Looking at shen

It is a diagnostic method, by which a physician observes the general manifestation of life acticities to judge the nature of a disease.
Shen is defined in both broad and narrow senses. In a boad sense, it refers to the exterior manifestation of life acitivitives or life. In a narrow sense, it refes to mental faculties. i.e. sporit, consciouseness and thinking process.

2.1.1.1 Principles of Looking at Shen

Shen is closely related to essence, qi and zang-fu organs. It comes from the prenatal essence and is constantly nourished ba the acquired essence from food and drinks, Only when the two and qi, blood and body fluids are abundant, the zang-fu organs can function well. Qi is the material basis of shen while the latter is the external manifestation of the former. Sound health and vigorous spirit indicate abundance of qi. In such a condition, when one falls ill. it is a mild case and has good prognosis. On the contrary, emation ans lack of vitality suggest deficiency of qi. Then , when one falls ill, it is a severe case and has poor prognosis. Thus, observation of shen helps to identify the condition of qi the case and its prognosis.
2.1.1.2 External Manifestations of Shen

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes that "the body bulid and shen stay together", i.e. when the body bulid is stong, shen is vigorous. Although shen is the general manifestation of life activities, it is wspecially reflected from the eyes, complexion, facial expression in eyes, physique and behavior, among which observing eyes is most important.
(1) Eyes: Linked to the brain, eyes are directly controlled by the mind and are the place where qi of the zang-fu organs converges, so visual functions reflect the condition of the essence and qi of qi of the zang-fu organs.Generally speaking, bright eyes with dexterous movement and good vision insion indicate abundant qi of qi the zang-fu organs, while dull look and spiritless eyes with clumsy movement and blurred vision are a sign of declining qi of the zang-fu organs.
(2)Color and luster: It refers to the change of the colour and luster of the skin (especially the face), and the superficial tissues. Color and luster of the skin can refectthe condition of the zang-fu organs, qi and blood Thus. changes of the color and luster of the skin and superficial tissues are an important indicator of the condition of the zang-fu organs, qi and blood.
(3)Mentality and facial expression:

[quote="Admin"] It is a diagnostic method, by which a physician observes the general manifestation of life acticities to judge the nature of a disease.
Shen is defined in both broad and narrow senses. In a boad sense, it refers to the exterior manifestation of life acitivitives or life. In a narrow sense, it refes to mental faculties. i.e. sporit, consciouseness and thinking process.

2.1.1.1 Principles of Looking at Shen

Shen is closely related to essence, qi and zang-fu organs. It comes from the prenatal essence and is constantly nourished ba the acquired essence from food and drinks, Only when the two and qi, blood and body fluids are abundant, the zang-fu organs can function well. Qi is the material basis of shen while the latter is the external manifestation of the former. Sound health and vigorous spirit indicate abundance of qi. In such a condition, when one falls ill. it is a mild case and has good prognosis. On the contrary, emation ans lack of vitality suggest deficiency of qi. Then , when one falls ill, it is a severe case and has poor prognosis. Thus, observation of shen helps to identify the condition of qi the case and its prognosis.
2.1.1.2 External Manifestations of Shen

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes that "the body bulid and shen stay together", i.e. when the body bulid is stong, shen is vigorous. Although shen is the general manifestation of life activities, it is wspecially reflected from the eyes, complexion, facial expression in eyes, physique and behavior, among which observing eyes is most important.
(1) Eyes: Linked to the brain, eyes are directly controlled by the mind and are the place where qi of the zang-fu organs converges, so visual functions reflect the condition of the essence and qi of qi of the zang-fu organs.Generally speaking, bright eyes with dexterous movement and good vision insion indicate abundant qi of qi the zang-fu organs, while dull look and spiritless eyes with clumsy movement and blurred vision are a sign of declining qi of the zang-fu organs.
(2)Color and luster: It refers to the change of the colour and luster of the skin (especially the face), and the superficial tissues. Color and luster of the skin can refectthe condition of the zang-fu organs, qi and blood Thus. changes of the color and luster of the skin and superficial tissues are an important indicator of the condition of the zang-fu organs, qi and blood.
(3)Mentality and facial expression:It refers to consciousness and facial expression, anouter manifestation of mental faculty and condition of the essence and qi of the zang-fu organs. Mentality and facial expression are the external expressions of the mind and the condition of qi of the zang-fu organs, Mental faculty dominates the body, If it is normal, one has full conscioudness and retional thoughts, natural expression and quick response. On the contrary, one is in a state of delirium, irrational thoughts, apatheticexpression and sluggish response.
(4)Physical build and patterns of movement:Strong physical build and free movement of the body are the sign of full vitality, on the contrary, lack of vitality.
Besides the above, speech, breathing, tongue and pulse cindition should be observed, based on which a comprehenxive judgment is made.

