Pathology is assessed in terms of Upper Burner – Lung, Heart, Middle Burner – Spleen, Stomach or Lower Burner – Liver, Kidney, Intestines. This model helps localize internal disease processes and is especially used in Warm diseases.

San Jiao (Three Burners) Theory

This system sees pathology as the result of imbalances in generation or control cycles between Wood (Liver/GB), Fire (Heart/SI/PC/TB), Earth (SP/ST), Metal (LU/LI) or Water (KI/BL)

The Five Elements
(Wu Xing 五行)

Pathogenic factors may block Qi/Blood flow in the meridians → pain, numbness, dysfunction. Local, adjacent, and distal points are chosen accordingly.

Meridian
(Jing-Luo 经络) Pathology

Each Zang organ corresponds to an emotion: Anger → Liver, Joy → Heart, Worry/Pensiveness → Spleen, Sadness → Lung or Fear/Shock → Kidney. Chronic emotional strain can injure organs, stagnate Qi, or transform into Fire.

Emotions
(7 Internal Pathogens)

TCM Pathology

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a distinct and holistic view of pathology, rooted in its unique theoretical frameworks. Rather than focusing solely on structural or biochemical causes (as in biomedicine), TCM emphasizes functional relationships, energetic imbalances, and dynamic interactions between the organ systems (Zang-Fu), Qi, Blood, Body Fluids, and external factors.

These are foundational tools used to analyse any pathology - Yin vs Yang, Interior vs Exterior, Cold vs Heat, Deficiency (Xu) vs Excess (Shi)

The 8 Principles
(Ba Gang 八纲)

TCM evaluates whether there is Qi Deficiency, Qi Stagnation, Blood Deficiency (e.g., dizziness, paleness, insomnia), Blood Stasis (e.g., sharp, fixed pain, purplish tongue or Fluid retention or dryness. These substances are central to the body's proper function and are evaluated for quality, quantity, and movement.

Qi, Blood, and Body Fluids

Each organ has physical and energetic/emotional functions. TCM sees organs not just anatomically but also in terms of their functional spheres. Diseases are seen as the result of organ dysfunction in their Yin/Yang balance, Qi transformation, or interaction with other organs (e.g., Liver attacking Spleen).

Zang-Fu Organ Pathology

These include Wind (Feng 风), Cold (Han 寒), Heat (Re 热), Dampness (Shi 湿), Dryness (Zao 燥) or Summer Heat (Shu 暑). Pathologies result from these invading the body, often via the skin and meridians, particularly in cases of acute illness.

External Pathogenic Factors
(Liù Xié 六邪)

Derived from Shang Han Lun (Cold Damage Classic), this organizes disease progression by depth: Tai Yang, Yang Ming, Shao Yang, Tai Yin, Shao Yin, Jue Yin. Used especially for cold-induced febrile illnesses and viral syndromes.

Six Levels
(Liu Jing 六经) –
for febrile diseases

Used in febrile diseases with Heat origin (Wen Bing). Describes depth of penetration: Wei (Defensive), Qi Level, Ying (Nutritive) or Xue (Blood)

San Jiao (Three Burners) Theory

The Five Elements (Wu Xing 五行)

Meridian (Jing-Luo 经络) Pathology

Emotions (7 Internal Pathogens)

TCM Pathology

The 8 Principles (Ba Gang 八纲)

Qi, Blood, and Body Fluids

Zang-Fu Organ Pathology

External Pathogenic Factors (Liù Xié 六邪)

Six Levels (Liu Jing 六经) – for febrile diseases