theory
zang fu organ functions
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ht and lu
heart dominates blood and lung dominates qi
ht and sp
heart dominates blood and spleen controls blood
ht and lv
heart dominates blood and liver stores blood and regulates blood
ht and kd
heart dominates fire and kidney dominates water, ascending and descending functions. heart yang and kidney yang descend together to warm kidney yin and water. kidney yin and heart yin ascend to moisten heart yang. heart dominates blood and kidney stores essence.
lu and sp
spleen dominates transform and transport, lung dominates dispersing and descending. spleen extracts refined essence of food, sends up to lung to combine with air, forming gathering qi
lu and lv
lu qi descends and lv qi ascends, to maintain harmonious function of vital activities. lu governs qi and lv regulates and stores blood
lu and kd
lung dominates respiration and kidney dominates reception of qi
sp and lv
spleen dominates transform and transport and liver regulates free flow of qi, and ensures the smooth flow of bile. liver stores blood and spleen controls blood.
sp and kd
spleen is acquired qi and kidney is congenital qi
lv and kd
liver stores blood and kidney stores essence
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ht and si
fire of excess type of heart channel may transmit pathogenic heat to si
lv and gb
the gb stores and secretes bile, which depends on liver's smooth flow of qi
sp and st
spleen dominates transform and transport, while stomach dominates reception
lu and li
lung qi descends, but if li obstructed by stasis, prevents lung qi from descending
kd and ub
kidney qi assists ub in metabolizing fluids
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gall bladder
stores pure fluid (bile), also one of the six fu organs, does not receive water or food
brain
sea of marrow, relates to heart blood and kidney essence. controls touch, memory, concentration, sight, hearing, smelling, intelligence
bones
related to kidneys, stores bone-marrow
marrow
common matrix of bone marrow and brain, produced by kidney essence
blood vessels
contain blood and related to kidney essence
uterus
regulates menses, conception and pregnancy, closely related to the kidneys
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the canopy
dominates the qi and controls respiration
governs qi and respiration
regulates water passages
dominates dispersing and descending
dominates skin and hair
opens into the nose
controls channels and blood vessels (aids heart)
houses corporeal soul
dreams of:
lungs in excess = weeping
lungs deficient = white objects or bloody killings
autumn time = battles and war
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receives waste from SI, absorbs fluid and forms feces
dreams of:
large intestine deficient = open fields
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upper outlet for cardia, lower pylorus
receives and decomposes food
rotting and ripening
transportation of food essences
controls descending qi
origin of fluids
dreams of:
stomach is deficient = having a large meal
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governs transportation and transformation
controls blood
dominates muscles and limbs
opens into the mouth
manifests on the lips
controls “raising of qi”
houses thought
root of post-heaven qi, origin of birth and development
dreams of:
spleen is deficient = being hungry
late summer time = building a house
spleen in excess = singing and being very heavy
spleen is deficient = abysses in mountains and marshes
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dominates the blood and vessels
governs blood and controls blood vessels
motive force for blood circulation
vessels are the physical structures that circulate blood
manifests on the face
opens into the tongue
controls sweat
houses the mind
dreams of:
if heart is weak = fire
if in summer time = volcano eruptions
if heart is excess = laughing
heart is deficient = mountains, fire and smoke
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upper outlet for cardia, lower pylorus
receives and decomposes food
rotting and ripening
transportation of food essences
controls descending qi
origin of fluids
dreams of:
stomach is deficient = having a large meal
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temporary storage of urine
removes water by qi transformation
dreams of:
bladder is deficient = voyages
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house of water and fire (yin & yang)
stores essence, dominates human reproduction and development
produces marrow to fill brain
dominates water metabolism and reception of qi
dominates bone
manufactures blood
manifests in the hair
opens into the ear
dominates anterior and posterior orifices
houses will power
gate of vitality (mingmen), and root of original qi
dreams of:
kidneys are weak = swimming after a shipwreck
winter time = plunging into water and being scared
kidneys are excess = spine is detached from body
if you’re weak = immersed in water
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center of thorax
houses the mind too
the uterus vessel
coma, delirium, heat
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governs various forms of qi
passage for the flow of yuan qi and body fluids
upper jiao - fog or mist
middle jiao - froth of bubbles (maceration)
lower jiao - drainage ditch
passage of water & food
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stores bile and continously excretes to intestines, helping the liver to maintain free flow of qi
does not receive water and food
controls judgment and decisions. all alone in the world
controls sinews (liver provides blood and gb provides qi)
dreams of:
gb is deficient = fights, trials and suicide
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stores the blood and regulates the volume in circulation
maintains the free flow of qi
controls the tendons (sinews) & manifests in the nails
opens into the eyes
houses the ethereal soul
liver controls planning
dreams of:
liver in excess = being angry
liver is deficient = fragrant mushrooms
spring time = lying under a tree without being able to wake up
yin and yang theory
Yin and Yang represent the fundamental duality inherent in all aspects of life.
