[ENG]Oun-Yukgi (五運六氣) and Meridian Flow

CALee Acupuncture

 

1. Basic Explanation of Oun-Yukgi

Oun-Yukgi (五運六氣) is a crucial theory in Korean medicine used to explain and predict physiological and pathological phenomena in the human body. Oun (五運) elucidates the periodic energy transformations of the sun through the Five Elements cycle of the Heavenly Stems, while Yukgi (六氣) represents the climatic changes experienced by the Earth due to the sun's rising and setting, categorized into six Qi (energies): Wind (風), Heat (熱), Summer-Heat (暑), Dampness (濕), Dryness (燥), and Cold (寒).

Oun (五運) cycles every 10 years, starting with Gi (甲), and each Heavenly Stem is associated with specific Five Elements and Yin-Yang aspects. Yukgi (六氣) is used to explain the Earth's environmental changes, categorized into rising Yin Qi (energies) – Warm (溫), Heat (熱), Dampness (濕) – and descending Yang Qi (energies) – Cool (凉), Harmony (和), Cold (寒), and Dryness (燥).

2. Inyeong-Chonku Pulse Diagnosis (人迎寸口脈診) in the Huangdi Neijing

The Huangdi Neijing (黃帝內經) presents the Inyeong (人迎) and Chonku (寸口) pulse diagnosis methods to assess the body's Yin-Yang state and diagnose diseases.

• Inyeong Pulse (人迎脈): Reflects the condition of the Foot Shaoyang (足少陽經), Foot Taiyang (足太陽經), and Foot Yangming (足陽明經) meridians, primarily indicating Yang Qi.
• Chonku Pulse (寸口脈): Reflects the condition of the Foot Jueyin (足厥陰經), Foot Shaoyin (足少陰經), and Foot Taiyin (足太陰經) meridians, primarily indicating Yin Qi.

The size ratio of the Inyeong and Chonku pulses, along with the pulse's characteristics (deficiency, excess, agitation (躁), etc.), are used to determine the location and nature of the disease and guide treatment strategies.

Excerpts from the Huangdi Neijing (黃帝內經) Original Text

• "人迎一盛病在足少陽一盛而躁病在手少陽 人迎二盛病在足太陽二盛而躁病在手太陽 人迎三盛病在足陽明 三盛而躁病在手陽明 人迎四盛且大且數名日溢陽 溢陽為外格"
• "脈口一盛病在足厥陰一盛而躁 在手厥陰 脈口二盛病在足少陰二盛而躁在手少陰 脈口三盛病在足太陰三盛而躁 在手太陰 脈口四盛且大且數者 名日溢陰 溢陰為內關內關不通死不治"
• "人迎與太陰脈口俱盛 四倍以上命日關格 關格者與之短期"
• "人迎一盛瀉足少陽而補足厥陰 二瀉一補日一取之必切而驗之躁取之上氣和乃止 人迎二盛瀉足太陽補足少陰 二瀉一補 二日一取之必切而驗之躁取之上氣和乃止 人迎三盛瀉足陽明而補足太陰二瀉一補日二取之必切而驗之躁取之上氣和乃止 脈口一盛 瀉足厥陰而補足少陽二補一瀉日一取之必切而驗之躁而取上氣和乃止 脈口二盛 瀉足少陰補足太陽二補一瀉二日一取之必切而驗之躁取之上氣和乃止 脈口三盛瀉足太陰而補足陽明二補一瀉日二取之必切而驗之躁取之上氣和乃止 所以日二取之者 太陰主胃 大富於穀氣故可日二取之也 人迎與脈口俱盛三倍以上命日 陰陽俱溢 如是者不開則血脈閉塞氣無所行流淫於中五藏內傷 如此者因而灸之則變易而為他病矣 人迎一盛,病在足少陽,一盛而躁,病在手少陽。人迎二盛,病在足太陽,二盛而躁, 病在手太陽,人迎三盛,病在足陽明,三盛而躁,病在手陽明。人迎四盛,且大且數, 名日溢陽,溢陽為外格。

Explanation of the Excerpts

The excerpts from the Huangdi Neijing discuss how to interpret the relative strength of the Inyeong and Chonku pulses to diagnose imbalances and guide treatment.

