Boncho Icon	English	CC	Pinyin	Primary Layer	Nature	Fixed or Dynamic?
	Stasis	瘀	Yū	Blood	Stasis	Fixed
	Stagnation	滯	Zhì	Qi	Slowed movement	Dynamic
	Depression	鬱	Yù	Regulatory / Emotional	Suppressed expression	Dynamic
	Coagulation	凝	Níng	Cold + Fluids/Blood	Congealed	Semi-fixed
	Knot	結	Jié	Phlegm/Blood	Knotted mass	Fixed
	Obstruction	阻	Zǔ	Damp/Phlegm	Blocked passage	Dynamic
	Distention	悶	Mèn	Qi	Oppressed sensation	Dynamic
	Restriction	格	Gé	Directional	Rebellious counterflow	Dynamic

Conceptual Overview

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, constraint refers to impaired movement, blocked expression, or restricted transformation within a physiological system.

Constraint is not merely obstruction. It may involve stagnation, binding, suppression, improper containment, or failure of outward expression. It may arise from emotion, environment, diet, constitutional weakness, or prolonged imbalance.

Constraint alters rhythm before it alters structure.

It is therefore dynamic.

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瘀 (Yū) — Stasis

Core Meaning: Blood that has lost movement and become fixed.

Mechanism

This refers specifically to Blood stasis, not general stagnation. The movement has stopped long enough for material density to form.

Clinical Quality

• Fixed, stabbing pain
• Dark or clotted blood
• Purple coloration

Layer

Material layer (Blood level)

This is not early dysfunction. It is consolidated stagnation.

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滯 (Zhì) — Stagnation

Core Meaning: Flow that is slowed or stuck.

Mechanism

Movement exists but is impaired. Nothing has solidified yet.

Clinical Quality

• Distention
• Fullness
• Wandering discomfort

Layer

Usually Qi level.

滯 is dynamic blockage, not yet fixed.

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鬱 (Yù) — Depressed / Constraint / Pent-Up

Core Meaning: Suppressed outward expression.

Mechanism

Energy is internally bound. Often emotional in origin.

Clinical Quality

• Irritability
• Mood suppression
• Alternating heat/cold signs

Layer

Regulatory / Liver dynamic.

鬱 implies internal binding, not mechanical blockage.

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凝 (Níng) — Coagulation

Core Meaning: Congealed by Cold.

Mechanism

Cold contracts and thickens fluids or Blood.

Clinical Quality

• Sharp pain better with warmth
• Cold-type masses

Layer

Cold-induced material thickening.

凝 emphasizes temperature-induced solidification.

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結 (Jié) — Knot

Core Meaning: Tangled or knotted accumulation.

Mechanism

Accumulation that forms a palpable mass.

Clinical Quality

• Nodules
• Lumps
• Phlegm masses

Layer

Often Phlegm + Qi + Blood.

結 is structural tangling.

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阻 (Zǔ) — Obstruction

Core Meaning: Physical blockage preventing passage.

Mechanism

Something is blocking a pathway.

Clinical Quality

• Heaviness
• Impaired movement
• Turbidity

Layer

Often Damp or Phlegm.

阻 emphasizes blocked passage, not emotional binding.

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悶 (Mèn) — Distention / Oppression

Core Meaning: Stuffy, oppressed sensation.

Mechanism

Qi cannot properly diffuse or descend.

Clinical Quality

• Chest oppression
• Epigastric fullness
• Emotional heaviness

Layer

Qi dynamic (Lung or Middle Jiao).

悶 describes the subjective feeling of constrained movement.

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格 (Gé) — Restriction / Rebellion Barrier

Core Meaning: Rebellious counterflow blocked by barrier.

Mechanism

Improper direction due to obstruction between layers.

Example:

• Vomiting because Stomach Qi cannot descend
• Cold blocking Yang from reaching outward

Clinical Quality

• Reversal patterns
• Counterflow

Layer

Directional failure between interior–exterior or upper–lower.

格 emphasizes blocked directionality, not stagnation alone.