The Organs of Traditional Chinese Medicine are a crucial part of their medical knowledge. They contain the organs we know in the West like the stomach, the pancreas, the brain, and the lungs. However, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, they are most often referred to as Organ Networks.
What is the most important organ in the body? The brain? Not according to the Chinese.
Chinese concepts regarding organs are broader than Western ones. For example: the Lungs in TCM include the Lungs, all of the Respiratory system, and also the skin. This is why Organ Networks is a more accurate term.
In this article, you will learn about the Organs of Traditional Chinese Medicine, what they control, and how they work.
The Organs of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Organ Networks are one of the foundational theories and contents of TCM. The traditional medical theory describes 12 main body organs and separates them according to their characteristics and functions in Yin or Yang. This is called the Zhang-Fu theory.
But aren’t there more than 12 organs? Yes indeed, but they are included in the 12 main ones.
The Zhang-Fu theory
This is the theory developed to describe the physiology of the human body. It is called Zhang-Fu because of the terms solid or hollow which you’ll see now.
As I said above, this theory names 12 main organs and separates them in Yin or Yang. Yin organs are solid (Zhang) and Yang organs are hollow (Fu, pronounced Foo).
Every organ has its function but generally speaking:
Solid organs store, and create the vital substances Qi, Jing Essence, Blood, and Fluids. Hollow organs separate the useful substances from the waste, they transport them and excrete them.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the mind and the body are closely related and have no distinctions between them. One influences the other, and damage to one has repercussions for the other one.
This is explained because in TCM every Organ Network houses a part of the psyche which the ancient Chinese call the Spirit (Shen).
The Organs:
Yin Organs: Heart, Spleen, Lungs, Kidneys, Liver, and Pericardium.
Yang Organs: Small Intestine, Stomach, Bladder, Large Intestine, Gallbladder, and San Jiao/Triple Burner (also named Triple Function).
The Zhang-Fu theory is closely related to the Five Elements Theory and the Yin and Yang Theory. That’s how we get associations like the Heart being a Yin organ and corresponding to the Fire Element.
Every organ has this type of correspondence based on those theories, we will cover them in a while.
These are the organs where pathogenic factors attack, and where the treatment modalities act.
How can there be just 12 main organs when we know the body has hundreds of organs?
This misconception stems from taking a literal interpretation of ancient Chinese terms. Even though the names for the Organ Networks reflect the main organ in that network, the truth is that those terms include a load of other organs that are structurally or functionally related to them.
As mentioned before, the Lungs include all of the respiratory system, and the skin, and the body’s immunity heavily depends on the Lungs. This explains why we can treat congested throats and skin issues using acupuncture points within the Lung meridian.
This happens to every Network.
Now we are going over each organ and see how they work, what is their function, and how to properly take care of them:
Heart
Structurally includes the cardiovascular system (Heart, and blood vessels), the Thyroid gland, and the tongue’s trophism (how well nourished it is).
Functionally includes: The function of the Heart and blood vessels, circulation of blood, movement, shape, and color of the tongue, sense of smell, bringing luster and moisture to the skin, and controls the psyche.
Description
The Heart represents the Fire Element and the Supreme Yang. It is the organ that governs the flow of Blood through your body and meridians giving vitality and nutrition to your body. It houses the Shen or the Spirit which is the manifestation of all the psychological functions and features.
The Heart is responsible for proper behavior, engaging in timely interactions, and being mindful of the context. Showing respect, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, or emotions is a sign of a healthy Shen.
What stresses it: Excessive walking, Heat pathogenic factor.
What tones it: Foods with a sour taste.
Pericardium
It shares the same structural and functional features as the Heart.
Its unique function is to protect the Heart. As the protective layer of tissue that surrounds and encloses the Heart, the Pericardium is attacked first by pathogenic factors before they can reach the heart.
When there are symptoms and signs of anxiety, agitation, and overall emotional unrest, you can use the Pericardium meridian to treat them.
One magnificent point is Pericardium 6 located in the middle of the forearm, 2 cun (three fingerbreadths, index to ring finger) below the wrist, between the tendons.
