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The System of the Zang-Fu Organs in TCM |
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The main function of the Zang-Fu organs is to assimilate and transform the energies of the earth (foods) and of the heaven (air). The Zang-organs produce and store the Substances. The Fu-organs decompose food and convey waste. It might be helpful to forget everything we have ever learned about the human body and its organs in order to appreciate the ideas of TCM. The bones, the brain and the ears are assigned to the Kidneys. Therefore, osteoporosis can be a malfunction of the Kidneys. The Kidneys stand in close contact with the Lungs. Consequently, asthma can have its cause in the Lungs as well as in the Kidneys. The Zang-Fu organs and their patterns shape the personality and the structure of a human being in a fascinating way. They have a direct relationship to our emotions and to our physical activities. The union of body, spirit and soul. E. g. fear is assigned to the Kidneys. Disease patterns of the Kidneys can cause fear and vice versa, fear can cause disease patterns of the Kidneys. If a patient presents a lot of fear, you can conclude that the Kidneys must have been unbalanced in one way or another. If you find symptoms of Kidney patterns, you can assume that fear is present too. Emotional strengths and weaknesses are influenced and could result from strengths and weaknesses of the Zang-Fu organs. The Kidneys govern the willpower. But in order to be able to implement goals, the willpower needs to be supplemented by the strength of decision-making, which is governed by the Gallbladder. Lacking the strength of decision making, in turn, influences our physical activities and depends on the Gallbladder. Applying these ideas of interaction allows us to view people in their wholeness. The Zang organs are full, belong
to Yin, and are more interior. The Suwen states: "The five Zang organs
store essential Qi and do not discharge waste. Thus they are full, but cannot be filled." The five Zang organs are Heart, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, and Kidney. The Pericardium is considered the sixth Zang organ in channel theory. The Fu organs are hollow, belong
to Yang, and are more exterior. The Suwen states: "The six Fu organs process
and convey matter, and do not store. Thus they are filled, but not full." |