Nineteen pathomechanisms in Nei Jing

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Nineteen pathomechanisms are recorded in one of the four TCM classics, i.e. Nei Jing, Zhizhenyaodalun (《至真要大论》). The main content in this chapter is pathomechanism, which means the mechanism and key of diseases’ generation and transmission. In fact, analyzing pathomechanism is the process of syndrome differentiation in clinical practice. There are many books and articles that developed nineteen pathomechanisms in Chinese TCM history. For example, Dr. Liuwansu, one of four great physicians of the Jin and Yuan period, wrote a famous book “Suwenxuanjiyuanbingshi”, mainly talks about the clinical practice of nineteen pathomechanisms.
The first item of nineteen pathomechanisms is “zhu feng diao xuan, jie shu yu gan (诸风掉眩,皆属于肝)”，zhu and jie means most, shu means ascribing to, and diaoxuan means shaking and dizzy vision. So this item tells that most of wind with shaking and dizzy vision is ascribed to liver. In five elements, both of wind and liver pertain to wood. The character of wind is shaking and vibration, so the symptoms caused by wind are often related with liver. The orifice opening of liver is eyes, and liver meridians reaches top of the head and tendons pertains to liver. Most symptoms of dizzy vision, dizziness, and twitch pertain to liver, but not all. For example, dizziness can also be caused by Qi insufficient of lung and spleen or phlegm.
To be continued.

Xiaohua Hu