Glossary
Last revised:
- TCM
- Traditional Chinese Medicine – a system of health concepts developed over more than 2,000 years, including diet, movement, acupuncture and herbal approaches.
- Qi (chee)
- Vital energy; the driving force behind movement, warmth, digestion and defence of the body.
- Yin
- The cooling, moistening, calming and nourishing aspect of the body.
- Yang
- The warming, active and moving aspect of the body.
- Blood (Xue)
- In TCM, a nourishing substance that moistens tissues and supports sleep and mental calm. Not identical to blood in Western medicine.
- Deficiency
- A substance or function (Qi, Yang, Yin, Blood) that is weaker than it should be.
- Dampness
- A heavy, sticky accumulation of fluids that the body did not transform well.
- Phlegm
- A thicker, denser form of dampness, linked with mucus and a foggy head.
- Heat
- An overactive, warming tendency; may appear with or without a real fever.
- Stagnation
- Qi or Blood that does not flow freely, often linked with stress, tension and pain.
- Spleen (Pi)
- In TCM, the organ system for digestion and for producing Qi and Blood. Not identical to the anatomical spleen.
- Liver (Gan)
- In TCM, the organ system that keeps Qi flowing smoothly and is linked with mood and tension.
- Tongue diagnosis
- Observing the tongue's colour, coating, moisture and shape as one source of information about the body.
- Pattern
- A group of signs seen together. TCM works with patterns rather than single symptoms.