• Pulse Location and Meridian Connection: The text establishes a link between the pulse locations and specific meridians.
  • "人迎一盛病在足少陽一盛而躁病在手少陽...": If the Inyeong pulse is stronger than the Chonku pulse, it indicates a condition in the Foot Shaoyang (足少陽) meridian. If the strong pulse is also agitated (躁), it involves the Hand Shaoyang (手少陽) meridian. Similar patterns are described for the Taiyang (太陽) and Yangming (陽明) meridians.  
  • "脈口一盛病在足厥陰一盛而躁 在手厥陰...": Conversely, if the Chonku pulse is stronger, it indicates a condition in the Foot Jueyin (足厥陰) meridian. An agitated pulse points to the Hand Jueyin meridian. The text follows with Shaoyin (少陰) and Taiyin (太陰) meridians.  
• Pulse Strength and Imbalance: The degree of difference in strength between Inyeong and Chonku is significant. A fourfold difference ("人迎四盛且大且數...") suggests a severe imbalance.  
• Treatment Principles: The text outlines treatment principles based on the pulse findings. The goal is to restore balance by either reducing excess (瀉) or supplementing deficiency (補).
  • "人迎一盛瀉足少陽而補足厥陰 二瀉一補日一取之...": If the Inyeong pulse is stronger, the treatment involves draining the Foot Shaoyang meridian and tonifying the Foot Jueyin meridian. The text also specifies the frequency of treatment ("日一取之" - once a day).  
• Cautions: The text warns about misdiagnosis and mistreatment, emphasizing the importance of accurate pulse assessment. 

3. The Flow of Oun-Yukgi and the Huangdi Neijing

The Qi (氣) circulation of Oun-Yukgi starts from Jueyin (厥陰), proceeds through Shaoyin (少陰), Taiyin (太陰), Shaoyang (少陽), Taiyang (太陽), and Yangming (陽明), and returns to Jueyin (厥陰). This flow aligns with the meridian flow that starts from the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian (足厥陰肝經) and connects to the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian (手厥陰心包經).

The Inyeong-Chonku pulse diagnosis in the Huangdi Neijing reflects the condition of the six meridians, which is closely related to the Yukgi (六氣) circulation of Oun-Yukgi. The Inyeong pulse reflects the three Yang meridians of the foot (足三陽經), while the Chonku pulse reflects the three Yin meridians of the foot (足三陰經). Therefore, assessing the Qi state of the six meridians through pulse diagnosis provides crucial information for understanding the physiological and pathological changes of Oun-Yukgi.

4. Oun-Yukgi Circulation Chart

Meridians (經絡) are pathways in the human body through which Qi and Blood (氣血) circulate, and the 12 meridians flow similarly to the Oun-Yukgi circulation path. The meridian flow that starts from the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian (足厥陰肝經) and connects to the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian (手厥陰心包經) corresponds to the Oun-Yukgi circulation of Jueyin (厥陰) → Shaoyin (少陰) → Taiyin (太陰) → Shaoyang (少陽) → Taiyang (太陽) → Yangming (陽明) → Jueyin (厥陰).

The Oun-Yukgi circulation chart visually represents this meridian flow, showing how each meridian is connected to specific times and Qi (氣) flows. This is important for clinical practice, suggesting that the temporal and spatial concepts of Oun-Yukgi can be applied to enhance the therapeutic effects of acupuncture and moxibustion, and herbal prescriptions.

Reference: DAOM LAc Hanok Lee, South Baylo University, Principles of Oun-Yukgi (五運六氣)