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: Qi

6 Functions of Qi

• Holding 

  • Qi can hold the Blood and Body Fluids in the right place

  • LU Qi holds the sweat 

  • SP Qi holds the Blood within the vessel

  • KD/UB Qi hold urine within the bladder

• Transporting

  • Qi transports Blood and Body Fluids around our body

  • Qi can ascend, descend, exit, and enter in different tissues and organs in our body

  • Ascending and exiting are Yang, and descending and entering areYin

• Raising

  • As Qi is Yang in nature, Qi is inclined to its raising function

  • Qi can raise the Blood and Body Fluids, and even organs to the right place

• Protecting

  • Qi can ascend and exit, in other words, it can go up and outward to protect the body

  • Defensive Qi irrigates the space between the skin and muscles, and it pushes out any exterior pathogens that invade that space to get deeper into our body

• Warming

  • Qi is Yang in nature, so Qi is able to warm

• Transforming 

  • When there is warmth, transformation can take place

  • SP Qi transforms food into Food Qi

  • HT Qi transforms Food Qi into Blood

  • KD/UB Qi transforms fluids into urine

  • Essence can transform into Qi and Qi itself can transform into Mind

Movements of Qi

• 4 movements of Qi: ascend, descend, exit, and enter

• Theory of 5 Elements: Liver Qi expands, meaning it ascends and exits, Heart Qi flares upwards, Lung Qi contracts, meaning it descends and enters, and Kidney Qi moistens downwards

• Triple Burner: 

  • Heart Fire in the Upper Burner descends to the Lower Burner to warm the Kidney Water, and Kidney Water in the Lower Burner ascends to the Upper Burner to cool the Heart Fire

  • As Spleen Qi in the Middle Burner ascends, Liver Qi ascends from the Lower Burner on the left; as Stomach Qi in the Middle Burner descends, Lung Qi descends from the Upper Burner on the right

Production of Different Types of Qi 

• Qi of the Stomach and Spleen together are called, “Central Qi” or “Zhong Qi” 

• The Stomach Qi “rots and ripens” the food, then the Spleen Qi transforms that into “Food Qi” or “Gu Qi” 

• Food Qi rises to the chest, enters the Lung, combines with the air, “Qing Qi,” and becomes “Gathering Qi” or “Zong Qi” 

• With the help of “Original Qi” or “Yuan Qi,” Gathering Qi transforms into “True Qi” or “Zhen Qi” in the Lung

  • True Qi has two forms: “Nutritive Qi” or “Ying Qi,” and “Defensive Qi” or “Wei Qi”

  • Nutritive Qi flows within the Blood Vessels; nourishes the organs

  • Defensive Qi flows outside the Blood Vessels; protects the exterior of the body and regulates the temperature of the body by controlling the sweat pores

• Food Qi also rises to the chest, goes to the Lung and then enters the Heart, where it is transformed into the Blood with the help of an agent called “Original Qi” or “Yuan Qi” 

Original Qi

• It facilitates the transformation of Gathering Qi into True Qi in the Lung

• It facilitates the transformation of Food Qi into the Blood in the Heart

• It is known as the motive force for transformation in physiological activities

• It originates in between the two Kidneys, related with the Essence and the Fire of the Gate of Life

• From the Kidney, it spreads to the entire body and organs through the Triple Burner

• It emerges at the Source points of each acupuncture channels 

Next, we are going to learn about the third Vital Substance, Blood. 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.

TCM Theory: 5 Elements

Theory of 5 Elements

• 5 Elements is about grouping things into 5 categories and understanding their relationships

• These 5 groups are commonly found in nature: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water

• Wood: green, “can be bent and straightened,” expansion, Spring, beginning of the activity, LV/GB

• Fire: red, “flares upwards,” Summer, peak of the activity, HT/SI   

• Earth: yellow, “permits sowing, growing, and reaping,” neutrality, stability, transition between seasons, transformation, SP/ST

• Metal: white, “can be molded and can harden,” contraction, Fall, beginning of the recess, LU/LI

• Water: black, “moistens downwards,” Winter, peak of the recess, KD/UB

• There is a direct communication between Fire and Water, and Earth is in between acting as a pivot; Earth turning the axis of Fire and Water has effects on Wood and Metal.

