Happy Western New Year - 2011

May all the Good Wishes come true....

Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,
Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,
Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,
Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,
Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,
Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,
Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,
Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,
Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,
Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion, Peace, Health, Wealth, Loving Relationship, Long Life, Properous, Promotion,

Bazi Daily - 31/12/2010

Function of Heart (Part 02)

Manifests in the Complexion


If Heart Blood is abundant, there will be a rosy and lustrous complexion.

Deficient Heart Blood: pale chalky complexion (plus other signs e.g. palpitations).

Deficient Heart Qi: Bright white complexion

Stagnant Heart Blood: Bluish purple complexion


Stores the Shen - The Spirit (神)

When there is abundant Heart Blood and Yin: Shen will be nourished. Individual will respond appropriately to the environment and Shen will retire to the Heart.

Weak Heart Qi, Deficient Blood or Heat in Heart: Shen is not nourished.
Symptoms vary, may include dull thinking, poor memory, insomnia, sleepiness, or (esp. with Heat) agitation, mania and delirium.

Religion is not something separate and apart from ordinary life.

It is life -- life of every kind viewed from the standpoint

of meaning and purpose:

life lived in the fuller awareness of

its human quality and spiritual significance.

- A. Powell Davies

Bazi Daily - 30/12/2010

Function of Heart (Part 01)

Governs the Blood


1.  Transformation of Gu Qi (谷气 - Food Qi) into Blood occurs in Heart

2.  Responsible for smooth flowing of Blood

Heart must be healthy for proper supply of Blood to all tissues. When Heart Qi impaired, i.e., Heart Blood or Qi is deficient, circulation of Blood is affected (hands cold).

(IN BAZI, it is when the Water is strong or born in the month of Winter)

Controls the Blood Vessels

Blood Vessels (not same as in Western Medicine) depend on Heart Qi and Blood, i.e., if Heart strong and Blood plentiful, pulse will be full and regular.

If Heart Qi or Blood is weak, pulse may be irregular/weak (choppy).

 
 

Life is not measured by the breaths you take,

but by its breathtaking moments.

- Michael Vance

Bazi Daily - 29/12/2010

From today onwards, we shall spend some times in understanding one of the most important body part - Heart.


Below is the Overview of the Functions of the Heart:-

1. Governs the Blood
2. Controls the Blood Vessels
3. Manifests in the Complexion
4. Stores the Shen (Houses the Mind)
5. Opens to the tongue
6. Controls Sweat

 
 

 

We can only be said to be alive in those moments

when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

- Thornton Wilder

Bazi Daily - 28/12/2010

Decoding Ancient Classic - 五言独步

建禄生提月，财官喜透天。

不宜身再旺，惟喜茂财源。

The above requires good understanding of some of the technical jargons in your fundamental studies:-

建禄 (read as Jian Lu)
 = refers to ‘The Star of Prospects’. It is the Entry phase in the 12 Natural Stages of Life. You may wish to refer to page 192 of my book.


提月 (read as Ti Yue)

= refers to the Month Branch.


财官 (read as Cai Guan)

= refers to the Wealth & Authority Deities.


财源 (read as Cai Yuan)

= refers to the Deity that give birth to Wealth Deity, ie Output Deity.



The above states that :-

In the event where the DM born in the month of Jian Lu, it is considered as strong. Any elements supporting the DM is considered as redundant.

If this is the case, what is really needed is the Wealth & Authority Deity to control & exhaust the strong energy of DM. Best still, both deities are to appear in the Heavenly Stem. In addition, it would be great to have Output Deity to further strengthen the Wealth Deity.

 
 

Life has got to be lived -- that's all there is to it.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Bazi Daily - 27/12/2010

Removal of Gall Bladder (in the year of 1997)

戊　　甲　　戊　　乙　　　　Female (1975)
辰　　辰　　寅　　卯

43      33     23      13      3
癸　　壬　　辛　　庚　　己
未　　午　　巳　　辰　　卯

We have touched on the health aspect of the above chart for the past few days. Now, who want to share with us on her marital relationship?

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that

the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

- John F. Kennedy

Bazi Daily - 26/12/2010

Removal of Gall Bladder (in the year of 1997)

戊　　甲　　戊　　乙　　　　Female (1975)
辰　　辰　　寅　　卯




43        33        23        13       3
癸　　壬　　辛　　庚　　己
未　　午　　巳　　辰　　卯




Pertaining to the suffering of mental & psychological issues, the posting on 16 Dec 2010 will provide you with a good explanation.
 
 
It was stated that :-
 
Wood  =  
 
Ethereal Soul (魂).  Its represents the ability to be resolute & to plan.  When the energy of Wood is out of balance, this becomes anger.
 
