Extra Shaoyang on your Burger?
Wu Yun Liu Qi, The Traditional Chinese Medicine Almanac for Health
Five Motions Six Climates (五运六气 Wǔ yùn liù qì) is not a study for the faint of heart. It is, however, quite interesting and when it comes up in conversation, people always want to know more. A thorough explanation, in particular an underlying analysis of the time periods and how they are calculated, is beyond the scope of my writing today. A brief reflection of some relevant chapters in the Neijing is reasonable, assuming I don’t run out of tea.
Neijing Suwen, Chapters 66 - 74, are generally considered the origin of Wu Yun Liu Qi theory, at least in writing. Many later books further elaborated on it, including the Injury by Cold Treaties (伤寒论 Shāng hán lùn) by Zhang Zhongjing, which applied it clinically. My experience is that most people tap out well before getting this deep into the chapters of the Neijing, and as such it’s rarely taught in schools and even less commonly applied in clinics. It’s too bad, really, because there’s something to it! Think of it as a farmers’ almanac, but regarding human health instead of crops.
Tian Gan Di Zhi - The Cosmic Stems and Earthly Branches Calendar
Before discussing Wu Yun Liu Qi, you will need a basic understanding of the traditional solar-lunar calendar Cosmic Stems Earthly Branches (天干地支 Tiān gān dì zhī). Let’s start with this year, 2022. The Tian Gan Di Zhi calendar indicates that 2022 is a Yang Water year, called Ren Yin. The names of each year can be calculated with a chart like this:
It’s not difficult to use this chart. Every year both the Cosmic Stem (Tian Gan) and Earthly Branches (Di Zhi) positions move one position to the right. So next year will be Gui Mao, then Jia Chen etc. There are 60 possible combinations which create a 60 year cycle. There are acupuncture systems based on this, namely the Ebb & Flow from Midnight to Noon (子午流注 Zǐ wǔ liú zhù) system, an analysis of which acupuncture points ‘open’ at specific times. That’s another story for another day and another pot of tea.
Wu Yun - The Yearly Guest Influence
The first aspect of Wu Yun Liu Qi theory is Wu Yun, or 5 Motions. These motions are essentially 10 ‘guest’ influences that alternate yearly (a Yin and Yang of each of the Five Elements). These guest influences overlay the normal ‘host’ positions, which are based on the Tian Gan Di Zhi calendar above. In the same way that a guest in your home will change the overall vibe, the guest influences as indicated by Wu Yun Liu Qi will change the normal dynamics of the standard host positions indicated by the Tian Gan Di Zhi calendar. This year the host position is Yang Water, which you can see in the above chart. The guest influence is Yang Wood (also called Excessive Wood). The chart that matches host elements (Tian Gan) to guest elements (Wu Yun) looks like this:
So what does it mean when Yang Wood dominates the year? Suwen Chapter 69 says:
岁木太过，风气流行，脾土受邪。
A year of excessive wood, there is a prevalence of wind Qi.Spleen earth suffers Xie (Maladaptation).
民病飱泄食减，体重烦冤，肠鸣腹支满。
People suffer from diarrhea with undigested food, poor appetite, heaviness of body, dysphoria, depression, borborygmus, abdominal distention, and fullness.甚则忽忽善怒，眩冒巅疾
When severe, it is easy to suddenly become angry, there is dizziness, and diseases of the head.化气不政，生气独治，云物飞动，草木不宁，甚而摇落。
The transformation of (earth) Qi is not enacted, and the generation (wood) Qi alone governs.So clouds fly by, grasses and trees are not stable. In severe cases, they shake and fall down.
反脇痛而吐甚，冲阳绝者，死不治。
In people, there will be flank pain and severe vomiting.If Chong Yang pulse (of the stomach) becomes exhausted, it leads to death and cannot be treated.
It sounds like a bad year for people with a predisposition for digestive issues. Also, easily aggravated people will be more temperamental than usual. If you have friends or family like this, it might be best to tread lightly around them. Actually, better safe than sorry, just avoid them altogether. If they ask why, tell them that the universe is making them more intolerable than normal this year. They’ll love that.
