Vital Substances: Mind

Mind and Body

• Mind and body are different manifestations of Qi

• When Qi condenses, it becomes more materialized substance, such as our body

• When Qi disperses, the substance becomes more rarefied and non-material, like our Mind

Foundation for Mind

• Qi and Essence are material foundation for the Mind

• Blood is the material foundation for the Mind as well

• The Mind relies on both the Pre-Heaven, the Spleen and Stomach, and the Post-Heaven, the Kidneys

The Heart and Mind

• The Heart governs the Mind 

• The Heart is the residence of the Mind

Functions of Mind

• The Mind has various functions for consciousness, senses, thinking, memory, and so on

• The Heart is the “Monarch of the 5 Yin organs and 6 Yang organs,” thus all senses rely on the Heart 

• 7 emotions, joy, anger, worry, pensiveness, sadness, fear, and fright, all affect the Heart 

So that closes our TCM Theory series. We have covered core theories of TCM, including the theory of Qi, Yin-Yang, 5 Elements, and all of the 5 Vital Substances. Feel free to go back and review what we have learned up until this point as these theories are the basic foundations of TCM. Next, we will begin our TCM Anatomy series.

If you have any feedback or questions about the material covered, please don’t hesitate to contact at junhwa@tcmexplained.com. Until next time. 

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* The content is provided only for education purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

References

1. Cheng, Xinnong, ed. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 3rd ed. Fifteenth Printing 2014. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2012.

2. Kaptchuk, Ted J. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000.

3. Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2015.

Vital Substances: Body Fluids

Production of Body Fluids

• Body Fluids are formed from food and drinks, like Qi and Blood

• Food and drinks are received by the Stomach

• The Spleen transforms and separates “clean” fluids from “dirty” fluids 

• The Spleen sends the “clean” fluids up to the Lungs; the Stomach sends the “dirty” fluids down to the Small Intestine

• The Lungs disperse and diffuse them to the skin, body hair, and the space between skin and muscles

• The Lungs also direct fluids down to the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder

• In turn, Yang Qi of the Kidneys warms and evaporates those fluids to moisten the Lungs

• The Small Intestine separates “pure” and “impure” fluids; “pure” fluids then go down to the Urinary Bladder and “impure” fluids go down to the Large Intestine, where some of the fluids are reabsorbed and some are excreted in the stool

• The Urinary Bladder further transforms and separates “pure” and “impure”; “pure” fluids go up to the exterior of the body as sweat and “impure” fluids are excreted as urine 

• Production of Body Fluids involves the Spleen, Stomach, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, and so on; the major ones are the Spleen and Stomach, the “Root of Post-Heaven” 

• The Stomach is known as the “Origin of Fluids” 

• Transformation and separation by these organs rely on Yang Qi of the Kidneys

• The Kidneys are known as the “Gate of the Stomach,” because the warmth of Kidneys Yang Qi is crucial for the transforming function of the “Stomach”

Distribution of Body Fluids

• Distribution of Body Fluids involves the Spleen, Lungs, Kidneys, Liver, and Triple Burner; the main ones to remember are the Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys 

• The Spleen Qi ascends fluids up to the Lungs; the Stomach Qi descends fluids down to the Small Intestine

• The Lungs disperse and diffuse the “clean” fluids from the Spleen to the exterior of the body; the Lungs also descend the fluids downwards to the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder 

• The Lungs are known as the “Upper Source of Water”

• The Lungs are said to regulate the “Water Passages”

• The Kidneys help the Qi transformation of fluids

• Yang Qi of the Kidneys warms and evaporates fluids and send back to the Lungs to moisten them

• The Kidneys also send fluids downwards; the Kidneys are said to control the two lower orifices, which refer to the urethra and anus, where urine and stool exit 

• The Kidneys are known as the “Lower Source of Water”

• The Triple Burner is also known as the “Passage of water and food” 

• The Upper Burner is compared to a “fog” or “mist”

• The Middle Burner is compared to a “froth of bubbles” or “maceration chamber”

• The Lower Burner is compared to a “drainage ditch” or “swamp” 

Functions of body Fluids

• Body Fluids in Chinese is “Jin Ye.” 

• “Jin” is fluids that belong to Yang

• Jin fluids are clear, light, and watery fluids that move fast; they are under the control of the Lungs

• Jin fluids circulate with the Defensive Qi outside of Vessels on the exterior of the body; their function is to moisten skin and muscles

• “Ye” is fluids that belong to Yin

• Ye fluids are turbid, heavy, and dense fluids that move slow; they are under the control of the Spleen and Kidneys

• Ye fluids circulate with the Nutritive Qi inside of Vessels in the interior of the body; their function is to nourish the joints, spine, brain, bone marrow, and orifices 

Next post will be on Mind, the last of the 5 Vital Substances. If you have any feedback or questions about the material covered, please don’t hesitate to contact at junhwa@tcmexplained.com. Below is a summary table of the relationships among Qi, Blood, and Body Fluids :) Until next time. 

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* The content of video is provided only for education purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

References

1. Cheng, Xinnong, ed. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 3rd ed. Fifteenth Printing 2014. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2012.

