The organs (zang fu)
The organs detailed below have a special status in TCM, being the creators
and storers of the five substances. They are considered to be closely related
to specific emotions and virtues and, if their essential requirements are not
fulfilled, ill-health will result. Two types of organs are recognised:
1 The solid organs
2 The hollow organs.
The solid organs (zang) are associated with yin and include the
following:
- The heart is the centre of shenand also governs the circulatory system.
It is positively associated with compassion, love and affection, and
negatively with overexcitement. Symptoms of ill-health include
insomnia and hyperactivity. - The lungs relate to qiand require confidence to function effectively.
They are positively associated with conscientiousness and negatively
with sadness. Symptoms of ill-health include irregular breathing,
coughs and susceptibility to colds. - The liver ensures that qiflows smoothly. When the liver is in harmony,
a person will feel relaxed and optimistic but, when out of balance, the
person will feel irritable and unable to move forward positively.
Symptoms of ill-health may be irregular periods, premenstrual
syndrome (or tension), headaches, irritable bowel syndrome and a bad
temper. - The spleen creates qi. Its health depends on a good diet and a non-
stressful lifestyle. It is positively associated with empathy and
negatively with obsession. Symptoms of ill-health include poor appetite
and diarrhoea. - The kidneys store jingand are associated with long-term growth. Their
positive emotion is courage and their negative emotion is fear.
Symptoms of ill-health include lethargy, diarrhoea, infertility and
oedema.
Thehollow organs(fu) are associated with yang, and include:- the gallbladder
- the large and small intestines
- the bladder
- the stomach
- the san jiao, also known as the ‘triple burner’ or ‘triple heater’. San
jiaohas no equivalent anatomical structure in western medicine,
128 | Traditional medicine