Organ Functions PDF

**Bladder** 1. **Removes fluids through transformation of Qi** Bladder stores & excretes urine in the production of bodily fluids. Receives dirty/impure fluids from the S.Intestine to turn into urine. **Kidney** 1. **Houses the Zhi (will, tendency)** 2. **Manifests in the hair** In age Kidn...

**Bladder** 1. **Removes fluids through transformation of Qi** Bladder stores & excretes urine in the production of bodily fluids. Receives dirty/impure fluids from the S.Intestine to turn into urine. **Kidney** 1. **Houses the Zhi (will, tendency)** 2. **Manifests in the hair** In age Kidney Jing diminishes & so does the hair. Health of kidneys is expressed through the hair. 3. **Stores Jing for:** **a) Reproduction b) Growth/development c) Birth** Kidney Jing controls the cycle of the above. (Kidney, Pre & Post-heavenly essence) 4. **Produces Marrow for:** **a) Brain/spinal cord b) Bones c) Manufactures Blood** Marrows produced from Kidney Jing, nourishing the brain *(memory/concentration),* the bones *(weak knees).* 5. **Controls 2 lower orifices** Controls drainage of waste products through the anus & urethra *(& vaginal discharge, semen, urine)* Kidney Qi opens/closes these orifices. 6. **Dominates fluids** Works with Lung to dispose water. Kidney Yang provides drive for this process. 7. **Controls Reception of Qi** Works with Lungs to co-ordinate inhalation of breath 8. **Opens into the ears** Ages related. Kidney essence depletes opening into the ears. **Gall Bladder** 1. **Stores & excretes bile** (break down fats) Receives bile from [Liver]. Relies on Liv smooth flow. Stores (clean fluid) ready to excrete when needed in digestion Smooth flow aids St & Sp digestion. *Unsmooth = nausea, burping.* 2. **Rules decision-making** Controls capacity to make decisions. Enables judgement, decisions, discernment. 3. **Activates the tendons** Nourishes sinews with its blood & provides Qi to sinews ensuring movement/agility. **Liver** 1. **Stores Blood for:** **a) Rest/activity** Regulates volume of blood according to physical activity (energy). Flows to muscles & nourishes. *(Bad flow is dizzy, easily tired)* **b) Menstruation** Liv stores blood = normal menstruation. 2. **Ensure the smooth flow of Qi for:** **a) emotions** Smooth flow of Qi **b) digestion** Assists [St] & [Sp] digestion *(smooth flow = ripen/rots food so spleen can extract Gu Qi) food* **c) secretion of bile** Bile aids apportion/breakdown of nutrients & energy from food. 3. **Houses the Ethereal soul (Hun -- yang)** Mental-spiritual aspect of Liver. Influences planning & finding sense of direction/purpose in life, insight, courage. 4. **Manifests in the nails** Liver Blood moistens nails. 5. **Nourishes the tendons** State of sinews (tendons/ligaments) affect capacity for movement/muscle movement. This depends on nourishment/moistening of blood from Liver. 6. **Opens into the eyes** Liver blood nourishes/moistens the eyes ensuring good vision/moist. **Stomach Functions** 1. **Rots & ripens food and drink** Controls fermentation *(metabolism)* prepares [Spleen] for T&T to transform into Gu Qi -\> transports to Heart & Lungs. 2. **Controls the transportation of food essences** Transports essences/nutrients from food to the rest of the body. Determines muscular strength *(Sp function)* 3. **Origin of the fluids** St is where fluids first enter the body. To rot & ripen in the stomach, process needs fluids. Stomach likes wetness. *(dry stools, crack in middle of tongue, constipation)* 4. **Descends Qi** Stomach sends food down to S. Intestine -\> Bladder **Spleen** 1. **Raises Qi** Extracting refined Gu (food) Qi & sends upwards to [He] & [Lu.] Holds organs in place *(prolapse)* 2. **Governs transformation & transportation** Takes food, fluids, air & makes it useable energy. Extracts from Gu Qi. To the Lungs, Zong Qi (gathering breath). Sp likes dryness allowing energy to flow faster. 