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Greater yīn (tài yīn) disease pattern
太阴病证 〔太陰病證〕tài yīn bīng zhèng
Any pattern of greater yīn (tài yīn) disease, chiefly characterized by abdominal fullness with periodic pain; diarrhea.
Description: Abdominal fullness with periodic abdominal pain that is relieved by warmth and pressure; poor appetite; vomiting and retching; diarrhea; absence of thirst; lack of warmth in the extremities; a pale tongue with a tongue fur that is white, and either glossy or slimy.
Pathogenesis: Spleen yáng vacuity in cold damage causing cold-damp to arise internally.
Greater yīn (tài yīn) disease patterns are essentially ones of spleen yáng devitalization with cold-damp collecting internally. The greater yīn (tài yīn) is associated with dampness. It is what is called the [protective] screen of the three yīn (channels)
(三阴之屏障 sān yīn zhī píng zhàng) because it is their first line of defense. When disease enters the three yīn channels, it usually enters the greater yīn (tài yīn) first. Hence, greater yīn (tài yīn) disease is the initial stage of three-yīn disease.
Greater yīn (tài yīn) disease arises either when, owing inappropriate treatment or failure to provide appropriate treatment, disease of the three yáng channels damages spleen yáng or when a person with habitual spleen yáng vacuity suffers a direct strike by cold evil on the greater yīn (tài yīn).
Greater yīn (tài yīn) resides with yáng brightness (yáng míng) in the center burner. They stand in exterior-interior relationship with each other. Under certain conditions, greater yīn (tài yīn) disease can convert into yáng brightness (yáng míng) disease and vice versa. For example, when in yáng brightness (yáng míng) disease excessive heat-clearing or draining-precipitation (purgation) treatment damages spleen yáng, the yáng brightness (yáng míng) disease pattern can give way to greater yīn (tài yīn) disease. When, in greater yīn (tài yīn) disease, warm and dry medicinals have been given in excess or when cold-damp has lain depressed and transformed into heat, a yáng brightness (yáng míng) pattern can arise. Hence it is said, repletion is yáng brightness (yáng míng); vacuity is greater yīn (tài yīn).
Analysis of signs
- Vacuity cold: Abdominal pain that likes warmth and pressure, bland taste in the mouth, a pale tongue with white fur, and a moderate and weak pulse.
- Cold-damp and impaired movement and transformation: Poor appetite, abdominal fullness, periodic pain, and diarrhea are attributable to spleen yáng vacuity with cold-damp collecting internally, hampering movement and transformation and obstructing the qì dynamic.
- Stomach qì ascending counterflow: Retching and vomiting are attributable to stomach qì ascending counterflow, which is a further development of the qì stagnation.
- Pulse: Moderate or weak, reflecting vacuity cold.
Treatment
Medicinal therapy: Warm the center and disperse cold with lǐ zhōng wán (理中丸 Center-Rectifying Pill). For pronounced cold, use fù zǐ lǐ zhōng tāng (附子理中汤 Aconite Center-Rectifying Pill).
Acumoxatherapy: For vacuity cold,