 
The subject could not control her emotion at all :(

Merry Christmas - 25/12/2010

May the day

brings joy, peace & health to

the universe :)

Bazi Daily - 24/12/2010

Removal of Gall Bladder (in the year of 1997)




戊　　甲　　戊　　乙　　　　Female (1975)
辰　　辰　　寅　　卯


43        33       23       13        3
癸　　壬　　辛　　庚　　己
未　　午　　巳　　辰　　卯


Given that the strong wood energy in the natal chart, the water is extremely weak.  Wood represents Kidney. 
 
The current & next 2 years are the year of wood energy, the water would suffer further.   She is currently having tinnites (耳鸣).
 
 
She is currently consulting psychiatrist & is under medication.  Explain why?
 

Bazi Daily - 23/12/2010

Removal of Gall Bladder (in the year of 1997)

Have you identified any other ailment?

戊　　甲　　戊　　乙　　　　Female (1975)

辰　　辰　　寅　　卯

43        33        23      13        3
癸　　壬　　辛　　庚　　己
未　　午　　巳　　辰　　卯



She has suffered from Migraine as well.   According to the Theory of Meridian (经络学), Gall Bladder links to the Head.   With the remove of Gall Bladder, the Migraine is unavoidable.  In actual fact, as long as the wood is unhealthy, Migraine can be expected. Kidney is the problem that she would face.  Can you please explain why?  

Bazi Daily - 22/12/2010

I have posted below case on 18 Dec 2010.  Surprisingly, nobody respond to such a interesting case :( 


In real life, customer will not tell you the problems bothering them.  We, being the consultant or bazi enthusiast, have to decode it. 


戊　　甲　　戊　　乙　　　　Female (1975)

辰　　辰　　寅　　卯




癸　　壬　　辛　　庚　　己
未　　午　　巳　　辰　　卯

 SInce we are in the subject of TCM (in particular Liver & Gall Bladder), the ailment have to be related to liver & gall bladder. 

The subject suffered from gallstones & had recieved the operation to remove the stones in the year of 丁亥 (year 2007).

Please explain why from the perspective of Bazi!

Other than above identified ailment, what other ailment(s) can you identify ?

Bazi Daily - 21/12/2010

五言独步

有病方为贵，无伤不是奇。

格中如去病，财禄喜相随。

How do you define or judge whether a given bazi chart is good or bad?

According to common understanding & believe, the keyword is the chart has to be ‘BALANCE’ in order to be qualified or classified as good.

But, to our contrary, the author deemed that BALANCE is nothing special. The chart is considered desirable (or good) when there are ‘faults’ exist (ie unfavorable element[s]) within the chart.

In the case where there is an EXISTENCE of Favorable Element(s) to eliminate the existed faults within the chart, fame & wealth will come true.

I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it.

I want to have lived the width of it as well.

- Diane Ackerman

Bazi Daily - 20/12/2010

五言独步 (Wu Yan Du Bu)

Before we begin, let us take a look of how the classical texts were being compiled & written.

In the olden days, the writing style was very much different from now. Ancient scholars have to follow certain formats in their writing. For instance, a sentence had to be written or formed by 5 or 7 Chinese Characters. This (which I believe) was to test the competency level of the scholars in their command of languages.

In the modern society, we are not trained to write in that manner. Hence, this forms the main barriers for us in comprehending the ancient text completely & fully.

<五言独步> (pronounced ‘wu yan du bu’) is one of the most respectable classics that I really enjoy & have gained better insight into the subject of bazi.  It was written in the poetry style where each sentence is formed by 5 Chinese characters.

Nobody really can tell who wrote it. But, I do believe that this classical text was compiled, edited & finalized collectively by a numbers of scholars.

As we know, the printing in those days was undeveloped and, hence, the mass printing was impossible.   They had to copy it manually, piece by piece....   Hence, during the process of re-production, mistakes is unavoidable.   This explains the reason for various version of the text in the market.

From tomorrow onwards, I shall share with you on those parts of the text that I could understand. Enjoy readings!

Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life

is still the mark of an educated man.

- Norman Cousins

Bazi Daily - 19/12/2010

I have been sharing with all of you on the subject of TCM & its 'connection' with Bazi.  Personally, besides acquiring more books, I have signed up relevant TCM courses.   It is fun, but (I have to confess that) the Learning Process is Dry.     

In view of the above, I plan to (occasionally) add in more variety by sharing with you on the subject of bazi as well :)

From 20 Dec 2010 onwards, (in addition to TCM) I shall also share with you on my translations & interpretation of Bazi classical text - 五言独步 (read as 'Wu Yan Du Bu'). 

The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life.

It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started.

- Norman Cousins

Bazi Daily - 18/12/2010

Any comments on below :


戊　　甲　　戊　　乙　　　　Female (1975)
辰　　辰　　寅　　卯


癸　　壬　　辛　　庚　　己
未　　午　　巳　　辰　　卯

Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment

which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words.

Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bazi Daily - 17/12/2010

乾造 (Male Chart)

丙　庚　丙　甲

戌　午　寅　戌

The DM had suffered from Liver Cancer and passed away in the year of 丁卯. 

For this case, we can do a REVERSE Engineeering Analysis by examining the factors attributed to such an ailment.

Your participations is greatly encouraged.

There has been much tragedy in my life; at least half of it actually happened.

- Mark Twain

Bazi Daily - 16/12/2010

LIVER OPENS TO THE EYES

Liver Blood nourishes and moistens eyes and gives capacity to see.

Liver Blood deficient lead to:

= blurred vision,
= myopia,
= "floaters" color blindness,
= dry "sandy" eyes.

If heat in Liver, eyes bloodshot, sore and burning.

LIVER HOUSES THE HUN (魂)

The Hun is also called the ethereal Soul

Hun is related to ability to be resolute, to plan and have creative drive and assertiveness.

When the Liver is out of balance in excess for instance, this becomes anger.

We spend most of our lives conjugating three verbs:

to want, to have, and to do.

- Evelyn Underhill

Bazi Daily - 15/12/2010

LIVER CONTROLS SINEWS （筋）

Sinews (tendons) depend on Liver Blood to moisten and nourish them so they can contract and relax as needed (smooth movement of joints and good muscle action).

Deficient Liver Blood leads to lack of nourishment in the tendons, which leads to contractions, spasms, impaired extension/flexion, numbness of limbs, cramps, tremors, muscle weakness, etc.

The Liver controls the Sinews (tendons), or the contractile aspect of the muscles.

The Spleen controls the muscles, or the mass or bulk.

= Liver imbalances are more likely to affect movement , and
= Spleen weakness affects flaccidity, atrophy, etc.

LIVER MANIFESTS IN THE NAILS

The finger and toe nails are the outgrowth of sinews and are influenced by Liver Blood. When Liver Blood is deficient, the nails will lack nourishment and become dark, indented, dry, cracked, brittle, etc.

There is no short cut to achievement.

Life requires thorough preparation -- veneer isn't worth anything.

- George Washington Carver

Bazi Daily - 14/12/2010

Liver Stores Blood (cont'd)


2. Regulates menstruation

Liver is very important in gynecology. If Blood storage function is abnormal, e.g. Liver Blood is deficient, menstrual problems e.g. amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea.

If Liver is Hot or Excess, menorrhagia or metrorrhagia can occur.

If Liver Qi stagnant, Liver Blood can stagnate (dysmenorrhea, PMS, dark clots).

Liver malfunction influences energy of Ren Mai （任脉） & Chong Mai （冲脉） which are closely related to uterus.

Blood& Liver function reciprocally affect each other. Where Blood is Deficient or Hot, Liver function can be affected. If Liver function abnormal, can affect quality of Blood.

For example: If Liver is Hot, Blood can become Hot (causing skin eruptions, eczema, etc.: Blood becomes heated by being stored in a hot "container").

You desire to know the art of living, my friend? \

It is contained in one phrase: make use of suffering.

- Henri-Frederic Amiel

Bazi Daily - 13/12/2010

From today onwards, let us focus on the subject of TCM again.   We shall continue with the function of the Liver as follow :-


Liver stores blood in 2 ways.  We shall touch on the first function where :- 


1. Liver Regulates volume of Blood according to physical activity


When at rest, Blood returns to Liver (Liver contributes to restoring energy).

When body is active, Blood nourishes muscles to enable them to perform.

Blood regulation function influences energy level: if this function impaired, lack of Blood (= nourishment) where needed, hence easily tired.

If Liver Blood is deficient, there can be muscle cramps, tics and twitches or tremors/shaking in muscles. (Liver Wind from Blood Deficiency)





(Question :  In what way Wood [ie Liver] can be impaired and, hence, the DM can feel tired easily)

To be awake is to be alive.

- Henry David Thoreau

Bazi Daily - 12/12/2010

                      戊     乙    辛   辛            Female
                      寅     未    卯   亥


The above chart is simple,  it is a strong chart.   Who like to share with us why this is a  strong wood person?

Also, by identifying and explaining the above, please also share with us the weakest element(s) in this chart. 

Bazi Daily - 11/12/2010

Try to identify the Favourable Element(s) and most undesirable element:- 


乙　甲　己　乙        (Male)
丑　午　卯　亥


From the above chart, what can say about his Health & Wealth? 

Short Hoilday

Hi, all! 

I will be going for a short holiday & had pre-keyed in the message for the next few days.   Shall get back to whatever feedback when I return.

Enjoy reading !

Bazi Daily - 10/12/2010

Let us take a break temporarily from the subject of TCM. 

Please help to identify the favorable element for the below chart :-


乙　甲　丙　己     (Male)
丑　子　寅　亥


What would be the most undesirable element to the above chart?

