OM519 DOS 6 Stages, 4 Levels, 3 Burners; Spring 2015; Dr. Lau
Six Stages Assignment 1 – Taiyang, Shaoyang, Yangming Stages
The following will be turned in typed and either printed or (preferably) emailed. This document can be
modified with the discussion listed underneath. Be comprehensive and thorough in your answers.
Maciocia’s, Foundations of Chinese Medicine should serve as a good reference, as will Chinese Herbal
Medicine: Formulas and Strategies, by Dan Bensky and A Manual of Acupuncture, by Peter Deadman
(commentaries for relevant herbal formulas and points). Other references are listed below.
1. Describe the manifestations of chills and fever in relationship to pathogens in the Taiyang,
Yangming and Shaoyang stages. What is the primary differentiating features related to chills and
fever associated with these stages? Discuss the pathophysiology of chills and fever associated
with these stages from a Chinese medical perspective.
2. Discuss sweating in relation to Cold Damage and Wind Strike. Describe the pathophysiology of
sweating in relation to these patterns.
3. Discuss fever in relation to Cold Damage and Wind Strike. Describe the pathophysiology of fever
in relation to these patterns.
4. Discuss the treatment principles for Cold Damage and Wind Strike and give a rationale of these
treatment principles (describe what each step of the treatment principle is doing and why it is
necessary).
5. Describe the differentiating features of the two Taiyang organ patterns.
6. When a pathogen resides in the Yangming stage, is it interior or exterior? What are the
characteristics of this stage? What are the differentiating features of the channel versus the
organ pattern?
7. Describe a pathogen in the Shaoyang stage in relation to interior and exterior of the body. What
is the main manifestation associated with this stage and how does it relate to interior/exterior?
Which manifestations are related to and consistent with Shaoyang channel problems (especially
Gallbladder) in general?
8. For each of the Yang stages list the herbal formula used in treatment. List the herbs that are in
this formula and describe the purpose of this herb in the formula.
9. For each of the Yang stages list the acupuncture treatment discussed in class and give a
rationale for the points used. Discuss other points or point combinations you might consider and
give a rationale for their use.
10. List biomedical conditions associated with the four Taiyang patterns discussed. The following
resources in the library might be helpful: Clinical Handbook of Internal Medicine: The Treatment
of Disease with Traditional Chinese Medicine, vol. 1 by Will MacLean; The Treatment of Modern
Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine, by Bob Flaws; any comprehensive herb
formula text (look at the commentary for various formulas described). In the discussion, list the
signs, symptoms, etiology and pathophysiology of these conditions.