Root and Manifestation by differentiating Constitution -

When planning a treatment, besides considering the Root and the Manifestation, one must also
take into account the constitution of a person.

ESSENCE-QI-MIND

By constitution we mean the fundamental physical and mental make-up of an individual. According
to Chinese Medicine, the constitution is made up of three factors, i.e. Essence, QI and Mind (in
Chinese Jing-Qi-Shen).
Of these three elements, Essence is the foundation for the other two. If the inherited Essence is
strong, this will constitute a basis for a healthy life from the physical and mental point of view.
Obviously this does not mean a completely disease-free life as many other causes of disease can
undermine a person's health, but it does mean that the person will have a strong resistance to
disease.

Essence, QI and Mind are called in Chinese the 'Three Treasures' (San Bao). Health, strength,
vitality, happiness, willpower, mental stability and clarity, all depend on a good supply of these
three vital substances and their harmonious interaction.

Essence is related to the Kidneys, QI to the Lungs and Mind to the Heart.

These three substances also represent three different states of 'rarefaction', Essence, being the
coarsest and densest constituent, is the foundation. QI is the refined energy that nourishes the
body and mind, and the Mind is the most refined and immaterial of the three substances. Thus the
three Treasures represent an interaction between two poles of matter and energy, substantial and
non-substantial, physical and mental, which is typical of Chinese Medicine and philosophy.
The interaction of Essence and QI determines the state of the Mind: if Essence and QI are strong,
the Mind will be healthy and if the Essence and QI are weak, the Mind will suffer.
The state of the Essence gives an indication of the congenital, hereditary QI and the inherited
constitution, while the state of QI gives an indication of the acquired QI. The two together determine
the state of the Mind.


The state of the Essence can be gauged by the general vitality, symptomatology, pulse and
eyes.
Vitality and resistance to disease is indicative of a strong Essence. If this is weak, a person may
feel extremely tired and lethargic and be prone to attacks of exterior pathogenic factors.
Essence generates bones and nourishes the brain, so that when it is strong, the bones develop
normally and do not degenerate too rapidly with age. In addition, the mental faculties are clear and
memory good. If Essence is weak, there may be poor bone development in children, or early bone
degeneration in adults, poor mental development in children or poor memory and loss of hair or
premature greying of the hair in adults. The so-called Leather pulse (a pulse that feels stretched
like a drum on the superficial level and empty on the deep level) is indicative of a deficient Essence.
In some cases, a very Deep pulse which is nearly non-existent on both Rear positions also
indicates a deficiency of Essence.
The state of the Essence is also reflected in the eyes: eyes with 'glitter' show a good state of the
Essence and Mind, while eyes which are dull and opaque show a depleted state of the Essence
and a Mind disturbed by deep emotional problems.

The state of QI can of course be gauged by normal Chinese diagnosis based on the
symptomatology and observation particularly of the tongue and palpation of the pulse.

The state of the Mind is primarily a result of the interaction of Essence and QI, and is also reflected
in the eyes in the way mentioned above. The state of the Mind is also reflected in the Heart pulse:
if the Mind is strong the Heart pulse is strong but not overflowing. If the Mind is weak, the Heart
pulse may be very deep and 'without wave', i.e. it gives the impression of not flowing smoothly up
towards the wrist. On the other hand, if the Mind is disturbed, and the person has mental problems,
the Heart pulse may be full, hard and overflowing.

Chinese language shows how these concepts are rooted in Chinese culture.
The word 'JING-SHEN' (i.e. Essence-Mind) means 'mind' or 'consciousness', showing the
interaction and integration of body and mind typical of Chinese philosophy. 'JING-SHEN' can also
mean 'vigour', 'vitality', 'drive', all qualities which are present when both Essence and Mind are
healthy and strong.

It's a good understanding for the root and manifestation.
It may be also translated as primary and secondary.
Constitution is the very primary root!

