TCM II - The TCM Organs

Question 1

The TCM Organs

Answer 1

There are 12 organs in Chinese medical physiology, most of which share their names (although not necessarily their functions) with the organs of Western physiology.
* Liver and gallbladder
* Spleen and stomach
* Kidney and bladder
* Lung and large intestine
* Heart and small intestine
* Pericardium (heart protector) and San Jiao (related to fluid metabolism and similar to the concept of interstitial fluid in Western medicine)

Question 2

Yin / Yang paired Organs

Answer 2

The 12 organs of Chinese medicine are grouped into six Yin/Yang pairs:

Yin:
Lungs
Spleen
Heart
Kidneys
Pericardium
Liver

Yang:
Large Intestine
Stomach
Small intestine
Bladder
San Jiao
Gallbladder

• The Yin organs produce and store the Vital Substances
• The Yang organs are hollow and remove waste products from the body

Question 3

Heart

Answer 3

• Circulates the blood
• Controls blood vessels by providing blood to them
• Houses the Shen
• Opens into the eye: the spark in someone’s eye can tell us something about their spirit
  Opens into the tongue: we share what’s in our heart

Question 4

Small intestine

Answer 4

• Separates the pure from the impure
• Sends the pure part of foods to the Spleen for absorption
• Sends impure foods to the large intestine for excretion
• Sends pure fluids to the large intestine for absorption
• Sends the impure part of fluids to the bladder for excretion

Question 5

The Spleen

Answer 5

• The TCM organ Spleen is not related to the Western organ!
• Governs the transformation (digestion) of foods and their transportation (absorption)
• It is the origin of blood and provides nutrition to the blood, tissues and cells
• Controls muscles/limbs by providing them with nutrients

Question 6

The stomach

Answer 6

• Controls rotting and ripening: By completing the processes of rotting (meats) and ripening (fruits, vegetables, grains) that occur in nature
• Controls the descending of food and Qi
• It is the origin of fluids: all fluids and hydration are extracted from the food/drink that we ingest

Question 7

The lungs

Answer 7

• Governs respiration
• Circulate Nutritive Qi In the channels and the organs
  Circulate Defensive Qi to the skin and muscles and thus play a key role in the immunity
• Control the skin pores (sweating) and skin hairs (regulation of temperature)
• Open into the nose

Question 8

Large intestine

Answer 8

• Receives food from the small intestine for excretion
• Receives fluids from the small intestine for reabsorption
• Excretes the stool

Question 9

The kidneys

Answer 9

• The TCM organ Kidneys includes the Western organs of adrenals
• Store the Essence– our inherited or constitutional strength
• Govern growth, reproduction and water metabolism
• House the ‘will power’: Shyness may be a sign of constitutional weakness
• Open into the ears and manifest in the hair: hearing loss and prematurely grey hair indicate a decline of kidney energy

Question 10

The bladder

Answer 10

• Excretes the urine

Question 11

The liver

Answer 11

• Stores the blood
• Governs the free flow of Qi
• Manifests in the nails: Pale nail beds indicate blood deficiency
• Opens into the eyes: floaters, blurred vision or dry eyes indicate an imbalance of the liver or blood
• Provides blood for sexuality and reproduction

Question 12

The gallbladder

Answer 12

• Stores and excretes the bile
• Controls judgement: Indecisiveness may indicate an imbalance of the gallbladder