2.1.1.3 Classification and Judgment of Shen

Based on the preponderance and discomfiture of shen and the condition of a case, shen is generally diveded into five types:full of vitality, lack of vitality, loss of vitality, false manifestation of vitality and mental abnomality.
(1)Full of vitality: Its manifestations are flexible eye movement, a sparking in the eyes, bright and glossy complexion and strong muscles, which refers to zbundance, of essence and qi and sound health, a sign of a mild case with sufficient qi and favorable prognosis.
(2)Lack of vitality: Its clinical manifestations are dull look, no sparking in the eyes, lusterless and grey complexion, lassitude, slow respomse, flaccid mscles and sluggish movement, know as"deficiency of mental faculty". indicating deficiency of qi and functional declining usually seen in patients with a deficiency syndrome or in patients in the convelescence when pathogenix factors are gone and healthy qi is weak.
(3)Loss of vitality caused by deficient essence and

[quote="Admin"][quote="Admin"] It is a diagnostic method, by which a physician observes the general manifestation of life acticities to judge the nature of a disease.
Shen is defined in both broad and narrow senses. In a boad sense, it refers to the exterior manifestation of life acitivitives or life. In a narrow sense, it refes to mental faculties. i.e. sporit, consciouseness and thinking process.

2.1.1.1 Principles of Looking at Shen

Shen is closely related to essence, qi and zang-fu organs. It comes from the prenatal essence and is constantly nourished ba the acquired essence from food and drinks, Only when the two and qi, blood and body fluids are abundant, the zang-fu organs can function well. Qi is the material basis of shen while the latter is the external manifestation of the former. Sound health and vigorous spirit indicate abundance of qi. In such a condition, when one falls ill. it is a mild case and has good prognosis. On the contrary, emation ans lack of vitality suggest deficiency of qi. Then , when one falls ill, it is a severe case and has poor prognosis. Thus, observation of shen helps to identify the condition of qi the case and its prognosis.
2.1.1.2 External Manifestations of Shen

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes that "the body bulid and shen stay together", i.e. when the body bulid is stong, shen is vigorous. Although shen is the general manifestation of life activities, it is wspecially reflected from the eyes, complexion, facial expression in eyes, physique and behavior, among which observing eyes is most important.
(1) Eyes: Linked to the brain, eyes are directly controlled by the mind and are the place where qi of the zang-fu organs converges, so visual functions reflect the condition of the essence and qi of qi of the zang-fu organs.Generally speaking, bright eyes with dexterous movement and good vision insion indicate abundant qi of qi the zang-fu organs, while dull look and spiritless eyes with clumsy movement and blurred vision are a sign of declining qi of the zang-fu organs.
(2)Color and luster: It refers to the change of the colour and luster of the skin (especially the face), and the superficial tissues. Color and luster of the skin can refectthe condition of the zang-fu organs, qi and blood Thus. changes of the color and luster of the skin and superficial tissues are an important indicator of the condition of the zang-fu organs, qi and blood.
(3)Mentality and facial expression:It refers to consciousness and facial expression, anouter manifestation of mental faculty and condition of the essence and qi of the zang-fu organs. Mentality and facial expression are the external expressions of the mind and the condition of qi of the zang-fu organs, Mental faculty dominates the body, If it is normal, one has full conscioudness and retional thoughts, natural expression and quick response. On the contrary, one is in a state of delirium, irrational thoughts, apatheticexpression and sluggish response.
(4)Physical build and patterns of movement:Strong physical build and free movement of the body are the sign of full vitality, on the contrary, lack of vitality.
Besides the above, speech, breathing, tongue and pulse cindition should be observed, based on which a comprehenxive judgment is made.