As the Jing-Shen is concerned, in Chinese language, it also means spirit, energiticness, or even mood.

Hehe, Quite a extension of meaning.



[quote:2bcbc0559b="Dionisios"]When planning a treatment, besides considering the Root and the Manifestation, one must also
take into account the constitution of a person.

ESSENCE-QI-MIND

By constitution we mean the fundamental physical and mental make-up of an individual. According
to Chinese Medicine, the constitution is made up of three factors, i.e. Essence, QI and Mind (in
Chinese Jing-Qi-Shen).
Of these three elements, Essence is the foundation for the other two. If the inherited Essence is
strong, this will constitute a basis for a healthy life from the physical and mental point of view.
Obviously this does not mean a completely disease-free life as many other causes of disease can
undermine a person's health, but it does mean that the person will have a strong resistance to
disease.

Essence, QI and Mind are called in Chinese the 'Three Treasures' (San Bao). Health, strength,
vitality, happiness, willpower, mental stability and clarity, all depend on a good supply of these
three vital substances and their harmonious interaction.

Essence is related to the Kidneys, QI to the Lungs and Mind to the Heart.

These three substances also represent three different states of 'rarefaction', Essence, being the
coarsest and densest constituent, is the foundation. QI is the refined energy that nourishes the
body and mind, and the Mind is the most refined and immaterial of the three substances. Thus the
three Treasures represent an interaction between two poles of matter and energy, substantial and
non-substantial, physical and mental, which is typical of Chinese Medicine and philosophy.
The interaction of Essence and QI determines the state of the Mind: if Essence and QI are strong,
the Mind will be healthy and if the Essence and QI are weak, the Mind will suffer.
The state of the Essence gives an indication of the congenital, hereditary QI and the inherited
constitution, while the state of QI gives an indication of the acquired QI. The two together determine
the state of the Mind.


The state of the Essence can be gauged by the general vitality, symptomatology, pulse and
eyes.
Vitality and resistance to disease is indicative of a strong Essence. If this is weak, a person may
feel extremely tired and lethargic and be prone to attacks of exterior pathogenic factors.
Essence generates bones and nourishes the brain, so that when it is strong, the bones develop
normally and do not degenerate too rapidly with age. In addition, the mental faculties are clear and
memory good. If Essence is weak, there may be poor bone development in children, or early bone
degeneration in adults, poor mental development in children or poor memory and loss of hair or
premature greying of the hair in adults. The so-called Leather pulse (a pulse that feels stretched
like a drum on the superficial level and empty on the deep level) is indicative of a deficient Essence.
In some cases, a very Deep pulse which is nearly non-existent on both Rear positions also
indicates a deficiency of Essence.
The state of the Essence is also reflected in the eyes: eyes with 'glitter' show a good state of the
Essence and Mind, while eyes which are dull and opaque show a depleted state of the Essence
and a Mind disturbed by deep emotional problems.

The state of QI can of course be gauged by normal Chinese diagnosis based on the
symptomatology and observation particularly of the tongue and palpation of the pulse.

The state of the Mind is primarily a result of the interaction of Essence and QI, and is also reflected
in the eyes in the way mentioned above. The state of the Mind is also reflected in the Heart pulse:
if the Mind is strong the Heart pulse is strong but not overflowing. If the Mind is weak, the Heart
pulse may be very deep and 'without wave', i.e. it gives the impression of not flowing smoothly up
towards the wrist. On the other hand, if the Mind is disturbed, and the person has mental problems,
the Heart pulse may be full, hard and overflowing.

Chinese language shows how these concepts are rooted in Chinese culture.
The word 'JING-SHEN' (i.e. Essence-Mind) means 'mind' or 'consciousness', showing the
interaction and integration of body and mind typical of Chinese philosophy. 'JING-SHEN' can also
mean 'vigour', 'vitality', 'drive', all qualities which are present when both Essence and Mind are
healthy and strong.[/quote:2bcbc0559b]