The Hypothesis And Research On Related Issues Of "Qi Is Divided Into Three" About Generalized Visceral-Qi

PurposeThis research tried to replace the theory of “Yin and Yang Qi”,which isbased on the thought of “One divides into two”, by using the thought of “Onedivides into three” to build the “Qi is divided into three” hypothesis ofgeneralized “Visceral-Qi”. For one thing, hoping to get the purpose that thetheory of “Yin and Yang Qi” correct the previous confusion; for another,expecting to reclaim the new confusion that the theory of “Yin and Yang Qi”brings. Thereby, to realize the self-consistency of the theory and theprovability of clinical practice.MethodThis research includes following five parts.First part: The definition and research on the logic relationship of“Essence”,“Qi”,“Blood”,“Yin”,“Yang”,“Body fluid”. By reviewing thereferences and combining the clinical practice, maintained that the “qi” is thesame as the “essence”,“blood” and “body fluid”, which belong to the nutrientsubstance that constitute the human body and maintain life activities of humanbeings. The theory of “function”;“for material or function”;“both materialand function”;“material function signs”;“vigorous qi is the function, qi and blood is the material”;“the manifestation of the material motion” of qi, all ofthese are not desirable. The “Heart Yin”;“Heart Yang”, and “Visceral Yin”;“Visceral Yang” of material aspects, should belong to the category of thegeneralized “Visceral-Qi”.“Visceral Yin”,“Visceral Yang” and “Visceral-Qi”,which belong to the narrow sense, all of these formed the generalized“Visceral-Qi”. The “Visceral Yin” in material aspect is independent andcontradictory to the concept of “Essence”,“Qi” and “Blood”. Moreover, theconcept of “deficiency of yin” is also independent and contradictory to the“deficiency of essence”,“deficiency of blood” and “deficiency of body fluid”.The “Visceral Yang”, in the material aspect, is a part of the generalized“Visceral-Qi”; as well as the conception of the “Visceral-Qi”,from the narrowsense. The “Visceral Yang” is independent and contradictory to the“Visceral-Qi” of narrow sense; as well as the “Yang deficiency” and “Qideficiency”(namely, the deficiency of the narrow sense visceral-qi, or theextensive so-called the “Qi deficiency” in the present clinical practice). Theconception of “Yang deficiency” is not the development of the “Qi deficiency”,and the conception itself not included the “Qi deficiency”.Second part: The reasonable section of the “Yin and Yang Qi” theory.By analysis, this research considers that the reasonable section of the “Yin andYang Qi” theory mainly in the following aspects: it make further efforts toaffirm the materiality of “Qi”; correct the former understanding on thematerial aspect that the confusion of the conception between “Yin” and“Essence”,“Blood”,“Body fluid”; rectify the former understanding on thematerial aspect that the improper that the “Yang” and “Qi” are collectivelyreferred to as the “Yang qi”; redress the former understanding on the materialaspect that the unclear between the conception “Yang deficiency” and “Qideficiency”. Third part: The unreasonable section of the “Yin and Yang Qi” theory.By analysis and contact with the clinical practice closely, this research deemsthat the theory of “Yin and Yang Qi” exists following several fallacies. First, itis in contradiction with the principle of clinical prescription. For instance, thistheory considers that the “Yin” and “Yang” come together to complete theconcept of “Qi”, the “Qi deficiency” in clinical practice is the equivalencedeficiencies of Yin-qi and Yang-qi. So, it can be inferred that when treating thesyndrome of Qi deficiency, even without the medicine of tonifying Qi, butonly select the medicine of tonifying Yang and yin tonics, can also cure thesyndrome of Qi deficiency. This is obviously inconsistent with the clinicalprescription principle. Second, it is contrary to the Chinese medicine theory.For example, according to the theory of “Yin and Yang Qi”, qi-deficiency isthe peer to peer with asthenia of both yin-qi and yang-qi. So, according to thistheory, the function of conduct qi, which the qi medicine such as RhizomaCyperi possessed, is consist of two parts of the effect, that called activatingyang-qi and yin-qi. This understanding of Rhizoma Cyperi and any otherQi-medicine is opposite to the function, which the Chinese traditionalmedicine preferred. Third, it is at odds with the syndrome of “Deficiency ofboth Qi and Yin”. The scholars, who in favor of the “Yin and Yang Qi” theory,believe that due to the concept of “Qi” includes two aspects, which is called“Yin” and “Yang”, so Qi cannot formed the syndrome of deficiency of bothwith Yin or Yang. Therefore, the so-called syndromes “Deficiency of both qiand Yin” and "Deficiency of both qi and yang” belong to the paradox of logic.This inference is at odds with the present extensive consensus of TCM clinicalpractice. Fourth, it is inconsistent with the theory of pathogenesis. Such as thistheory thought that Qi consists of two parts, which is called “Yin-qi” and“Yang-qi”, Yang-qi possesses promoting, while Yin-qi owns serenity. The “Qi deficiency” in clinical practice is the equivalence deficiencies of Yin-qi andYang-qi. According to this theory, it can not explain the pathogenesis of “Qideficiency and blood stasis” reasonably. Because under the circumstance ofthe equivalence deficiencies of Yin-qi and Yang-qi, the descending ofequilibrant between the impetus of Yang-qi and the serenity of Yin-qi shouldnot cause the blood stasis. Accordingly, there is a contradiction between thistheory and the theory of