The Small Intestine in TCM is credited with the separation of solids and liquids. Food is digested and ‘ripened’ by the stomach, the essences are extracted by the spleen and then food travels to the small intestine where the turbid and clear are separated. From the small intestine, liquid waste is then sent to the bladder and solid waste to […]
Small Intestine – TCM
Large Intestine – TCM
The main function of the Large Intestine in TCM (‘Da Chang’ ~ ‘Great Intestine’) is to receive the remains of food sent down from the small intestine, absorb the good fluid from it and send the solid waste to be excreted. On another level, this also applies to our emotional wellbeing and those holding onto old feelings or going through […]
Kidneys – TCM
The Kidneys in TCM are seen as the center of yin and yang. Like all organs, the Kidneys have a yin (the organ) and yang (the organ’s function) which are mutually dependent on each other and compliment each other. The kidneys play a special part in the body because they are seen as the source of primordial yin and yang.
Liver – TCM
The Liver in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is responsible for (1) ensuring the smooth flow of Qi and (2) storing and releasing blood. If the Liver Qi is good, the blood vessels will be free flowing and the Qi of the body moves easily, our emotions are balanced, our mind harmonious and our body supple.
The Spleen – TCM
The Spleen in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is one of the main digestive organs in traditional chinese medicine, paired with the Stomach. A yin organ, the Spleen is responsible for taking food from the Stomach and turning it into gu qi (‘Food qi’). It is an essential organ in TCM, responsible for nourishing all the other organs via its transformation […]
Lungs in TCM
The Lungs in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) are the lid of the yin organs – forming a cap on top of the thoracic cavity. They have two functions, (1) the descending and liquefying (su-jiang) and (2) disseminating or circulating (xuan) functions. They take in vital substances and propel waste products downward. It is where the Lung Qi meets external Air […]
Heart TCM
The Heart (xin) is one of the zang organs and is yin in nature. It rules the blood and blood vessels. When the Heart in TCM is working properly the blood flows smoothly and we can expect to see a normal complexion. A pale complexion can indicate a lack of blood, purple complexions can indicate stagnant blood.
Zang Fu Organs
The Zang Fu are a central element of TCM theory. Although they bear familiar names such as lung, liver and spleen, they do not refer to the physical organs as we understand them in the west. Rather, when we speak of Lung or Spleen, we are concerned with the function and purpose of that organ. Thus when we speak of […]
Six Pernicious Influences
In TCM, there are six pernicious (hurtful) influences that can cause disharmony within us. Long before the concepts of bacteria or viruses were understood, it is these six influences that the Chinese used to categorise the effects they observed when a patient was in a disharmonious state.
Jin Ye – TCM
Jin Ye (or Jin Je) are the body fluids that flow within us and are important for the correct functioning of our organs, muscles and joints. Some examples of these fluids are sweat, mucus, saliva and semen but any fluids excreted by the body can fall within this category.