The Six Conformations 六經 liù jīng, sometimes called the six warps, is one of the most well known systems of pathophysiological understanding in classical Chinese medicine. Like the 5 phases and the 12 organ systems, the 6 Conformations take all the structures & functions of the body and classify them according to a numerological framework.
In this case, the body is divided into 6 portions, each containing 2 of the 12 organ systems.
The system is frequently and most famously used to classify the progression of disease after an external invasion (cold, flu, similar illness). The symptoms, in an ideal case, proceed in a more or less orderly fashion through the conformations. The deeper the illness goes, the more challenging it is to heal, and the more damage to the body’s yang has generally been done.
However, the 6 Conformations can be used to understand and treat any illness, not just those caused by viral illnesses. Eric Grey uses the 6 Conformations to understand disease and treatment with every patient.
| Name (Pinyin & Chinese characters) | English Translation | Organ Systems | Typical |
| Tàiyáng 太陽 | Greater yang | Bladder, Small Intestine | Mild fever, neck & upper back stiffness |
| Yángmíng 陽明 | Yang brightness | Stomach, Large Intestine | High fever, frontal headache, constipation |
| Shàoyáng 少陽 | Lesser yang | Gallbladder, Triple Burner | Sore throat, temporal headache, ear symptoms |
| Tàiyīn 太陰 | Greater yin | Lung, Spleen | Diarrhea, low appetite, low energy |
| Shàoyīn 少陰 | Lesser yin | Heart, Kidney | Severe fatigue, cold body temp, insomnia or somnolence |
| Juéyīn 厥陰 | Reverting yin | Liver, Pericardium | Hot flashes, dizziness, nausea/vomiting |
