The State of the Zang-Fu organs

What is meaning of Zang-Fu

the pronunciation of Chinese the meanings of them are same to the viscera in the body.

Important knowledge
The names of the Zang-Fu organs correspond to those of the modern human anatomy and refer to the substantial internal organs. However, in the physiology and pathology, the knowledge of TCM differs greatly from that of modern medicine, especially in the function of organs.

 The state of the Zang-Fu organs (internal organs) refers to the external manifestations of physiological functions and pathogenic changes of Zang-Fu organs. It often reflects the real condition of the internal organs, and can help to diagnose disease.

Zang-Fu Organs
Zang-Fu is a general term for the five Zang (six including pericardium), the six Fu, and the unusual organs.

Five Zang
Heart Liver Lung Spleen kidney
They not only refer to the substantial organs, chiefly refer to the external reflections of their functional activities and pathologic processes. Their common function is to produce and store essence.

Heart
The heart is situated in the chest, above the diaphragm, and is enveloped by pericardium externally to protect it.

Physiological functions
1. Govern the blood vessels 2. Dominate mental activities

1.Govern the blood vessels

As for physiological functions, the heart is thought to dominate blood and vessels since it is the motive force for blood circulation. The blood vessels are the physical structures containing the blood. The blood vessels are linked with the heart to form a closed system, and blood circulation is performed by the cooperation of the heart and the blood vessels.

Normal state
Under the impulse of heart-Qi, blood is transported to all parts of the body for nutritive purpose. Thereby the condition of heart-Qi and the blood volume may be shown in both the pulse condition and the complexion. That's why Essential Questions says, "The heart has its outward manifestation in the face or complexion".

 When the heart functions normally the complexion will be rosy and lustrous pulse even and forceful, tongue light red.

Pathological changes
whether heart-Qi and heart-blood are sufficient or not can affect the strength, rate and rhythm of the heart. So if heart-Qi and heartblood are insufficient, the patients have pale complexion and feel palpitations often.

2. Dominate mental activities

The mind, in its broad meaning, refers to the outward manifestations of the life activities of the whole body, in its narrow sense, refers to mental activities controlled by the heart, including consciousness, spirit, thinking, etc.

 The Zang-Fu organs theory holds that mental activities and thinking are to take the heart's functions as their basis. Spirit, consciousness, thinking, memory and sleep are all related to the function of the heart in housing the mind.

Difference between modern medicine and TCM

Modern medicine hold that the mind activities are controlled by the brain. TCM hold that the mind activities are controlled by heart. Learn by heart is a word reflect that people used to regard the thinking was controlled by heart in the western countries.

Normal state
If the heart function normally, Qi and blood are abundant the spirit is lucid, making the individual full of vigor, clear minded, sharp idea, and quick reflection.

Pathological changes
If heart fails to dominate the mental activities, patients become sleepless(insomnia), weariness, excessive dreaming, and panic.

the heart opens into the tongue

"Open into", in TCM, means the close relationship between a particular Zang-organ and one of the sense organs in the structure, physiology and pathology. The heart is connected with the tongue by the heart-meridians. Through such a connection, whether the heart functions normally or not can be clearly learnt from the tongue condition. In other words, the tongue condition may show the physiological functions and pathological changes of the heart. So TCM holds, "The tongue serves as the mirror of the heart".

In addition The heart has its outward manifestations in the face. And its meridians connect with the small intestine with which they are internallyexternally related.

The pericardium
Serving as the peripheral tissue surrounding the heart, plays a part in protecting the heart. When exogenous pathogenic factors attack the heart, the pericardium is always the first to be attacked. For this reason, the pericardium is usually regarded as an attachment to the heart.

The Great Wall

Play important role in protecting the capital of China-Beijing in ancient times.

The lung
Include the two lobes, on the left and right separately, are situated in the thorax. Are breathing organs.

Physiological functions
1. 2. 3. 4. Control respiration Govern Qi Function of dispersing Function of descending

1. Control respiration
As breathing organs, it inhale fresh air and exhale turbid air. The process of respiration maintains normal metabolism of the body.