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there are two aspects to everything in the universe. change, development and decay are the motive forces. stomach qi is known to descend and spleen qi is known to ascend. an aggressive spouse/ has a passive spouse, this is due to one being the aggressive one and the other being the passive one.
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one can’t exist without the other. rest gives rise to action and vice-verca. CAM - “yin remains inside to act as a guard for yang and yang stays outside to act as a servant for yin.” digestion of food fuels organs to digest more causing a positive cycle.
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CAM:
xs yang consumes yin (heat = sweating)
xs yin consumes yang (cold = shivering)
consumpt. of yin > yang gain (yin def = heat)
consumpt. of yang > yin gain (yang def = cold)
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yang can transform into yin and vice versa. (qualitative change)
CAM:
“extreme yin will necessarily produce yang and extreme yang will necessarily produce yin. severe cold will give birth to heat and severe heat will give birth to cold.”
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there are various degrees of yin and yang that divide infinitely.
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preponderance of yin: when yin is preponderant, it induces a decrease of yang (i.e. the excess of yin consumes yang).
preponderance of yang: when yang is preponderant, in induces a decrease of yin (i.e. the excess of yang consumes yin).
weakness of yin: when yang is weak, yin is in apparent excess
weakness of yang: when yang is weak, yin is in apparent excess
it is important to see the difference between preponderance of yin and weakness of yang:
these may appear the same, but they are not.
it is a question of what is primary and what is secondary.
in case of preponderance of yin, this is primary and, as a consequence, the excess of yin consumes the yang.
in case of weakness of yang, this is primary and, as a consequence, yin is in apparent excess.
although it looks as if it is in excess, however, it appears so only relative to the deficiency of yang.
the same applies to preponderance of yang and weakness of yin.
three treasures
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chinese medicine frequently divides nature and concepts into three levels, such as heaven, human, earth, upper jiao, middle jiao, lower jiao, superficial, middle, or deep. this division into three does not replace the previous division into two as seen with yin and yang, nor does it conflict with the principle of five elements. important to your understanding of chinese medicine is the idea that there will be conflicting theories and different divisions. one theory does not replace another and this is normal and acceptable to eastern thinking. this is also where westerners often get frustrated, because all, even contradictory theories, are true. it is through your studies that you learn when it is appropriate to apply which theory to which situation.
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most subtle and immaterial, associated with the heart/mind and upper jiao
shen is the spirit of the heart and can be seen in the eyes. it reflects the general manifestation of the vital activities of the human body. in the broad sense it describes the state of general wellness, seen through a person's energy, complexion and ability to maintain proper organ function. in the narrow sense shen describes mental activities, such as consciousness and cognition, or if diseased it can reflect mental illness.
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fine or rarified, associated with the spleen/stomach and middle jiao
briefly stated is qi is energy. sometimes qi translated as air. qi represents movement and action. there are several types of qi that will be discussed in greater depth in the section of qi, blood, and fluids.