Small Intestine
Structurally includes Jejunum and ileum. As the coupled organ of the Heart, it is also related to the structures and functions of the Heart.
Functionally includes Digestive functions of absorption and transmission; it separates the clear (nutritive) liquids from the dark (waste) liquids.
Description
The Small intestine is the coupled organ to the Heart, representing the Fire Element. This is the organ that keeps distilling nutritive essence from the food that wasn’t distilled by the Spleen. Its functions are separating the nutritive essence from the waste products and transporting them. It separates the clear liquids from the dark ones, the useful ones are sent to the Spleen, and the waste is sent to the Bladder and Large Intestine.
Spleen
Structurally includes The Spleen, Pancreas, Smooth muscles, Mucousal lining, and trophism of the skeletal muscles, the lips, and the mouth.
Functionally includes: Digestive functions, functioning of the spleen and pancreas, sense of taste and appetite, and the creation of Blood, it makes sure the Blood stays within the vessels and keeps the internal organs in place.
Description
The Spleen is the main organ of digestion. It is the one that extracts the nutritive essence from food and takes it to create the vital substances Qi, Blood, Essence, Fluids, and Shen. Its Qi tends to rise which keeps the internal organs in place, which is why entities like prolapse are caused by a deficient or sinking Spleen Qi.
The Spleen houses the Yi or the Consciousness of Potential, this is a Shen that is in charge of motivation, pondering, deliberating, and making final decisions.
If affected, the Spleen cannot perform its digestive function which leads to overweight and obesity. An affected Spleen can cause hemorrhagic diseases.
What stresses it: Excessive seating, Dampness pathogenic factor.
What tones it: Sweet foods.
(Sweet foods refer to naturally sweet foods, not sugary and highly processed foods, these last ones can cause dampness)
Stomach
Structurally includes the esophagus, Stomach, and duodenum. Structures linked to the Spleen.
Functionally includes: Closely related to the Spleen. Its Qi moves downwards.
Description
The Stomach is the coupled organ to the Spleen, representing the Earth element. It has the function of receiving the food, ripening it so the Spleen can extract the nutritive essence, and then transporting it to the Small intestine. It has a warm environment and needs space and warm temperatures to be able to digest well. That’s why you shouldn’t drink cold water close to eating if you want better digestion and lose weight.
Lungs
Structurally includes the respiratory system, skin, and body hair.
Functionally includes: Breathing, perspiration, controls Qi and controls the diffusion of Qi and Blood through the body, and sense of smell. The protective Qi is closely related to the Lungs.
Description
The Lungs are the organs of breathing, they take the air Qi and bring it inside to be mixed with the nutritive essence or food Qi and create Qi, Blood, and vital substances. They govern the Qi and the appropriate diffusion of the fluids and Qi through the body. It controls how much fluid is lost to perspiration and how much goes towards moistening the body. It is closely related to the defensive Qi and is the organ most easily attacked by External pathogenic factors.
The Lung houses the Shen called Animal Soul or Po, the Animal Soul is the animation, emotional reactivity, and pressing urges of human life. The Animal Soul is easily damaged by nostalgia or grief and can cause difficulties with feeling completion with life’s events.
What stresses it: Excessive lying, Dryness pathogenic factor.
What tones it: Spicy foods, Breathing exercises.
Large Intestine
Structurally includes Ascending, transverse, and descending colon, rectum, and anus. As well as the structures of Lung.
Functionally includes absorbing liquids, transporting solid waste, and disposing of them.
Description
The Large Intestine is the one in charge of disposing solid waste from the body. It is the coupled organ to the Lungs and represents the Metal element. Paired with the Lungs, they both contribute to the process of refinement, separation, taking what’s useful and disposing of what’s not. When affected, you can have a hard time letting go, and the old won’t make room for the new.
Kidneys
Structurally includes the genitourinary system, Brain, spinal cord, bone marrow, adrenal glands, spinal and peripheric nerves, bones, teeth, ear, hair, sexual functions, prostate, and bony part of the joints.
