Zangfu Organs Flashcards
Name the spirits housed in the zang organs
- Liver houses Hun (ethereal spirit)
- Heart houses Shen (consciousness/perception)
- Spleen houses Yi (intellectual logic/OCD)
- Lungs house Po (corporeal soul)
- Kidneys house Zhi (will power, drive - hereditary)
What are the zang organs?
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Spleen
- Pericardium (ht category)
- Lungs
- Heart
Name the zang organs & their associated tissues.
- Heart controls blood vessels
- Liver controls sinews
- Lungs control skin
- Spleen controls muscles & flesh
- Kidneys control bones
Name the responsibilities of the zang organs (5)
- Storing
- Preserving
- Absorbing
- Ascending
- Activating
Describe Yin functions of zang organs
Storing of vital essences, generation, regulation, transformation, and storage of energy, blood, fluids, and spirit (Shen) - deeper, more essential for vital functioning
What are the energetic functions of the heart? (4)
- Rules over blood & vessels promoting smooth blood flow, pulse & heartbeat
- Stores the spirit (Shen), leading to reg. behavior and responses to environment
- Opens to the tongue, governing tongue color & speech
- Governs complexion, rendering it normally ruddy
What are the energetic dysfunctions of the heart? (4)
- Irregular blood flow, blood vessel disorders, irregular pulse & beats, all arrhythmias
- Irrational behavior, insomnia, excessive dreaming, hysteria, delirium
- Pale or purple tongue, tongue ulcers, slurred speech, fast talking, speech defects
- Pale, luster less complexion, purple congested complexion
What is the energetic function of the pericardium? (1)
Protector of the heart, warding off external pathogenic influences to protect heart energetic function
What is pericardium energetic dysfunction? (1)
Pericarditis; any disorder affecting the heart due to environmental or emotional stress
What are the energetic functions of the lungs? (6)
- Direct descending (inhalation) & moistening movements
- Directs circulating & disseminating (exhalation)
- Rules Qi; governs respiration
- Moves the waterways (liquids down to the Kidney function)
- Rules the exterior (skin, pores) leading to normal sweating & skin moisture
- Opens to the nose throat and vocal cords
What are the energetic dysfunctions of the lungs? (6)
- Disorders of inhalation (dry skin, throat, nose)
- Disorders of exhalation, fluid accumulation, energy accumulation
- Respiratory disorders & fatigue; low resistance
- Edema, fluid retention, perspiratory disturbances, urinary disorders
- Disorders of perspiration (dry skin)
- Fluttering wings of the nose, dry scratchy throat, weak voice projection
What are the energy functions of the spleen? (4)
- Rules over transportation & transformation of food into blood & qi
- Governs the Blood & maintains it in the channels
- Governs muscle tone, flesh
- Opens to mouth, manifests in lips leading to proper ability to taste and red moist lips
What are the energetic dysfunctions of the spleen? (4)
- Definitions qi or blood anywhere in body, abdominal swelling, malabsorption, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, loose stools
- Blood in vomit, stools, urine, bleeding disorders
- Poor muscle tone, flashiness, weak sluggish extremities
- Taste irregularities or insensitivity, pale/dry lips
What are the energetic functions of the liver? (6)
- Rules smooth flow of Qi leading to balanced body movement
- Controls bike secretion
- Harmonizes the emotions leading to an even disposition
- Stores blood
- Governs tendons & muscles leading to proper movement, manifests in nails
- Opens to the eyes
What are the energetic dysfunctions of the liver? (6)
- Stagnant blood/energy leading to pain/distinction (swollen breasts, pelvic accumulations, cysts, lumps, erratic body movements)
- Digestive disturbances, bitter taste
- Irritability, anger, frustration, angry depression, uneven disposition
- Blood deficiencies (excess/ deficient menstrual flow)
- Disorders of tendons, muscle spasms, thin brittle nails
- Many eye/ visual disorders (night blindness, visual disturbances of migraines)