pathogenesis.Forth part: The establishment of the “Qi is divided into three”hypothesis based on the generalized “Visceral-Qi”. The main content of the“Qi is divided into three” hypothesis: the generalized “Visceral-Qi” can beclassified as Zang-yin, Zang-yang and Zang-qi in the narrow sense, all thesecan be called the “Qi is divided into three”, for example, the generalizedHeart-qi can be divided into three parts, heart-yin, heart-yang and heart-qi inthe narrow sense, other four viscera can be deduced. The “Qi” in the “Qi isdivided into three” refers to the generalized “Visceral-Qi”, which is notgenerally used as the specific term in the academic exchange and clinicalpractice. When used as the specific term, it means the Zang-qi from thenarrow sense. For instance, without special instructions, the “Heart-qi” refersto the heart-qi from the narrow sense; the “Deficiency of heart-qi” in presentclinical practice means the deficiency of the “heart-qi” in the narrow sense.The Zang-qi, in the narrow sense, has the characters of moving andcontaining; the Zang-yin possesses the characters of moistening, serenity anddescending; the Zang-yang owns the characters of warming, exciting andascending.The related physiological functions what the hypothesis of “Qi isdivided into three” affects the five viscera can make the following briefdescriptions temporarily. As for the heart, the heart dominating blood circulation and vessels is accomplished by the heart-qi, in the narrow sense.The heart-qi, in the narrow sense, has the characters of promoting andcontaining, on one hand, it promoting blood circulation; on the other hand, italso containing blood circulate by the routine way. The warming and excitingcharacters of the heart-yang motivate and participate the promoting characterof the heart-qi, while the moistening and serenity characters of the heart-yinenhance and participate the containing character of the heart-qi. TheCoordination and balance of the heart-yang and the heart-yin, ensure thenormal heart rhythm fluctuations and the degree of vascular contractions. Asfor the lung, the function of governing respiratory qi is accomplished by thelung-qi. The promoting function of the lung-qi can exert the function ofgoverning respiratory qi by the means of inhale clear air and exhale turbidgases, while the containing function of the lung-qi can contain the inhaledclear air hiding in the body without getting dispersing. The warming andexciting characters of the lung-yang motivate and participate the promotingcharacter of the lung-qi, while the moistening and serenity characters of thelung-yin enhance and participate the containing character of the lung-qi. Thediffusion of the lung-qi includes diffusing upwards and dispersing outwardswhat the lung-yang guided and involved. The descent includes purifying anddescending means the lung-qi can go downwards and inwards what thelung-yin guided and involved. As for the spleen, the promoting function of thespleen-qi can exert the function of transportation and transformation of thespleen, while the containing function of the spleen-qi can containing bloodcirculate by the routine way. The warming and exciting characters of thespleen-yang motivate and participate the promoting character of the spleen-qi,while the moistening and serenity characters of the spleen-yin can contain thefunction of transportation and transformation of the spleen. The moistening and serenity characters of the spleen-yin enhance and participate thecontaining character of the spleen-qi, while the warming and excitingcharacters of the spleen-yang can contain the containing character of thespleen-qi. The function of ascent and dispersion of the spleen-qi guide andparticipate in the ascent of the spleen-yang that the positions of the internalorgans are kept relatively fixed, while the descending function of thespleen-yin contains the ascending. As for the liver, the promoting function ofthe liver-qi can smoothing qi dynamic, while the containing function of theliver-qi can storing blood. The warming and exciting characters of theliver-yang motivate and participate the promoting character of the liver-qi,while the moistening and serenity characters of the liver-yin enhance andparticipate the containing character of the liver-qi. The function of ascent anddispersion of the liver-yang motivate and participate the ascent and dispersionof the liver-qi, while the descending function of the liver-yin contains theascending. The containing character of the liver-yin enhance and participatethe function of storing blood, while the function of ascent and dispersion ofthe liver-yang could avoid the excess. As for the kidney, the growth anddevelopment of human body that the kidney dominate is accomplished by thekidney-qi, and the essence-qi in the kidney. The warming and excitingcharacters of the kidney-yang motivate and participate the function of humangrowth and development that the kidney-qi is dominated, while the moisteningand serenity characters of the kidney-yin could avoid the excess. The functionof store essence is accomplished by the containing character of the kidney-qi,the moistening and serenity characters of the kidney-yin enhance andparticipate the containing character of the kidney-qi, while the warming andexciting characters of the kidney-yang could avoid the excess. The function ofgoverning water is accomplished by the promoting function of the kidney-qi, the warming, exciting and ascending characters of the kidney-yang motivateand participate the promoting character of the kidney-qi, while the moistening,serenity and descending characters of the kidney-yin could avoid the excess.The function of