NMT150: Naturopathic Therapeutics I - TCM E-Learning Lecture 3 PDF

NMT150: NATUROPATHIC THERAPEUTICS I TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) E-LEARNING LECTURE 3 T C M LU N G A N D L A R G E I N T E S T I N E FUNCTIONS AND THEORY Author: Dr. Romi Fung, ND, M.Sc, Ph.D (cand.) LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe Lung and Large Intestine Organ Functions TCM ORGANS AND VITAL...

NMT150: NATUROPATHIC THERAPEUTICS I TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) E-LEARNING LECTURE 3 T C M LU N G A N D L A R G E I N T E S T I N E FUNCTIONS AND THEORY Author: Dr. Romi Fung, ND, M.Sc, Ph.D (cand.) LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe Lung and Large Intestine Organ Functions TCM ORGANS AND VITAL SUBSTANCES One of the main functions of the TCM organs is to ensure the production, maintenance, replenishment, transformation and movement of the Vital Substances In order to understand pathology, it is important to know the functions of each organ INTRODUCTION TO TCM ORGANS Zang-Fu Organs Zang is to Yin Organs, and Fu is to Yang Organs Zang means 'to store;' these organs store essences of the body In TCM, the internal organs are seen as a complex energetic system encompassing its anatomical entity and its mental, emotional and spiritual aspects Therefore, each internal organ is not simply an anatomical entity Each organ is correlated to a particular emotion, tissue, sense organ, mental faculty, colour, climate, taste, smell and more. INTRODUCTION TO TCM ORGANS Vital substances Fluids Tissues Odours Sense organs Colours Emotions Tastes Spiritual aspects Sounds Climates External manifestations TCM LUNG FUNCTION TCM LUNG FUNCTION Lungs Govern Qi and Respiration Lungs extract 'clean Qi' for the body Air Qi and Food-Qi (from the Spleen) combines to form Gathering Qi (Zong Qi) The Lungs spread Gathering Qi (Zong Qi) all over the body to nourish tissues and promote all physiological processes Gathering Qi (Zong Qi) resides in the chest and aids in the Lung and Heart functions to promote good circulation to the limbs and controlling the strength of the voice This is why weak Lung Qi can therefore cause tiredness, a weak voice, and slight breathlessness. TCM LUNG FUNCTION Lung diffuses and descends Qi Diffusing Qi ensures Defensive Qi is equally distributed all over the body and under the skin Warming the skin and muscles and protecting the body from external pathogenic factors If Lung Qi is weak and its diffusing function is impaired, Defensive Qi can not reach the skin and the body will be easily invaded Lungs are upper-most organ, Qi must descend to get to the body Lung Qi must descend to communicate with the Kidneys If Lung Qi does not descend, Qi will accumulate in the chest, causing cough, breathlessness and a feeling of oppression TCM LUNG FUNCTION TCM Lung control the skin and the space between skin and muscles Lungs receive fluids from the Spleen and spreads them to the skin and the surface between skin and muscles all over the body Pores are well regulated, and sweating will be normal If this function is impaired, skin will be deprived of nourishment and moisture, and the skin may be rough and dry TCM LUNG FUNCTION TCM Lung manifests in body hair Lung diffuses Defensive Qi to the skin and hair Lung also diffuses fluids to the skin and hair Nourishes and strengthens body hair Body hair should be lustrous, glossy and healthy If Lungs do not diffuse Qi and fluids properly, the body hair will lack nourishment and will have a withered, brittle, and dry quality TCM LUNG FUNCTION TCM Lung opens into the nose The nose is the opening of the lungs If Lung Qi is strong, the nose will be open and breathing will be easy and the sense of smell will be normal If Lung's Defensive Qi is invaded by an exterior pathogen, the nose will be runny If Lungs are invaded by Dampness, the nose will be clogged and blocked If Lungs have heat, there may be bleeding from the nose TCM LUNG FUNCTION TCM Lung control nasal mucous If the diffusing of Qi and fluids is normal, the nose is properly moistened and lubricated by normal mucous secretion If the diffusing of Qi and fluids is impaired, nasal secretion may accumulate causing a nasal discharge or stuffed nose If the Lungs are affected by Heat or Phlegm-Heat, nasal mucous may be thick and yellow If the Lungs are affected by Dryness, nasal mucous is insufficient and the nasal mucous is too dry TCM LUNG FUNCTION TCM Lung houses the Corporeal Soul or 'Po' The most physical and material part of the human being's soul The Lungs are a physical manifestation of the soul and given the name Corporeal Soul(Po) Yin, the counterpart of the Ethereal Soul(Hun). The Corporeal Soul transports Essence and helps the physiological processes to defend against exterior pathogenic factors. TCM LUNG FUNCTION SUMMARY Lungs Govern Qi and Respiration Lung diffuses and descends Qi Lung control the skin and the space between skin and muscles Lung manifests in body hair Lung opens into the nose Lung control nasal mucous Lung houses the Corporeal Soul TCM LARGE INTESTINE FUNCTION TCM LARGE INTESTINE FUNCTION TCM Large Intestine controls Passage and Conduction Receives digested food from the small intestine; transform into stools Qi has a downward movement; stagnation of Qi often affects LI resulting in distention and constipation Transforms Stools and Reabsorbs Liquids Final transformation of digested food to form stools Reabsorbs some of the fluids TCM LARGE INTESTINE FUNCTION Mental Aspect of Letting go Main mental-emotional aspect of LI Not dwelling on the past Several LI points affect our capacity of letting go and many 'Calm the Mind.' REFERENCES Maciocia, G. (2015). Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Third Edition.