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MENTAL MODEL · M0379

Ascending, Descending, Floating, Sinking

Ascending, Descending, Floating, Sinking
BehaviorHigh supportOrganizational Behavior
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Four tendencies of drug action on the human body. Ascending and floating drugs primarily move upward and outward (e.g., Cimicifuga, Mint), while descending and sinking drugs primarily move downward and inward (e.g., Rhubarb, Magnetite).

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Mechanical vector control. Treat the human body as a container of qi movement. If the disease tendency is 'qi rebelling upward' (vomiting), you must give a downward vector (descending/sinking drugs); if you give the opposite, it is adding fuel to the fire.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Four states of drug tendency: ascending/floating (upward and outward, e.g., Cimicifuga, Mint) primarily disperse and raise yang; descending/sinking (downward and inward, e.g., Rhubarb, Magnetite) primarily purge and settle. The mechanism is to correct the disease tendency with a 'vector'—for upward rebellion (vomiting), give a downward vector; for downward collapse (diarrhea), give an upward vector, treating by opposing the tendency.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    baike.baidu.comhttps://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%8D%87%E9%99%8D%E6%B5%AE%E6%B2%89ZH · Explicit
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