chinese medicine, acupuncture, human physiology, qi and blood, internal organs, viscera

Thousands of years ago when Chinese medical theories were developing, there was nothing but observation and ongoing empirical research to inform the concepts. Astonishingly, through centuries of continuous study, the ancients arrived at fairly accurate conclusions about human physiology. Of course, they viewed their findings through a philosophical lens and the principles of Qi and Blood and Yin and Yang (see previous blogs) are fully integrated in to their ideas about the internal organs. This understanding is still taught in Traditional Chinese Medicine schools today.

If everything can be viewed in terms of yin and yang (polar opposite energies that complement each other and create a whole), the viscera can be classified into predominantly Yin or Yang groupings. For example, the heart, lung, spleen, liver and kidney (“Zang organs”) are Yin-natured because they store, produce and reserve vital substances in the body. They have counterpart Yang organs (“Fu organs”) with which they are paired (the small intestine, large intestine, stomach, gall bladder and bladder, respectively). These are Yang in nature because they transport, transform, or excrete food and liquid.

The pulses and tongue that are observed at an acupuncture appointment may reveal how well or poorly some of these viscera are functioning. And given their governing roles, points along their related meridians may be needled to regulate the organ itself or the aspect of the body that it oversees. For instance, the Heart governs blood (which is true for modern medicine), but it also “houses the mind and mental activities.” Cognition and mental health are often associated with Heart imbalances. Acupuncture directed at calming the heart or regulating it in some way can have a positive effect on mental and emotional symptoms. The Lungs make qi from the air we breathe and control and disperse the qi of the whole body. While respiration wasn’t scientifically understood in ancient China, the lungs bringing oxygen throughout the body is analogous to this idea of qi circulation. The Spleen has a unique role in Chinese medicine and is probably the biggest deviation between western and eastern definitions: it governs the transformation and transportation of qi from ingested food. It also manufactures qi and blood. It serves as the powerhouse of the body, in a sense. The Liver stores blood, but it also regulates qi and blood flow. The Liver, therefore, has far reaching effects in terms of homeostasis. The Kidneys are responsible for growth, development and reproduction, and they also control water metabolism. They house primary qi and vital essence, so healthy aging and longevity rely on strong Kidney qi.  

Many times, there is a breakdown in the performance of these organs, or in the relationship between 2 or more. This can manifest as a syndrome that is identifiable and treatable with acupuncture and/or herbal formulas. As you can see from the two examples below, the description of the syndrome explains the origin of the problem and the symptoms that develop. The goal of treatment is to alleviate the symptoms and harmonize the organs by needling appropriate acupuncture points:

1.     “Liver overacting on the Spleen” (stagnation of Liver affects the Spleen’s function) causing depression, irritability, poor appetite, bloating, irregular bowel movements, lassitude

2.     “Lung and Large Intestine Disharmony” might occur if the lung’s qi fails to descend causing dryness in the bowel or constipation; OR if the large intestine is obstructed with excessive heat, it might lead to dysfunction of lung qi causing cough or fullness in the chest

Chinese medicine theory not only describes the energetic balance between the organs, but identifies the source of disease in these terms, and offers a method to treat it for optimal health.

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