2.1.1.3 Classification and Judgment of Shen

Based on the preponderance and discomfiture of shen and the condition of a case, shen is generally diveded into five types:full of vitality, lack of vitality, loss of vitality, false manifestation of vitality and mental abnomality.
(1)Full of vitality: Its manifestations are flexible eye movement, a sparking in the eyes, bright and glossy complexion and strong muscles, which refers to zbundance, of essence and qi and sound health, a sign of a mild case with sufficient qi and favorable prognosis.
(2)Lack of vitality: Its clinical manifestations are dull look, no sparking in the eyes, lusterless and grey complexion, lassitude, slow respomse, flaccid mscles and sluggish movement, know as"deficiency of mental faculty". indicating deficiency of qi and functional declining usually seen in patients with a deficiency syndrome or in patients in the convelescence when pathogenix factors are gone and healthy qi is weak.
(3)Loss of vitality caused by deficient essence, abundant pathogenic factors and deranges mental faculy, usually seen in patients with a deficiency syndrome in a chronic disease o an excess syndrome.
1)loss of vitality caused by deficient exxence and declining vetality:Its manifextations are dull look and spiritless eyes,lusterless and dark complexion, lassitude, mental confusion, emciation and slow response,which indicates discomfiture of qi and declines functions, It is mainly seen in patients with a chroice or severe disease. Prognosis is unfavorable.
2)loss of vitality caused by excessive pathogenic factors and deranged mentality: Its manifestations are high fever, irritability and vonvulsion;or coma, delirium, and abnormal behavior; or sudden loss of consciousness, tightly closed hands and lockjaw, which impliex hhyperactivity of pathogenic factors, disturbance of mentality by heat and invasion of the pericardium by pathogenic factors;factors'or orifices misted by phlegm due to blockage of channels and collaterals. It is mainly by heat and invasion of the pericardium by pathogenic factors'or orifices misted by phlegm use to blockage of channels and collaterals. It is usually seen in patients with an acute severe disease.
4)False manifestation of vitality: It is due to exhaustion of essence and qi in patients with a chronic diseade or in a critical condition. But suddenly they become vigorous and give an impression of "improvement" For example, originally thy have dull look, sallow complexion, lassitude, restlessness and difficult movement, but they seem to have bright eyes, flushed face and clear mind, and try to get up with help, In addition, some patients suddenly become talkatioce, or want to takefood or to see family memers.
Differentiation of full of vitality, lack of vitality, loss of vitality and false
(5)Mental abnormity:It refers to mental confusion of insanity, clinically seen in patients with depressive psychosis:It manifests itself as depression, apathetic expreddion, lack of motion, uncommunication of muttering to onesef, unreasonable crying and laughing, ususlly caused by emotional problems, qi stagnation and phlegm obstruction, and the mind clouded by phlegm.
1)depressive psychosis: It manifests itself as depression, apathetic expression, lack of motion, uncommunication or muttering to oneself, unreasonnable crying and laughing, usually aaused by emotional problems, qi stagnation and phlegm obstruction, and the mind clouded by phlegm.
2)mania:Its manifestations are excitement, fretfulness, fury, irritability, violent behavior, incoherent speech and unreasonable crying and laughing,ususlly caused by paychical stimulus, anxiety and fury, fire turned from qi stagnation and production of phlegm, which mists the mind.
3)epilepsy:It manifests itself as sudden loss of consciousness, or sudden fall, coma. convulsion, upward staring eyes, foam aroud the mouth or queer cries. Patients come to when moved.Then they looknormal. This condition is ususlly caused by emotional disturbance and phlegm generation from qi stagnation, and the mind misted by phlegm combined with liver wind.
4)dementia:Its manifestations are forgerfulness, inertia, indifference, umcommunication, solitary or even fooloshiness and abnormal behavior, usually poot health from aging , qi stagnation due to worry, and the wind clouded by phlegm.

