Lecture 1-2- Examining the Tongue and 5 elements with corresponding organs

Question 1

used to explain the properties of the organs, their mutual relationship and pathological changes

Answer 1

5 elements

Question 2

moistens, fluid and moveable, downward movement

Answer 2

water element

Question 3

flares upward, combustible and warming, upwards movement

Answer 3

fire element

Question 4

can be bent and straightened, workable and solid, expansion movement

Answer 4

wood element

Question 5

moulded and harden, solid and moldable, contraction movement

Answer 5

metal element

Question 6

sowing, growing, reaping, nutrition, grounding and centre of stability movement

Answer 6

earth element

Question 7

controlling cycle

Answer 7

controlled by another element to maintain order and balance

Question 8

when the controller is in excess relative to the controlled

Answer 8

pathology will exist in the controlled

Question 9

when the controller is in deficiency relative to the controlled

Answer 9

pathology will exist in the controller

Question 10

insulting cycle

Answer 10

controller is relatively weaker than the controlled, reverse of the controlling cycle, backlashes the controller

Question 11

5 element seasons

Answer 11

fire= summer
metal= fall
water=winter
wood=spring
earth= late summer, 18 day transitions

Question 12

when does pathology occur within the 5 element cycle

Answer 12

1. not nourishing child element of the generating cycle
2. insulting cycle occurs on the controlling/ commanding cycle

Question 13

in a 5 element generating cycle, how does pathology occur if there’s an EXCESS

Answer 13

1. draws from mother element- excessively
2. commanding/controlling cycle overly stimulated- excess Sx increase

Question 14

organs: heart & small intestine, pericardium, san Jiao
emotion: joy & anxiety
sense: speech and taste
taste: bitter
season: summer

Answer 14

fire element

Question 15

organ: lung and large intestine
secretion: mucuous
emotions: sadness & grief
sense: smell
taste: pungent
season: autumn

Answer 15

metal element

Question 16

organs: spleen & stomach
secretion: saliva
emotions: pensiveness (daydreaming), overthinking
flavour: sweet
sense: taste
season: late summer, 18 days transition
climate: moist & thunderous

Answer 16

earth element

Question 17

organ: kidney & urinary bladder
secretion: urine
emotions: fear & shock
flavour: salty
sense: hearing
season: winter

Answer 17

water element

Question 18

organs: liver & gallbladder
secretion: tears
emotions: anger & jealousy
flavour: sour
sense: vision
season: spring

Answer 18

wood element

Question 19

what to look for when examining the tongue

Answer 19

Body colour
body shape
tongue coating
tongue moisture
spirit/shen

Question 20

what does the tongue colour reflect (YBN)

Answer 20

Yin organs
blood
nutritive Qi (Ying Qi) and body’s true condition

Question 21

characteristics to look for tongue shape include

Answer 21

thin, swollen, long, short, texture, mobility,

Question 22

what to look at for tongue coating

Answer 22

fur/ moss
tips of papillae
physiological by-product of stomach digestion

Question 23

what does tongue moisture indicate

Answer 23

body’s fluids, could be dry, moist, or wet

Question 24

what does the normal tongue entail

Answer 24

colour: pale, red and fresh looking
shape: not too flabby/ stiff, not cracked, doesn’t tremble or quiver
coating: thin & white
moisture: slightly moist
spirit: shen: radiant

Question 25

factors of pulse diagnosis

Answer 25

Qi blood Yin and Yang state of harmony/balance

Question 26

feel the pulse not the rate, feel the amplitude, length, how close to the surface etc

Answer 26

pulse diagnosis

Question 27

what are you looking for when taking the pulse: RFSL (Ryan fully stops loitering)

Answer 27

rate (how fast/slow) strength (strong/ weak) fullness (thick/ thin) location

Question 28

what element ha bitter taste, tissues in the vessels and senses in the tongue

Answer 28

fire element

Question 29

what element has sweet taste, muscle tissues and senses in the mouth/lips

Answer 29

earth

Question 30

what element has pungent taste, skin tissues, and senses in the nose

Answer 30

metal

Question 31

what element has salty taste, bone tissues, senses in the ears

Answer 31

water

Question 32

what element has sour taste, sinews tissues and senses in the eyes

Answer 32

wood

Question 33

the body colour of the tongue indicates

Answer 33

blood, Qi and Yin conditions

Question 34

body state of tongue represents which parts of the vital substances

Answer 34

blood & nutritive qi (yin qi)

Question 35

the coating of the tongue represents

Answer 35

pathogens, and state of yang organs