Zang Organs: Spleen, Kidney, Pericardium PDF

Zang Organs (Part II) Spleen, Kidneys, (Pericardium) ACUP 127—Jessica Walker BA, R.Ac  The Spleen ‘Granary of icial from whom the ive tastes are derived’ Other Functions Ma...

Zang Organs (Part II) Spleen, Kidneys, (Pericardium) ACUP 127—Jessica Walker BA, R.Ac  The Spleen ‘Granary of icial from whom the ive tastes are derived’ Other Functions Main Functions ❖ Controls the muscles and the ❖ Governs transformation and four limbs transportation ❖ Opens into the mouth ❖ Controls the ascending of Qi ❖ Manifest in the lips Spleen Relationships ❖ Controls Blood ❖ smell is fragrant ❖ Controls saliva ❖ colour is yellow ❖ taste is sweet ❖ Controls raising of Qi ❖ climate is damp ❖ sound is singing ❖ Houses the Yi (Intellect) ❖ Affected by pensiveness f f The Spleen and Pancreas?  The Spleen—Functions Transformation and Transportation ❖ Spleen’s function of Transformation and Transportation concerns food essences, Qi and uids. ❖ The Spleen separates the usable from unusable part of food and directs Gu-Qi upwards to the Lungs to combine with air to form Zong Qi (Gathering Qi and to the Heart to form Blood. ❖ Spleen’s transformation and transportation of food essences is essential to the process of digestion and production of Qi and Blood. ❖ Healthy Spleen: good appetite and digestion, normal absorption and regular formed bowel movements. ❖ Impaired Spleen: poor appetite and digestion, abdominal distension and loose stools. fl  The Spleen—Functions Transformation and Transportation Fluids ❖ Spleen-Qi ascending linked to notion of ‘clear’; clear part of food essences and Qi go up to Lungs and turbid goes to intestines ❖ Dampness, phlegm or edema will develop if Spleen Qi fails to ascend, affecting transportation and transformation of uids in the Middle Jiao ❖ tongue diagnosis: a swollen tongue with teeth marks is a sign of Spleen Qi de ciency with retention of Dampness or phlegm fi fl  The Spleen—Functions Controls the Ascending of Qi Qi, food essences and uids ❖ Spleen-Qi ascends to send Qi, food essences and uids up to the Lungs ❖ Ascending of Spleen-Qi is coordinated with the descending of the Stomach Qi ❖ essential for proper digestion ❖ coordination allows clear Yang to ascend to the upper ori ces and the Turbid Yin to descend to the lower ori ces ❖ Ascending of Spleen-Qi ‘lifts’ the organs, keeping them in place ❖ Spleen-Qi sinking: Spleen Qi fails to ascend (prolapse) fl fi fi fl  The Spleen—Functions Spleen Controls the Blood: ❖ 1. Holds Blood in the vessels (prevents bleeding) ❖ 2. Makes Blood from Gu Qi Spleen makes Blood Spleen holds Blood in the vessels ❖ central organ for producing both Qi and ❖ closely linked to Spleen’s ascending Blood (Root of Post-Heaven Qi) function (failure of Spleen-Qi to keep Blood ❖ extracts Gu Qi from food and forms Blood in the vessels implies a failure of Spleen-Qi (with Heart & Yuan Qi) ascending) ❖ to nourish Blood, always tonify Spleen ❖ Spleen-Qi de cient can cause failure of ❖ strength of Spleen plays an important role in Spleen controlling Blood function: Blood supplementing and nourishing Yuan Qi can spill out of vessels (hemorrhage); ❖ menstrual blood (Tian Gui) is different than usually causes bleeding downwards blood of the body. Tian Gui derives from (uterus, bladder, intestines) Kidney Essence. Blood of body from Spleen and Kidneys. fi The Spleen—other functions  Spleen—correspondences sweetish body odour usually indicates Heat patterns of the Spleen Smell fragrant perfumy, faint sickly sweet overtone usually indicates Spleen de ciency or Dampness yellowish complexion (very common) seen on cheeks, forehead and chin Colour yellow pale, dull-yellow colour: Spleen de ciency richer, fuller, bright yellow: Damp-Heat dull yellow: chronic Dampness (without Heat) sweet taste of mouth: Dampness (esp Damp-Heat) sweet foods in moderation nourish the Spleen; must be naturally sweet foods (not re ned sugars) Taste sweet excessively consumption of sweet foods weakens the Spleen as well as the Kidneys external