In our homework assignment this week, you asked us to classify each scenario in terms of the eight principles. Can the term "excess" be considered to be similar to the terms "wet/moist/damp" and the term "deficient" be similar to the term "dry"? I'm also wondering if the terms "excess and deficient" refer to the strength of the qi? I just read Maciocia's explanation of the terms "full" and "empty" and now I'm really confused! Thanks.

Andrew said: Unfortunately, it is not as simple as that. Either wet or dry pathologies can be considered excess or deficient. For example, excess dampness can invade the body and 'clog the pipes' or dampness can accumulate due to spleen deficiency. (in this case the deficiency is more prominent than the damp- so, I would call it deficient). Similarly, the dry can be very intense dryness that is due to an invasion or it could be due to deficiency of yin not moistening. So, ask yourself where you think the damp or dry comes from in each particular case. Excess and deficient can refer to strength of qi, yes. But remember that it could also refer to constitution or other substances (blood stagnation vs. blood deficient, shen agitated vs. shen subdued/blunted, yin deficient vs. yin deficient with fire overflowing). I will go over full and empty in more depth, so stay tuned for that in class! Don't worry, we will repeat these things several times and throughout the program. Repetition will help clear things up!