Back to search result Search again Previous Next ↑

The direction of medicinal action, including upbearing, downbearing, floating, and sinking.

• Upbearing means ascending to the upper body; downbearing means descending to the lower body.
• Floating means effusing and dispersing; sinking means draining and disinhibiting.

Upbearing and floating medicinals (upfloaters) move upward and outward, and have actions such as upbearing yáng, effusing the exterior, and dispersing cold. Downbearing and sinking medicinals (downsinkers) move downward and inward, have actions such as subduing yáng, downbearing counterflow, astriction, clearing heat, percolating dampness, and draining.

Most yáng medicinals, which are warm or hot in nature and sweet and acrid in flavor, such as ephedra (Ephedrae Herba, 麻黄 má huáng), cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 桂枝 guì zhī), and astragalus (Astragali Radix, 黄芪 huáng qí), are upfloaters. Most yīn medicinals, which are cold in nature and bitter or sour in nature, such as rhubarb (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 大黄 dà huáng), mirabilite (Natrii Sulfas, 芒硝 máng xiāo), and phellodendron (Phellodendri Cortex, 黄柏 huáng bǎi), are downsinkers.

Generally, flowers and leaves and other light medicinals such as asarum (Asari Rhizoma et Radix, 细辛 xì xīn), mint (Menthae Herba, 薄荷 bò hé), and cimicifuga (Cimicifugae Rhizoma, 升麻 shēng má), are upfloaters—inula flower (Inulae Flos, 旋覆花 xuán fù huā) being an exception, whereas seeds, fruits, and heavy items, such as white perilla seed (Perillae Albae Semen, 白苏子 bái sū zǐ), unripe bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, 枳实 zhǐ shí), and glauberite (Gypsum seu Calcitum, 寒水石 hán shuǐ shí), are downsinkers—vitex (Viticis Fructus, 蔓荆子 màn jīng zǐ) being an exception.

Bearing can be imparted to other medicinals. Stir-frying with wine causes medicinals to bear upward; stir-frying with bran causes medicinals to downbear; stir-frying with ginger causes medicinals to disperse; and stir-frying with vinegar causes medicinals to astringe.

Etymology

Chinese: 升 shēng, rise or cause to rise; 浮 fú, float (to the body ' s surface); 沉 chén, sink, heavy; 降 jiàng, fall or cause to fall.

Back to search result Search again Previous Next