Sequences of 5 Elements

• 2 physiological sequences: “Generating sequence,” “Controlling sequence”

• 3 pathological sequences: “Abnormal Generating sequence,” “Over-acting sequence,” “Insulting sequence”

Next, we are going to learn about 5 Vital Substances, starting from Essence. If you have any feedback or questions about the material covered, please don’t hesitate to contact at junhwa@txmexplained.com. Below are more examples of 5 Elements ;) 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.

TCM Theory: Yin and Yang

4 Aspects of Yin-Yang

• Opposition: everything has two aspects that oppose

• Interdependence: one cannot exist without its pair

• Mutual consumption: Yin and Yang consume each other (quantitative change)

• Intertransformation: Yin and Yang turns into each other (qualitative change)

• (*Infinite divisibility: Yin and Yang can be further divided into Yin and Yang)

Pathological Changes in Body

• Excess Cold (excess Yin): preponderance of Yin injures Yang

• Excess Heat (excess Yang): preponderance of Yang injures Yin 

• Deficiency Cold (deficiency Yang): weakness of Yang leads to preponderance of Yin

• Deficiency Heat (deficiency Yin): weakness of Yin leads to preponderance of Yang

• (*Good health is achieved when there is a balance of Yin and Yang)

We can say that the nature of the Yin-Yang theory is binary and relative. Next, we are going to talk about the theory of the 5 elements, which is more about categorization and association. If you have any feedback or questions about the material covered, please don’t hesitate to contact at junhwa@tcmexplained.com. 

Below are more examples of Yin and Yang ;) 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.

TCM Theory: Qi

Theory of Qi

• Qi can be understood as “life force” or “energy” 

• Qi can also be matter

• When the Qi disperses, it becomes rarefied energy; when the Qi aggregates, it becomes materialized substance

• The energy and matter are in continuum and they are in constant dispersion and aggregation

Examples of Qi

• Qi of the Heaven and Earth are in constant exchange and we are all part of that transformation; we are just one Qi in different forms. 

• Vital Substances are different manifestations of Qi with different forms and physiological functions; Vital Substances refer to Essence, Qi, Blood, Body Fluids, and Mind

Next, we are going to talk about the theory of Yin-Yang. 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.

Welcome to TCMexplained Blog

Hello! Welcome to TCMexplained Blog

This is our very first blog post and this is so exciting that you are here because we have so much good stuff that will help you learn TCM. Most likely, you are here after watching our video series on TCMexplained YouTube channel. I hope you enjoyed watching our video because more videos are coming!

Starting from TCM foundation theories, we will cover various topics, including TCM anatomy, physiology, diagnosis, herbs, formulas, and many more. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on the notification. In that way, you won’t miss any new video. 

Also, if you follow us on this blog, you will have access to every video’s summary notes or additional contents in outline/table format. We hope our videos and blog posts together can be an effective educational tool you can use in your learning of TCM.

If you have any feedback or questions about the material covered in video/blog, I want to hear from you! Please don’t hesitate to contact at junhwa@tcmexplained.com. I will get back to you soon. Keep in touch!

Junhwa

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Made Simple and My Objective

Over time, I’ve found that one of the most commonly asked questions from patients is “How does TCM work?” People express interest in the workings of this medicine and I want to share what I can with those that are interested. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine is a subject that’s just too complex for me to unravel for someone’s understanding in one sitting.

With a blog though, the situation is different. Readers can take their time to read and review the articles they find to be of interest and I only need to write about a given subject once! It’s time-efficient for me and there’s plenty of information that can be provided for the readers. Win-win!

