The Four Sho (Patterns) of JMT
The fundamental imbalances
(The Japanese word sho as used in this article is a transliteration of the Chinese word zheng, which is usually translated as “pattern” in English-language TCM texts. The character is shown above.)
The four sho, or basic treatment patterns of Japanese meridian therapy (JMT), are derived from the idea that the core of any disharmony in the body arises from a deficiency in one of the five zang, or yin organs. The root meaning of the word zang is “storage”, and the general idea is that an inability of a particular zang to store its vital essence causes the manifestation of pathology. The pathology can show up in other organs, yin or yang, but the pattern more or less follows the dynamics of the generating and controlling cycles of the five phases. A single-organ pathology is possible, but generally more than one organ is involved.
Deficiency is usually passed along through the generating cycle, and it is here that the treatment is focused. In chapter 69 of Nan Jing (Classic of Difficulties), there is an axiom that in cases of deficiency, it is necessary to tonify the “mother”, meaning the organ which precedes the deficient organ on the generating cycle. Since it is inappropriate to tonify excess or drain deficiency, the mother organ is assumed to also be deficient; thus the mother and child will both provide some evidence (the etymological meaning of sho/zheng) of deficiency, usually in their respective pulse positions. So each of the sho will involve assessment and treatment of deficiency in two zang.
This framework applies to all of the five zang. However, the Heart is seen as an exception in treatment; if it becomes deficient, it is judged as being too grave a pathology to treat with acupuncture. This is because the heart stores the shen, or spirit, and “when the spirit is lost, the patient will perish”. So, practically speaking, we are left with four sho.
The four sho are:
Lung sho: Lung and Spleen are deficient
Spleen sho: Spleen and Heart (Pericardium, in practice) are deficient
Liver sho: Liver and Kidney are deficient
Kidney sho: Kidney and Lung are deficient
Determining the sho is generally the first step in treatment. They are the foundation for the root treatment, addressing the fundamental imbalance in the body. The process for sho determination is based on the classic four exams of Chinese medicine, with a particular emphasis on the palpation examination, especially the pulse and abdominal diagnosis. We’ll look at both of these over the next few posts.
Note: this post is for information purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please seek the opinion of a health care professional for any specific medical issues you may have.