Lung opens into the nose

The nose is a passageway of the respiratory system, so lung opens into the nose. As the lung and nose are linked physiologically, their pathological changes influence each other. For instance, some pathological changes of the lungs often do affect the nose, giving rise to such symptoms as nasal obstruction, runny nose, nose bleeding and flaring of the nares. Exogenous pathogenic heat may invade the interior through the nose, causing pathological changes in the lung. Symptoms commonly seen are fever, thirst, yellow sputum and flaring of the nares.

2. Govern Qi
The function of the lung greatly influences the functional activities of whole body, because the lung governs the Qi of the entire body.

Qi
Is very important concept in TCM. It represents the energy.

Lung inhale fresh air

combine Zong Qi (petrol Qi) Digestion digest essential form organs absorb substance

Zong Qi maintaining functional activities of the whole body mobilizing

Zong Qi : a by-product of food and water nutrients and fresh air inhaled.

3. Function of dispersing
Exhale the turbid air. Distribute Qi, blood, and body fluid carried by the spleen to the whole body, including the hair and skin. Disperse the defensive Qi, regulate the open and close of the texture and interstitial space of the skin, and discharge sweat formed from body fluids through metabolism.

Normal state
Regulate the open-close function of pores. Warm and nourish the body surface, so that the skin becomes lustrous, the body hair glossy and luxuriant. Lung is closely related to skin and body hair.

Abnormal state
When the dispersing function is disturbed, resulting in failure of defensive Qi and body fluids to reach the body surface, dry and cracked skin and profuse sweating may occur due to the skins loose texture and interstitial space A suffocating feeling in the chest and cough may occur due to failure to expel the turbid air, and finally, expectoration may happen due to the retention of fluids in the lung.

4. Function of descending
Send down pulmonary Qi to the kidney so as to ensure smooth and deep breathing. (mother-child relationship) The smooth downward flow of lung Qi pushes water downward, playing an important role in promoting and maintaining a balance of water metabolism. Lung Qi brings the food nutrients from the spleen down, and helps excrete intestinal wastes.

Abnormal state
Dysfunction of the lungs descending function may lead to shortness of breath, coughing, asthma, edemas, constipation, etc.

 the lungs and the large intestine are exteriorly-interiorly related.

Pathologic changes of the lung

Control respirationCough Govern QiShortness of breath Function of dispersing metabolismedema Function of descending

Spleen
The spleen is located in the upper left part of the abdomen and below the diaphragm.

Different between TCM and Modern medicine

TCM is different from modern medicine in the understanding of the spleen. Modern medicine holds that spleen is the immune organ. TCM holds that spleen is the main organ of the digestive system.

Physiological functions
1. The spleen controls transporting and transforming food and water. 2. To transport the body fluid. 3. To ascend clear essence. 4. To control blood.

1. transporting and transforming

refer to digestion, absorption and transmission of nutrient substances. In other words, the spleen is responsible for the digestion of food intake, and the absorption and distribution of nutrients and water throughout the body. Such a function of the spleen relies greatly on the conditions of spleen-Qi.

Process
Food and drink digested by the stomach in cooperation with the spleen are partly absorbed and transformed into essential substance and body fluid, and under the transportation function of the spleen and in cooperation of the other organs, distributed to the whole body as nourishment. The spleen's meridians connect with the stomach, with which it is exterior-interior related.

Pathological changes
When spleen-Qi is vigorous, digestion, absorption and transmission are normal. If spleen-Qi is deficient, it may lead to poor appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal distention more remarkable after having meal, lassitude, sallow complexion, or prolapse of the rectum and of the uterus in woman, gastroptosis, dizziness.

poor appetite

sallow complexion

gastroptosis

The capital of the acquired constitution

The transformative and transportative functions of the spleen ensure the supply of Qi, blood, and body fluids to the whole organism. So it is described as the source of Qi and blood formation, and the capital of the acquired constitution.