Bazi Daily - 09/12/2010

Function Liver (Yi Wood) - Part 02

A.   LIVER ENSURES SMOOTH FLOW OF QI

We have touched on the Emotional aspect of Liver.  Below are the next to aspect subject to the influence of the flow of Liver Qi.  

-  Digestion and Bile Secretion

Digestion and the Liver - Five element: Wood controls Earth.

The Liver's function of spreading Qi aids the Spleen and Stomach's digestive functions, and is important to ensure harmonious Qi movement in Middle Burner. But Stagnant Liver Qi can "invade" or "attack" the Stomach or Spleen (Wood overacts on Earth).

Smooth flowing of Liver Qi affects bile flow. Stagnant Liver Qi can obstruct bile flow (bitter taste, belching, or jaundice).


Remember the case that we have mentioned :-

乙　己　丁　乙
丑　卯　亥　卯


=  Menstruation

Can you imagine that bazi can tell the above as well :)

I am on the side of the unregenerate who affirm the worth of life as an end in itself,

as against the saints who deny it.

- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Bazi Daily - 08/12/2010

Function Liver (Yi Wood) - Part 01



A.   LIVER ENSURES SMOOTH FLOW OF QI

It is extremely common to find Stagnation of Liver Qi in clinic. Liver ensures smooth flow of Qi throughout all the body, in all directions.

Any activity that depends on Qi relies on the Liver's "flowing and spreading" (升降).

The Smooth Flow of Liver Qi Affects Three Main Areas

1. Emotions

The emotional state is seriously affected by the Liver's function of "Flowing and Spreading" Qi. When it flows normally, emotions are approximate and easy. When the spreading of Qi impaired or the circulation of Qi restrained, there will be emotional depression, frustration, repressed anger, and physical symptoms.

There is a relationship between emotional state and Liver Qi.

"Anger makes Qi rise and Blood stagnate in the chest."

Stagnation along channels related to Liver: hypochondriac and costal pain, "plum pit Qi", chest oppression, swollen/tender breasts and genitals, lower abdominal pain.


(NOTE  :  In the event the Wood Qi is unhealthy, the person can get irritated or angry easily)

Without some goal and some effort to reach it, no one can live.

- Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Bazi Daily - 07/12/2010

From today onwards, I shall share with you on the specific functions of the 5 Zang (五脏).    Let's start from the Liver (肝).

Liver = represented by Yi wood (乙木).

Functions of the Liver

1. Liver Ensures Smooth Flow of Qi
2. Stores the Blood
3. Controls The Sinews
4. Manifests in the Nails
5. Opens into the Eyes
6. Houses the Hun (Ethereal Soul)


 
 

Live every act fully, as if it were your last.

- Buddha

Bazi Daily - 06/12/2010

I have posted below case on 5 Dec 2010.  So far, only received one reply from LadyGaga.  Would like to invite the rest to try before release the answer. 

乙　己　丁　乙       Male Chart (1975)

丑　卯　亥　卯


38　　28　　18
癸　　甲　　乙
未　　申　　酉




Below is the reply from LadyGaga :-

Ji DM is very weak, esp. in LP38+. Yin earth overpowered by wood. Possible health problem of the following:



Yin Earth - the spleen (脾),
Yin Wood - the liver (肝),
Yang Wood - the gallbladder (胆),


Does this DM suffer from constipation?


Additional Question :-

Besides investigating the possible ailment through the analysis of 5 elements, try to identify 'other causes' from the above given set of bazi chart. 

Bazi Daily - 05/12/2010

So far, we have briefly touched on the topic of Health & its relation to Bazi.  Before we proceed further, I would like to invite you to deduce the possible illnesses the person have suffered.


乙　己　丁　乙     Male Chart (1975)
丑　卯　亥　卯

38　　28　　18
癸　　甲　　乙
未　　申　　酉

Bazi Daily - 03/12/2010

The content of zangxiang theory is composed of three (3) parts:


- the physiological functions and pathological changes of the viscera, the description of which mainly focuses on the physiological functions;

- the relationships between the five zang-organs (五脏) and the body, organs and orifices, including the relationships between the five zang-organs and the five constituents (namely vessels, tendons, muscles, skin and bones), the five sensory organs (五官) and the nine orifices (九窍－namely the tongue, eyes, mouth, nose, ears, external genitals and anus);

- the relationships between the zang-organs (脏) and the fu-organs (腑), including the relationships among the five zang-organs, among the six fu-organs and the relationships between the zang-organs and the fu-organs.


The theory of zangxiang mainly studies the zang-organs and the fu-organs. That is why it is also known as "the theory of zang-fu organs".

 Zang-fu (脏腑) is a collective term for internal organs which are divided into two major categories, namely the five zang-organs and the six fu-organs.