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most coarse and dense, associated with the kidney and lower jiao
jing is the dense material essence you are born with. it enters during pre-natal (pre-heaven) development and the amount of pre-heaven essence you are born with is the amount you have. it is your constitution, your reserves when depleted, and eventually over time it diminishes. to prevent its rapid decline it is important to have a proper lifestyle, such as getting enough rest, having a good diet, working or exercising not too much, not too little, and keeping stress to a minimum. rather than converting jing to energy, your day to day energy use should come from food and drink, rest and healthy lifestyle (post-heaven essence). however, this is not always possible. people have families and jobs and external stresses. sleep gets sacrificed. diet and exercise become irregular. doing too much uses your reserves, as it is supposed to. the key is to not tap these reserves too frequently or drain too much.
controls growth, reproduction, an development
controls the 7 and 8 year cycles
basis of the kidney
transforms into marrow
deficiency: pre-heaven jing deficiency can result in retarded growth, birth defects, poor developments, a propensity to develop childhood illnesses, mental retardation, or premature aging such is seen with premature hairloss or early graying of hair. post-heaven jing deficiency can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, overwork, not enough sleep, too much sex, or taking drugs, and can lead to a number or problems, such as mental anxiety, lack of energy or vitality, infertility, impotence, digestive disorders, damp, chronic colds, or chronic illness.
essence flow
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07 years: kd energy abundant, baby teeth replaced with permanent ones and hair grows
14 years: menstruation arrives, directing vessel begins to flow and the penetrating vessel is flourishing, periods are regular, and she can conceive
21 years: kidney essence peaks, wisdom teeth come out and growth is utmost
28 years: tendon & bones are strong, hair is longest, & body is strongest
35 years: yang channels begin to weaken, hair starts to fall out out and complexion starts to wither.
42 years: yang channels are weak & hair turns gray and the face darkens
49 years: ren and du mai vessels are empty, infertility sets in and the uterus is closed
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08 years: kidney energy is abundant, his hair and teeth grow.
16 years: kidney energy is abundant and sperm arrives. yin and yang are harmonized and he can produce a child
24 years: kidney energy peaks, tendon and bones are strong, wisdom teeth appear, and peak growth
32 years: tendons and bones are strongest, muscles are full and strong.
40 years: kidney is weakened, hair begins to fall out and teeth become loose
48 years: yang qi is exhausted, face becomes darker and the hair turns gray.
56 years: liver energy is weakened, leading to stiff tendons and the sperm dries up. kidney becomes weak and the body begins to age.
64 years: hair and teeth are gone
types of qi
all movement is a result of qi, qi is energy or air. nothing in the body can be circulated without it.
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closely related to jing, has its beginning in jing. it is the qi form of jing.
originates in the kidney, related to ming men
spreads body wide via the san jiao
emerges at the yuan source points
foundation of all yin and yang
relies on postnatal qi for nourishment
stimulates and promotes activity of zang fu organs
mainly affects the kidney
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first stage of transformation of food to qi
rises to lung and combines with air to form zong/gathering qi
stomach rots and ripens; spleen transforms and transports
mainly affects the lung
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taken in by lung through respiration
mainly affects the lung
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forms in the chest from the combination of clear air from lung (da qi) and food from spleen (gu qi)
gathers in the chest, supports the heart and lung, aids respiration, governs blood flow in the chest
controls speech and strength of the voice
pushes circulation of qi and blood to limbs
mainly affects the heart and lung
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the purest and last form of transformed qi
is the combination of zong qi + yuan qi
separates into ying (nutritive) qi and wei (defensive) qi
mainly affects the channels
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nutritive/nourishing aspect of qi
circulates in the interior
closely related to blood and flows with the blood
nutritive qi is the qi activated when a needle is inserted in an acupuncture point
mainly affects channels and blood vessels
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coarser form of qi, circulates on the exterior and protects the body from attacks from exterior pathogens
controls the opening and closing of the pores, sweating, body temperature
mainly affects lung
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zong qi: (central qi) transformation and transportation of middle jiao
zheng qi: (upright qi, righteous qi) anti-pathogenic qi. only referred to when pathogen is in the body
xie qi: (evil qi) pathogenic qi
production of qi
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the spleen and stomach, through their role of transforming gu qi, are considered to be the central axis and the "root of post heaven qi".
