Finally Returning to the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon

Why didn't I suggest we look at the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon first?

Because it is too profound, starting with the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon Classic is daunting and ultimately makes it impossible to find a way in.

So, we'll end with this book.

After reading "Treatise on Cold Damage", "Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet", "Record of Syndrome Differentiation", and "Records of Chinese and Western Medicine in Combination".

Many people feel that what they've learned up to this point is enough.

That's definitely enough.

But to truly understand the roots of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one must ultimately return to the most fundamental classic— the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon Classic.

It's not about reading the introductory text first, but rather learning the entire course before reading the introductory text.

When beginners start with the Inner Canon, they find it full of abstract theories, which seem empty and obscure, making it difficult to read and impossible to apply.

Only after you have accumulated a complete understanding of prescriptions, syndrome differentiation, and clinical practice will you realize that all the methods and ideas you learned before originated here.

The Six Channels Differentiation and Zang-Fu Differentiation that we learned before seem to be separate systems, but they all originate from the "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon".

The Six Channels Differentiation in the Treatise on Treatise on Cold Damage is derived from the Six Channels and Pathogenesis Theory in the Inner Canon Medicine.

The theory of internal organs, including their cold, heat, deficiency, and excess, in treating various diseases is based on the discussions of internal organs in the Basic Questions and Spiritual Pivot *.

Previously, I learned "how to differentiate," but now, after reading the Inner Canon, I understand "why differentiate in this way."

For example, why is the disease located in the Taiyang meridian, which belongs to the exterior, and why is the Shaoyang meridian, which is half exterior and half interior? Before, we just memorized the conclusions, but now we can understand it from the root causes of the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang and the advance and retreat of pathogenic factors and the body's resistance.

The previously memorized classical and contemporary prescriptions, their compatibility rules, and treatment principles.

Looking back, it's all from the sayings in the Inner Canon.

Treat the cold with heat, and the heat with cold.

"Supplement what is deficient, purge what is excessive."

The principles of "ruler, minister, assistant, and envoy" all Inner Canon Medicine.

Previously, prescriptions were mostly applied based on specific symptoms;

Looking back at the Inner Canon now, we can understand the medical principles behind the prescriptions.

For example, Cinnamon Twig Decoction) harmonizes Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive qi), which is essentially based on the idea in the Inner Canon of Medicine that "when Ying and Wei are in harmony, the disease will be cured."

Tonifying the kidneys requires a balance of Yin and Yang, based on the core principle of "Yin and Yang in harmony."

The preceding classic texts all revolve around diseases, symptoms, prescriptions, and medicines. Studying them for too long can easily lead to the limitation of "treating the head when it hurts."

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon discusses the Correspondence between Heaven and Humanity, the concept of holism, and the Treating Disease Before It Arises, which are the worldview and methodology of traditional Chinese medicine.

With clinical experience, reading it again won't feel like empty talk.

For example, why is it said that "when treating liver disease, one should first strengthen the spleen"?

Why regulate the kidneys when treating lung diseases? These holistic treatment approaches are all Inner Canon.

When studying the Inner Canon, start with the core chapters such as "Basic Questions: On the Correspondence of Yin and Yin and Yang", "Basic Questions: On Regulating the Channels", and "Spiritual Pivot: On the Organs". Focus on thoroughly understanding the core theories of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the Zang-Fu organs and meridians, the Ying-Wei Qi and Blood, and the etiology and pathogenesis. While reading, compare the text with the differentiation of syndromes and prescriptions you have learned before, verifying each one. This will leave a much deeper impression than simply memorizing the original text.

Don't memorize the clauses; focus on understanding these fundamental principles.

Interpreting scripture using clinical experience.

When reading, don't rely on annotations. Instead, compare your understanding with the diseases and prescriptions you already know. For example, when you read "Where evil gathers, the qi must be deficient," recall the consumptive diseases and external pathogenic diseases you have learned before and see if they all conform to this rule.

Use your own accumulated knowledge to interpret the scriptures, instead of just focusing on the annotations.

Therefore, the Inner Canon should not be read first at all.

Reading the Inner Canon without first understanding its basics is like trying to grasp abstract concepts without a foundation; it's incomprehensible and uninteresting, easily discouraging readers from reading it.

The best time to study the Inner Canon is when you finish your clinical studies and can apply every sentence to practice.

When reading the Inner Canon, don't get bogged down in word and phrase analysis or scattered passages.

There's no need to do Wenxian research. Overly detailed acupuncture techniques, the Five Movements and Six Qi, etc., can be set aside in the introductory stage. First, grasp the fundamental thinking of traditional Chinese medicine.

Reading the Inner Canon is not about finishing it once and putting it down, nor is it about finishing it in one go.

The Inner Canon is not a book you finish reading; it's a lifelong reference book.

When I encounter problems in clinical practice later, I go back to the relevant chapters, and each time I read them, I gain new insights.

The content on the Five Movements and Six Qi has been revised in twelve chapters due to its sensitive nature.

For both new and old readers: