Your complete reference guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts, terminology, and practices.

Five Elements Theory (Wu Xing)

Wood (Mu) — Liver, Gallbladder. Spring. Anger. Sour taste. Green color.

Fire (Huo) — Heart, Small Intestine. Summer. Joy. Bitter taste. Red color.

Earth (Tu) — Spleen, Stomach. Late Summer. Worry. Sweet taste. Yellow color.

Metal (Jin) — Lung, Large Intestine. Autumn. Grief. Spicy taste. White color.

Water (Shui) — Kidney, Bladder. Winter. Fear. Salty taste. Black/Blue color.

12 Meridians & Peak Times

5-7 AM: Large Intestine — Best time for elimination

7-9 AM: Stomach — Digestion strongest, eat breakfast

9-11 AM: Spleen — Mental peak, hardest work

11 AM-1 PM: Heart — Cardiovascular peak, rest

1-3 PM: Small Intestine — Digestion & absorption

3-5 PM: Bladder — Energy output, hydration

5-7 PM: Kidney — Vital essence storage

7-9 PM: Pericardium — Emotional balance

9-11 PM: Triple Burner — Endocrine system

11 PM-1 AM: Gallbladder — Decision making

1-3 AM: Liver — Detoxification (should be sleeping)

3-5 AM: Lung — Immune system

Key TCM Concepts

Qi — Vital life force energy flowing through meridians

Yin/Yang — Complementary opposites governing all life

Shen — Spirit, consciousness, mental clarity

Jing — Essence, inherited vitality

Xue (Blood) — Nourishes body, anchors Shen

Dampness — Sluggish energy, fluid retention

Qi Deficiency — Fatigue, weak voice, poor digestion

Yin Deficiency — Night sweats, dry mouth, restlessness

Yang Deficiency — Cold limbs, frequent urination, low energy

Blood Stagnation — Pain, purple tongue, fixed masses

Top 10 Acupressure Points

LI4 (Hegu) — Hand webbing. Headaches, face issues. ⚠️ Avoid during pregnancy

ST36 (Zusanli) — Below knee. Energy, immunity, digestion

PC6 (Neiguan) — Inner wrist. Nausea, anxiety, sleep

GV26 (Renzhong) — Below nose. Revival, mental alertness

LV3 (Taichong) — Foot top. Stress, anger, menstrual pain

SP6 (Sanyinjiao) — Inner lower leg. Digestion, menstrual, sleep

KI1 (Yongquan) — Sole of foot. Grounding, anxiety, sleep

HT7 (Shenmen) — Outer wrist. Insomnia, palpitations

GB20 (Fengchi) — Base of skull. Neck pain, headaches, cold

BL60 (Kunlun) — Behind ankle. Back pain, labor induction

Essential Herbs

Ginseng (Ren Shen) — Qi tonic, energy, immunity

Astragalus (Huang Qi) — Wei Qi, immune defense

Goji (Gou Qi Zi) — Liver/Kidney Yin, eyes

Reishi (Ling Zhi) — Calming, immunity, longevity

Cordyceps (Dong Chong Xia Cao) — Lung/Kidney Yang, stamina

Dong Quai (Dang Gui) — Blood tonic, women's health

Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) — Kidney/Liver blood, Yin

Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi) — All 5 flavors, astringent

Jujube (Da Zao) — Spleen Qi, calms Shen

Licorice (Gan Cao) — Harmonizes formulas, detox

Diagnosis Methods

Tongue Diagnosis — Color, coating, shape reveal organ health

Pulse Diagnosis — 3 positions × 2 depths = 12 organs

Face Reading — Facial zones map to internal organs

Body Constitution — 9 types determine optimal treatment

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