2. Kaptchuk, Ted J. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000.

3. Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2015.

Vital Substances: Blood

Formation of Blood

• The main source of Qi and Blood is the Spleen and Stomach

• The Stomach digests food and the Spleen transforms that into Food Qi

• Food Qi is sent to the Lungs, then to the Heart, where it is transformed into Blood with the help of Original Qi

• “If Qi is not exhausted, it returns essences to the Kidneys to be transformed into Essence; if the Essence is not depleted, it returns Essence to the Liver to be transformed into Blood”

• Kidney Essence produces Marrow; Marrow is one of Extra Fu organs that contributes to making Blood

• Original Qi from Kidney contributes to the transformation of Food Qi into Blood in the Heart

• The production of Blood involves not only Post-Heaven, the Spleen and Stomach, but also Pre-Heaven, the Kidneys

• Within the Blood Vessel, there is Nutritive Qi that secretes Body Fluids, which can be transformed into Blood

• Inside the Blood Vessels, Body Fluids transform into Blood, and outside of the Blood Vessels, Blood transforms into Body Fluids 

• Blood can be made from Qi, Essence, Marrow, and Body Fluids

• Production of Blood involves the Stomach, Spleen, Lungs, Heart, Kidneys, and Liver

Circulation of Blood

• Circulation of Blood involves the Heart, Lungs, Spleen, and Liver 

• The Heart “governs Blood and Vessel” 

• The Lungs not only “control channels and Blood Vessels,” but also “govern Qi

• “Qi moves, Blood follows; Qi stagnates, Blood congeals” 

• Qi is the “commander of Blood,” and Qi is the force behind the circulation of Blood 

• The Spleen “controls Blood” 

• The Spleen keeps Blood circulating within the Blood Vessels and prevents it from leaking out  

• The Liver “stores Blood” and “maintains the free flow of Qi”

• The Liver regulates Blood volume

• The Liver is closely related to Ren and Chong channels, and uterus

• The Heart, Lungs, and Liver are involved with the “transporting” functions of Qi

• The Spleen and Liver are involved with the “holding” functions of Qi

Functions of Blood

• Blood is Yin so it nurtures

• Blood nourishes and moistens Qi 

• “Qi is the commander of Blood and Blood is the mother of Qi”

• Blood nourishes and replenishes Essence

• Blood nourishes various tissues and organs

• Blood is the material foundation for Qi and Mind

Next, we are going to learn about the fourth Vital Substance, Body Fluids. If you have any feedback or questions about the material covered, please don’t hesitate to contact at junhwa@tcmexplained.com. Until next time. 

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* The content is provided only for education purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

References

1. Cheng, Xinnong, ed. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 3rd ed. Fifteenth Printing 2014. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2012.

2. Kaptchuk, Ted J. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000.

3. Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2015.

Vital Substances: Essence

Vital Substances: Essence

• “Vital Substances” are different manifestations of Qi

• Essence is one of Vital Substances

• Essence is the most precious substance in our body

• Essence is fluid-like Yin substance that transforms slowly over a long time

 Pre-Heaven Essence 

• Given from our parents, it determines our constitution and vitality

• Yang aspect of Pre-Heaven Essence is called the Fire of the Gate of Life or Minister Fire; it accumulates at the acupuncture point Du-4

• Yin aspect of Pre-Heaven Essence accumulates at the acupuncture point RN-4

• Yang Fire of the Gate of Life which provides the motive force and warmth for Yin Essence

• Yin Essence which provides the substance for transformation of Qi

• Kidney is known as the “Root of the Pre-Heaven Essence.”

• The Fire of Gate of Life is also known as the “Root of the Pre-Heaven Qi” and the “foundation for the Original Qi” 

Post-Heaven Essence

• Spleen and Stomach are responsible for extracting nutrition from food and drinks, and forming essence called Post-Heaven Essence

• Spleen and Stomach are known as the “Root of the Post-Heaven Essence” 

Kidney Essence

• Kidney Essence is the combination of Pre-Heaven Essence and Post-Heaven Essence

• Kidney Essence is the organic substances that are in charge of growth and development

• In childhood: controls growth of bones, teeth, hair, brain, and sexual maturation

• After puberty: controls the reproductive function and fertility

• As Kidney Essence declines: aging, loss of teeth and hair, menopause, infertility, and impairment of cognitive functions 

3 Treasures

• 3 Treasures refer to Essence, Qi, and Mind 

• Kidney (Essence), Spleen/Stomach (Qi), Heart (Mind)

• Essence is a material foundation for Qi and Mind

• Qi is a material foundation for Mind

• Essence and Qi are important for healthy mental state

• Essence also produces Marrow, which fills and nourishes the spinal cord and brain

Next, we are going to learn about the second Vital Substance, Qi. If you have any feedback or questions about the material covered, please don’t hesitate to contact at junhwa@tcmexplained.com. Until next time. 

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* The content is provided only for education purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

References

1. Cheng, Xinnong, ed. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 3rd ed. Fifteenth Printing 2014. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2012.

2. Kaptchuk, Ted J. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000.

3. Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2015.