In the clinic you may notice stubborn digestive issues which are more difficult than normal to treat. The general Chinese medicine principle of reducing Wood, supplementing Earth, and strengthening Metal seems applicable throughout the whole of this year. Metal which usually restrains Wood might suffer from Wood reverse-controlling Metal, so asthma or other Lung-system disorders may flair up. The Gallbladder (Yang Wood) is likely to be overactive this year, and so gallstones may be on the menu for people prone to that sort of thing.
On the flip side, people who have weak Wood or Fire qualities, or that are simply Yang deficient in general, might benefit from a year like this. Best look on the bright side, right? The Neijing tends to make dreary predictions, but as the saying goes, ”Kissing frogs might eventually land you a prince.” I’m not sure if that’s really a saying, or if it applies here. Either way, hopefully you get my point.
Liu Qi - The Yearly Climatic Guest Influence, General Overview
The second part of the equation is the Liu Qi, which is a kind of climatic guest influence. The six Qi are Jueyin (Wind), Shaoyin (Fire), Shaoyang (Heat), Taiyin (Damp), Yangming (Dry), and Taiyang (Cold). This year is governed by Shaoyang, which represents Heat. Shaoyang is in a position called the Ruling Position of the Cosmos (司天 Sī tiān) and rules the first part of the year. There’s a second important position called Position at the Fountain (在泉 Zài quán) which this year this is Jueyin, representing Wind, and rules the second part of the year. Each of the Earthly Branches is paired with one of the six Qi (and its corresponding climate). Overall, the chart looks like this:
So what does it mean when Shaoyang dominates the year? Suwen Chapter 71 says:
少阳: 其运风鼓，其化鸣紊启坼，其变振拉摧拔，其病掉眩支脇惊骇。
Shaoyang: In movement it is the stirring of wind.In transformation it is the chaotic sounds of breaking.
In change it is shaking, pulling, breaking, plucking. In disease it is dizziness, pain of left and right flanks, and fright.
凡此少阳司天之政，气化运行先天，天气正，地气扰，风乃暴举，
木偃沙飞，炎火乃流，阴行阳化，雨乃时应，火木同德。
When there is a policy of Shaoyang governing the cosmos, transformations and movement of Qi precede the cosmos.The Qi of the cosmos is proper; the Qi of the earth is disturbed. Violent winds arise, trees bend and sand blows. The flaming of fire spreads. Yin moves, Yang transforms. It rains frequently. Fire and wood combine.
故风热参布，云物沸腾，太阴横流，寒乃时至，凉雨并起。
Hence, wind and heat unite and spread; clouds and structures are as if boiling.Taiyin flows uncontrolled. Cold arrives frequently. Coolness and rain emerge together.
民病寒中，外发疮疡，内为泄满
People suffer from interior cold.Externally, sores and ulcers break open. Internally, there is fullness and diarrhea.
故圣人遇之，和而不争。往复之作，民病寒热疟泄，聋瞑呕吐，上怫肿色变。
Hence, when encountered by sages, they seek to create harmony and do not fight.Repeated exposures will lead to people suffering from cold and heat, malaria and diarrhea, deafness, blurred vision, and vomiting. Above, there will be swelling and the complexion will change.
A bit of a mixed bag, but Wind and Heat syndromes seem commonplace. As well, digestive systems around the world sound like they may suffer cold patterns.
Liu Qi - The Yearly Climatic Guest Influence, 6 Periods
In addition to the general influence of Liu Qi, the year is broken into six periods of time, each with yet another influence that plays a mischievous role in our lives. Currently, as of this writing, this is the third period (roughly May 21st to July 23rd). What this means is that the normal fixed Shaoyang time period has the additional guest influence of Shaoyang. Double Shaoyang—yes, add more chili flakes to my bowl of chilli flakes, please. Breaking down the six time periods this year looks like this:
Let’s see what Suwen Chapter 71 says about this third period:
三之气，天政布，炎暑至，少阳临上，雨乃涯。
The third Qi: The policy of the Cosmos is widespread.Flaming summer heat arrives. Shaoyang arrives above, rain is limited.
民病热中，聋瞑血溢，脓疮咳呕，鼽衂渴嚏欠，喉痹目赤，善暴死。
People will suffer from interior heat, deafness, blurred vision, hemorrhage, purulent sores, coughing, vomiting, stuffy nose, nosebleeds, thirst, sneezing, yawning, throat obstruction, as well as from red eyes. Death comes suddenly.
