A brief look at the term irritability / vexation(烦 fan) through the lens of the Discussion of Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun) by: Jason Blalack In Chinese medicine, our understanding of technical terms shapes our clinical picture and ultimately how we treat. One such term that recently peaked my interest was the term 烦 (fan), translated as vexation (Wiseman) or irritability (Eastland Press). These translations seem reasonable since modern dictionaries define it as: 1. vexed, irritated; annoyed, terribly upset, worried
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Update: As a few people informed me, there was some problems with the twitter & RSS feed notification system, however I think it has been resolved. Furthermore, while finishing up the final stages of my book I have had little time to post, so for those that actually may have checked the website recently, I apologize for the lack of activity. However, at the moment I have more time and will resume posting. Please let me know if there is
Continue readingA restructuring of Warm Disease names (QBW)
By: Qin Bo-Wei
By: Qin Bo-Wei Translated By: Jason Blalack The names in the warm disease current are extremely complicated. Besides the name, warm disease itself, there is wind-warmth, spring-warmth, summerheat-warmth, autumn-warmth, winter-warmth, damp-warmth, warm-epidemic, warm-toxin, warm-malaria, as well as lurking summerheat, autumn-dryness etc. All of these are within the scope of warm disease. I think that these should be restructured with some added explanation. Only after we rectify these terms will we be able to perform some judicious pruning. Spring-warmth: Warmth is
Continue readingLurking Pathogens (Qin Bo-Wei)
This essay on lurking pathogens (also referred to as lingering, hidden, deep-lying, or latent pathogens) is particularly relevant in today’s era, where we have students and practitioners using the term to describe all sorts of chronic disorders. Qin suggests that the utility of the term may be questionable. Although Qin emphasises the lurking pathogen theory that came out of the warm disease tradition, his historical analysis and questioning can be applied to the general use of the term today. It should first be pointed out that Qin is known as one of the greatest synthesisers of Chinese medicine. He was renowned for his deep classical study and his ability to take an immense amount information and extract the commonalities. Qin made great efforts to systematically integrate ideas of the past. These essays come from this perspective.
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