Internal Treatment Methods in TCM: The Eight Methods and Common Extensions
This page outlines the classical framework for choosing a treatment after pattern differentiation. In the Qing dynasty, Cheng Zhongling set out the "Eight Methods" in Medical Insights (Yi Xue Xin Wu): sweating, emesis, downward-draining, harmonizing, warming, clearing, dispersing, and tonifying. They are not rigid templates: in practice two or three are combined and modified for the pattern, and the composition of formulas and choice of medicinals are organized around them.
📖 Overview: the Eight-Methods frameworkThe Eight Methods (Ba Fa)
hàn fǎ
Opens the pores and induces mild sweating to expel an exterior pathogen; used for exterior (early external-contraction) patterns.
Read detail →tǔ fǎ
Drives harmful substances lodged in the upper body out by emesis; nowadays used rarely and cautiously.
Read detail →xià fǎ
Drains the interior and expels accumulation and stagnation through the bowels; used for interior-excess constipation and clumping.
Read detail →hé fǎ
Harmonizes the half-exterior/half-interior and coordinates the organs, especially liver-spleen and heart-stomach disharmony in chronic disorders.
Read detail →wēn fǎ
Warms the interior, expels cold, and rescues devastated yang with warm-hot medicinals; used for internal cold and yang deficiency.
Read detail →qīng fǎ
Clears heat and fire, cools blood, and resolves toxin with cold-cool medicinals; used for heat and fire patterns.
Read detail →xiāo fǎ
Gradually and gently dissipates clumps and accumulations—masses, food stagnation, and tissue enlargement.
Read detail →bǔ fǎ
Tonifies deficiency of qi, blood, yin, and yang and supports vital energy in deficiency patterns.
Read detail →Methods commonly combined with the Eight
Three frequently used methods that address the most common disorders of qi, blood, and fluids and are paired with the Eight Methods.
lǐ qì fǎ
Moves and regulates constrained qi, chiefly by soothing the liver; used for distending or wandering pain and emotional constraint.
Read detail →huó xuè fǎ
Restores blood flow and dissolves stasis; used for fixed stabbing pain, bruising, varicosities, and menstrual clots.
Read detail →qū shī fǎ
Removes excess dampness and fortifies spleen movement, via aromatic transformation, drying, and urination.
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