kidney receiving respiratory qi is accomplished by thecontaining character of the kidney-qi, the moistening, serenity and descendingcharacters of the kidney-yin enhance and participate the containing of thekidney-qi, while the warming, exciting and ascending character of thekidney-yang could avoid the excess.The discussion content of this part including: the philosophicalfoundation of the “Qi is divided into three” hypothesis; the inspiration of thefoundation of the “Qi is divided into three” hypothesis which is based on theclassification method in Neijing; the accessorial explanation of the “Qi isdivided into three” hypothesis which is based on the syndrome of “Deficiencyof both Qi and Yin”; the disproval that the clinical medication to the “Qi isdivided into three” hypothesis.Fifth part: The normalized research on the syndrome of deficiency ofliver-qi, the syndrome of deficiency of liver-yang, the syndrome of deficiencyof lung-yang, the syndrome of deficiency of spleen-yin and the syndrome ofdeficiency of kidney-qi, all these are based on the “Qi is divided into three”hypothesis. According to the “Qi is divided into three” hypothesis, thesyndrome of deficiency of five viscera should have the existence of suchsyndromes, such as,“the deficiency of liver-yang”,“the deficiency of liver-qi”,“the deficiency of lung-yang”,“the deficiency of spleen-yin”,“the deficiencyof kidney-qi”. But, there has no records of these syndromes in variousversions textbooks of diagnostics of traditional Chinese medicine, which ispublished already. Although there has scattered discussion in bibliographicalinformations of clinical traditional Chinese medicine, but it still lack of systematic arrangement and establishment so that the syndrome differentiationsystem of five Zang-Viscera deficiency is incomplete. In this paper, the “Qi isdivided into three” hypothesis as the theoretical basis to begin for thestandardized study from such aspects as the theory origin, clinicalmanifestation and prescription, in order to improve the viscera deficiencysyndrome system.ResultSince2003, the planning textbook of Fundamental Theory ofTraditional Chinese Medicine is included and adopted the so-called theory of“Yin and Yang Qi”, that is existed among three continuous editions (which iscommonly known as the seventh edition, the eighth edition and the ninthedition of planning textbook). The theory of “Yin and Yang Qi” has positivesignificance in rectify the confusion between “yin-deficiency” and “blooddeficiency”;“yang deficiency” and “qi deficiency”. However, the theory itselfalso brings new confusions, such as it denied the objective existence of thesyndrome, which is called “deficiency of both qi and yin”; moreover, it cannotexplain the pathogenesis of “blood stasis due to qi deficiency” perfectly and soon.This research considers that the theory of “Yin and Yang Qi”, whichthe planning textbook of Fundamental Theory of Traditional ChineseMedicine maintained, is inconsistent with the general principles of clinicalprescription and also contrary to the theory of pathogenesis and the theory ofChinese medicine. It is more difficult to gain broad consensus due to thedenial of the objective existence of the syndrome, which is called “deficiencyof both qi and yin”. All these above are the results of applying the Yin-YangTheory’s thought of “One divides into two” mechanically and neglect theclinical practice, so it cannot guide the clinical practice effectively and can cause clinical practice confusion easily. All these need reevaluation andimprovement.This research believes that if the reconsideration of Qi of the five-viscera,which is based on the establishment of the “Qi is divided into three”hypothesis based on the generalized “Visceral-Qi”, it can achieve the originalpurpose that the theory of “Yin and Yang Qi” correct the previous confusion ofconception; and also can rectify the new confusion which the theory of “Yinand Yang Qi” brings. The hypothesis of “Qi is divided into three” considersthat the generalized “Visceral-Qi” can be classified as Zang-yin, Zang-yangand Zang-qi in the narrow sense. The Zang-qi which is from the narrow sense,belongs to the neutral part of the generalized “Visceral-Qi”, possesses thecharacters of promoting and containing; Zang-yang belongs to the positivepart of the generalized “Visceral-Qi”, owns the characters of warming,exciting and ascending; while the Zang-yin possesses the characters ofmoistening, serenity and descending. Zang-qi which is in the narrow sense,Zang-yin and Zang-yang are under the same material level, the connotationsof them are independent and contradictory, while they can coordinate witheach other closely in exerting the physiologic function of the five-viscera. Theexerting of the physiologic function of the five-viscera is mainly depend onthe Zang-qi, which is from the narrow sense, its characters of promoting andcontaining achieve the physiologic function of the viscera, while in themeantime, it also closely cooperate with Zang-yin and Zang-yang. Thewarming and exciting characters of Zang-yang motivate and participate thepromoting character of Zang-qi; while the moistening and serenity charactersof Zang-yin strengthen and participate the containing character of Zang-qi.They separate as three, combine as one, are closely connected. Theharmonious coordination of each other accomplish the physiologic function of the five-viscera together, attributes to the comprehensive function of thegeneralized visceral-qi.ConclusionOn the research of the classification method of the visceral-qi, the theoryof “Yin and Yang Qi” should be replaced by the “Qi is divided into three”hypothesis.