Dampness is a common pathogenic factor external Dampness=Damp climate or Damp living conditions (damp basement, mould etc.), staying in a wet Climate damp bathing suit, sitting on damp ground external Damp enters leg channels, esp Spleen, settles in lower Jiao, can cause other problems (vaginal discharge, urinary problems) singing tone of voice often indicates Spleen de ciency people who hum (unrecognizable) tunes while working Sound singing getting songs stuck in the head is a sign of Dampness fi fi fi fi The Kidneys Water Element and Source of Fire  The Kidneys ‘Root of Life’ ‘Root of the Pre-Heaven Qi’ ‘Primary Yin’ and ‘Primary Yang’ (Foundation of Yin and Yang) Foundation of Yin and Yang Origin of Water and Fire Kidney-Yin: Kidney-Yang: motive force of all fundamental substance for birth, growth and physiological processes reproduction physiological activity that material foundation for transforms Kidney-Yin Kidney-Yang Rely on each other for their existence; interdependent; de iciency of one necessarily implies de iciency of the other (in differing amounts) f f  The Kidneys—Functions Main Functions ❖ Store the Jing and govern birth, Other Functions growth, reproduction and ❖ Open into the ears development Kidneys Relationships ❖ Manifest in the hair ❖ smell is putrid ❖ Produce marrow, ll up the ❖ colour is black brain and control the bones ❖ Control spittle ❖ taste is salty ❖ climate is cold ❖ Govern Water ❖ Control the two lower ori ces ❖ sound is groaning ❖ Control the reception of Qi ❖ House the Zhi (will-power) ❖ Control the Mingmen (Fire of the Gate of Life/Minister Fire) fi fi  Jing (Essence)—Review Three Types of Essence 1. Pre-Heaven Essence 2. Post-Heaven Essence 3. Kidney Essence Kidney Essence: a ‘mature stage’ of Pre-Heaven Essence  The Kidneys—Functions Store the Jing and govern birth, growth, reproduction and development Pre-Heaven Essence inherited Essence: before birth nourishes fetus; after birth controls growth, sexual maturation, Kidneys Store the Jing: fertility and development ❖ 1. Store the Pre-Heaven Essence Essence determines basic constitution, strength Post-Heaven Essence ❖ 2. Store the Post-Heaven Essence and vitality basis of sexual life, and the material foundation the re ined essence extracted from for the manufacture of sperm in men and ova and food through the transforming menstrual blood in women; Tian Gui is different power of the Internal Organs from other types of Blood as it derives directly from the Kidney-Essence Pathology: insuf icient Essence may be a cause of infertility, impotence, underdevelopment in children (physical or mental), retarded growth and premature senility. f f  The Kidneys—Functions Store the Essence and govern birth, growth, reproduction and development Kidney Essence has Yin and Yang aspects Yin: Tian Gui Yang: Mingmem Kidney Essence (Jing) Clinical Application determines a person’s constitution circulates all over the body, especially in the 8 Extraordinary Vessels relates to hormonal changes Jing strong: strong Kidneys; vitality, sexual power, fertility Jing weak: weak Kidneys; lack of vitality, sexual weakness, infertility  The Kidneys—Functions Produce ‘Marrow’ (Sui) *Interesting to note pathway of Du Channel Marrow Fill up the brain ❖ Kidney Essence produces Marrow ❖ ‘Marrow’ is not the same as bone marrow in Biomedicine ❖ Marrow in CM = common matrix of bones, bone marrow, brain and spinal cord ❖ Marrow is transformed into bone marrow ❖ Marrow and bone marrow generate the bones Brain ‘Kidneys are the origin of skill and intelligence’ Kidney-Jing strong (brain and memory nourished): concentration, thinking and sight are keen Weak Jing (brain not nourished): poor memory and concentration, dizziness, dull thinking and poor sight Du Meridian Brain and spinal chord: ’Sea of Marrow’ (Governing Vessel)  The Kidneys—Functions Control the bones Bones Marrow is the basis for bone marrow Kidney-Essence strong: strong bones and teeth Kidney-Essence weak: brittle bones and loose teeth Weak Kidney-Essence in children: poor bone development, pigeon-chest Menopause: decline of Kidney Jing not nourishing Marrow and bones (osteoporosis) ❖ “TheKidneys pertain to Water and they generate the bones. If the Kidneys are not ourishing the Marrow cannot be lled”. —Simple Questions ❖ “The ve avours and uids amalgamate to form fat: this irrigates the cavities inside the bones, it toni es the Brain and the Marrow and ows to the thighs.”