Title : The convergence of traditional I ching studies and modern predictive medicine: From fate hexagrams to life cycle for early warning of disease risk
Abstract:
This study proposes an innovative "Early warning model for Qì strength and weakness pattern". It integrates the traditional I Ching hexagrams (static constitution) with the astrological concept of the Twelve Stages of Life (dynamic Qì movement) from numerology to predict an individual's susceptibility to diseases at critical turning points in their life cycle. While disease prevention in conventional traditional medicine is often limited to a static assessment of body constitution, this proposed model incorporates the dynamic dimension of time. Methodologically, the person's static fate hexagram is first calculated to determine their inherent five element dominant energetic field. Subsequently, by aligning the life cycle with the Twelve Stages of Life (including ??Chángsh?ng (Birth), ??Dìwàng (Climax), ?Bìng (Sickness), ??Rùmù (Storage), ?Jué (Demise), etc.), the model precisely defines the degree of Qì strength and weakness in their annual earthly branches. This study examines the dynamic interactions—mutual generation, mutual conquest, and comparison—between the five-element changes during the passing years and the inherent five elements present in the corresponding hexagram. The core of the model lies in quantifying the resulting degree of five-element Qi imbalance and connect it to the physiological functions of the Zàng-Fu organs, emotional tendencies, and corresponding diseases (e.g., Qì stagnation in the liver, fire excess in the heart, excess of humidity in the spleen). This research aims to provide a preventative tool for TCM's core principle of "treating the disease before it manifests" (???Zhì Wèi Bìng), one that is specific to the individual, precise in its timing, and quantifiable in its assessment of Qi strength. This significantly deepens the application potential of traditional medicine within the field of integrative health. The results are expected to accurately identify the most vulnerable Zàng-Fu organs and disease types when an individual enters critical junctures such as adolescence, mid-life crisis, or menopause. Beyond offering precise, time- and organ-specific preventative advice, this model provides integrative medicine's philosophy with a quantifiable tool that carries cultural depth and practical value, thereby elevating the application and scientific rigor of traditional medicine in modern preventive healthcare.
