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The Eight Principal Patterns

A 3-dimensional model for classifying patterns of disharmony.
— the Eight Principal Patterns (*ba gang*).
Line # (dimension):	Dimension name:	Yang polarity	Yin polarity
3 (top line)	Strength	*Excess*: SYST: hyperactive, forceful RESP: exaggerated, rasping PAIN: aggravated by pressure or touch MOTN: forceful, violent SPCH: loud voice BEHAV: outgoing, excitable, aggressive TCOAT: thick PULS: strong	*Deficiency*: SYST: fatigue-lethargy, perspiration excessive RESP: shallow PAIN: relieved by pressure or touch MOTN: weak SPCH: quiet voice BEHAV: passive TCOAT: very thin PULS: weak
2	Thermal	*Heat*: SYST: feels or dislikes heat INTAK: thirsty, prefers cold drinks OUTFL: urine dark-colored, constipation PAIN: relieved by cold MOTN: rapid SPCH: rapid; talkative BEHAV: outgoing TTIS: red TCOAT: yellow PULS: rapid	*Cold*: SYST: feels or dislikes cold INTAK: diminished thirst, prefers hot drinks OUTFL: urine light-colored, diarrhea or BM loose PAIN: relieved by heat MOTN: slow SPCH: slow BEHAV: withdrawn TTIS: pale TCOAT: white PULS: slow
1 (bottom line)	Depth	*Exterior*: SYST: acute, chills, feels or dislikes cold, dislikes draft, fever low OUTFL: sinus congestion, sinus discharge PAIN: soreness or ache of whole body, soreness or ache of head TTIS: normal TCOAT: normal PULS: floating	*Interior*: SYST: acute-chronic, becoming more severe, variable thermally (from cold to hot, depending upon syndrome), fever none to high RESP: abnormal changes, unrelated to exercise OUTFL: BM abnormal, urination abnormal PAIN: pain or discomfort of torso SPCH: abnormal changes BEHAV: erratic labile moods TTIS: any abnormal changes TCOAT: any abnormal changes PULS: abnormal, varies according to syndrome

3-D vector space defined
by the Eight Principal Patterns.

**The 8 sectors of the 3-dimensional vector space defined by the Eight Principal Patterns**,
displayed as trigrams.
Exterior-Heat-Excess	Exterior-Heat-Deficiency	Exterior-Cold-Excess	Exterior-Cold-Deficiency
Interior-Heat-Excess	Interior-Heat-Deficiency (Deficiency of Yin)	Interior-Cold-Excess	Interior-Cold-Deficiency (Deficiency of Yang)

The major Interior patterns.

**The importance of Eight-Principal-Patterns analysis for understanding contraindications.**

**The vast majority of instances of contraindicated uses occur directly as a consequence of attempting to answer the remedy-for-disease-X question and then trying things at random.** Accurate pattern analysis is crucial to the CCM paradigm.
Herb/remedy	Indications	Contraindications
(1) Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Six Pill)	Deficiency of Kidney and Liver Yin (a sub-type of Interior-Heat-Deficiency)	Interior-Heat-Excess, Interior-Heat Evil, Interior-Cold of all types
(2) Dry ginger root	Interior Cold, Interior-Cold-Deficiency, Interior-Cold-Excess	Interior-Deficiency-Heat
(3) Coptis root	Damp Heat, Heat Toxin (subtypes of Interior-Heat-Excess)	Interior-Cold of all types; Interior-Heat-Deficiency