs, and the Spleen/Stomach are primarily responsible for transforming Gu Qi (Food Qi).

According to the Six Stage (Shang Han Lun) theory of disease progression, a patient with high fever, profuse sweating, intense thirst, and a flooding pulse is exhibiting a pattern of which stage?

Answer: Yang Ming

The Yang Ming stage is characterized by interior excess heat. The classic signs are known as the 'Four Bigs': big fever, big sweat, big thirst, and a big (flooding) pulse. This indicates the pathogenic factor has penetrated from the exterior (Tai Yang) and transformed into heat in the interior, primarily affecting the Stomach and Large Intestine channels.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Zang organ responsible for storing Blood, ensuring the smooth flow of Qi, and housing the Hun (Ethereal Soul) is the:

Answer: Liver

The Liver is the Zang organ that performs these three key functions. It stores the Blood and releases it as needed for physical activity, ensures the smooth and free flow of Qi throughout the body to prevent stagnation, and it is the residence of the Hun (Ethereal Soul), which is related to planning, vision, and our sense of direction in life.

A practitioner observes that a patient has a pale complexion, fatigue, poor appetite, and a tendency to bruise easily. Which Zang-Fu organ is most likely implicated in this pattern of disharmony?

Answer: Spleen

The Spleen in TCM is responsible for transforming and transporting Gu Qi (Food Qi) and is the source of post-natal Qi and Blood. A deficient Spleen leads to fatigue and poor appetite. Furthermore, the Spleen is responsible for 'holding' the Blood in the vessels; when this function is weak, it can result in easy bruising or other bleeding issues. A pale complexion reflects the resulting Blood deficiency.

Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between the Hun and the Po?

Answer: The Hun is the Ethereal Soul (Yang), ascends, and relates to the Liver, while the Po is the Corporeal Soul (Yin), descends, and relates to the Lungs.

The Hun is the Ethereal Soul, associated with the Liver, the Wood element, and the Yang aspect of consciousness; it is said to ascend to the heavens upon death. The Po is the Corporeal Soul, associated with the Lungs, the Metal element, and the Yin aspect of consciousness that is tied to the physical body and its instincts; it returns to the earth upon death.