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Relationship Between
Solid Organs and Hollow Organs
http://www.drshen.com/chineseherbsorigin.html
In
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the internal organs have the same
names as those we know. However in TCM, the organs are more than
flesh and blood. They also perform tasks which are not understood in the
West.
As Chinese medicine is largely about energy (qi),
the organs also produce, circulate, and store this energy. To the
Chinese doctor, the biological function of an organs is often secondary.
When the qi is normal, the organ will behave normally.
Chinese medical theory groups the organs into
pairs. The Yin
organs - (the heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and liver) are called the
Zang are considered the most important. They are
structurally solid, and responsible for the creation and storage of qi
and Blood.
The
Yang
organs, (large intestine, small intestine, stomach, gall bladder, and
urinary bladder) are called the Fu and are considered less
important. They are hollow organs, responsible mainly for the
transportation of food and for elimination.
There is sixth pair of organs known as the
Pericardium and Triple-Heater, which also have energetic
functions, yet have no solid organs.
Functions of the Organs
|
Organ |
Yang functions |
Yin functions |
Heart
Small
Intestine |
Circulates Blood and Qi/ Transports food and fluids |
Home
to the Shen (God, mind, supreme being) |
Spleen/Pancreas
Stomach |
Extracts energy from food |
Stores Blood, and Qi |
Lungs
Large Intestine |
Circulates Air Qi, Regulates
the Surface/ Transports stool |
Protects the Interior |
Kidney
Urinary Bladder |
Regulates Urination,
Reproduction, Nourishes the Brain and Marrow |
Stores the Yin Qi, the Yang Qi, the Original Qi, the Essence (Jing) |
Liver
Gall Bladder |
Smoothes the flow of Qi,
Regulates Menstrual Flow,
Cleans Toxins |
Stores the Blood.
Home to the Hun (spirit) |
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