Functions of the Heart

Question 1

What are the 6 functions/aspects of the Heart?

Answer 1

• governs Blood
• controls Blood Vessels
• manifests in the complexion
• Houses the Mind (Shen)
• opens into the tongue
• controls sweat

Question 2

What are the Heart relationships with smell, colour, taste, climate, sound?

Answer 2

• scorched
• red
• heat
• laughing

Question 3

What are the 2 ways the Heart governs Blood?

Answer 3

• transformation of Gu Qi (Food-Qi) into Blood takes place in Heart
• Heart is responsible for circulation of Blood (although LU, SP, and LR also play role)

Question 4

What happens to circulation when Heart-Blood is deficient?

Answer 4

• circulation is slack, hands may be cold

Question 5

T/F: although it is Liver-Blood that is stored in the Uterus, the Heart controls the downward movement of Qi and Blood that makes menstruation occur.

Answer 5

True.

Heart controls the discharge of blood that occurs during menstruation.

Question 6

What houses the Shen (Mind)?

Answer 6

Heart-Blood

Question 7

What do the points CV-15, HT-7, BL-15 tonify?

Answer 7

Heart-Blood

Question 8

What does a “choppy” pulse indicate?

Answer 8

Heart-Blood deficiency

Question 9

What causes a “hard” pulse?

Answer 9

Heart-Blood stagnation

- Blood Vessels harden, often due to arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries)

Question 10

What might be indicated by mental-emotional problems (like depression), poor memory, dull thinking, insomnia or somnolence (drowsiness, sleepiness), and in extreme cases unconsciousness?

Answer 10

Blood deficiency, Heart is weak

Question 11

What roots the Mind (shen), embraces it, and anchors it?

Answer 11

Heart-Blood

Question 12

What does the Heart’s function of housing the Mind depend on?

Answer 12

adequate nourishment from Blood

Question 13

What does the Heart’s job of governing the Blood depend on?

Answer 13

The Shen/ Mind

Question 14

If Heart-Blood has Heat, what might happen?

Answer 14

restlessness, agitation, insomnia/ not sleep well

Question 15

Mental restlessness, emotional problems, and sadness, might induce what?

Answer 15

• deficiency of Heart-Blood

- might in turn cause pale complexion, weak/irregular pulse, palpitations

Question 16

Which organ is the root of Qi?

Answer 16

Lungs

Question 17

Which organ is the dwelling of Willpower?

Answer 17

Kidneys

Question 18

Which organ is the root of harmonization?

Answer 18

Liver

Question 19

What organs can be called the “Five-Shen Residencies”?

Answer 19

The 5 Yin (Zang) organs

Question 20

What is the physiological basis of the Spirit?

Answer 20

the 5 yin organs

Question 21

Which Spiritual Aspect can be defined as, “that part of the Soul which is indissolubly attached to the body and goes down to Earth with it at death”?

Answer 21

The Corporeal Soul (Po) of the Lungs

- the somatic expression of the Soul

Question 22

Which Spiritual Aspect can be defined as, “ that part of the Soul which at death leaves the body, carrying with it an appearance of physical form”?

Answer 22

The Ethereal Soul (Hun) of the Liver

Question 23

How might a disharmony of Heart (either excess or deficiency) manifest in a person’s speech?

Answer 23

• talking incessantly

- laugh inappropriately/suddenly

Question 24

Generally speaking, excessive sweating relates to the Heart (esp when it relates to emotional tension). Which other pathologies can also cause excess sweating?

Answer 24

• Lung-Qi deficiency (spontaneous sweating)

- Heat or Damp-Heat, esp of stomach (excess sweating)

Question 25

What is the double-hour of the clock for the Heart?

Answer 25

11-1

Question 26

Animal that corresponds the HT?

Answer 26

Horse