The main way of thinking of traditional Chinese medicine is original thinking, which is a relatively stable mode of thinking and method rooted in traditional Chinese culture, reflecting the essence and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine. The original thinking of TCM is the soul of the development and progress of TCM. Mastering and applying the original thinking of TCM has important guiding significance and application value for the theoretical system and clinical practice of TCM. It has an extremely important role in enlightening and promoting the scientific research and innovative development in the field of contemporary and future Chinese medicine.
"Mr. Xie, I have been thinking about the original thinking of Chinese medicine, the most important of which is 'elephant thinking', but my understanding of 'elephant thinking' is not deep enough. Can you answer that for me? "
Teacher Xie smiled and nodded, motioning for Xiao Wang to sit down. He began to patiently explain: "'Elephant thinking' is a unique way of thinking in Chinese medicine. It is based on intuitive images, objects, and phenomena, and uses images and images as characteristics and laws to infer the laws of development and change of things. It can be said that 'elephant thinking' is one of the basic ways in which we understand life, health and disease. ”
'Image' can be an image, an object, a phenomenon, or an abstract image.
Xiao Wang carefully recorded Mr. Xie's words, and then asked, "What exactly does the 'elephant' in 'elephant thinking' refer to?" ”
Teacher Xie gently patted the classic books on the table and explained with a smile: "'Image' can be an image, an object, a phenomenon, or an abstract image. In traditional Chinese medicine, we often deduce the inner laws of things by observing their appearance. Just like what is said in "Zhou Yi", "The sage has the image of seeing the world, and he intends to describe it, like its object, which is the image of the so-called." This kind of 'image' is an observation and summary of the profound truth of the world. ”
Xiao Wang was fascinated by what he heard, and his heart was filled with a desire for a deeper understanding of Chinese medicine. Again, he asked, "What are the specific ways of 'elephant thinking'?" ”
Elephant thinking mainly includes image thinking, intentional thinking and image thinking
Teacher Xie explained with a smile: "'Elephant thinking' mainly includes three types: image thinking, intentional thinking and image thinking. The first is image thinking, which is the foundation of 'image thinking', that is, understanding things through the observation of images. The second is intentional thinking, which emphasizes the understanding and use of abstract imagery. Finally, there is the image thinking, which is the law of 'image thinking', that is, the use of the corresponding law to infer the development trend of things according to the observed images. "First, the image thinking in Chinese medicine is like thinking
Xiao Wang couldn't wait to ask: "Mr. Xie, what is the specific application of image thinking in traditional Chinese medicine?" ”
Teacher Xie pointed to a potted plant on the table and said, "Image thinking is a way of thinking that uses intuitive images and appearances to solve problems. The perceptual understanding obtained through direct contact with objective things is often a direct and vivid intuitive reflection of people's perception of objective things in practice. For example, the observation of the five organs in traditional Chinese medicine is a kind of image thinking. The heart is like a lotus, the lungs are like a beehive, and the spleen is flat like a horse's hoof. ”
Teacher Xie also said: "According to the physiological function characteristics of the internal organs and their morphological structure, traditional Chinese medicine divides the internal organs of the human body into three categories: the five internal organs, the six internal organs and the qi heng internal organs. The theory of Tibetan elephants mainly uses the method of measuring and measuring "Tibet" with "elephants" to study the morphological structure, physiological functions, pathological changes and interrelationships of various organs of the human body. Visceral, ancient as a collection, refers to the viscera that reside in the body; Elephant refers to the functional activities and pathological changes of the viscera reflected in the various signs outside the body. ”
Read more: "Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Wisdom of Tibetan Elephant Theory, Revealing the Interconnectedness of the Five Organs and Six Organs"
Xiao Wang carefully recorded every sentence, and after careful consideration, asked: "Then in the four diagnoses, how do the tongue and pulse images apply image thinking?" ”
Teacher Xie replied with a smile: "The tongue image and pulse image are also the embodiment of the image thinking of traditional Chinese medicine. Observation of changes in the texture and coating of the tongue is called 'tongue image', and palpation to observe changes in the image of the pulse is called 'pulse'. These are the main factors on which TCM syndrome differentiation is based. ”
Xiao Wang was fascinated by what he heard and couldn't help but sigh: "It turns out that the diagnosis of Chinese medicine is so colorful, and every disease has a vivid image. ”
The wind prevails and moves, and the limbs shake and tremble and convuls
Teacher Xie nodded and smiled: "Yes, image thinking is not only the observation and reproduction of existing images, but also the analogical reasoning of existing images, obtaining new images, and making thinking creative." For example, it is observed that the wind in nature is caused by the flow of air, and that 'when the wind wins, it moves', and that all clinical symptoms such as tremors and convulsions of shaking limbs, and wandering of the sick position are attributed to 'wind evil'. ”
Xiao Wang listened with relish and was inspired: "The creativity of image thinking really makes Chinese medicine more in-depth. ”
Teacher Xie looked at Xiao Wang with a smile and said: "Another example is the traditional Chinese medicine 'named after the elephant', the image of the root is like a humanoid, the name is ginseng, the whole plant is densely covered with white hairs, like a bald old man, called a pulsatilla, shaped like a crow's head, called aconitum." Image thinking can use many images of perception at the same time, or jump from one image to another, often producing image associations, inspired thinking, divergent thinking, etc. ”
Second, imagery thinking in traditional Chinese medicine image thinking
"Teacher Xie, can you talk about the theory of imagery thinking again, I don't understand it yet." Xiao Wang respectfully asked Teacher Xie for advice.