the spleen and stomach complement each other.
the spleen transforms and transports food essence; the stomach generates the fluid the fluid essences.
spleen qi rises and mixes with the qi from the lung and heart to form qi and blood.
stomach qi descends, sending down impure food and fluids to the intestines.
stomach: vomiting, belching
spleen: diarrhea, loose stools
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the lung is in the upper jiao
it is responsible for taking in air from the exterior (da qi), which together with gu qi from the spleen makes up zong qi.
lung qi descends to the middle and lower burner and also sends fluids to the skin
main dysfunction: cough, shortness of breath, asthma
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the kidney stores essence and essence can be transformed into qi
kidney qi ascends to grasp lung qi and to mix with the descending qi from the heart, a balance between water and fire
main dysfunction: low back or knee pain, teeth or bone problems, asthma, edema, deficiency heat, infertility, premature aging (hair, teeth, or brain)
function of qi
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promotes growth and development, it moves the blood and body fluids, transports fluids to the skin, lung and bladder, and transports food qi
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food substances coming to the body is transformed into qi, blood and body fluids. essence is transformed into qi and qi produces post-heaven essence
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constantly adjusts body temperature, responsible for basal metabolism
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wei qi protects the exterior from evil pathogen getting in and protects the organs at night.
ying qi protects organs.
yuan qi protects constitution
the body's defensive system is rooted in the lower jiao (kidney/yuan qi), generated by the middle jiao (spleen/gu qi) and spread through the upper jiao (lung/wei qi)
a problem in any of these three may cause illness
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qi closes the pores, holds blood, keeps body fluids in the organs and cavities, lifts the organs, and raises body fluids.
if we lack holding, we get leakage of sweat, blood or essence
pathologies of qi
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qi deficiency (also yang deficiency), qi sinking, qi collapse
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qi stagnation, qi rebellion
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common, tiring, worse on exertion, frequent colds, spontaneous sweating, chronic low-grade fever during the morning/day, pale, sallow, pasty or dull white complexion, pale tongue and weak pulse.
in yang deficiency there will be qi deficiency plus signs of cold, often in the limbs or low abdomen for spleen yang, the low back or knees for kidney yang, or the hands for heart yang.
mainly affects lungs, spleen, stomach, heart, kidneys, gall bladder
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like deficiency but worse, includes failure to hold/raise leading to organ prolapse, bearing down sensation, hemorrhoids, varicosities, chronic diarrhea, chronic bleeding during menses.
mainly affects spleen
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extreme form of qi deficiency, emergency situation.
mainly affects heart
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common and complex, pain, distention, bloating and fullness, pain comes and goes, migratory, diffused, generalized, symptoms better with movement and worse with inactivity, relieved by changes in diet, exercise, burping or flatulence.
the body intuitively causes frequent yawning, sighing, stretching, groaning to get the qi moving
mainly affects liver, heart, stomach, large intestine, pericardium
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common and annoying, related to qi stagnation because obstruction impacts the ability to ascend/descend, relates to any situation where the qi is not moving in the right direction, such as cough, asthma, liver overacting on spleen/stomach, vomiting, hiccups, diarrhea.
mainly affects lung, stomach, liver
relationship of qi & blood
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qi generates blood
qi moves blood
qi holds blood
blood is the mother of qi
qi is the commander of blood
what this means is you need qi in order to make blood and you also need qi to move the blood. qi holds blood in the vessels and prevents reckless bleeding. but without blood, the dense material substance, there would be no qi, hence blood is the mother of qi. yin and yang are interdependent and mutually consuming. blood is yin and qi is yang. they depend upon each other to perform their supportive roles in the body.