2. To transport the body fluid

Water and some other liquid diet after entering the stomach are absorbed by the spleen and sent up to the lung, and through the lung spread down to the whole body.

Pathological changes
In the abnormal state, the water metabolism will happen if this function is out of order.

3. To ascend clear essence

Clear essence refers to nutrient substance decomposed, absorbed and transformed from food and drink by the spleen. The spleen Qi helps send essential nutrients from food and water upward to the lung and heart, where Qi and blood are produced and distributed to nourish the whole body. If the spleen fails to send essential nutrients upward, vertigo, blurred vision, abdominal distension and diarrhea may occur.

 The normal position of the internal organs is also maintained by the ascending function of spleen Qi. Therefore, the deficiency of the spleen may lead to prolapse of the stomach, kidney or uterus, and proplapse of the rectum associated with prolonged diarrhea.

4. To control blood
It refers to the role of the spleen in blood production, and also refers to its function of keeping the blood to circulation inside and along the vessels, and to prevent it from extravasation. When spleen Qi is strong, blood production is also strong, the body has sample Qi and there is no extravasation.

Pathological changes
If the spleen fails to control blood, it may lead to various kinds of hemorrhage, such as bloody stool, uterine bleeding and purpura.

Spleen opens into the mouth and lips

Some of the physiologic condition and pathological changes of the spleen can be discerned and observed from the state of mouth and lips. Spleens normal function of transportation and transformation has an important bearing on the appetite and sense of taste. When the spleen functions normally, the appetite is good and the sense of taste is normal. When the spleen malfunctions, the appetite is poor and the sense of taste is impaired and there can be a sweetish, sticky, or bitter taste in the mouth.

 The color of lips reflects the condition of Qi and blood of the whole body. Since the spleen is the source of Qi and blood, the complexion of the lips reflects the condition of the spleens function in transporting and transforming food and drink. Rosy and lustrous lips signify that nutrients are well assimilated by the spleen. A malfunctioning spleen, on the other hand, causes pale lips.

Liver
The liver is at the right hypochondriac region below the diaphragm in the upper abdomen. The liver meridian connects with the gallbladder to form an exterior-interior relationship.

Physiological functions
1. Discharge and freely-flowing 2. Store blood

1. Discharge and freely-flowing

The liver responsible for the flow of Qi in the whole body, and forms an important link in the circulation of blood and body fluids in the smooth flow of Qi and harmonious function activity of all Zang-Fu organs. 1) Regulate emotional activities 2) Promote digestion and absorption 3) Keep Qi and blood flowing normally

1). Regulate emotional activities

TCM holds that the mind activities are controlled by the heart, and they are also closely related to the smooth flow of liver Qi. When the function of the liver in maintaining the free of Qi is normal, the Qi and blood are harmony and the mind is at ease. When liver Qi fails to flow smoothly and is obstructed, abnormal emotional activities may result.

2). Promote digestion and absorption

The functions of digestion, absorption, and transmission of the stomach and spleen, the excretion of bile from the gallbladder into the intestine, all depend on the discharge and free-flowing functions of the liver. Why ???

Why
1. The livers function in maintaining the smooth flow of Qi is an important requirement for the ascending and descending of the spleen and stomach. 2. TCM holds that bile is produced by the surplus Qi of the liver, and liver and gallbladder are interior-exterior relationship.

Abnormal state
When the liver fails to maintain the smooth flow of Qi, symptoms such as painful feeling of distension in the chest and hypochondrium, and irascibility may occur. Belching and nausea, or abdominal distension and diarrhea may occur.

3). Keep Qi and blood flowing normally

Blood circulation and fluid metabolism in the human body rely on the flow of Qi. The depression of hepatic Qi will affect the circulation of Qi and blood, cause partial distention and pain.

2. Store blood
is concerned with the liver has capability of storing blood and regulating the blood volume. When the body is at rest or asleep, part of the blood is kept in the liver, and during physical exertion, blood is released from the liver to increase the volume of blood in circulation to meet the need of the organism for nutrient.

