Vital Substances Flashcards
氣 qì
Activity or movement: all physiological functions and physical movement depend on qì
Transportation or movement: transports qì, blood, fluids, etc., around the body.
Transformation: transforms qì from food and air into usable qì and blood. Transforms fluids, etc.
Defense: defends the exterior of the body from invasion.
Containment: holds sweat in, holds the lower orifices shut, holds blood in the vessels.
Raising: raises the organs and keeps them in their place, raises clear yáng to head.
Warming: helps keep the body warm.
精 jīng - essence (mostly what we receive from parents before we are born)
It produces marrow (which fills the brain and spinal cord) It is the basis of constitution
Jīng-essence manages growth, reproduction, development (the 7 and 8 year periods described in Sù Wèn, Chapter 1
Essence is stored in kidneys. It is ‘original water.’ It is a sticky refined body substance (yīn). Jīng transforms into dense fluid essences such as semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk, blood, marrow, and spittle.
神shén-spirit
(mind, emotion, thought, etc.)
What are the 5 shen spirits?
The five shénare the five spirits, one in each zàng(viscera, yīnorgan)
◦神shén spirit in the heart. This rules the other four.
◦魂hún or ethereal soul in the liver.
◦魄pò or corporeal (animal) soul in the lungs.
◦志zhì or will (or mind) in the kidneys.
◦意yì or thought (reflection, ideation) in the spleen.The brain also has some functions such as intelligence and memory. It will be discussed with the extraordinary organs
血xuè-blood
Nourishes the body.Secondarily, blood moistens. Example: blood moistens the eyes, sinews, skin, hair.Blood is the material foundation for shén(spirit, mind). Heart blood nourishes and anchors the shén(which governs emotions, consciousness, sleep, etc). It also anchors the ethereal soul (hún) and qì.Important in women for gynecology and to nourish the fetus.Hair is the surplus of blood.
Blood is the mother of qì. Qìis the commander of blood. ◦Qì circulates blood. When qìmoves, blood follows.
◦Qì generates blood.
◦Qì holds in the blood. It makes the blood stay in the vessels.
Qì gathers the blood.◦Blood anchors and nourishes qì. Blood harmonizes qì. Blood is the dwelling place of qì.
津液jīnyè-body fluids
Fluids moisten first, and nourish secondarily. (Blood nourishes first and moistens secondarily.)
Fluids also help anchor qì
津jīn is ‘liquids’ (thinner). They are clear, thin, and light, so they can move fast. They are controlled by the lungs and the upper jiāo. They moisten and nourish the skin and flesh, and make sweat, tears, saliva, mucus, and the watery part of blood. 液yèis ‘humors’ (thicker). They are turbid, heavy, and dense so they move slowly. They move on the interior, and are controlled by the spleen, kidneys, and the middle and lower jiāo. They moisten the brain, marrow, joints, and lubricate the interior of the sense orifices.
What are the 5 shen spirits?
The five shén are the five spirits, one in each zàng (viscera, yīnorgan)
◦神shén spirit in the heart. This rules the other four.
◦魂hún or ethereal soul in the liver.
◦魄pò or corporeal (animal) soul in the lungs.
◦志zhì or will (or mind) in the kidneys.
◦意yì or thought (reflection, ideation) in the spleen.
The brain also has some functions such as intelligence and memory. It will be discussed with the extraordinary organs