The five zang-organs (五脏) include :-


Yin Fire      - the heart (心),
Yin Wood  - the liver (肝),
Yin Earth   - the spleen (脾),
Yin Metal   - the lung (肺), and
Yin Water  - the kidney (肾);
 The six fu-organs (六腑) include：

Yang Wood    - the gallbladder (胆),
Yang Earth     - the stomach (胃),
Yang Fire       - the small intestine (小肠),
Yang Metal    - the large intestine (大肠),
Yang Water   - the urinary bladder (膀胱) and
                       - sanjiao (三焦－the triple energizer).



(NOTE :   Upon knowing the elemental representation of respective human body parts, it would be easier for us to make our analysis.   Any element that is overly strong or overly weak can suffer from related illnesses presented by it)

A man lives not only his personal life, as an individual, but also,

consciously or unconsciously, the life of his epoch and his contemporaries.

- Thomas Mann

Bazi Daily - 02/12/2010

From today onwards, I shall share with you on the subject of TCM.   I shall focus on it &, at the same time, try to link it & relate it to the subject of Bazi.

Basic Theory of TCM

To start of, I would like to share with you on the important concepts of : -

Zangxiang (viscera and their manifestations - 藏象)

The term zangxiang (藏象) first appeared in Huangdi Neiring (黄帝内经).

- Zang (藏), sharing the same pronunciation with viscera (脏腑) in Chinese, refers to internal organs inside the body;

- Xiang (象) means image or phenomenon.


Zang (藏)    =  internal organs inside the body
Xiang (象)  = image or the external manifestation


When used together, zangxiang (藏象), as analyzed above, simply refers to internal organs and the external manifestations of their physiological and pathological states. 　　


(NOTE : The above is similar to the theory of 数 [Numerology]、理 [Theory & System]、象 [Images] in Yi Jing – The Book of Changes)

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things

you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

- Mark Twain

Bazi Daily - 01/12/2010

Deciding therapeutic principles

Below is an interesting topic.   Close examination of the subject helps us in the selection of correct favorable element. 

Visceral diseases, according to the inter-promotion and inter-restraint relationships among the five elements, may affect each other. Clinically the theory of the five elements can be used to readjust the relationships among the five zang-organs to realize the aim of treatment. Usually the therapeutic principles are decided in the light of inter-promotion and inter-restraint relationships.

The therapeutic principle decided according to inter-promotion relationship is termed "tonifying the mother-organ and purging the child-organ".


Tonifying the mother-organ is a therapeutic principle used to treat deficiency syndrome. It is also known as "tonifying the mother-organ in the treatment of deficiency syndrome". This principle is mainly used to treat deficiency syndrome due to failure of the mother-organ to promote the child-organ. The aim of this principle is to strengthen the weakened child-organ by tonifying the mother-organ. Take insufficiency of liver-yin for example. Since it results from malnutrition of liver-wood due to insufficiency of kidney-yin, it can be treated by nourishing kidney-yin. Since the kidney is the mother-organ of the liver, tonifying kidney-water can promote liver-wood. That is why this therapy is called "enriching water to nourish wood."


Purging the child-organ is a therapeutic principle used to treat excess syndrome, also known as "purging the child-organ in treating excess syndrome". This principle is mainly used to treat excess syndrome resulting from disorder of the mother-organ by reducing exuberant pathogenic, factors through purging the child-organ. For example, superabundance of heart-fire due to hyperactivity of liver-fire can be treated by purging the heart because the heart is the child-organ of the liver. That is why liver-fire can be reduced by purging heart-fire.

The principle decided according to inter-restraint relationship is called "inhibiting the strong organ and supporting the weak organ".


The abnormal states of inter-restraint among the five elements are over restraint and reverse restraint. In visceral disease, the manifestations of such abnormal relationships are signified by a series of pathological changes resulting from visceral imbalance. The principle of inhibiting the strong organ and supporting the weak organ means to correct visceral imbalance and restore visceral harmony in function.

Inhibiting the strong organ and supporting the weak organ, two different sides of a therapeutic principle, are closely related to each other. The purpose of inhibiting the strong organ is to prevent it from bullying the weak organ while the aim of supporting the weak organ is to correct its deficiency so as to free it from the domination of the strong organ.

Inhibiting the strong organ and supporting the weak organ can be used singly. However, they are frequently used in combination in order to quickly correct visceral imbalance. For inhibiting the strong organ, purging therapy is usually used; for supporting the weak organ, nourishing therapy is frequently resorted to.

The application of this principle is often marked by simultaneous application of attack and tonification. For example, adverse flow of liver-qi tends to invade the spleen, but deficiency of spleen-qi also makes it easy for liver-qi to attack the spleen. Thus disease resulting from liver-qi attacking the spleen can be treated by inhibiting wood and supporting earth (also known as inhibiting the liver and strengthening the spleen), simultaneously reducing liver-qi and strengthening spleen-qi. With the regulation of both the spleen and the liver, there will be no difficulty in curing spleen disease.

