Translated from the original blog post at http://www.LiYeSen.com
We had heard about this word “Renown doctor” or “Famous doctor” “名医” MingYi for many times. But, I wonder… have you ever heard of this word “Understandable doctor” “明医” MingYi? For both words in Chinese pronunciations are the same, pronounce as “MingYi“, but having totally different meanings.
“名” Ming that is fame, renown;
“明” Ming that is understand, clear, understandable, define.
In short, “Renown doctor” “名医” MingYi refers to famous and renown doctor; while “Understandable doctor” “明医” MingYi refers to understanding and understandable doctor.
According to ancient book records…
‘Marquis Wen of Wei’ (魏文侯) WeiWen Hou or also known as ‘King Wen of Wei’ (魏文王) WeiWen Wang (r. 403 BC-387 BC or 445 BC － 396 BC) was the leader of the Chinese state of Wei 魏 in the Warring States period 战国时期 to carry out extensive government reforms.
Bian Que
‘Marquis Wen of Wei’, had asked the renowned doctor, Bian Que 扁鹊, “The three brothers of you in your family are skilled in medicine. Among three you, who has the best medical skills?” Bian Que answered sincerely that his eldest brother is the best then follow by his second brother. While he himself is the worst among three of them.
‘Marquis Wen of Wei’ didn’t understand why Bian Que said so, as he was very famous and well-known. He asked Bian Que again,”Can you explain and elaborate more in details?”
Bian Que explained, “my eldest brother give medical treatment to patients before the outburst of illness. At that time, the patients themselves didn’t even notice that they were sick. However, his prescription not only cure the sickness but also eradicate the root cause of the sickness. The patients didn’t even notice the changes. It is difficult for people to recognize his medical skills. Thus, my eldest brother is not well-known, and he is highly praised and respected in our family.”
“As for my second brother, his way of giving medical treatment is at the beginning of the sickness, where the symptoms are not that obvious. The patients didn’t feel the pain, but easily get rid of the sickness after having the prescriptions from my second brother. This causes the patients and the people at the village, think that my second brother is only good at treating minor and small sickness.”
“As for myself, when I give medical treatment to patients is when their sicknesses are very serious that they are very painful. The family members of the patients are in panic and frantic. At this point, they saw me doing treatment such as putting needles, letting blood, putting poison drugs, doing operation… These help the patients to relieve pain and illness, or even cure and recover very fast. And this is how I am famous to the world.”
‘Marquis Wen of Wei’ understood.
It is clear that, the level of the doctor and his reputation is not in correspondence. Just look at Bian Que, a doctor with great medical skill and good reputation. But… now a day how many “renowned doctors” are unworthy of the name? From the above records, it is clear that the three brothers of Bian Que are “Understandable doctors”. Their eldest brother had the greatest medical skill, followed by his second brother. While Bian Que is the last. But, among three of them, the really renowned doctor is only Bian Que. Thus, understandable doctor may not be renowned and well-known, and renowned doctor may not be an understandable doctor as well.
So, how to consider as “understandable doctor”?
To be an understandable doctor, he must possess many criteria. From the point of Traditional Chinese Medicine, human corresponds with the nature. Just as stated in The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon 《黄帝内经 素问 – 离合真邪论》<>, “Sky has degrees; earth has rivers; human has meridians”. Saying that as a Chinese Medical doctor or Traditional Chinese Medical practitioner, it is necessary to know about astronomy, geography, things related to human. In other words, it means that as a qualified Chinese Medicine doctor, it is not just only to understand the disease itself. But also understanding and mastering of the natural environment, weather, the human’s mental factors, and the interpersonal relation impacts on the disease. At the same time, it is necessary of making the right judgement on the occurrence and development of the disease; the diagnosis of the disease; the treatment of the disease and the prevention for this disease.
Being a doctor, to be a “Understandable doctor” is my target, my goal. It is also a self demand.
It’s been six days since I’ve had an acupuncture appointment. Look at the difference it has made on the hands of my skin. Compare these pictures to last week’s images.
In addition to weekly acupuncture sessions, I also started a new Chinese herb to help me with my spleen chi. I am doing more research on this herb and will write more about it as I learn more.
I know that to the average person, my hands don’t look normal. But this actually looks great compared to what they looked like last week. And my hands feel great, too. Easy to grasp things again, easy to steer the wheel in the car, easy to open a bottle.
No more tiny blisters (really, that is so gross). No more weeping skin. No more open wounds and dry cracked skin.
My hands feel normal again! Nipped it in the bud this time.
