Root and tip

Primary and secondary aspects of disease. The word root is used in opposition to tip, the two terms being of varying significance according to context. Root refers to

1. the essential nature of the disease, when the tip is the signs;
2. the cause of disease, when the tip is clinically observable changes in the body;
3. right qì, when the tip is the evil; or
4. the primary condition, when the tip is the resulting secondary condition.

Etymology

Chin 标 biāo, tip, topmost branch, a mark, beacon, signal, streamer; 本 běn root, source, stem.