2.1.1.4 Precautions in Looking at Shen
(1)To pay attention to the first impression: True mental manifestations show

[quote="Admin"][quote="Admin"][quote="Admin"] It is a diagnostic method, by which a physician observes the general manifestation of life acticities to judge the nature of a disease.
Shen is defined in both broad and narrow senses. In a boad sense, it refers to the exterior manifestation of life acitivitives or life. In a narrow sense, it refes to mental faculties. i.e. sporit, consciouseness and thinking process.

2.1.1.1 Principles of Looking at Shen

Shen is closely related to essence, qi and zang-fu organs. It comes from the prenatal essence and is constantly nourished ba the acquired essence from food and drinks, Only when the two and qi, blood and body fluids are abundant, the zang-fu organs can function well. Qi is the material basis of shen while the latter is the external manifestation of the former. Sound health and vigorous spirit indicate abundance of qi. In such a condition, when one falls ill. it is a mild case and has good prognosis. On the contrary, emation ans lack of vitality suggest deficiency of qi. Then , when one falls ill, it is a severe case and has poor prognosis. Thus, observation of shen helps to identify the condition of qi the case and its prognosis.
2.1.1.2 External Manifestations of Shen

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes that "the body bulid and shen stay together", i.e. when the body bulid is stong, shen is vigorous. Although shen is the general manifestation of life activities, it is wspecially reflected from the eyes, complexion, facial expression in eyes, physique and behavior, among which observing eyes is most important.
(1) Eyes: Linked to the brain, eyes are directly controlled by the mind and are the place where qi of the zang-fu organs converges, so visual functions reflect the condition of the essence and qi of qi of the zang-fu organs.Generally speaking, bright eyes with dexterous movement and good vision insion indicate abundant qi of qi the zang-fu organs, while dull look and spiritless eyes with clumsy movement and blurred vision are a sign of declining qi of the zang-fu organs.
(2)Color and luster: It refers to the change of the colour and luster of the skin (especially the face), and the superficial tissues. Color and luster of the skin can refectthe condition of the zang-fu organs, qi and blood Thus. changes of the color and luster of the skin and superficial tissues are an important indicator of the condition of the zang-fu organs, qi and blood.
(3)Mentality and facial expression:It refers to consciousness and facial expression, anouter manifestation of mental faculty and condition of the essence and qi of the zang-fu organs. Mentality and facial expression are the external expressions of the mind and the condition of qi of the zang-fu organs, Mental faculty dominates the body, If it is normal, one has full conscioudness and retional thoughts, natural expression and quick response. On the contrary, one is in a state of delirium, irrational thoughts, apatheticexpression and sluggish response.
(4)Physical build and patterns of movement:Strong physical build and free movement of the body are the sign of full vitality, on the contrary, lack of vitality.
Besides the above, speech, breathing, tongue and pulse cindition should be observed, based on which a comprehenxive judgment is made.