Happy Monday! I can’t believe the weekend is already over and it’s Monday once again. I also can’t believe this is my 10th blog post! I feel like I’ve found myself here and I hope others have found something worthwhile as well.
Well we made it down to my folks’ house yesterday, kitten and all. Mi.Vida is staying up at the apartment tonight as he has a late meeting with the folks involved in his music blog/website. He’s not sure if he’ll make it down tomorrow or not, as he has yet another meeting with the same people on Monday night. I do know that I’m going to miss him dreadfully until he returns.
Squeaks, as I call our kitten in this blog, is doing well in the new house. She is a bit skittish and all over the place but she seems to be coping fine. She slept next to me while I attempted to start my grad school work. Unfortunately I was not very successful. She slept okay last night, and I hope she doesn’t destroy anything while she’s here. She not generally a scratcher or a chewer but she is not generally in unknown houses either. We shall see what happens. All I know is everything at my parents’ house is considerably more expensive than at our dinky little apartment. I hope we’re not writing them any exorbitant checks at the end of our stay.
I am saving a little money this week though. First of all, on Friday I canceled acupuncture because I hate going when I’m actually having my period as it feels like kind of a waste. So I saved on the cost of the appointment and on the herbs, which I’m not going to miss out on because I have small amounts left from past months that I can take until next week. I also had to cancel therapy this Wednesday because I’ll be down in Redwood City and I’m not going to drive all the way to San Francisco in rush hour (both ways) for one appointment. I’ll just have to post an extra blog entry to get me through. Now don’t get me wrong – both acupuncture and therapy are very beneficial, but not going every once in a while is like a breath of fresh air on the financial front. It also saves me quite a bit of extra time. So I’m pleased that this week I’ll have more money in the bank and more time to get things done.
The time component is especially important since I did not get much done on the grad school paper front last night. It wasn’t for lack of trying, but I just couldn’t come up with an idea. I have to write a lesson plan and I just couldn’t think of an activity to base it on. I hope I can find some inspiration at school tomorrow because I have to get on that ASAP! Oh grad school, why are you so relentless?
On a TTCing note, I did not take my temperature the last three days because I was having my period and it was the weekend and I was not about to wake up at 5:45am under those circumstances. I realized when I got down here that I forgot my thermometer and decided I was not going to go out and get a new one so I also did not temp today. That is a huge release of control for me, I don’t think I haven’t temped for three straight days since I started TTC. But the reality is, my CD2-4 temps don’t mean that much and the world will keep turning even without three dots on my BBT chart. I’ll get a new thermometer today and start temping tomorrow and all will be right in the world (as least as right as it would have been) and I’ll still be TTC, despite my delinquency. It feels good to accept this and move on. It is nice to know I can relinquish control every once in a while. In the meantime I’ll focus on work and grad school and Squeaks and being back at the rent’s place for the first time in a long time. And all the while I’ll be day dreaming of gleaming bathtubs and unstained linoleum floors.
I had mentioned in my earliest post on ‘Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine – Part 2‘, explaining about ‘The Unity of Human and Nature’. This is another important concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine. While Solar Terms Moxibustion 节气灸 (JieQi Jiu), is a great model of explaining and carrying out this concept.
(1) The Meaning of Solar Terms 节气 (JieQi)
Solar Terms 节气 (JieQi), is one part of the Chinese Calendar. There are 24 Solar Terms in one year, with 2 Solar Terms at each month. The first Solar Term in the month is named as ‘Major Solar Term’ 节气 (JieQi), while the second one is named as ‘Minor Solar Term’ 中气 (ZhongQi). Both are now collectively referred to as Solar Terms.
For example, in the first month of Chinese Calendar, there are 2 Solar Terms, the ‘Start of Spring’ 立春 (LiChun) and ‘Rain Water’ 雨水 (YuShui). ‘Start of Spring’ is the Major Solar Term, while ‘Rain Water’ is the Minor Solar Term.
(2) The History of Solar Terms
Based on the period of revolution for sun, moon and earth; human (especially the Chinese) had established the year, the month, the day and a seasonal law (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) that complies with nature and four seasons. Thus, it then later formed the calendar.
In the world, China is one of the earliest country that invented the calendar. One of the traditional chinese calendar is the Chinese Agricultural Calendar 农历 (NongLi). It is also known as the Chinese Lunar Calendar 阴历 (YinLi).
For the Chinese Agricultural Calendar, it is an integrated lunisolar calendar or integrated lunar-solar calendar 阴阳历 (YinYang Li) that incorporates both elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar 阳历 (YangLi). This means that it embraces both the movement of the moon as well as that of the Sun. In Chinese Agricultural Calendar system, it takes into consideration of the moon orbiting the earth for one cycle, known as one ’synodic month’; and the characteristics of seasons changes represented by the 24 Solar Terms.
