Trying to Resolve the Resolution Times
Posted on | June 3, 2009 |
One of the questions that’s been puzzling me this week is the idea of the resolution times in the Shang Han Lun. The picture above shows the times of resolution for the 6 conformations overlayed on the high tides for the bodies channel system.
太 陽 病 ， 欲 解 時 ， 從 巳 至 未 上 。
Taiyang disease desires to separate at the time from 巳 until 未. (9am - 3pm, May (summer solstice) - July)
陽 明 病 ， 欲 解 時 ， 從 申 至 戍 上 。
Yangming disease desires to separate at the time from 申 until 戍. (3pm - 9pm, August - (fall equinox) October)
少 陽 病 ， 欲 解 時 ， 從 寅 至 辰 上 。
Shaoyang disease desires to separate at the time from 寅until 辰. (3am - 9am, February - April)
太 陰 病 ， 欲 解 時 ， 從 亥 至 丑 上 。
Taiyin disease desires to separate at the time from 亥 until 丑. (9pm - 3am, November - January)
少 陰 病 ， 欲 解 時 ， 從 子 至 寅 上 。
Shaoyin disease desires to separate at the time from 子 until 寅. (11pm - 5am, November (winter solstice) - February)
厥 陰 病 ， 欲 解 時 ， 從 丑 至 卯 上 。
Jueyin disease desires to separate at the time from 丑 until 卯. (1am - 9am, January - April (vernal equinox))
In Craig Mitchell’s translation of the SHL, they say that it is possible for these times to have been added from a different source than Zhong Zhangjing, when the book was being recompiled. However, considering the possibility that they were part of the original text, do they actually mean that the diseases clear up at these times? Probably not, as that doesn’t seem to be clinically relevant (from what I’ve heard, since I’m not in clinic yet.)
What else could this mean? Well, the earthly branches that define the times, and are often translated as such, have more far reaching meanings. For example, 巳 is not only the 4th double-hour, but also the 4th month: May and 未 is not only the 6th double-hour, but the 6th month: July. I wonder if there isn’t something in the energy of these time periods that is able to infuse the channels with exactly what they need in order to expel the pathogen.
Taiyang separates during May and July - at a time when the Yang energy is really building up full force and OPENING… which is pretty much how we talk about it functioning in the body. This energy seems to line up with its general character. The same is true for Yangming and Shaoyang. Once we get to Taiyin, it is said to resolve around the time from November to January here, and it is also the OPENER for the Yin conformations - something I understand as being the opener that allows the contraction of yin. This would also match the idea that the channel can clear itself best when it is engorged with Qi. Jueyin is the CLOSER for the yin conformations, and as such, it resolves during the period at which the yin is lessening and the world is expanding.
Shaoyin is considered to be the pivot for the yin conformations - and this is the pivot where the yin starts to contract down so that it can be expressed when it’s opener (Taiyin) allows for it. While I would expect this to occur before the Taiyin action of opening can take place, it’s resolution time comes later. This is the one thing boggling me about the resolution times. Could it possibly be that this time does not match the character of the energy of the channel itself? Could it be that I’m confusing the idea of a yin pivot with a yang pivot and expecting Shaoyin to behave more as Shaoyang does?
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