The function of the internal organs

Introduction

The functions of the Internal Organs
(Zangfu) are at the core of Chinese medical
physiology.

The general principles of Yin—Yang, the Five
Elements and Qi are all at work in the
theory of the Internal Organs.
 intro

There are two types of Internal Organs: Yin
(called 'Zang') and Yang (called ‘Fu') organs.
The Chinese name for Internal Organs is
simply `Zangfu‘. 脏腑
 Yin yang organs

Yin organs ： Heart ； Liver ； Lungs ；
Spleen Kidneys ； Pericardium

Yang organs ： Small Intestine ； Gall Bladder
； Large Intestine ； Stomach Bladder ； Triple
Burner
 intro

The Yin organs store the Vital Substances: Qi, Blood,
Essence and Body Fluids. They only store pure,
refined substances, which they receive from the Yang
organs after transformation from food.

The Yang organs, on the contrary, do not store but
are constantly filled and emptied. They transform
and refine food and drink to extract the pure
essences, which are then stored by the Yin organs. As
well as carrying out this process of transformation,
the Yang organs also excrete waste products.
 Yin organs

Although the theory of the Internal Organs
(Zangfu) is the core of Chinese physiology and
pathology, the Yin organs (Zang) are the core
of the Internal Organs.

The Yin organs are called Zang in Chinese, which
means `to store'; they take this name because
they store the precious essences of the body:
Blood, Fluids and the Essence.

the five Yin organs being the Liver, Heart,
Spleen, Lungs and Kidneys.
 Yin organs

Yin Organs are functionally related to various vital
substances, emotions, tissues and sense organs.

One of the main functions of the Internal Organs is to ensure the
production, maintenance, replenishment, transformation and
movement of the Vital Substances.

The Heart governs Blood

The Liver stores Blood

The Lungs govern Qi and influence Body Fluids

The Spleen governs Food-Qi, holds Blood and

influences Body Fluids

The Kidneys store Essence and influence Body

Fluids
 Yin organs

Each organ influences one of the tissues of the
body; this means that there is a functional
relationship between certain tissues and each
organ, so that the state of the organ can be
deduced by observation of the tissue related to
it

• Liver — sinews
• Heart — blood vessels • Spleen — muscles
• Lungs — skin
• Kidneys — bones
 Yin organs

the health and acuity of a particular sense
organ relies on the nourishment of an
Internal Organ

Liver — eyes
• Heart — tongue

• Spleen — mouth

• Lungs — nose
• Kidneys — ears
 Yin organs

unity of body and mind in Chinese medicine. The same Qi
that is the basis for all the physiological processes is also
the basis for emotional and mental processes

The relation between each organ and a particular emotion
is mutual: the state of the organ will affect the emotions,
and emotions will affect the state of the organ.

Liver — anger

Heart — joy

Spleen — pensiveness

Lungs — worry

Kidneys — fear
 Yin organs

THE INTERNAL ORGANS AND THE SPIRITUAL
ASPECTS （ Wu Shen ('Five Shen') or Wu Zhi
('Five Zhi').

Ethereal Soul (Hun) — pertaining to the Liver

Mind (Shen) — pertaining to the Heart

Intellect (Yi) — pertaining to the Spleen

Corporeal Soul (Po) —pertaining to the Lungs

Will-power (Zhi) — pertaining to the Kidneys
 Yin organs

The Ethereal Soul (Hun) is a soul that is
Yang in nature and that, according to
Chinese culture, enters the body three days
after birth. After death, the Ethereal Soul
survives the body and returns to a world of
spirit. The Ethereal Soul resides in the Liver
and particularly in the Blood and Yin of the
Liver where it should be 'anchored'; if Liver-
Blood is deficient and the Ethereal Soul is
not anchored in the Liver, it 'wanders' at
 Yin organs

The Mind (Shen) is the consciousness that is
responsible for thought, feeling, emotions,
perceptions and cognition. The Mind resides in
the Heart and it is primarily for this reason that
the Heart is called the 'Emperor' in relation to all
the other Internal Organs. As the Mind is the
consciousness that defines us as individual
human beings and that is responsible for
thinking, willing and feeling, the Heart plays a
leading role among the Internal Organs.