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a person eats food and drinks fluids and through transformation by the spleen and stomach these substances create gu qi.
gu qi gets pushed up to the lung and mixes with da qi (air).
this now termed zong qi goes to the heart, combines with kidney essence and yuan qi to make blood.
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a disturbance in any of the five areas can cause problems with the production of blood.
improper diet, such as not enough ingestion of iron, b12, folic acid or malnutrition in general will cause anemia (blood deficiency).
lungs that are congested or have chronic diseases such as emphysema will not perform proper gas exchange, and thus the blood won’t be carrying as much oxygen.
this may also occur in a healthy person if they go to elevation or breathe poor quality air.
the heart circulates the blood. if there is a blockage in an artery or the contractile strength of the heart beat is compromised, such as with congestive heart failure, there will be signs of blood deficiency.
kidneys make the hormone erythropoietin, which is necessary for red blood cell production.
a patient with kidney failure will have impaired production of erythropoietin and subsequent decreased number of RBCs
finally, yuan qi relates to constitution and genetics.
improper RBC or hemoglobin structure, such as occurs with sickle cell anemia, spherocytosis, thalassemia or hemophilia, will lead to bleeding disorders and impairment of blood production.
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the spleen makes blood and holds blood in the vessels
the spleen making blood is the 1st step
the heart governs and circulates blood
the liver stores blood
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the heart circulating the blood is assisted by the qi from the lungs
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when the body is awake and active the blood flows into muscles and tissues to provide nourishment and energy.
when the body is inactive, such as during sleep, the blood returns and stores in the liver.
concentration of blood in the liver roots the shen and hun and enables peaceful sleep.
liver blood also moistens the eyes and contributes to a woman’s healthy menstrual cycle.
functions of blood
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muscles
organs
tissues
sinews
sensory organs
skin
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heaviness of blood provides anchor for the shen and emotions
pathologies of blood
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deficient conditions: blood deficiency
excess conditions: blood stagnation, blood heat
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less ability to moisten, nourish, or provide ballast. the lack of moisture shows as dry skin, dull lusterless complexion, and manifests in skin, face and under lower eyelid.
lack of nourishment causes dizziness, numbness, paraesthesia, tremors, spasms, tics and insomnia.
no ballast leads to inability to anchor shen, leading to fluctuating emotions
tongue is pale, dry and thin.
pulse is empty, maybe thin, possibly choppy.
organs likely to get blood deficiency are the heart, liver and some texts say spleen.
heart blood deficiency: palpitations, insomnia, dream disturbed sleep, poor memory
liver blood deficiency: pale nails, blurry vision, tendon spasms, scanty menses
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fixed, stabbing, colicky pain, hard, immobile, palpable masses, better with movement, worse with pressure, may have bleeding as blood tries to get around blockage
tongue is all or partly purple
sublingual veins are engorged, purple and swollen,
pulse is choppy.
mainly affects heart, liver, stomach, and pericardium
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causes agitation, restlessness, feverishness and if severe, mania, delirium, convulsions or coma.
heat causes blood to run reckless, evidenced by bleeding.
skin may be dry and red with rashes.
tongue is deep red and pulse is rapid and forceful.
can be general in the body or in the pericardium
jin ye fluids
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moisten muscles and skin: tears, saliva, sweat, mucus, stomach fluids, vaginal fluids
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thick: lubricate joints, sensory orifices
central nervous system: synovial fluids, serous fluids, CSF fluids
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lung:
florid canopy of upper jiao
provides moisture to skin and disperses downward to kidney and rest of body
spleen:
transforms & transports food qi into fluids needed by the body
it sends qi up to the lung to combine with the vapor from the lung in order to form vital fluids
kidney:
vaporizes fluids first to the lung then to the urinary bladder.