The Lunar Orbit
The 24 Solar terms are compartmentalized according to the position of the Sun in the ecliptic 黄道 HuangDao (i.e. the orbit of Earth around the Sun). Starting from the first point, ‘vernal equinox’ 春分 (ChunFen) (i.e. ecliptic longtitude at 0°, the Sun irradiate vertically at the equator 赤道 ZhiDao), every movement of 15° is considered as one Solar Term. When orbits one cycle, returning back to ‘vernal equinox’ point, it is known as the ‘Tropical Year’ 回归年 (HuiGui Nian), with total of 360°. Thus, it is divided into 24 Solar Terms within 360°, with 15° difference.
(3) The Compartmentalization of 24 Solar Terms
There are 24 Solar Terms in one year, with 6 Solar Terms in one season. Each synodic month has 2 Solar Terms, i.e. the Major Solar Term, and the Minor Solar Term. The date of each individual Solar Term found on the solar calendar is relatively fixed. For the early of the half year (January till June), the Major Solar Term falls on 5th of each month, and the Minor Solar Term falls on the 21st of each month. As for later of the half year (July till December), the Major Solar Term falls on 8th of each month, and the Minor Solar Term falls on the 23rd of each month. The difference between the date for Major Solar Term falling on early of the half year and on later of the half year, is just 1~ 2 days.
The naming of each Solar Term is also very intersting. There are 4 seasons in a year. Thus, having the 4 different Solar Terms, showing the beginning of each season. They are the ‘Four Starts’ 四立 (ShiLi)- ‘Start of Spring’ 立春 (LiChun), ‘Start of Summer’ 立夏 (LiXia), ‘Start of Autumn’立秋 (LiQiu), and ‘Start of Winter’ 立冬 (LiDong).
There are 2 solstices for both the summer and winter, ‘Summer Solstice’ 夏至 (XiaZhi) and ‘Winter Solstice’ 冬至 (DongZhi). From astronomical view, solstice means the extremes of both summer and winter. On ‘Summer Solstice’, this day, there is direct splar radiation at the Tropic of Cancer 北回归线. It is the longest day time in a year for the northern hemisphere. Although it’s a day with longest day time, highest Sun elevation angle, it is still not the hotest day of the year. While on this day, ‘Winter Solstice’, the direct splar radiation at the Tropic of Carpricorn 南回归线. It is a day with the shortest day time in a year for the nothern hemisphrere, but it might not be the coolest day of a year.
The ‘Vernal Equinox’ 春分 (ChunFen) and ‘Atumnal Equinox’ 秋分 (QiuFen) are collectively known as ‘Two Equinox’ 二分, having the meaning of equal length of day and night. While other Solar Terms that show the changes in temperature are: ‘Minor Heat’ 小暑 (XiaoShu), ‘Major Heat’ 大暑 (DaShu), ‘Limit of Heat’ 处暑 (ChuShu), ‘Minor Cold’ 小寒 (XiaoHan), and ‘Major Cold’ 大寒 (DaHan) 5 Solar Terms. There are 7 Solar Terms that reflect the weather phenomena: ‘Rain Water’ 雨水 (YuShui), ‘Grain Rain’ 谷雨 (GuYu), ‘White Dew’ 白露 (BaiLu), ‘Cold Dew’ 寒露 (HanLu), ‘Frost Descent’ 霜降 (ShuangJiang), ‘Minor Snow’ 小雪 (XiaoXue), and ‘Major Snow’ 大雪 (DaXue). The 4 Solar Terms that reflect the phenological phenomena: ‘Awakening of Insect’ 惊蛰 (JingZhe), ‘Clear and Bright’ 清明 (QingMing), ‘Grain Full’ 小满 (XiaoMan), and ‘Grain in Ear’ 芒种 (MangZhong).
The sequence of 24 Solar Terms following the 4 seasons are: Start of Spring, Rain Water, Awakening of Insect, Vernal Equinox, Clear and Bright, Grain Rain; Starting of Summer, Grain Full, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Minor Heat, Major Heat; Start of Autumn, Limit of Heat, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost Descent; Start of Winter, Minor Snow, Major Snow, Winter Solstice, Minor Cold, and Major Cold. This is can be easily remember with the help of a poem:
The 24 solar terms and the 12 zodiac constellations.
