Fluid Metabolism

Question 1

Kinds of “clear” (Qing) fluids:

Answer 1

◦ Jin (“liquid”)
◦ Ye (“humor”)

Collective Function: Moisten and Lubricate. Clear, light, buoyant, found in all tissues & actively circulate in body.

aka “clear yang”

Question 2

“Turbid” (Zhuó) fluids:

Answer 2

WASTE products.** Thick, heavy, turbid. Mostly isolated within the bowels - move downward to be expelled

aka “turbid yin”

Question 3

Jin (“liquid”)

Answer 3

Thinner, lighter, more superficial.

Visible: sweat, saliva, tears, interstitial fluids

Question 4

Ye (“humor”)

Answer 4

Thicker, heavier, deeper

Not visible: hidden in organs… synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid

Question 5

QI ___________ the fluids

Answer 5

Moves and transforms!

• Qi Deficiency may cause abnormal fluid accumulations, AND
• Fluid accumulations can inhibit Qi movement

Question 6

Interactions between qi and fluids:

Answer 6

• QI “contains” the JIN (qi deficiency may cause spontaneous sweat)
• FLUIDS support the organs that create qi (severe damage to fluids can cause qi deficiency)

Question 7

The bulk of the clear fluids are extracted in the ______.

Answer 7

Small intestine,
“sifts and sorts”