Pathological changes
If this function is failure, such pathological changes as liver-blood deficiency or bleeding will occur. Symptoms: sallow complexion, dizziness, dryness of eyes.

Liver is closely related to the tendons and nails

Because the tendons and nails are nourished by the blood from the liver. The sufficiency of liver blood may cause a numbness in the limbs, movement impairment, or trembling hands and feet. Its outward manifestation is on the nails. When liver blood sufficient, strong nails develop, while when liver blood is deficient, the nails become thin and fragile, or even deformed.

Liver opens into eyes

Liver store blood and its meridian travels upward connecting to the eye system. The problem of liver may be seen in the eyes. For example, deficient liver blood produces a dryness in the eyes, poor vision, or night blindness.

Kidney
The kidney is situated in the lumbar zone, one on either side of the spinal column, Function is to store the congenital essence and are considered as the "foundation of prenatal life".

Physiological functions
1. 2. 3. 4. Store essence Regulate water metabolism Receive Qi Dominate growth, development and reproduction

1.Store essential substance

The essence in the kidney consists of two parts: Congenital essence inherited from the parents. It is the main essential substance in constructing human body and dominating human reproduction, growth, development, and the other functional activities; Another part is called acquired essence transformed from the essential substance of food and drink by spleen.

Pathological changes
The function of storing essence ensures the body normal and healthy in the process of growth, development, and reproduction. Without congenital essence, growth will be slow.

 In old age, as the kidney Qi gradually wanes and weakens, the reproductive function fades away, and body degenerates finally. The function of storing essence ensures the body normal and healthy in the process of growth, development, and reproduction.

2. Govern water
The part of body fluid sent down by the descending function of the lung reaches the kidneys and is divided by the distillation function of the kidney Yang into two parts: clear and turbid. The clear fluid is sent back again to the lung where it is reused and spread to the whole body, The turbid fluid flows down to the urinary bladder to control and discharge urine. The kidneys' meridians connect with the urinary bladder, with which they are interior-exterior related.

Pathological changes
If function of this is out of order, the patient will have edema.

Water metabolism
Lung----function of dispersing and descending Spleen----function of transporting the body fluids Kidney----function of governing water

3. Receive Qi
The kidney receives and absorbs the clear Qi from the lung, And thus helps to prevent a shallow breathing. If this function of kidney is normal, the breathing will become deep and even. If kidney Qi is weak and fails to maintain normal inhalation, shortness of breath may occur.

Control Qi
Lung----govern Qi Kidney----receive Qi

4.Dominate growth, development and reproduction The whole process of life is closely related to the rise and fall of the essential Qi of the kidney. The function of storing essence ensures the body normal and healthy in the process of growth, development, and reproduction.

kidneys have their conditionals revealed on hairs

The hair depends on kidney Qi for its luster. Nourished by the blood, hair is known as the extension of the blood. Blood is related to vital essence of the kidneys, the two are said to promote and transform each other. Early white hair, loss of hair or aging are mostly manifestations of insufficient kidney Qi and blood.

Kidney open into the ears, urethra and anus

The kidney is connected by meridians to three body orifices, ears in the upper part of the body, and external urethra and anus in the lower part. The hearing function of the ears relies on kidney essence for its nourishment. When kidney Qi is deficient, and as a result the brain is poorly nourished, a decline in hearing, tinnitus, partial deafness, or even total loss of hearing may occur.

 Although urine discharge is a function of the urinary bladder, it also relies on the Qi activities of the kidney. Deficient kidney Qi may give rise to frequent micturition, enuresis, oliguria and anuria. The excretion of feces is also related to the Qi activity of the kidney, though the large intestine is directly responsible. Insufficient kidney Yin may lead to constipation due to lack of intestinal juices. Deficient kidney Yang may lead to constipation or diarrhea. When the kidney fails in its storage function, seminal emission or spermatorrhea may occur.

