Principles of Treatment (Zhi-Ze)

treatment principles

Treatment Principles — general guidelines that determine the strategy before selecting specific herbs or acupoints. The key principles are: distinguishing between the “root” (the underlying cause) and the “branches” (the symptoms) and treating them in the correct order—usually the root first, but in cases of acute, life-threatening symptoms, the branches first. Another principle is to maintain “proper qi” and expel the pathogen, maintaining a balance between tonification and purgation. Treatment involves using “opposites” (heat with cold, cold with heat) and taking into account individual characteristics, the season, and the local environment. These rules guide the application of the eight treatment methods.