(4) The Effect of Solar Terms on Human Body
These Solar Terms are established from the orbits law of the Sun, the Earth, andthe Moon. It is the important symbol of the seasonal changes. The spacial position of the Sun, the Earth, the Moon, and other celestial bodies are always in an irregular, continous changes. At the same time, this also cause the energy of the universe to change continuously. While this kind of changes is very obvious volatile before and after of a soler term. According to the concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine – “The Unity of Human and Nature”, any changes of the “Nature ” will inevitably affect the human body. And, Solar Terms affected human body from two aspects.
1. The climate changes are relatively large during the period before and after a solar term.
Because of changes, a person with a old wound or suffering from chronis illness, his ability to adapt and his body resistibility become weak. This person always has a tendency to get sick or worsen of his illness. According to some medical statistics, heart disease, stroke, asthma and other diseases happened at the time before and after a solar term, and during midnight. Human get sick when his body’s strain ability cannot afford the external climatic changes. This is as mentioned in The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon 《黄帝内经》<>, “When pathogenic evils arise, the human’s vital energy, Qi is weaken”
2. The universe’s energy or cosmic’s energy changes are relatively large during the period before and after a solar term.
If at this time, we use some special methods to intervene, transforming the universe energy into our own use. It would have a multiplier role. Solar Terms Moxibustion is a great model that carries out the concept of succesfully transforming the universe energy into own use, under the guidance of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s theory.
When treating a disease using Solar Terms Moxibustion, we can achieve the best result, at the same time increase our body’s immunity and body’s resisting power to diseases. Thus, when there are changes in external environment, weather, climate and others factors, human will not easily fall sick. This has tally with the statement in The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon 《黄帝内经》<>, “Keeping the vital energy, Qi in body, exogenous pathogens can’t invade our body”.
(5) The Effect of Solar Terms on Different Regions
Solar Terms is one of the elements of Chinese Agricultural Calendar. It was originated from more than 2000 years ago, China’s central region. Thus, it can accurately reflects the climatic changes and the weather changes of this region. But it doesn’t means that the effect and the usage are just only for China’s central region or even China. The effects of universe energy’s changes is at every corner on the Earth, no matter it’s south hemisphere, north hemisphare, east hemisphare or even west hemisphere. This is because solar terms are arised from the regular orbits patterns of the Sun, the Earth, the Moon, and other celestial bodies.
(6) Moxibustion, Solar Terms Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a method that put the burning moxa on the skin accordingly based on different acupoints. It is a method of disease prevention and treatment, by utilizing the heat for stimulation and moxa herbs for the function of warming meridians, dispelling cold, and relieving pain.
I was putting a moxa stick according to a patient's acupoint.
Moxibustion, its Chinese name – 灸法, having the word “Jiu” “灸”, was explained in the book ‘Word and Expression’ 《说文解字》<> as “Burn”. It has the meaning of “burning” the body as to cure diseases. Among all the famous monograph on Traditional Chinese Medicine, moxibustion was found at the earliest in the book HuangDi NeiJing 《黄帝内经》. Moxibustion is not only good and effective for Asthenia syndromes and cold diseases. At the same time, moxibustion is also a good way of health care. There are few different ways of moxibustion, such as moxibustion with moxa cone, moxibustion with moxa stick, moxibustion with warming needle, moxibustion with medicines or herbs, solar term moxibustion and others. When different ways of moxibustion are applied based on different condition of sickness, it usually gets miraculous effects.
Solar Terms Moxibustion on a child.
Solar Terms Moxibustion is a special moxibustion method. It utilizes the specific Solar Term, to have moxibustion on different acupoints according to different body conditions, under the guidance of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s theory.
(7) The Role of Solar Terms Moxibustion
Solar Terms Moxibustion utilizes the heat stimulation from the of burning Moxa, and the Moxa herb itself to warm the channels and meridians. This is to strenghten thestimulate the vital energy, Qi of the channels; regulating the body potentials energy; transforming the universe energy for body own use; establishing a relation between the human’s balance system and the natural’s system. All these lead to curing of diseases and improving the body’s resistance to disease and adaptability.
(8) The Clinical Usage of Solar Terms Moxibustion
The usage for Solar Terms Moxibustion is very wide. It can be used in treatment for various sicknesses and diseases, particularly in the treatment of chronic diseases. This is also a natural cum highly effective way of health care.
Solar Terms Moxibustion is commonly used in the treatment for the following diseases…
Internal Diseases (surgical diseases): treat and prevent stroke, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, asthma, stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, hiccup; diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, hyperthyroidism, impotence, chronic nephritis.
External Diseases (clinical diseases): Cervical spondylosis, acute and chronic lumbar sprain, all kinds of arthritis, urticaria.