Deficiency of kidney
Common symptoms: Listlessness, tinnitus, soreness and weakness in lumbar region and knees, loss of hair.

Review: functions of five Zang organs

1. 2. 1. heart Govern the blood vessels Dominate mental activities liver Discharge and freelyflowing 2. Store blood 1. 2. 3. 4. Lung Control respiration Govern Qi Function of dispersing Function of descending

 spleen 1. The spleen controls transporting and transforming food and water. 2. To transport the body fluid. 3. To ascend clear essence. 4. To control blood.

kidney 1. store essence 2. regulate water metabolism 3. receive Qi 4. dominate growth, development and reproduction

Six Fu organs
Gallbladder Stomach Small intestine Large intestine Urinary bladder Three-Jiao Functions are to receive food and drink, to absorb and convey nutrient substance, to transmit and discharge waste.

Gallbladder
The main function of the gallbladder is to store bile that produced and secreted by the liver, and to excrete it to the small intestine to help digestion. Pathogenic changes: jaundice, distention and pain in the hypochondriac region, bitter taste in the mouth, vomiting yellowish bitter fluid, abdominal fullness, diminished food intake, and diarrhea.

Stomach
The function of stomach 1. Receive and digest food and drink 2. Perform downward motion

Perform downward motion

The downward motion of the stomach ensures the free down flow of digested food to the small intestine. The spleen perform upward motion, sending clear essence up, and stomach perform downward motion, sending turbid substance down. If the gastric Qi fails to descend, various symptoms or retrogressive upward motion will occur, such as belching, regurgitation of acid, nausea and vomit, hiccup, anorexia, epigastric distention and pain, constipation and halitosis.

The small intestine

The function of the small intestine To decompose The small intestine receive the substance from the stomach, and ready for further decompose. It decompose substance into two parts, the clear and turbid.
The clear refer to essential substance is absorbed and the dry part is transported utilized,

while the turbid one is further separated:

into the large intestine, the wet part is passed into the urinary bladder.

The large intestine

The large intestine receive the waste material passed down from the small intestine In the process of conveying it into the anus, it absorbs the water remained in the waste, Put the waste material into feces to be excreted from the bowels.

symptoms
Constipation Diarrhea Bloody stool

The urinary bladder

The function of the urinary bladder Store and discharge the urine Urine is transformed from fluid by the function of kidney Qi, and it is sent by the kidney down to the urinary bladder to be stored, when it is full, it will be discharged by the joint functions of the kidney and urinary bladder.

symptoms
Urinary frequency Urinary urgency Burning pain in the urethra Dysuria Oliguria Dribbling urination Brownish red urine Hematuria

The three-Jiao
It is unknown to modern medicine It include three parts: 1. upper jiaoheart and lung (located above the diaphragm) 2. middle jiaospleen (located between the diaphragm and umbilicus) 3. lower jiaoliver and kidney (located below the stomach) Function of the three-Jiao is to control Qi and body fluid.

Process
Food enter the stomach, where it is decomposed into chyme after digested by the stomach, it is transported to the small intestine in which it is further digested by means of bile excreted by the gallbladder.

 The small intestine "separates the clear from turbid". The clear, refers to food essence, is transported and distributed to all parts of the body by the spleen (function of spleen to ascend the clean essence ); while the turbid is the residues of water and food. Of them waste water goes into the kidney, and then into the urinary bladder where it is turned into urine to be excreted from the body. And the other is conveyed to the large intestine where it is changed into feces and leaves the body via the anus.

Process
Food digest chyme further digested bile stomach small intestine gallbladder

Clear(essence) nourish whole body Turbid residues of water and food waste water kidneyurinary bladder urine residues of food large intestine feces
excreted

Unusual organs
Brain Marrow Bones Vessels Uterus Gallbladder

Conclusion
It should be pointed out that according to the theory of Zang-Fu organs , the names of the Zang-Fu organs correspond to those of the modern human anatomy and refer to the substantial internal organs. However, in the physiology and pathology, the knowledge of TCM differs greatly from that of modern medicine.