I’m sure that ‘Death comes suddenly’ was on the warning label for an extra-hot spicy burrito I ate once.
For those wondering when this period of Shaoyang heat will end, it will shift around July 23rd, at which point there will be a transition to the guest Yangming influence. So, the standard host time will be Taiyin, which will now have Yangming couch-surfing for a couple of months. Let’s see what Suwen Chapter 71 says about this fourth period:
四之气，凉乃至，炎暑闲化，白露降。
The fourth Qi: Coolness arrives.Flaming summer heat transforms intermittently. White dew falls (a dense form of dew).
民气和平，其病满身重。
The Qi of the people is harmonious and balanced. People suffer from fullness and heaviness of the body.
The heat wave will pass (as expected), but it might not be a nice change for those with a predisposition for Damp-type syndromes.
I’m So Confused Right Now!
You and I both. The Neijing can be annoyingly vague, subjective, and confusing at times. When I look into it for answers, I often come away with more questions. It doesn’t completely leave you hanging, however. The answers are usually in there, you just need to dig, and you need to ponder for a while. In the case of Wu Yun Liu Qi theory, the specifics are a bit vague, but a general clinical approach is at least suggested.
So what does Suwen Chapter 71 say to do in a Shaoyang year?
抑其运气，赞所不胜，必折其郁气，先取化源，暴过不生，苛疾不起。
The excessive motion of Qi should be restrained, the Qi that is dominated should be supported. One must break the oppressive Qi, by first transforming the source (supporting the weak Qi). If sudden excess is not generated, severe diseases will not occur.故岁宜咸辛宜酸，渗之泄之，渍之发之。
So in this year it is appropriate to utilize salty, acrid, and sour. Apply diaphoresis, clearing heat, and dispersal.观气寒温以调其过，同风热者多寒化，异风热者少寒化，
用热远热，用温远温，用寒远寒，用凉远凉，食宜同法，此其道也。
Regulate excess according to the degree of heat or cold of the current Qi.If the current Qi is similar to wind heat, regulate with more cold. If the current Qi is dissimilar to wind heat, regulate with less cold. Do not employ heat when (due to the current Qi) there is abundant heat. Do not employ warmth when (due to the current Qi) there is abundant warmth. Do not employ cold when (due to the current Qi) there is abundant cold. Do not employ cool when (due to the current Qi) there is abundant cool.
Follow the same principle with foods. This is the way.
有假者反之，反是者，病之阶也。
If weather is irregular, apply the opposite (treatment principle). Acting contrary to this will cause illness.
There’s a degree of common sense in these instructions. Don’t overthink it.
In summary, reduce Wood, supplement Earth, and strengthen Metal. Use sour-flavoured herbs and foods throughout the year to strengthen Metal and restrain excessive Wood. Use cool and salty-flavoured herbs like Xuanshen (玄參 Xuán shēn) and foods to prevent Shaoyang heat from damaging Yin & Blood. Use acrid-flavoured herbs and foods toward the end of the year to purge Wind syndromes. Focusing on breathing exercises seems like a sensible health strategy this year.
Bottoms Up! - Final Thoughts
This is a lot to process, I know. Here’s how you can start applying these ideas:
These descriptions can be used to predict health issues and you can prepare accordingly. If you are familiar with your patients, you should know which patients will suffer or benefit from the changes of Wu Yun Liu Qi ahead of time. This is also a good way to potentially validate the theory clinically, which we should always try to do.
Don’t attempt to apply all of the various layers of Wu Yun Liu Qi at the same time, with one patient in one case. After making an assessment, look at which of the above layers of Wu Yun Liu Qi relates to their clinical presentation, and apply Wu Yun Liu Qi information accordingly. This may offer insight to specific root causes of illness that otherwise may not have been considered. As well, it may alter your treatment strategy, for example to treat at certain times of the day, or on certain days based on the days elemental characteristics, or even to examine the relationship with the Eight Pillars (八字 Bā zì) - Before you ask, Bazi is definitely another story for another day, and another HUGE pot of very strong tea.
The theory of Wu Yun Liu Qi maps out subtle environmental changes around us. You can use this theory to practice your own sense of awareness and build a better synergetic relationship with your environment.
That’s all for today, folks!
Illustrations are my own, feel free to use them.
Special thanks to Yonghao Yu for being a second set of eyes on the translations.