disruption in the function of the kidney can lead to fluid retention, edema, urinary incontinence or the inability to urinate
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upper jiao: mist or fog
middle jiao: muddy pool, fluids bubbling, bubbling cauldron
lower jiao: drainage ditch, impure fluid
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food and drink
stomach and spleen
kidney jing
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moistens
lubricates
nourishes
purifies
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jin ye deficiency:
initially involves dryness
dryness can effect the tongue, mouth, throat, eyes, skin, hair, stools, and vaginal fluids
if it continues, it can become food or yin deficiency
symptoms of yin deficiency include evening low-grade fever, thirst for warm water or small sips of water, night sweats, malar flush, red tongue, little or no coat, and thready rapid pulse
jin ye excess:
may show as water accumulation, edema, damp or phlegm (a denser form of damp)
phlegm
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can be substantial (visible) or non-substantial (invisible)
substantial: produced by spleen and stored in the lung, comes out through nasal passages or cough. maciocia says this is the only form.
non-substantial:
under the skin as visible bumps/lumb
in the channels causing numbness
in the heart affecting the mind, sensory organs, mental illness
in the GB or KD manifesting as stones
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circulation of wind through the channels with obstruction by phlegm, such as wind stroke
dizziness, nausea, vertigo, vomiting
numbness of limbs due to channel obstruction
rattling sound in the throat, cough with sputum
visible or invisible
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associated with heart, lung or stomach pathology
heart: phlegm fire harassing the heart, yang type shen disturbance, loud and aggressive, red complexion, tightness in jaw and muscles
lung: cough with sticky, yellow/green sputum
stomach: oppression in epigastrium, mucus in stools, mental derangement, insomnia
other common signs/symptoms: red face, red tongue, greasy yellow coating
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related to lung and spleen, weak spleen makes the lung vulnerable to cold
clear, copious, bubbly, watery phlegm that is difficult to expectorate because it keeps being produced
nasal discharged upon exposure to cold, cold limbs, aversion to cold, nausea
pale tongue, white coat
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seen in lung patterns
white, sticky, turbid, easy to expectorate especially in morning
feeling of oppression in chest and epigastrium
white greasy tongue coat, slippery pulse
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seen in lung patterns, heat has dried all the fluids
sticky, scanty, difficult to expectorate
dry cough, dry tongue
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associated with liver qi stagnation
non substantial phlegm, feeling of swelling in throat, no actual swelling, plum pit syndrome
difficult swallowing, feeling of oppression in chest and diaphragm
pathogenesis of disease
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there are three primary causes of disease. the first is a disharmony of yin and yang. when a pathogen encounters the body an imbalance of yin and yang will allow the pathogen to enter and create either symptoms of excess or deficiency.
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the second cause of disease is conflict between zheng qi and xie qi. when a person encounters a pathogen, zheng qi will try to fight it off. in the process of combating xie qi, depending on the relative strength of zheng qi and xie qi, the illness can be mild or serious.
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the third cause of a pathology is abnormal ascending or descending qi. each type of qi has its own direction and when the normal direction is disrupted, problems can occur. for example, stomach qi should descend. when it does not there may be vomiting or hiccups. lung qi should descend. when it does not, there may be coughing or asthma.
interaction of zheng and xie qi
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zheng qi is the righteous qi that fights xie/evil pathogens from manifesting into pathologies. a strong zheng qi, largely determined by one’s constitution, diet, and sleep, will fight off most pathogens. or if a pathogen does enter, a strong zheng qi will battle the xie qi in a forceful, dramatic, yet relatively brief illness. symptoms will be strong because the zheng is strong and it is working to keep the body healthy. if zheng is weak, either due to weak constitution, age or lifestyle, a pathogen can get in relatively easy and the symptoms will be mild yet persistent. this is because the body is not fighting the xie qi very well. what would be an innocuous disease to person with strong zheng qi, the individual with weak zheng qi could be incapacitated for a longer period of time. they may not get as violently sick, but it will take them a longer time to feel “well”. or, it is possibly they would get very sick, far sicker than an individual with strong zheng qi for that particular disease.
there are 9 miscellaneous
factors of disease
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inherited from parents, weak constitution increases the tendency for deficiency of qi, blood, yin or yang. with these deficiencies one may be more prone to illness from an exterior pathogen and it may be more challenging to treat.