At the same time, TCM is a discipline that has no shortage of topics to talk about; if I write willy-nilly with no specific objective in mind, it will be quite difficult to impart knowledge that is both coherent and understandable for everyone reading through this blog. For that reason, I want to make it known that my key objective is to provide an understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine for the general public. [Teaching of TCM’s application for medical purposes will NOT be covered to the depth required of practitioners.]

What that means is that I’m aiming to explain things in simpler terms, breaking everything from the jargon we use to the medical paradigms we use down into conceptually easier-to-understand pieces of information. I want everyone that comes across this blog to be able to learn what Traditional Chinese Medicine can do for long-term health as well as any immediate ailments.

I also want to show everyone the beauty and complexity of the medicine that exists behind-the-scenes. The logic that goes on behind its workings. By understanding what goes on in the process of evaluation and diagnosis through TCM’s methods, it will become evident that this isn’t a balancing act based on a simple scale, or a medicine akin to a card game where the results are a complete luck of the draw. 

I want everyone to see this medical system for what it really is-- a refined system of medicine based on logic and clinical evidence. A system of medicine that doesn’t pat itself on the back for merely being able to identify that there’s an issue, but aims to break that issue down piece by piece and has the tools to do so. It’s a system of medicine that genuinely puts a patient’s well-being first.

This isn’t new-type hooblah someone made up and put on the internet. This isn’t an archaic medicine that relies on some kind of faith. This is stuff that works because it’s been refined over and over again throughout centuries of use across countless generations of people. TCM is a medicine that has been demonstrating its effectiveness all across Oriental Asia for a long, long time.

TCM's potency in treating the ailments of the human body is one of the reasons I want to share what I know as a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This information is something that I know I would want to have available if I were the one in a position without this knowledge, because it would be of benefit to both myself and those around me. At the same time, if any reader is like I was when I was still a student, a question such as this may have been raised while hearing these claims about TCM: "If TCM is so great, why is it considered 'alternative' medicine in some regions?"

I personally think that TCM is considered “alternative” medicine in many areas because of a lack of understanding. Not by a fault of the people themselves, but from lack of access to the medicine's concepts. Because of a lack of access to the concepts, people don’t have a chance to understand the medicine, let alone recognize the problems that practitioners of TCM can help with. And naturally, if people don’t recognize that they can get help, many are left fending for themselves without treatment despite its availability.

Some people might even be unaware that they are in a state that would warrant treatment. Ever hear of someone having been “perfectly” healthy until some serious illness “suddenly” appeared? Is that kind of jump from healthy to severely ill logical? No, it’s not. Illnesses all have a buildup-- even externally contracted ones [HIV contraction -> AIDS -> opportunistic infection, for example]. Therefore it should be concluded that the person in question was NOT “perfectly” healthy. Their problem was simply unidentified or written off as being within the spectrum of “normal” when it shouldn’t have been.

Imagine being in the position of the person that thought their health was perfect with assurance from general lab tests and machinery to support it, only to suddenly learn otherwise. That’s scary stuff. It’s not something I want happening to myself or others, but it is something that really happens. 

Naturally, I want the above scenario happening as infrequently as possible, even if it’s for milder ailments, so I want my patients, the general public, friends, and family to understand when it may be a good time to get treatment. I want everyone to have the knowledge necessary to recognize signs and symptoms that indicate problems in the body before they worsen, and I want everyone to understand that they can get help when they need it. Hence… this blog. Again, this is all stuff that I would want MYSELF to know if I didn’t already-- that’s how valuable this is. And this blog will have the information I would want to give my hypothetically unknowledgeable self, made available for all of you.

Welcome to “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Made Simple” by YeRang Choi, LAc.

If you have any questions regarding TCM, please feel free to contact me at: 3hjsringer@gmail.com

*All written content is 100% original and the property of the author, YeRang Choi, LAc. It may NOT be copied or republished in any form without permission. (Seriously, if you want something, contact us.)

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