understanding Huo4 as a descriptive term used relative to the elimination of phlegm

[Guest guest]

Sorrry for not sending these all at one time, but I had another quick look at

the Eastland Press glossary (Dan Bensky's on line resource), and interestingly,

he also defines huo4 as " dislodges, forcefully removes. " This seems to be the

common denominator: " Forceful elimination or removal. "

" Enquiring minds want to know! "

 

Yehuda

 

wrote:

One additional note: In Wiseman's Practical DIctionary of Chinese

Medicine he defines " sweep " (huo4) as, " Forceful elimination of evils, such as

phlegm. "

 

wrote: Thank you Eric. Can you explain in

more detail the etymology and implications of the character/term huo4. I find it

very difficult to grasp how vaporize, dislodge and sweep can be viewed as

synonyms. Their connotations are all so different, the first implying being

transformed from liquid to gas, the second implying getting unstuck, and the

third implying being moved as it were, like with a broom or a perhaps a

parastaltic, rhythmic type of motion.

 

Yehuda

 

Eric Brand <smilinglotus wrote:

, yehuda frischman

< wrote:

>

> How interesting. I wonder why he changed the indication from

" vaporize " to " dislodge " . Obviously a very different connotation. I

further wonder what the term or terms were that were used in the

original Chinese text that Dan Bensky uses as his basis in the two

editions.

 

The Chinese term for the action of shi chang pu is often expressed as

huo4 tan2, this appears to be the action that Bensky is translating as

" vaporize " or " dislodge. " Wiseman translates the term huo4 tan2 as

" sweeps phlegm " ; sweeping phlegm is also used by the WHO in their

English translations for huo4 tan2.

 

Eric Brand

 

 

 

 

 

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