4. Deficiency and Excess

4. Deficiency and Excess

Insufficient vital energy is considered deficiency, while excessive pathogenic factors invading the body are considered excess. The basic meaning of deficiency and excess is the relationship between the strength of pathogenic factors and vital energy. There are differences in physical constitution—some people are strong, others weak—and in the intensity of pathogenic factors—some are strong, others weak. Medication also varies between tonifying and purging. The purpose of distinguishing deficiency and excess is to determine the correct treatment strategy. Should one attack or tonify? It all depends on whether one distinguishes deficiency from excess. If it’s excess, one should purge; if it’s deficiency, one should tonify. If deficiency and excess are misidentified, even a tiny error can lead to a huge deviation. Both deficiency and excess are major taboos for physicians.

(1) Clinical Manifestations of Deficiency and Excess

Anyone whose vital energy is insufficient or whose yin and yang qi and blood are depleted is considered to have a deficiency syndrome. The causes of deficiency syndrome include congenital weakness, post-illness neglect of conditioning, and prolonged illness without proper treatment. Congenital weakness is often attributed to the kidneys, while post-illness deficiency is often attributed to the spleen. Using modern medicine

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