THE EIGHT ENTITIES

YIN AND YANG ENTITIES

Yin and Yang are the basis for every comparison. Everything in the universe is either Yin or Yang. The other Entities are more like subcategories of Yin and Yang. For example, Cold is Yin and Hot is Yang. Deficient would be Yin and Excess would be Yang. Internal is Yin and External is Yang. When speaking of the Yin or Yang Entities, one is referring to the general condition of the Yin or Yang energies in the body, the other Entities refer to more specific characteristics.

 

COLD AND HOT ENTITIES

- do not refer directly to a person's temperature. They refer more to an individual's constitution. A person with a "cold" constitution would be generally suffering from fatigue, lack of energy and have a suppressed immune system. A person with a "hot" constitution would tend to be nervous, have a "fiery" temper, and be a typical "A" type personality.

Chinese herbs are classified by five "atmospheric energies" or healing actions. These are: cold, cool, mild (neutral), warm and hot. Remembering that the goal of Taoism is to obtain balance, Chinese herbalists would use cool and cold herbs to "sedate fire" or "cool the blood" and to detoxify. In other words, a person with a lot of anger, nervous energy or suffering from a mild fever would take cool or cold herbs and would avoid warming herbs. The same principle would be applied to a person lacking energy or depressed either physically or mentally. In this case, warming herbs would be recommended

 

DEFICIENCY AND EXCESS ENTITIES

- Deficient constitutions lack energy - they might appear weak, sluggish, their eyes will be dim, their sex drive low and their memory weak. An Excess Entity signifies too much energy. You might say, "you can never have too much energy." This would be correct as long as the energy is allowed to flow freely through the body. If the flow of energy is impeded, a blockage can occur which eventually leads to a gradually worsening condition in whatever site the blockage resides. Symptoms of Excess energy may be muscle tension, hyperactivity, sexual "overdrive", and aggressive tendencies. Generally, "Cold" constitutions will also be "Deficient" and "Hot" constitutions will have "Excess."

 

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ENTITIES

- Internal Entities refer to the internal organs, blood and other humors. External refers to the surface of the body - muscles, hair, skin and nails. Not only do Chinese herbs have warming and cooling properties, but they are said to display movement. Some herbs "float," their influence would be mainly on the surface of the body. Herbs that "sink" have their greatest effect on the Internal Entities. Herbs that move "upwards" generally affect the upper parts of the body starting from the chest to the head. Herbs that move downwards influence the lower portions of the body from the abdomen to the legs.

References:

Reid, Daniel J., Chinese Herbal Medicine (Boston, Massachusetts; Shambhala Publications, Inc., 1993)

Teeguarden, Ron, Chinese Tonic Herbs (Japan Publications, Inc., 1992)

Kaptchuk, Ted, J., The Web Has No Weaver - Understanding Chinese Medicine (Chicago, Illinois; Congdon & Weed, Inc., 1983)

Beinfeld, Harriet and Korngold, Efrem, Between Heaven and Earth, A Guide to Chinese Medicine (New York, New York; Ballantine Books, 1991)

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