3. **Dominates the muscles & limbs** When Sp T&T process of Gu Qi is well functioning, muscles will be nourished, limbs will be strong *(good tone, vitality)* 4. **Controls blood** Keeps blood inside the vessels & uterus. Creates, contains & controls blood *(bruising, haemorrhage)* 5. **Opens into the mouth & manifests in the lips** Mouth & chewing is where process of T&T begins to Gu Qi. Associated with taste & appearance of lips. 6. **Houses Yi (spirit)** Spleen influences capacity for thinking, studying, concentration, focus, memory. *(poor memory, slow thinking, scattered thoughts)* **Lungs** 1. **Governs Qi & respiration** Inhale 'pure Qi' (air), exhale 'dirty Qi'. Balances flow of Qi in the chest *(controls voice strength)* Zong (gathering breath) Qi sources from Gu Qi energy. 2. **Controls Channels & Blood Vessels** Aids [Heart] for healthy blood vessels & circulation. Lungs control Qi & channels (yang), pushing blood to nourish areas. 3. **Control Descending & Dispersing of Qi and Body Fluids** [Disperses:] Spreads Wei (defensive) Qi & bodily fluids all over. Protects from external factors. Regulates open & close of pores (sweating). Blocked = oedema [Descending:] Lung directs fluids down to kidneys & bladder. Qi descends. 4. **Regulates water Passages** [Upper burner:] 'mist'. Controls sweating Sends fluids to Kidney/Bladder. Aids excretion. 5. **Dominates skin & hair** Lungs spreads fluids to skin & hair keeping them nourished. Wei Qi *(skin, hair)* protects from pathogens 6. **Opens into nose** Warms/filters air (sinus). Sense of smell. Lu Heat = Nose bleeds. 7. **House the Corporeal Soul (po)** Po = part of soul linked to body (dies w/ body). Links to Jing (constitutional strength) and breathing/feelings. **Large Intestine** 1. **Controls passage & conduction** Receives transformed food & drink from S. Intestine excretes this into stools/dirty waste downwards. 2. **Transforms stools & reabsorbs fluids** Absorbs remaining nourishment. Final stage of digestive system determining bowel movement/appearance, excreting dirty waste. **Heart** 1. **Governs the blood** Circulates & pumps flow of blood. Transformed from Gu Qi, to supply tissues. 2. **Controls blood vessels** Depend on Heart Qi & blood so that its plentiful & strong. Affects the pulse. 3. **Houses the Shen** (memory, thinking, sleep, consciousness, spirits -- po, hun, zhi, yi) 4. **Manifests in the complexion** Strong heart = rosy complexion. He Blood stagnation *(purple)* Heart Blood/Qi Xu *(pale)* 5. **Opens into the tongue** Influences colour, form, look of tongue). Linked to speech = stuttering, speech issues, laugh & talk a lot. 6. **Controls Sweat** Heart controls bodily fluids. Frequent sweat causes deficiency in fluids & blood. **Triple Burner** 1. **3-fold division of the body into spaces:** Upper (like a mist) = He, Pc, Lu = Produces sweat Middle (like a muddy pool) = St, Sp, GB = Produces bodily fluids Lower (like a drainage ditch) = Kid, Bl, SI, LI, Liv, Uterus = Creates Blood 2. **Enables passage of Yuan (original) Qi through the body.** All movements of Qi controlled by TB *(ascends, descends, enters)* Transports Yuan Qi & controls all sorts of Qi - ([Zong Qi] = upper burner) ([Ying \[nutritive\]] [Qi] = middle burner) ([Wei Qi] = lower burner) 3. **Controls the water passages & excretion of fluids.** Function is mobilized by TB through Qi transportation. **Pericardium protects the Heart from full heat** a) agitation drugs. b) spicy food/ alcohol. c) red meats. **Small Intestine** 1. **Separates fluids** Pure fluids sent to large intestine *(re-absorption).* Impure are sent to the Bladder. 2. **Receives digested food & drink from the stomach** Bodily fluids (jin ye) separates pure from impure. Nutrients are absorbed in blood; waste passed down & requires yang energy/heat. Small Intestine gives ability to discriminate.