The Intellect (Yi) is responsible for
memory, concentration, thinking, logical
thinking, capacity for studying and
application. In pathology, the capacity for
thinking may become pensiveness,
overthinking, obsessive thinking, fantasizing
or brooding. The Intellect resides in the
Spleen.
 Yin organs

The Corporeal Soul (Po) is responsible for physical
sensations, feelings and generally somatic expres- sions. It
resides in the Lungs and it plays a role in all physiological
processes of the body. It is formed at conception (unlike the
Ethereal Soul, which enters the body after birth), it is Yin in
nature (compared with the Ethereal Soul) and, at death, it dies
with the body returning to the Earth (while the Ethereal Soul
survives the body and returns to Heaven). The Corporeal Soul
is described as the 'entering and exiting of the Essence (Ding)’

The Will-power (Zhi) resides in the Kidneys and it is
responsible for will-power, drive, determination and constancy.
 Yin organs

Chinese medicine considers that differing climatic
conditions influence specific organs

• Liver — wind
• Heart — heat
• Spleen — dampness

• Lungs — dryness
• Kidneys — cold

Eg: for example, a Spleen deficiency will make a
person prone to invasions of Dampness

Dampness like to attack spleen
 Yin organs

Each Internal Organ influences a
particular part of the body and, conversely,
each part of the body reflects the state of a
particular organ.

The Heart manifests in the complexion

The Liver manifests in the nails

The Lungs manifest in the body hair

The Spleen manifests on the lips

The Kidneys manifest in the hair
 Yin organs

Each Internal Organ is related to certain
Body Fluids as follows:

Liver — tears

Heart — sweat

Spleen — saliva

Lungs — snivel

Kidneys — spittle.
 Yin organs

Each internal organ is related to a particular
odour as follows:

Liver — rancid
Heart — scorched
Spleen — fragrant, sweetish

Lungs — rotten, rank

Kidneys — putrid.
 Yin organs

The colours related to the Internal Organs are as
follows:

Liver — green
Heart — red
Spleen — yellow
Lungs — white

Kidneys — black, dark.

The colours of the Internal Organs are observed
primarily on the facial complexion and they are
an important aspect of diagnosis.
 Yin organs

Each internal organ is related to a particular taste as follows:

Liver — sour

Heart — bitter

Spleen — sweet

Lungs — pungent

Kidneys — salty.

pathology of the relevant organ; for example, a bitter taste often
indicates Heart-Fire (although it may also relate to Liver-Fire),
whereas a sweetish taste indicates Spleen pathology.

Secondly, the tastes are important in Chinese herbal medicine as each
herb is classified as having a partic- ular taste that makes that herb
'enter' the relevant channel (e.g. sour herbs enter the Liver channel).
The excess of a particular taste may injure the organ

Thirdly, the tastes are important in Chinese dietary therapy as each
food is classified as having a particular taste.
 Yin organs

Each internal organ is related to a sound as follows:

Liver — shouting

Heart — laughing

Spleen — singing

Lungs — crying

Kidneys — groaning.

The sounds refer to the sound and pitch of the voice
and are used primarily in diagnosis. Thus, if a person
speaks with a very loud, almost shouting voice, this
indicates pathology of the Liver
 Yin yang organs

The 'Simple Questions' in chapter 11 says:
'The five Yin organs store Essence and Qi and
do not excrete: they can be full but not in
excess. The six Yang organs transform and
digest and do not store: they can be in excess
but not full.

The Yin organs correspond to structure and
store the Vital Substances; the Yang organs
correspond to function.
 YIN ORGANS (ZANG 脏 )


The Yin organs store the Vital Substances:
Qi, Blood, Essence and Body Fluids

They store only pure, refined substances
that they receive from the Yang organs after
transformation from food
 Yang organ (fu 腑）

The Yang organs do not store

They are constantly filled and emptied

They transform and refine food and drink to

extract the pure essences, which are then stored

by the Yin organs

They excrete waste products

The function of the Yang organs is therefore to

`receive', 'move', 'transform', 'digest' and
`excrete'