Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is thousands of years old and has changed little over the centuries. Its basic concept is that a vital force of life, called Qi, surges through the body. Any imbalance to Qi can cause disease and illness. This imbalance is most commonly thought to be caused by an alteration in the opposite and complementary forces that make up the Qi. These are called yin and yang.
Ancient Chinese believed that humans are microcosms of the larger surrounding universe, and are interconnected with nature and subject to its forces. Balance between health and disease is a key concept. TCM treatment seeks to restore this balance through treatment specific to the individual.
It is believed that to regain balance, you must achieve the balance between the internal body organs and the external elements of earth, fire, water, wood, and metal.
Treatment to regain balance may involve:
TCM puts less emphases on anatomical structures and more on its unique system of non-physical attributes collectively known as the three major Functional Entities. It is these three major functional entities that give us the Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) model of the body, and are used to determine health, illnesses, and used to diagnose illnesses and prescribe treatments.
The three major functional entities in TCM are:
The Five Fundamental Substances: Qi or chi, Xue (Blood), Jinye (Body Fluids), Jing (Essence), and Shen (Spirit).
Zang-fu: A Wu Xing cycle of 5 zang organs, 6 fu organs, and their functions
Jing-luo: The channels or meridians through which qi flows
Each of the functional entities is associated with one of five cardinal functions, which describes the role that they play in maintaining health.
The Five Cardinal Functions in TCM are:
Actuation–Locomotion of all the physical processes in the body. This is especially true of blood and qi
Warming–Regulation of temperature, especially that of the limbs.
Defense– Protection against foreign pathogenic elements
Containment–Preventing excessive drainage of different body fluids
Transformation–Converting foods, liquid, and breath into qi, blood, and other jinye
As such, the functional entities should be viewed as practical roles, rather than strictly anatomical or biochemical functions. The functional entities are all interconnected.
In TCM, qi (chi) is the vital energy that gives rise to life. It manifests in five major forms collectively referred to as the Five Vital Substances or Five Fundamental Substances. They are:
Qi (chi): The core life force that is responsible for bodily functions, including metabolism, digestion, as well as performing the five cardinal functions. Yang in nature.
Xue: The blood substance that nourishes and refreshes the body and mind. Yin in nature.
Jinye: The body fluids that provide moisture and lubrication necessary for normal body functions. Yin in nature.
Jing: Essence that is responsible for all bodily growth and development. Yin in nature.
Shen: Mind or spirit substance of the body and that is responsible for perception, thought, and understanding. Yang in nature.
Zang-fu: As mentioned above, the organs of the body are interconnected in a We Xing cycle known as Zang-fu.
Zang refers to organs that are yin in nature. They are the pericardium, heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidneys.
Zang-organs-TCM
Fu refers to organs that are yang. They are the triple burner, small intestine, large intestine, gallbladder, urinary bladder, and stomach.
fu-organs-TCM
Each zang has a fu, and every zang-fu pair corresponds to one of the five phases. The chart below shows this relationship.
Jing-luo: Each of the Zung-fu pairs has 12 Jing-luo or major pathways where qi, blood, and body fluids flow through, known as the 12 Principal Meridians. They run from the Zung-fu organs to the limbs and joints. There are 8 extraordinary meridians, which connects the 12 Principal Meridians. From these 20 meridians, extends a network of nearly 400 points!