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too many hours over the course of years can severely deplete qi. not getting enough rest doesn't allow for replenishment of vital substances. as a result the person can develop a yin deficiency or increased chance for illness.
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the body needs movement in order to stay healthy, but too much movement may deplete qi, or too much repetitive movement can cause that body part to weaken. not moving is also a problem because it can lead to poor circulation and stagnation. therefore, balance and moderation is best.
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too much sexual activity may deplete the jing. too much sexual desire may weaken the kidney. desire can lead to heat and the inability to be satisfied.
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not eating enough, eating too much, eating foods in the wrong season, eating the wrong kinds of foods, such as those that are very spicy and irritating to the stomach or very cold and irritating to the spleen. also, eating too fast, eating under stress, or eating under emotional duress can impair the body's transformation of the food and fluids.
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parasites or poisons can disrupt digestion and lead to emaciation, abdominal pain, distension, and itchiness
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if the cause of a condition has been misdiagnosed a practitioner may prescribe herbs, or less frequently through acupuncture, that actually lead to more symptoms or problems, such as giving a tonic when a pathogen should have been expelled or using wind heat clearing herbs when the condition is wind cold
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western pharmaceuticals may create adverse side effects that can display in the pulse or tongue, or the use of recreational drugs can weaken the kidney or affect the heart.
six exogenous pathogenic factors
there are six factors from the environment that can cause disease. these are wind, fire, summer heat, dryness, damp and cold.
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yang pathogen. moves up and outward. affects the upper body, sinews, muscles, and joints. invades the area between the skin and muscles causing rigidity and stiffness. other symptoms are itching, dizziness, deviation of the eyes or tongue. main season is spring. primary organ affected is the liver.
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yang pathogen. rises and affects upper body. can cause thirst, restlessness, insomnia, irritability, headache. consumes the fluids, affects the pulse, most often seen in summer or warm climates. primarily affects the heart, liver and blood.
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yang pathogen. rises and affects upper body. is only seen in the summertime. can cause excess sweating leading to depletion of fluids, which may cause dryness. also causes thirst, high fever, irritability, headache. affects the heart.
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yang pathogen. affects upper body, nose, and throat. can cause cough, dry skin, dry hair, or constipation. primary season is autumn. mainly affects the lung.
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yin pathogen. often affects the lower body. often is prolonged and stubborn. cause heaviness, fatigue, fogginess, epigastric distention, irregular urination, leucorrhea, larger body type. seen in wetter climates or improper diet. mainly affects spleen.
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yin pathogen. affects the interior, causing contraction, pain and stiffness in the muscles and joints. also closes pores, bothers the spleen, can affect the uterus. main season is winter. primary organs affected are the spleen, kidney, and uterus.
seven endogenous pathogenic factors
chinese medicine recognizes that emotions can cause disease. all emotions are normal, however too much of any emotion can lead to an imbalance that manifests as an illness. the seven emotions are joy, anger, sadness, grief, worry, fear and fright.
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slows qi and affects the heart. too much joy causes palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, and excitability.
sudden joy is akin to shock.
joy slows the pulse
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makes qi rise and affects the liver.
causes headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, red face, hypertension, and short temper.
if prolonged will affect the heart.
may also affect the stomach leading to acid reflux and indigestion.
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consumes the qi and affects the lung and heart.
leads to crying, depression, breathlessness, and fatigue.
may deplete liver blood
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consumes qi and affects the lung and spleen
causes poor appetite, abdominal distention, fatigue, sighing, weak voice, breathlessness and dry cough
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knots qi and affects the spleen.
leads to poor appetite, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, disrupted sleep and pale complexion
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descends qi and affects the kidney.
may have incontinence, nocturnal enuresis, or diarrhea
with kidney's relationship to the heart it can also cause palpitations and insomnia
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scatters qi and affects the heart and kidney
leads to palpitations, insomnia, and difficult breathing.