RH Ayurveda & TCM Foundations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In TCM, which organ is considered the 'root of Yin and Yang' and governs birth, growth, and reproduction?
- Spleen
- Liver
- Kidney (Correct answer)
- Heart
Correct answer: Kidney
The Kidney is called the 'root of Yin and Yang' in TCM because it stores Jing (essence) and governs reproductive and developmental functions.
Question 2: The Ayurvedic concept of 'Agni' refers to:
- The vital life force flowing through nadis
- The digestive and metabolic fire responsible for transformation (Correct answer)
- The consciousness residing in the heart
- The lunar cooling energy of the body
Correct answer: The digestive and metabolic fire responsible for transformation
Agni is the transformative fire in Ayurveda that governs digestion, metabolism, and all forms of physical and mental transformation.
Question 3: Which of the five TCM elements corresponds to the emotion of grief and the organ pair Lung/Large Intestine?
- Fire
- Earth
- Metal (Correct answer)
- Water
Correct answer: Metal
The Metal element in TCM is associated with the Lung and Large Intestine, the emotion of grief, the season of autumn, and the color white.
Question 4: In Ayurveda, the quality 'guru' (heavy) is most characteristic of which dosha?
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha (Correct answer)
- Tridosha
Correct answer: Kapha
Kapha dosha possesses heavy (guru), slow, cool, oily, and stable qualities, which reflect its earth and water elemental composition.
Question 5: In TCM, 'Wei Qi' is best described as:
- Nutritive Qi that flows within the blood vessels
- Defensive Qi that circulates on the surface of the body (Correct answer)
- Ancestral Qi stored in the lower Dan Tian
- Central Qi that supports the upright posture
Correct answer: Defensive Qi that circulates on the surface of the body
Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) is a yang form of Qi that circulates on the exterior, protecting the body from external pathogenic factors.
Question 6: Which Ayurvedic taste is said to directly increase Pitta dosha?
- Astringent
- Bitter
- Pungent (Correct answer)
- Sweet
Correct answer: Pungent
Pungent (katu) taste increases Pitta due to its hot, light, and dry qualities, which aggravate the fire-dominant Pitta dosha.
Question 7: In TCM theory, which pathological factor is described as 'turbid, heavy, and tends to sink downward'?
- Wind
- Cold
- Dampness (Correct answer)
- Fire
Correct answer: Dampness
Dampness is characterized as heavy, turbid, sticky, and tending to sink or stagnate, often obstructing the middle and lower burners.
RH Ayurveda & TCM Foundations 2
In TCM, which organ is considered the 'root of Yin and Yang' and governs birth, growth, and reproduction?