2.1.1.3 Classification and Judgment of Shen

Based on the preponderance and discomfiture of shen and the condition of a case, shen is generally diveded into five types:full of vitality, lack of vitality, loss of vitality, false manifestation of vitality and mental abnomality.
(1)Full of vitality: Its manifestations are flexible eye movement, a sparking in the eyes, bright and glossy complexion and strong muscles, which refers to zbundance, of essence and qi and sound health, a sign of a mild case with sufficient qi and favorable prognosis.
(2)Lack of vitality: Its clinical manifestations are dull look, no sparking in the eyes, lusterless and grey complexion, lassitude, slow respomse, flaccid mscles and sluggish movement, know as"deficiency of mental faculty". indicating deficiency of qi and functional declining usually seen in patients with a deficiency syndrome or in patients in the convelescence when pathogenix factors are gone and healthy qi is weak.
(3)Loss of vitality caused by deficient essence, abundant pathogenic factors and deranges mental faculy, usually seen in patients with a deficiency syndrome in a chronic disease o an excess syndrome.
1)loss of vitality caused by deficient exxence and declining vetality:Its manifextations are dull look and spiritless eyes,lusterless and dark complexion, lassitude, mental confusion, emciation and slow response,which indicates discomfiture of qi and declines functions, It is mainly seen in patients with a chroice or severe disease. Prognosis is unfavorable.
2)loss of vitality caused by excessive pathogenic factors and deranged mentality: Its manifestations are high fever, irritability and vonvulsion;or coma, delirium, and abnormal behavior; or sudden loss of consciousness, tightly closed hands and lockjaw, which impliex hhyperactivity of pathogenic factors, disturbance of mentality by heat and invasion of the pericardium by pathogenic factors;factors'or orifices misted by phlegm due to blockage of channels and collaterals. It is mainly by heat and invasion of the pericardium by pathogenic factors'or orifices misted by phlegm use to blockage of channels and collaterals. It is usually seen in patients with an acute severe disease.
4)False manifestation of vitality: It is due to exhaustion of essence and qi in patients with a chronic diseade or in a critical condition. But suddenly they become vigorous and give an impression of "improvement" For example, originally thy have dull look, sallow complexion, lassitude, restlessness and difficult movement, but they seem to have bright eyes, flushed face and clear mind, and try to get up with help, In addition, some patients suddenly become talkatioce, or want to takefood or to see family memers.
Differentiation of full of vitality, lack of vitality, loss of vitality and false
(5)Mental abnormity:It refers to mental confusion of insanity, clinically seen in patients with depressive psychosis:It manifests itself as depression, apathetic expreddion, lack of motion, uncommunication of muttering to onesef, unreasonable crying and laughing, ususlly caused by emotional problems, qi stagnation and phlegm obstruction, and the mind clouded by phlegm.
1)depressive psychosis: It manifests itself as depression, apathetic expression, lack of motion, uncommunication or muttering to oneself, unreasonnable crying and laughing, usually aaused by emotional problems, qi stagnation and phlegm obstruction, and the mind clouded by phlegm.
2)mania:Its manifestations are excitement, fretfulness, fury, irritability, violent behavior, incoherent speech and unreasonable crying and laughing,ususlly caused by paychical stimulus, anxiety and fury, fire turned from qi stagnation and production of phlegm, which mists the mind.
3)epilepsy:It manifests itself as sudden loss of consciousness, or sudden fall, coma. convulsion, upward staring eyes, foam aroud the mouth or queer cries. Patients come to when moved.Then they looknormal. This condition is ususlly caused by emotional disturbance and phlegm generation from qi stagnation, and the mind misted by phlegm combined with liver wind.
4)dementia:Its manifestations are forgerfulness, inertia, indifference, umcommunication, solitary or even fooloshiness and abnormal behavior, usually poot health from aging , qi stagnation due to worry, and the wind clouded by phlegm.

2.1.1.4 Precautions in Looking at Shen
(1)To pay attention to the first impression: True mental manifestations show accidentally, so aphysician should attach importance to the first impression when he meets the patient. He has to calm doen himself and observe the patien keenly. By a lool . a general impression is in his mind .Physicians should train themselves to analyze and make a judyment of the condition oof shen and the illness of patients bu a brief observation.
(2)To take both shen and physique into consideration: Shen and physique are closely related to each other. Strong physique indicates full of vitalyty and weak physique lack of vitality. However, the two are sometimes incongruous, If patients with a prolonged illness are thin and weak, they are in a state of loss of vitality,though they areconscious. As for patients with a recent illness, if they lose consciousness and show irritability, it is a critical sign, though they are strong, Thus, it is necessary to take shen and physique into consideration during diagnosis.
(3)To pay attention to crucial symptoms and signs: Some symptoms and signs are of vital importance in diagnosis of loss of vitality, such as coma, delirium, abnormal behavior, sudden fall, lying with hand open, enuresis, thin and weak muscles, no appetite and diarrhea, indicating loss of vitality.
(4)To differentiate false manifestation of vitality and condition turning better:When a sever illness turns better, the process is gradual and congruent with the relief of the general condition, e.g gradual increase in food intake and apperaance of better complexion, reappearance of thin white tongue coating, gradual restoration of functions. However, false manifestation of vitality often occurs in a critical condition. The patient suddenly becomes,but his general condition is still bad. The two do not agree with wach other and it is a temporal"relief".The condition soon deteri orates.