By: Charles Chace
The first systematic discussion of the extraordinary vessels in Chinese herbal medicine appears in Li Shizhen’s 李時珍Exposition on the Eight Extraordinary Vessels (Qijing bamai Kao奇經八脈考, circa, 1576).  In our forthcoming translation and commentary on this text, Exposition on the Extraordinary Vessels, Acupuncture, Alchemy and Herbal Medicine, Eastland Press, 2009, my co-author Miki Shima and I describe Li’s approach to herbal prescribing as an overarching “meta-diagnosis” encompassing a wide range of possible zangfu presentations. For instance, Li Shizhen…

Original Case by: Ye Tian-Shi
A woman was postpartum for over 10 years. When her disease broke out there was a droopy head, painful spine, sagging vertebral qi, heart pain[1], and a cold sweat. This was a du and ren vessel qi disharmony and loss of use of the qiao and wei vessel, and the five yin fluids were completely dried up. In this type of situation plant-based medicinals are ineffective, being unable to treat the exhausted essence and blood.…

A Model for a Mode of Inquiry in Chinese Medicine
By: Bob Damone
According to Wiseman and Feng (1998), Vacuity Detriment (xū sǔn 虚损) is “any form of severe chronic insufficiency of yīn-yáng, qì-blood, and bowels and viscera arising through internal damage by the seven affects, taxation fatigue, diet, excesses of drink and sex, or enduring illness.” (p.646) I have found this Chinese disease category helpful in evaluating and formulating treatment strategies for patients with enduring diseases such as Chronic…

By: Ye Tian-Shi (Case #3)
Zhou was a 17-year-old unmarried girl with menstrual irregularities. Her menses were sometimes early and sometimes late. Prior to her menses she had abdominal pain that was worse than normal, and her intake of food and drink was greatly reduced. This problem started at the beginning of summer, and going into autumn her lower burner was often cold. There were abdominal sounds, and alternating diarrhea and constipation. The examination revealed that she easily had depressed…

Ye Tian-Shi was one of the most influential doctors in Chinese medical history in developing clinical applications of the eight extraordinary channel herbal theory. Following is a translated excerpt that summarizes some of the core ideas that he used. Following this piece will be numerous case studies demonstrating these principles in action.
Ye Tian-Shi’s Pattern Differentiation and Treatment of the Eight Extraordinary Channels
Ye Tian-Shi used eight extraordinary channel theory in 165 recorded cases. Case Records as a Guide to…

Case by: Ye Tian-Shi
Constrained heat with acid regurgitation. Warm Gallbladder Decoction (wen dan tang) plus Gardeniae Fructus (zhï zî), Moutan Cortex (mû dän pí), Curcumae Radix (yù jïn), Zingiberis Rhizomatis Succus (jiäng zhï), and dry-fried Coptidis Rhizoma (châo huáng lián).
Commentary:
Warm Gallbladder Decoction (wen dan tang) contains Bambusae Caulis in taeniam (zhú rú), Aurantii Fructus immaturus (zhî shí), Pinelliae Rhizoma preparatum (zhì bàn xià), Citri reticulatae Pericarpium (chén pí), Poria (fú líng), Glycyrrhizae Radix (gän câo), Zingiberis Rhizoma…

Charles Chace recently brought this following passage to my attention. We both found it interesting in helping to understand Ye Tian-Shi’s case studies and putting into context the shorthand style that his cases are presented in. It is an excerpt from Thinking with Cases — Specialist Knowledge and Chinese Cultural History(2007) by Charlotte Furth. A great read.
“… the admirers of Ye Gui (1666-1745) saw to it that after his death some of this legendary doctor’s personal clinical records found…

Lu (24) [suffered] damage from constraint. Sinews were distended and there was heart pain (epigastric).
gou teng (Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis)
sheng xiang fu (unprocessed Cyperi Rhizoma)
yu jin (curcuma tuber)
bai ji li (Tribuli Fructus)
mu dan pi (Moutan Cortex)
bo he (Menthae haplocalycis Herba)
chen pi (Citri reticulatae Pericarpium)
fu ling (Poria)
Original case by: Ye Tian-Shi
Translated by: Jason Blalack
Original Chinese: 陆（二四） 郁伤。筋胀心痛。钩藤 生香附 郁金 白蒺藜 丹皮 薄荷 广皮 茯苓

I thought that this case might be a nice follow-up to the question that was asked about why Ye Tian-Shi chose this or that medicinal for the Liver.
Original Case by: Ye Tian-Shi
Ye was melancholic, which agitated the Liver, causing disease. After persisting for a long time [the disease process] began to involve the Spleen and Stomach. Hence, the center became damaged and he was unable to take in food and had an inability to taste flavors. There was…

Constraint Case #2: A certain patient presented with qi constraint and general discomfort. This is wood not orderly reaching. After belching she felt more comfortable. Rambling Powder (xiao yao san) minus Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (bái zhú) plus Cyperi Rhizoma (xiäng fù) was given.
Original Chinese: 某 气郁不舒。木不条达。嗳则少宽。逍遥散去白术加香附。
Rambling Powder (xiao yao san) originally includes: Bupleuri Radix (chái hú), dry-fried Angelicae sinensis Radix (châo däng guï), Paeoniae Radix alba (bái sháo) , Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (bái zhú), Poria (fú líng), Glycyrrhizae Radix…