Teacher Xie smiled slightly and invited Xiao Wang to sit down. "Imagery thinking is a way of thinking abstractly from concrete things or phenomena on the basis of image thinking." Mr. Xie began to explain, his tone full of deep understanding of the topic.
Xiao Wang took out his notebook and carefully recorded every word of Teacher Xie. "From the images, phenomena, and appearances of many different things, we can extract the essence of things and discard the non-essential characteristics." Mr. Xie's explanation was clear and vivid, like an enlightening lecture.
Xiao Wang rubbed his forehead and seemed to have some understanding. "Mr. Xie, can you give a specific example?"
Teacher Xie nodded, he stood up and walked to the herb stand on the side. "For example, in nature, spring belongs to wood, yang energy rises, and the branches and leaves of plants and trees are smooth. The excretion function of the liver is mainly ascending and dispersing, and the sex is happy and comfortable, which is similar to the wood gas of spring, so the liver belongs to the wood. Mr. Xie pointed to the verdant plants, and his tone revealed a deep insight into the natural world.
Xiao Wang listened intently and recorded. Another example is traditional Chinese medicine, which examines the celestial phenomena, meteorological and physical phenomena in nature, as well as the changes in the Tibetan phenomena, tongue images, pulse images, and disease signs of the human body. Through these changes, we can speculate on the possible effects of natural gasification on the human body, and analyze the human body's disease signs, tongue images, and pulse images to judge the internal condition, which is the so-called 'outside the outside and inside'. ”
Xiao Wang frowned slightly, falling into deep thought. "This way of thinking seems to be able to understand the etiology and pathogenesis more comprehensively, which is of great help to TCM diagnosis and treatment."
Teacher Xie nodded, "Yes, the advantage of imagery thinking lies in the sublimation from the 'concrete' characteristics of figurative thinking to the 'abstract' characteristics, that is, from the concrete and visible 'image of form' to the abstract and invisible 'image of thought' that can only be perceived in consciousness, so as to realize the rise from 'image of form' to 'image of function dynamic', and then help to realize the analogy function of 'taking images and analogies'. ”
Xiao Wang showed a hint of a knowing smile. "Mr. Xie, how do you apply this way of thinking in practice?"
The use of wonder, in one mind
Teacher Xie smiled and sat back at the consultation table. "The meaning of the doctor is 'the magic of use, there is one heart', 'wisdom is unique, and it is clear and clear'. That is, based on the accumulation of previous knowledge and experience, deductive reasoning is carried out with intuitive perception and consideration. Teacher Xie gazed at Xiao Wang affectionately, "Grasp the phenomena manifested by things and the connections between these phenomena from the overall functional dynamics, extract the main etiology and pathogenesis, and establish the symptoms and treatment methods." ”
Third, the image thinking in Chinese medicine is the image thinking
"Teacher, please talk about the thinking of the image again, it always feels a little difficult to understand. Can you elaborate on that? Xiao Wang's eyes were full of anticipation.
Mr. Xie smiled slightly and began to explain: "Image-based thinking is based on the basic method of taking images and analogies, and according to the characteristics of a certain type of thing, the objects and phenomena that are similar, similar, and with the same characteristics are summarized into the same category. ”
Xiao Wang carefully recorded every word of the teacher, and he felt as if he had entered a mysterious and profound world of thinking.
"Su Wen ·Yin and Yang should be like the Great Treatise", that is, "the yin and yang of heaven and earth, combined with the yin and yang of the human body, its image corresponds, hence the name, its meaning is infinite (Ma Maki note)". Human life activities, imitating heaven and earth, are also called "Dharma images".
"For example," Mr. Xie continued, "TCM explores the common and essential characteristics between man and nature by correspondingly to the yin and yang of heaven and earth, and the yin and yang of the human body. This is the application of image thinking in Chinese medicine. In clinical practice, we are inseparable from the use of the way of thinking in response to syndrome differentiation and treatment, and prescription and prescription. ”
Xiao Wang thought about it and nodded: "Yes, Ying Xiang thinking is not only a way of thinking, but also a way of understanding the life of the entire universe. In traditional Chinese medicine, the way of thinking of 'taking images and comparing them' is of positive significance for explaining the corresponding images of heaven, earth, life and man. Teacher, please give me an example. ”
Teacher Xie nodded approvingly: "You understand very well. For example, the eastern, western, southern, and northern seas of China's region are combined with the sea of qi, blood, marrow, and water valley in the human body; With 12 major rivers and 8 lakes, the 12 meridians and 8 strange meridians of the human body are combined; With the image of the utensils in nature, it is combined with the "five veins corresponding to the image: liver vein string, heart vein hook, spleen vein generation, lung vein hair, kidney vein stone", in order to fit the growth and collection of yang energy in spring, summer, summer, autumn and winter. ”
Xiao Wang thought silently, feeling the teacher's words. He felt that this way of thinking seemed to open a new door and allowed him to see the profundity of Chinese medicine. Mr. Xie also said: "In clinical practice, syndrome differentiation and treatment, prescription and dispensing of medicines can be seen everywhere, and the application of the way of thinking should be seen. Nature, society, environment, living beings, and human beings, as independent forms, may be different, but as a whole of cosmic life, they have the same origin and universal connection, and all follow the law of 'corresponding images'. On the basis of image thinking, through the abstraction and refinement of image thinking and image thinking, TCM image thinking classifies things according to images and analyzes the world as a whole, so as to realize the understanding of the interrelationship and unity of the dynamic images of nature, society and the overall function of the human body. ”