—Spiritual Axis fi fi fl fi fl fl fl  The Kidneys—Functions Govern Water Govern Water (transformation and transportation of Body Fluids) 1. Kidneys are the ‘Gate’ that control urination (gate opens and closes) ❖ healthy Kidney function: normal urination (gate controlled) ❖ imbalance in Kidney Yang and Yin: gate either too open or too closed ❖ Kidney Yang de ciency (gate too open): profuse and pale urination ❖ Kidney-Yin de ciency (gate too closed): scanty and dark urination 2. Kidneys in uence water metabolism in all three Jiaos ❖ Upper Jiao (‘Mist’) Lungs: Kidneys receive uids from Lungs and also send vaporized uids up to Lungs to keep them moist ❖ Middle Jiao (‘Cauldron’) Spleen: important role in transformation and transportation of Body Fluids; Kidney-Yang provides Spleen with heat to carry out its function. ❖ Lower Jiao (‘Drainage Ditch’): ❖ Bladder: excretion of impure Body Fluids; Kidneys send Qi to Bladder to store and transform urine ❖ Small and Large Intestine: separate clean from dirty uids; under control of Kidney-Yang fl fl fi fi fl fl  The Kidneys—Functions Control the Reception of Qi Breathing: Lungs and Kidneys work together ❖ Lungs have descending action on Qi, directing it down to Kidneys ❖ Kidneys respond by ‘receiving’ and ‘grasping’ the Qi and holding the Qi down. ❖ Kidney Yang (and Mingmen) essential for receiving of Qi ❖ ‘Kidneys fail to receive Qi’: congestion in the chest, breathlessness and asthma; *frequent cause of chronic asthma  The Kidneys—other functions Spittle: Tuo (of the Kidneys), thicker, back of throat; both comes from Kidney Essence and nourishes bene its Essence. Saliva: Xian (of the Spleen), thinner, from the mouth, aids digestion Kidney Essence determines vitality and mental vigour. ‘Kidneys are the strong of icial from whom ingenuity is derived’ (Simple Questions). Kidneys determine both physical and mental strength and Will-power. Yintah (Witsuwit’en land defenders) f f  The Kidneys—other functions Kidneys Control Mingmen Mingmen provides heat for all bodily Functions of Mingmen functions and for the Kidney-Essence itself ❖ Root of Yuan Qi Special type of Fire: can both extinguish Water and also produce Water. ❖ Source of Fire for all Internal Organs ❖ warms lower Jiao and Bladder ❖ warms Stomach and Spleen to aid Two theories (5 Elements Heart as Fire digestion & Mingmen Kidney Fire) ❖ harmonizes sexual function and warms In clinical practice, when treating Yang Essence and Uterus de iciency conditions, theory of Fire of Kidneys holds more signi icance and is more widely ❖ assists the Kidney reception of Qi used E.g tiredness, exhaustion, oedema, etc., we ❖ assists the Heart in housing the Mind tonify Mingmen Fire of the Kidneys and not the ‘Emperor’ Fire of the Heart f f The Kidneys—other functions Kidneys Control Mingmen  Kidneys—Relationships like stagnant water frequent in clinic, notable in the elderly Smell putrid always indicates a Kidney de ciency dark grey colour observed on cheeks and under eyes Colour black usually indicates Kidney-Yin de ciency dark-bluish colour on cheeks can be Kidney-Yang de ciency indicates Kidney de ciency (Yin or Yang) not common in clinic Taste salty small amount of salty taste bene ts the Kidneys (esp. Kidney Yin) excessive salt in diet will harm the Kidneys and the Heart (Water over-controlling Fire) external cold injures Yang and the Kidneys (can lead to Kidney Yang de ciency) Climate cold external cold invades the lower back and loins: common in people who wear crop-tops & skirts cold can cause symptoms: lower back pain (lumbago), abdominal pain, diarrhea, painful periods groaning, low, deep voice