Functionally includes: Functions of the Genitourinary system, functioning of the Central and Peripheric Nervous Systems, adrenal functioning, created marrow, Stores the Jing Essence, sense of hearing, and receives Qi from the Lungs.
Description
The Kidneys are the most important organ in the body according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. For you, it may come as a surprise, but the ancient Chinese explained it this way: the Kidneys (Shen Zhang) create and control marrow, and the brain is the Sea of Marrow, so the Kidneys include the brain and its functioning.
The Kidneys store the Essence (Jing), which is the most refined of the vital substances and determines our quality of life as well as our lifespan, the Essence can be turned into other substances if needed and has to be replenished by the Acquired Essence created by the Spleen network.
The Kidneys separate the clear liquids from the dark ones just like the Small Intestine, and send the waste to the Bladder.
The Kidneys house the Will (Zhi), this is the Shen related to volition. It has a Yin and a Yang aspect. The yang aspect is the assertive one, it expresses the commitments and changes that shape decades. The Yin will is more related to that which cannot be willed, and is the one responsible for developing Wisdom, it is only developed when one can come to terms with unsolvable issues, with what cannot be achieved, etc.
What stresses it: Excessive standing, Cold pathogenic factor.
What tones it: Salty food.
Bladder
Structurally includes Urether, Bladder, Urethra, and structures related to the Kidneys.
Functionally includes: Functioning of the Genitourinary system, excretion of urine.
Description
The Bladder is the Yanc couple of the Kidneys, it is the organ in charge of disposing of liquid waste, and the Kidney controls the urinary sphincter and semen discharge.
Liver
Structurally includes the hepatobiliary system, Autonomic Nervous System, Voluntary striated muscles, muscle contractibility, soft parts of joints, and sight.
Functionally includes: The digestive and endocrine functions of the hepatobiliary system, activates digestion, regulates the balance between the Zhang Fu, contributes to the free and smooth flow of Qi and Blood through the meridians, the Functioning of the Autonomic Nervous System, controls the volume of Blood and menstrual flow, and the contraction and relaxation of muscles.
Description
The Liver is one of the Organs in charge of Blood. It is the one who stores the Blood and distributes it depending on the body’s demands. It makes sure the flow of Blood and Qi through the body is smooth. The Liver controls the contraction of the muscles and the maintenance of inner vegetative functions. It is the organ that tampers Qi allowing it to flow smoothly. The Liver is also in charge of the sense of sight.
The Liver houses the Shen called the Non-Corporeal Soul which is in charge of human benevolence, and kindness. A healthy Hun can recognize the pain in others as well as improve one’s relationship to pain, if affected it can become belligerent or lack self-esteem.
What stresses it: Excessive use of the eyes, Wind pathogenic factor.
What tones it: Bitter foods, green color foods.
Gallbladder
Structurally includes the gallbladder and structures related to the Liver.
Functionally includes: Storing and secretion of bile.
Description
The Gallbladder is the coupled organ to the Liver, it assists in storing and secreting bile to aid in digestion, and it also allows the Liver to make better decisions. It is also considered a Curious organ along with the Brain and bone marrow.
San Jiao/Triple Burner
The San Jiao or Triple Burner as it is also called is not an organ that is described in Western Anatomy and does not have a specific structure. It is often thought of as a generalization of different structures and functions through the body. It is composed of three different ‘Burners’ or Jiao:
- The Upper Jiao is in charge of mediating and controlling the cardiorespiratory functions.
- The Middle Jiao controls the digestive functions.
- The Lower Jiao controls the urinary and reproductive functions.
Some authors have argued that the San Jiao can be linked to the Thimus or the Mesenterium. However, this has not been accepted.
Its main function is to be a mediator of vital functions. Many authors say that the aspect of the functions of the other organ networks that have to do with water depend on the Qi of the San Jiao.
Final Thoughts
This has been an attempt to make the understanding of the Organ Networks of the human body according to Traditional Chinese Medicine more accessible to you.
The ancient Chinese didn’t place a special emphasis on accurate anatomical descriptions rather than having a good grasp of the energetic and functional features of the organs. This combined with the knowledge of meridians are the foundations of therapy in TCM.
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