categorization

[Guest guest]

todd wrote:

 

Perhaps it is merely the arbitrariness of categories. In fact, were gou

qi zi, he shou wu, shu di and sang shen typically considered yin tonics

(as I know they are in some sources), then the student might well be

asking the opposite question, i.e. how come so many yin tonics also

tonify the blood, ...? :-)

 

--

 

we were taught (by Guohui Liu at OCOM) sang shen and gou qi zi in the Yin

tonics category.

and, for that matter, we were taught huang jing in the yin tonics category

(as opposed to Qi tonic).

furthermore, we were taught qing hao (cl summerheat), bai wei, di gu pi, yin

chai hu (all cool blood) and hu huang lian (cl damp-heat) all in the " herbs

to reduce xu heat and clear xu fire " category.

i agree that the categorizations are totally arbitrary. they're useful for

learning the herbs, but hopefully we can eventually think of each herb apart

from it's classical categorization, in terms of it's entire spectrum of

properties. who thinks of garlic, for instance, foremost as an herb to kill

worms (or, in the case of my education, as an herb for external

application)? or as ling zhi primarily as an herb to calm the shen?

[Guest guest]

we were taught (by Guohui Liu at OCOM) sang shen and gou qi zi in the Yintonics category.and, for that matter, we were taught huang jing in the yin tonics category(as opposed to Qi tonic).furthermore, we were taught qing hao (cl summerheat), bai wei, di gu pi, yinchai hu (all cool blood) and hu huang lian (cl damp-heat) all in the "herbsto reduce xu heat and clear xu fire" category.i agree that the categorizations are totally arbitrary. they're useful forlearning the herbs, but hopefully we can eventually think of each herb apartfrom it's classical categorization, in terms of it's entire spectrum ofproperties. who thinks of garlic, for instance, foremost as an herb to killworms (or, in the case of my education, as an herb for externalapplication)? or as ling zhi primarily as an herb to calm the shen?>>>>>Just another example of the varied opinion within the OM traditions. And that is why we should not take any written word as a gospel truth

alonChinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education.

 

-

Peter Borten

Friday, September 22, 2000 2:36 AM

categorization

 

todd wrote:Perhaps it is merely the arbitrariness of categories. In fact, were gouqi zi, he shou wu, shu di and sang shen typically considered yin tonics(as I know they are in some sources), then the student might well beasking the opposite question, i.e. how come so many yin tonics alsotonify the blood, ...? :-)--we were taught (by Guohui Liu at OCOM) sang shen and gou qi zi in the Yintonics category.and, for that matter, we were taught huang jing in the yin tonics category(as opposed to Qi tonic).furthermore, we were taught qing hao (cl summerheat), bai wei, di gu pi, yinchai hu (all cool blood) and hu huang lian (cl damp-heat) all in the "herbsto reduce xu heat and clear xu fire" category.i agree that the categorizations are totally arbitrary. they're useful forlearning the herbs, but hopefully we can eventually think of each herb apartfrom it's classical categorization, in terms of it's entire spectrum ofproperties. who thinks of garlic, for instance, foremost as an herb to killworms (or, in the case of my education, as an herb for externalapplication)? or as ling zhi primarily as an herb to calm the shen?Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education.