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Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine ia a multi-part article written for those that would like to have a better understanding of the concepts behind Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We will cover basic terminology, briefly describe the differences from Western medicine, describe how TCM treats illness and give examples in the form of case histories to help improve your understanding of TCM.
Part 1 can be found here
Part 2 can be found here
TCM Physiology.
Physiology is crucial to any medicine and TCM has developed its own unique understanding of physiology. Consisting of Substances, Meridians and Organs. In this instalment we will look at Substances and Tissues, later instalments will look at Meridians and Organs.
Substances and Tissues are the materials and energy that makes up the person.
Tissues include the skin, flesh (fats and muscles), Tendons, Blood vessels, bone and Marrow (Brain). The brain is considered as an extension of the marrow and also as an Unusual organ (will be discussed more in the upcoming instalments).
Substances: Yin - A general term which refers to the body's ability to produce fluids, cool, moisten, nourish tissues, create blood, repair injury and generally perform any action of a Yin Nature.
Jin Ye (fluids) - Body fluids formed from food and drink. Divided into two types. Jin a clear and fine fluid, light and mist like. It moistens and nourishes the Lungs, Muscles and Skin. And Ye a less refined, heavier, more dense fluid which moistens and nourishes the organs, joints, bones, brain and the orifices.
Xue (Blood) - Formed by a combination of Qi from food, drinks and the air we breath. The Spleen with the help of the Kidneys and Lungs produces our Blood. It nourishes and moistens the entire body. It closely relates to Jin Ye, and they can transform one to another if needed. For Xue (Blood) to be normal it must circulate continuously. The moment it stops circulating it is no longer Xue (Blood), but a pathogenic substance which must be broken down and eliminated.
Jing - An almost fluid like Essence. A form of Qi but denser less refined than ordinary Qi. It provides the essence that is the source of all organic change. Its functions are nutritive and supportive. It is the basis for reproduction, development and growth in the body. It comes in two forms:
Congenital Jing which is passed on to the child by the parents at the moment of conception. Congenital Jing is responsible for determining each person’s unique characteristics or constitution. It determines the strengths, weakness and tendencies in health. It is essential in very minute amounts for all transformation and change within the body. The supply of congenital Jing is fixed at conception and cannot be supplemented. Its gradual use and decline over the years is the cause of old age. When insufficient is left to perform a vital transformation of any sort, then the absence of that action will lead to the death of the person.
Acquired Jing - derived from the purest essence or Qi in food and drink, acquired Jing supplements and preserves the Congenital Jing. A good supply of Acquired Jing assists in prolonging life and promoting healthy growth, development and reproduction. Many of the traditional health practices of the Asians revolve around the acquisition and protection of Acquired Jing.
Qi - Qi is an Eastern concept with no real equivalent in the West. It is often referred to as Vital Energy, but this only partly describes what Qi is. Qi is a fundamental substance, which constitutes the world. Its movement and changes create everything in the universe. Qi has been described as "matter on the verge of becoming energy, or energy on the verge of materializing". It can be said that no action in the universe can occur without Qi.
In TCM Qi is understood by what it does. It is fundamental to the maintenance of life. The body's Qi can come from only three sources. Jing Qi from the parents, Gu Qi from food and drink and Da Qi from the air we breathe.
Qi promotes all action, movement, growth and development. It warms the body and protects the body. Qi keeps the substances in their correct place and promotes transformation from one substance to another.
Shen (Mind) - The psycho-emotional or spiritual resources of an individual. The human consciousness or mind. It is also a form of Qi but it is Qi in an extremely refined and subtle state. It embraces the emotions and the intellect.
Yang - A general term, which refers to the body's ability to move and maintain warmth, transform fluids, grow and develop. It includes Qi and all its functions, and refers to any activity of the body, which is Yang in Nature.
In TCM all illness is the result of a disturbance or imbalance of the natural substances or tissues and their ability to perform their functions. For example a broken bone can't provide the support needed and will impead movement. A deficiency of Wei (defensive) Qi will allow external pathogens such as bacterior or viruses to enter and thrive within the body. The treatment of illness therefore revolves around appropriate ways of supplementing and correcting the tissue and substance imbalances. |