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.

- Albert Schweitzer

Bazi Daily - 30/11/2010

Guiding the treatment of disease

In the treatment of disease, the theory of the five elements is mainly used to control the transmission of disease and decide therapeutic principles.

Controlling the transmission of disease

The pathological changes of the five zang-organs, according to the phenomena of over restraint, reverse restraint and mutual involvement of the mother-element and the child-element among the five elements, can affect and transmit to each other. Thus in clinical treatment of the affected viscus, other viscera to be possibly involved must be taken into consideration by taking preventive measures in advance to control the transmission of disease.

However, the following two points have to be borne in mind.

One is to select the viscera that are subject to transmission for treatment. For example, liver disease, according to the theory of five elements, tends to transmit to the heart, the lung, the spleen and the kidney. However, clinically the organ that is more frequently to be affected by liver disease is the spleen (NOTE : According to the Theory of Controlling Relationship, Wood controls Earth). So preventive measures should be taken in advance to protect the spleen in the treatment of liver disease.

The other is that the treatment should be done according to the functional state of the viscera. Though liver disease tends to transmit to the spleen, the transmission usually results from the abnormal changes of spleen function. If the spleen is sufficient in qi, healthy in function and powerful in resistance, liver disease is difficult to transmit to the spleen and no measures need to be taken to deal with the spleen. If the spleen is too weak to resist attack of liver disease, it will be invaded by liver disease. In this case measures must be taken to prevent further transmission in treating the spleen.

It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living.

- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Bazi Daily - 29/11/2010

Guiding clinical diagnosis (Part 02)

Deciding the transmission of disease according to complexion, taste and pulse

If the complexion, taste and pulse of the patient do not agree with the nature of visceral disorder, it shows that the disorder is already changed among the five zang-organs. Then the theory of the five elements must be used to analyze the transmission.


Take spleen deficiency for example.

Instead of displaying the manifestations of yellowish complexion, sweet taste in the mouth and slow pulse, there are signs of bluish complexion, sour taste in the mouth and, taut pulse which are normally the manifestations of liver disorder. It shows that liver disease has been transmitted to the spleen, i.e. wood over restraining earth.


Take lung disease for another example.

Instead of displaying the manifestations of whitish complexion, acrid taste in the mouth and floating pulse, there are signs of reddish complexion, bitter taste in the mouth and full pulse which are normally the manifestations of heart disease. It shows that heart disease has been transmitted to the lung, i.e. fire over restraining metal.


Of course, using the theory of the five elements to diagnose disease is only one of the methods used in clinical diagnosis. In order to reveal the nature of disease and make correct diagnosis, this method should be used together with other methods for differentiation of syndrome, such as yin and yang, zangxiang (visceral and their manifestations), qi, blood and body fluid.

We are here to add what we can to life,

not to get what we can from life.

- William Osler

Bazi Daily - 28/11/2010

Guiding clinical diagnosis

Since the five zang-organs pair with the five elements, the five colors (五色), the five flavors (五味) and the five pulses (五脉) respectively, and because the disorders of the internal organs can manifest on the surface of the body, clinically the theory of the five elements can be used to analyze the changes of complexion, taste and pulse in order to decide which viscus and meridian are involved.


Diagnosis according to complexion, taste and pulse

The five colors, the five flavors and the five pulses correspond to the liver, the heart, the spleen, the lung and the kidney respectively. So they can be directly used to diagnose disease. For example :-

=  bluish complexion, preference for sour flavor or sour taste in the mouth and taut pulse indicate liver disease;

=  reddish complexion, bitter taste in the mouth and full pulse indicate heart disease;

=  yellowish complexion, sweet taste in the mouth and slow pulse indicate spleen disease;

=  whitish complexion, acrid taste in the mouth and floating pulse indicate lung disease; and

=  blackish complexion, salty taste in the mouth and deep pulse indicate kidney disease.


 

 

The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another,

until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt.

- Frederick Buechner



Bazi Daily - 27/11/2010

Explaining interactions among the five zang-organs

The human body is an organic whole (Chinese holds the similar perspective on the subject of Chinese Metaphysics).

The five zang-organs (五脏) coordinate with each other physiologically and affect each other pathologically. Under pathological condition, disorder of one organ may be transmitted to another.

According to the theory of the five elements, there are two aspects of pathological transmission among the five zang-organs, one includes over restraint and reverse restraint, the other includes disorder of the mother-organ involving the child-organ and disorder of the child-organ involving the mother-organ.

Over restraint and reverse restraint are pathological transmissions due to abnormal change of inter-restraint relationship.

Over restraint refers to transmission of disease due to excessive restraint, the order of which is the same as that of inter-restraint. For example, if liv er-qi attacks the spleen, spleen-qi will be weakened, leading to dysfunction of the spleen.