Sound groaning somewhat rasping and hoarse voice fi fi fi fi fi fi  The Kidneys—Sayings ❖ The Kidneys are the root of Pre-Heaven Qi ❖ The Kidneys control opening and closing ❖ Kidneys are the root of Pre-Heaven Qi because they ❖ control both ‘Yin ori ces’ (urethra and anus) store the Essence (inherited from the parents) ❖ function like ‘gate’ with urination ❖ Kidney-Yang de cient (gate it open): urine ❖ The Kidneys loath dryness abundant & clear ❖ Kidney-Yin de cient (gate is closed): urine ❖ dry weather and internal dryness injure Kidney Yin ❖ interior dryness can be produced from: Stomach scanty and dark de ciency, profuse and continued loss of uids ❖ Kidneys in uence anus and dedication ❖ Kidney-Yang de cient: diarrhea (sweating and diarrhea) or smoking. Tobacco dries the Blood and Essence and injures Kidney Yin ❖ some doctors say the Kidneys dislike cold and the ❖ The Kidneys control strength and skill: Lungs dislike dryness ❖ control our capacity for hard work ❖ Kidneys strong: person can work hard and ❖ The Kidneys are the Gate of the Stomach purposefully for long periods of time ❖ Kidneys weak: person lacks strength necessary ❖ Stomach is the origin of uids and the Kidneys transform and excrete uids for long periods of work ❖ if Kidneys can’t excrete uids, they will stagnate ❖ Kidney disharmony can sometimes drive a person to and affect the Stomach overwork (workaholism) ❖ lack of Stomach uids can lead to Kidney-Yin ❖ in uence our capacity for skilled and delicate de ciency activities (extended focus) fl fi fi fl fi fl fi fi fi fl fl fl fl The Pericardium (Xin Bao)—‘Envelope of the Heart’ “Heart Protector” “Master of the Heart” The Pericardium is a membrane that wraps around the Heart NOTE Pericardium and San Jiao “The San Jiao protects the Internal Organs on the outside and the Pericardium protects the Heart on the outside”.  The Pericardium— The Organ Main Functions (the Organ) ❖ Closely related to the Heart (membrane wrapping the Heart) “The Five Zang and the Six Fu” *The Pericardium (as an Organ) was often ❖ Therefore has same functions as the Heart: omitted in ancient texts and its functions discussed in relation to the Heart. ❖ Governs the Blood ❖ Houses the Mind (Shen) ❖ Protects the Heart from attacks by EPFs (Xie Qi) ❖ In acute febrile diseases, the Pericardium may be obstructed by Heat manifesting with high fever and delirium  The Pericardium— The Channel ’11 Internal Organs and 12 channels’ The Pericardium Channel is very important and distinct from the Heart channel. Main Functions (the Channel) ❖ Pericardium points invigorate the Blood or cool the Blood ❖ Pericardium points stimulate or calm the Mind (Shen) ❖ Pericardium channel in uences the chest and Zong Qi (can treat Pericardium channel points the Heart and Lungs) have a profound in luence on the mental emotional state f fl  The Pericardium— Minister Fire ‘Fire Dragon lying to the top of a high mountain’ From a Five Element and Channel perspective: Pericardium and San Jiao are ‘Minister Fire’ From an Organ perspective, Kidneys are ‘Minister Fire’ (Mingmen). Connection lies in the fact that Minister Fire flows upwards to Liver, Gall Bladder and Pericardium in pathology this Fire flares up and harasses the Pericardium (affecting mental-emotional state) ‘Fire Dragon immersing in the deep sea’ f The Pericardium—Relationship to the Uterus The Pericardium is indirectly connected to the Uterus, via an internal pathway called the Uterus Vessel (Bao Mai) Emotionaldisruptions can affect the uterus and menstruation. Dreams  Vital Substances of Importance Spleen Lungs Liver Heart Kidneys Qi Qi Qi Qi Qi Yang Yin Yin Yin Yin Yang (Rising) Yang Yang Blood Blood Wei Qi Jing Mingmen Yi Po Hun Shen Zhi While all organs have Yin/Yang components, not all are equally focused on in diagnosis and treatment. For example, we don't talk about “Kidney Blood" or "Lung Yang”—it is important to know these distinctions so you don't diagnose a patient with a pattern than doesn't exist. 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