TCM Foundations – Eight Principles & Mechanisms of Disease Onset

Twenty question-and-answer flashcards covering the Eight Principles, pain qualities, Wei Qi, spiritual aspects, and the various mechanisms of disease onset presented during the lecture.

What four paired categories make up the Eight Principles used for basic syndrome differentiation in TCM?

Exterior vs. Interior, Cold vs. Hot, Excess vs. Deficiency, Yang vs. Yin.

Which cardinal symptom combination signals an exterior pathogenic invasion in TCM?

Simultaneous chills and fever.

If a patient reports no chills or fever and feels slightly cold, which Eight-Principle position is most likely?

Interior Cold, usually related to Yang deficiency.

In TCM pain analysis, what does sharp, fixed, stabbing pain usually indicate?

Blood stasis or another Excess-type disorder.

What does dull, lingering pain that improves with warmth or pressure typically signify?

Deficiency pain, often from Qi or Blood deficiency.

Which two sub-types of exterior Wind-Cold are distinguished by the presence or absence of sweating?

Cold attack (no sweating, excess) vs. Wind attack (slight sweating, deficiency).

What is the function of Wei Qi under the skin and how does its deficiency manifest?

Wei Qi opens and closes skin pores to protect the body; deficiency causes spontaneous daytime sweating and easy invasion by Wind.

In the Eight Principles, what does the Yang vs. Yin category describe?

The overall energetic nature of a pattern (active/warm vs. passive/cool), not simply Yang- or Yin-deficiency.

Which zang-fu organ’s dysfunction is most often associated with loose stools and poor appetite?

Spleen Qi deficiency.

Complete the maxim: "Qi is the commander of Blood, and Blood is the ____ of Qi."

Mother.

Name the five spiritual aspects linked to the zang organs (Shen, Hun, Po, Yi, Zhi) and one keyword for each.

Shen-Heart-mind, Hun-Liver-planning/dreams, Po-Lung-instinct, Yi-Spleen-thought, Zhi-Kidney-willpower.

What are the seven main patterns of disease onset discussed in class?

Immediate (acute), Chronic, Latent, Secondary, Combination, Overlapping, and Recurrent onset.

Which onset type involves a hidden pathogen that re-emerges during stress or weakness months after the initial illness?

Latent onset.

Give one classic symptom picture of Immediate/Acute Wind-Cold invasion with intact Wei Qi.

Abrupt chills and fever, body aches, no sweating, floating-tight pulse.

What lifestyle factors were highlighted as common internal causes of chronic Spleen Qi deficiency?

Poor diet, over-thinking/stress, overwork, and lack of rest.

Which two environmental factors are always combined in classical "Summer-Heat Dampness" syndromes?

Heat and Dampness.

How does strong Zheng Qi influence the severity of disease when confronted with pathogenic Xie Qi?

Strong Zheng Qi weakens or prevents disease manifestation; weak Zheng Qi allows severe or prolonged illness.

What external pathogenic factor is characterized by congealing and closing the pores, thus blocking sweating?

Cold.

Explain the difference between Secondary and Recurrent onset patterns.

Secondary onset is a new disorder arising from an unresolved first illness (e.g., Spleen deficiency → Heart Blood deficiency), whereas Recurrent onset is periodic relapse of the same disease whenever triggers reappear (e.g., seasonal asthma).

During patient intake, why is it crucial to ask what relieves or aggravates a pain?

Because response to pressure, warmth, or cold helps differentiate Excess vs. Deficiency and Cold vs. Heat, guiding point selection and herbal strategy.