asian

Yin Yang

In Asian philosophy and culture every entity in the universe carried both
negative and positive influences. The negative influence is called Yin,
the positive influence Yang. Yin dark, Yang light; Yin cold, Yang warm;
Yin passive, Yang active; Yin night, Yang day, etc. The shady (yin) side
of a hill balanced by the sunny (yang) side is a classic example.
This concept flows into Asian medicine where the symbol for Yin and
Yang helps us visualize the balancing act that goes on constantly in
every entity of the human body, form the organs and bodily systems to
the smallest cell, as well as the vital force itself.

The Five Element

Asian five element theory refers to the five elements of wood, fire, earth,
metal, and water. This theory can be used to describe the movement and
the relationship between different elements and phenomena in nature. It
can also offer insight into patterns of human health or illness. Differing
colors, emotions, flavors, senses, seasons, body parts, and organs are all
related to one another according to the pattern of the five elements.

Dark represents
Yin, white
represents Yang.
The curved line
separating the
two speaks of
their fluctuating
interplay, an
ever-changing
influence on each
other. The small
dark and white
dots tell us there
is some Yin in
Yang and some
Yang in Yin.

If one is to enjoy good health, Asian medicine
reaches that a harmonious balance between Yin
and Yang influences must already exist in organs
and meridians, or it must be attained. The
attainment of such harmony is the goal of
acupuncture treatment.

Through viewing the human body in this way,
the causes of internal disharmony become
apparent. For example, if a patient has a
green hue to his complexion, sour taste in his
mouth, and his eyes are bothersome to him in
some way, one would look more closely at the
Wood element (Liver and Gallbladder).
These elements also suggest patterns of
diagnosis and treatment still used by modern
practitioners who follow some of the oldest
traditions of Asian medicine.

Qi is also known as the life force and since the total absence of Qi is
death, obviously one's good health depends on a balanced distribution
of Qi throughout the meridian network that influences the organs as
well as the bodily systems: skeletal, muscular, endocrine, circulatory,
digestive, respiratory, urinary, reproductive, and nervous.When Qi flows
smoothly and harmoniously throughout the meridians, each bodily
system and organ interacts with and affects all the other systems and
organs, which in turn are interdependent, interrelated, and integrated.

There are five zang and six fu organs. The five zang organs are the
heart, lung, spleen, liver, and kidney. The six fu organs are the gall
bladder, stomach, large intestine, small intestine, urinary bladder and the
sanjiao (three areas of the body cavity). Zang and fu are classified by
the different features of their functions. The five zang organs mainly
manufacture and store essence: Qi, blood, and body fluid. The six fu
organs mainly receive and digest food, absorb nutrient substances.,
transmit and excrete wastes. The five zang organs store up essential
Qi and regulate its productions and flow. The six fu organs transform
and transport substances without storing them.
These organs are understood more broadly than in Western medicine.
Each is represented in one of the meridians, or energy channels, that
flow through the entire body. Acupuncture points are located on the
meridians.

Zang– Fu

The zang- fu theory explains the physiological
function, pathological changer, and mutual
relationships of every organ. In a branch of
traditional Asian medicine known as zang-fu, the
organs represent generalization of certain
systems of the human body.

Qi

One English translation of the work Qi means
energy, and though Qi is invisible, its presence
becomes especially apparent in the workings of the
bodily organs and systems which require prodigious
amount of energy.