An article in the papers tells us that an ingredient in watermelon - citrulline - is converted to the amino acid arginine in our body. Arginine increases concentration of NO, which is a vasodilator. This substance is hence seen as something that will benefit our cardiovascular system.
Interestingly, citrulline is more concentrated in the rind than […]
The situation:
“少阴病，二三日不已，至四五日，腹痛，小便不利，四肢沉重疼痛，自下利者，此为有水气。
其人或咳，或小便利，或下利，或呕者，真武汤主之。”
This guy has a shaoyin illness which does not resolve in 2-3 days. Until the 4th-5th day, his abdomen starts hurt, his urine doesn’t come out too smoothly and his four limbs feel heavy and aching all over. And he’s got diarrhea too. This is called 水气 aka water-qi.
If he’s coughing, or his urine’s […]
The situation:
“太阳病发汗，汗出不解，其人仍发热，
心下悸，目眩，身瞤动，振振欲擗地也，
真武汤主之。”
There’s an exterior disease, and somehow sweating doesn’t help get rid of it. Whether just due to the loss of fluids, or if just part of the original disease process, the guy starts palpitating (likely to be tachycardia), gets dizzy, the body goes into spasms, and he looks like he wants to fall to […]
桂枝甘草汤：
“发汗过多，其人叉手自冒心，心下悸，欲得按者，桂枝甘草汤主之。”
Here we learn about the most valuable players used in treating cardiovascular problems: 桂枝 and 炙甘草.
It’s weak heart-yang that’s the problem, usually understood as the path leading heart failure. Both of the herbs are warm and acrid and can boost yang energy. That’s why why use the phrase “辛甘化阳” to describe this herb combination. 桂枝 […]
Even in death, TCM speaks of yin and yang. Either yin or yang precedes the word for death, 亡 (as in 死亡).
亡阳 is when your yang is almost exterminated. That means your body is in a state of severe cold. It is described in TCM textbooks as:
冷汗淋漓、汗质稀淡
神情淡漠，肌肤不温，手足厥冷
面色苍白
舌淡而润
脉微欲绝
Most of the manifestations described above sound like Shock. […]