Reverse restraint refers to transmission of disease due to opposite restraint, the order of which is just contrary to inter-restraint. For example, the lung normally restrains the liver. But if liver-fire becomes hyperactive and invades the lung, it may lead to failure of the lung to depurate.

Mutual involvement or affection of the mother-organ and the child-organ reflects pathological transmission due to abnormal change of inter-promotion relationship. Disorder of the mother-organ involving or affecting the child-organ means that the disease is transmitted from the mother-organ into the child-organ, the order of which is the same as that of inter-promotion. For example, hyperactivity of liver-fire may affect the heart and bring on hyperactivity of heart-fire, leading to superabundance of both heart-fire and liver-fire. Such a transmission is called disorder of the mother-organ involving the child-organ.

Disorder of the child-organ involving or affecting the mother-organ indicates that the disease is transmitted from the child-organ into the mother-organ, the order of which is just opposite to that of inter-promotion. For example, prolonged deficiency of liver-yin affects the kidney and causes deficiency of kidney-yin. Such a transmission is called disorder of the child-organ involving the mother-organ, also known as "the child-organ consuming qi of the mother-organ".

 

 

Half our life is spent trying to find something to do

with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.

- Will Rogers

Bazi Daily - 26/11/2010

Explaining the physiological functions of the five zang-organs and the relationships among them

The theory of the five elements explains the physiological characteristics and functions of the five zang-organs according to the attributes of the five elements, pairing each of the five zang-organs with the corresponding one of the five elements.

For example,

-   Wood is characterized by free development while the liver prefers freedom to stagnation, so the liver pertains to wood;

-  fire is hot and tends to flame up while heart-yang warms the whole body, so the heart pertains to fire;

-  earth receives and generates while the spleen transforms food nutrients and is the source of qi and blood, so the spleen pertains to earth;

-  metal depurates and astringes while lung-qi maintains inside and normally descends, so the lung pertains to metal;

-  water moistens and closes while the kidney stores essence and manages water metabolism, so the kidney pertains to water.


Some of the intrinsic relationships among the functional activities of the five zang-organs also reflect the relationships of inter-promotion and inter-restraint. So they can be explained with the theory of inter-promotion and inter-restraint among the five elements.

In terms of inter-promotion,

=  the state of wood promoting fire corresponds to the state of the liver promoting the heart because liver-blood can nourish heart-spirit;

=  the state of fire promoting earth corresponds to the state of the heart promoting the spleen because heart-spirit can regulate the transporting and transforming functions of the spleen;

=  the state of earth promoting metal corresponds to the state of the spleen promoting the lung because the spleen can transports and transforms food nutrients to nourish the lung;

=  the state of metal promoting water corresponds to the state of the lung promoting the kidney because the lung depurates and descends qi to help the kidney receive qi;

=  the state of water promoting wood corresponds to the state of the kidney promoting the liver because kidney-yin can nourish liver-yin.


In terms of inter-restraint,

=  the state of wood restraining earth corresponds to the state of the liver restraining the spleen because liver-qi relieves stagnation of spleen-earth to bring the transporting and transforming functions of the spleen into full play;

=  the state of earth restraining water corresponds to the state of the spleen restraining the kidney because the spleen governs metabolism of water to prevent edema due to abnormal flow of kidney-water;

=  the state of water restraining fire corresponds to the state of the kidney restraining the heart because sufficient kidney-yin can assist the heart to control hyperactivity of heart-fire;

=  the state of fire restraining metal corresponds to the state of the heart restraining the lung because the warmth of heart-yang can prevent lung-qi from excessively depurating and descending;

=  the state of metal restraining wood corresponds to the state of the lung restraining the liver because lung-qi depurates and descends to prevent liver-qi from excessively ascending.


  

The mystery of existence is the connection between our faults and our misfortunes.

- Madame de Stael

Bazi & TCM

So far, we have talked much about the Theory of TCM and its relations to the Theory of Bazi.  I do not know how receptive you are to the said subject :)    Afterall, it sounds boring & the subject is, indeed, quite dull & dry for those who don't appreciate the beauty of it.

Personally, I enjoy my reading on the subject.  In actual fact, I have acquired more books on this subject.   I  would like to spend more time on it (thru' the blog) and try, as far as possible, to relate it to the subject of bazi.

Hope that you can join me (& my joy) in this journey of learning !!

Bazi Daily - 25/11/2010

Over restraint and reverse restraint

Reverse restraint

Reverse restraint refers to an abnormal state in which one element among the five elements reversely restrains and bullies another element. That is why this phenomenon is called reverse restraint.

The order of reverse restraint is just opposite to that of inter-restraint, i.e.

=  wood reversely restraining metal,

=  metal reversely restraining fire,

=  fire reversely restraining water,

=  water reversely restraining earth and

=  earth reversely restraining wood.

(NOTE  : Think of the possible happenings if, let say, Resource Deities reversely restraining the Wealth Deity)

There are two causes responsible for reverse restraint.

One is that one element among the five elements becomes very powerful and turns to restraint the element that it is normally inferior to, damaging the normal inter-restraint relationship between them. For example, if wood becomes too powerful, it will reversely restrain metal; if fire becomes too strong, it will reversely restrain water.

The other is that one element among the five elements becomes weak and is restrained by the one that it is normally superior to, damaging the normal inter-restraint relationship between them. For example, if metal becomes weak, it will be reversely restrained by wood; if earth is weak, it will be reversely restrained by water.

Besides, the abnormal change of inter-promotion relationship is called mutual involvement of the mother and the child. The mother involving or affecting the child means that the disorder of the mother-element involving or affecting the child-element. The order of such an involvement or affection is the same as that of inter-promotion. The child involving or affecting the mother means that the disorder of the child-element involving or affecting the mother-element. The order of such an involvement or affection is just opposite to that of inter-promotion.

 

 

The principle of life is that life responds by corresponding;

your life becomes the thing you have decided it shall be.

- Raymond Charles Barker



Bazi Daily - 24/11/2010

For the next 2 days, I shall share with you on the subject of : Over restraint and reverse restraint.

Over restraint

Over restraint refers to an abnormal state in which one element among the five elements excessively restrains another element.

The order of over restraint is the same as that of inter-restraint, i.e.

= wood over restraining earth,
= earth over restraining water,
= water over restraining fire,
= fire over restraining metal,and
= metal over restraining wood.

There are two causes responsible for over restraint:

One is that one element among the five elements becomes too powerful and, in turn, excessively restrains the element that it normally restrains, damaging the normal restraint relationship between them.

For example, if wood is too powerful, it will excessively restrain earth; if water is too strong, it will excessively restrain fire.

The other is that one element among the five elements becomes weak and therefore provides the element normally restraining it a chance to excessively restrain it, damaging the normal restraint relationship between them.

For example, if earth becomes weak, it will be excessively restrained by wood; if water is weak, it will be excessively restrained by earth.


NOTE   :   It is all about RELATIVITY
 
 
 

Whatever is at the center of our life will be the source

of our security, guidance, wisdom, and power.

- Stephen Covey



Bazi Daily - 23/11/2010

The relationship between inter-promotion and inter-restraint

Inter-promotion and inter-restraint among the five elements are in fact inseparable. Without promotion, nothing can grow and develop; without restraint, there will be no way to prevent harm caused by excessive development of things. Only when restraint exists in promotion and promotion in restraint can the normal development and harmonious balance of things be maintained.

Besides, inter-promotion and inter-restraint among the five elements restrict each other to avoid harm resulting from excessive promotion and over restraint.

For example, wood restrains earth, earth generates metal and metal, in turn, restrains wood. If wood is too powerful, it will over restrain earth and bring on harm. However, metal generated by earth can protect earth by restricting wood.

Again take wood for example. Only under the normal restraint of metal can wood generate fire. If wood excessively generates fire, fire will become superabundant and turn to restrain metal. Consequently metal will be weakened in restraining wood and wood will become feeble in generating fire.

In such a way automatic regulation within the five elements is realized through mutual restriction between inter-promotion and inter-restraint.

(NOTE   :   Try to truly understand & appreciate the beauty of the above-mentioned illustrations)
 

Now there is one outstandingly important fact regarding Spaceship Earth,

and that is that no instruction book came with it.

- Buckminster Fuller

Bazi Daily - 22/11/2010

Inter-promotion and inter-restraint among the five elements

Inter-promotion

Inter-promotion means that one thing bears the effect of promoting or generating another in the five elements. The order of inter-promotion among the five elements follows certain rules and forms a circle, i.e.

wood promoting fire (木生火),
fire promoting earth (火生土),
earth promoting metal (土生金),
metal promoting water (金生水), and
water promoting wood (水生木).

The one that generates is called "mother" while the one that is generated is termed "child". So the inter-promotion relationship among the five elements is also called mother-child relationship.

Take fire for example. The one that generates fire is wood and the one that is generated by fire is earth. So wood is the mother of fire and earth is the child of fire.

Inter-restraint

Inter-restraint means that one thing controls and restrains another thing in the five elements. The order of inter-restraint also follows certain rules and forms a circle, i.e.

wood restraining earth (木克土),
earth restraining water (土克水),
water restraining fire (水克火),
fire restraining metal (火克金), and
metal restraining wood (金克木).

Since the thing being restrained "can not dominate the one that controls it" and the thing restraining another "dominates the one that it controls", the inter-restraint relationship among the five elements is also known as the relationship of domination and submission.

Take water for example. The one that restrains water is earth and the one that is restrained by water is fire. For this reason, earth is called the dominator of water and fire is called the submitter of water.

 

A garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs, like life itself.

- May Sarton