There's hardly anyone who hasn't heard of it. Even those who have only a vague idea of how traditional Chinese medicine works know that it restores health. But on what principle does it actually operate?
That's what I often wondered whenever I encountered it. Throughout my life, I've longed to delve into its secrets and uncover its mysteries. And my greatest wish came true. When I sat down for my first lecture and the instructor walked into the room, I knew I was in the right place, and my questions would be answered. I still vividly remember that mixture of feelings: joy, excitement, pride, and a thirst for knowledge. And when he began to explain how it all originated, I remember not even fully understanding what he was saying, but I could strongly feel the energy that permeated the lecture hall, and I was incredibly happy to be a part of it. You see, in Chinese medicine, everything is beautifully logical, and I have often bowed in reverence at its humility, wisdom, and sensitivity, because without them, nothing would have been created. It's not that I have anything against Western medicine; on the contrary, it can perform miracles, but it's a great pity that these two amazing sciences cannot be integrated here, as they are in China, where clinics have both a conventional doctor's office and a practice of Chinese medicine side by side, and they collaborate. Can you imagine that here? I certainly can't. We've known about conventional medicine for about 200 years, while Chinese medicine has been around for 5000 years (originally, it's even older, but the documented records date back to this period). It reminds me of a comparison: a schoolboy next to a wise and respected elder.
We must not forget that autopsies were not allowed in China.
Knowledge was passed down through lived experiences from generation to generation.
WHAT IS PULSE DIAGNOSIS?
One very interesting thing we learned, which fascinated me, is pulse diagnosis, which can be used to determine a person's health status. The pulse can have many characteristics – it can be smooth, rapid, submerged, superficial, interrupted, empty, full, etc., and these characteristics are important for determining the state of the organs. The pulse is "taken" on the wrist, but not in the same place as we are used to with a doctor; it is taken from both sides of the wrist. We learned about six different pulses, because six organs are considered important, and our health depends on them.
Six Important Organs
heart – element of fire
liver – element of wood
spleen – element of earth
kidneys – element of water
lungs – element of metal
We have two kidneys, so the condition of each is checked separately. They are called "cang" organs. Then there are the "fu" organs: the bladder, small intestine, large intestine, gallbladder, stomach, and triple burner. The "cang" organs are full, but they do not fill up, while the "fu" organs fill up, but they are not full. Each "cang" organ has its corresponding "fu" organ. This means that they are related through meridians. For example, the heart is related to the small intestine, and if the heart is overheated for any reason, it sends that heat along its related meridian – the small intestine. It's always better to treat a bladder infection than a heart condition.
In ancient China, these organs were compared to the imperial court:
THE HEART is the ruler, from which spirit and all knowledge emanate.
The heart is the emperor of the human body. All organs are subordinate to it. When the emperor is not in order, illness and discomfort arise. The heart governs long-term memory and is associated with love, joy, contentment, politeness, discipline, but also resentment, guilt, nervousness, anger, and desire.
It is the master of blood and blood vessels. Blood belongs to the heart. The heart controls the blood vessels and is the main force of blood circulation. It influences the quality of the vascular system – its elasticity and permeability. It nourishes and controls all organs, the psyche, and emotions. Its function is to warm the body and regulate thermal circulation.
The most common pathological symptoms of the heart include palpitations and insomnia.
THE LUNGS are the chancellor, regulating and controlling Qi throughout the body.
The lungs resemble a canopy on an imperial carriage, residing in the highest position, and other internal organs are located beneath them. Qi flows from all directions into the lungs, and therefore, the lungs are also called the "court of all vessels," along with the heart. The lungs govern the voice, breathing, and Qi. The condition of the lungs can be determined by the voice – its clarity and strength, or the presence of hoarseness. They are responsible for inhaling pure Qi and exhaling impure Qi, and for the movement of Qi throughout the body. They are the upper source of water and govern the pathways of water.
Emotions associated with the lungs include righteousness, dignity, honesty, self-respect, but also disappointment, sadness, grief, despair, anxiety, and shame. Common health problems include cough and shortness of breath.
THE LIVER is the supreme commander, and intentions originate from it.
The liver governs the smooth flow of Qi and blood, whether it is blocked emotions or a fatty meal. It also regulates the circulation of Qi, blood, bodily fluids, and the menstrual cycle. The liver controls the storage and consumption of blood – when a person is active, blood flows to the extremities, and when at rest, it flows to the liver. Qualities associated with the liver include kindness, tolerance, compassion, generosity, but also anger, irritability, frustration, resentment, jealousy, and depression. Common ailments influenced by the liver include headaches, nervousness, irritability, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
THE GALLBLADDER is the censor, from which the ability to make decisions and solve problems arises; it governs decisiveness and courage.
THE SPLEEN and STOMACH are the granaries, from which what has been transformed originates.
THE SPLEEN is the granary, from which the five flavors (nei jing su wen) originate.
Qi can only be strong if the spleen and stomach are not weakened and do not support it. If the stomach is weak and food is not properly digested, the stomach and spleen weaken, and Qi is not nourished. It becomes empty, and illness arises. (Li dong Yuan)
The spleen governs the transportation and transformation of food, which rises to the lungs and heart. It controls blood – its function is to keep it in the vessels, and also to keep the organs in their proper place. Therefore, conditions such as rectal prolapse, hemorrhoids, uterine prolapse, varicose veins, and heavy legs are often related to the spleen. Qualities associated with the spleen include trust, honesty, openness, balance, impartiality, as well as worries, excessive rumination, obsessive thoughts, guilt, regret, and melancholy. If we feel tired after eating, have loose stools, have cold feet and nose, and experience dizziness when standing, then our spleen is not functioning properly. And because it is the element of Earth, it is a very important organ in Chinese medicine. For as the state of the Earth, so is the harvest. In practice, this means that a properly functioning spleen is able to process and utilize nutrients for the body.
The STOMACH regulates the intake and processing of food, holding a privileged position among the organs. It prepares the food so that the SPLEEN can assess what is beneficial and what is not. This is a two-step process. First, the stomach grinds the food into a mush, and then the spleen analyzes it and begins to distribute it, sending some parts here and there. However, a condition must be met: the spleen must be healthy; if it is not, it will act instinctively.
The SMALL INTESTINE is a filter, collecting the excess. What has been digested emerges from it. It helps to regulate the separation of the pure from the impure. The spleen essentially controls this separation, but it takes place in the small intestine. The small intestine only assists; the spleen analyzes and decides.
The small intestine is related to two organs: the large intestine and the bladder. They belong to the same "club" – the small intestine sends waste to the large intestine and the bladder. The pure substances, through the spleen, rise to the lungs and heart, and from there, they are incorporated into the blood, which flows throughout the body, nourishing it.
The LARGE INTESTINE is the overseer of the sewage system, from which the transformed waste exits. It controls the transport of the impure substances and helps to regulate fluids, as 10% of the fluids are still absorbed in the large intestine. The kidneys can thicken the contents of the large intestine and recycle the fluids, preventing them from being lost unnecessarily. This means that the kidneys extract water from the stool that can still be used.
The KIDNEYS are a powerful authority, from which ability and intelligence are born. The kidneys, another amazing organ, allow us to enjoy life. They are the root of life and the source of prenatal Qi (the energy given to us at birth). According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each of us carries a piece of prenatal Qi from our ancestors. The kidneys store the essence Jing (vital essence), and it is up to each of us how we "draw" from it. We should strive to live in a way that allows us to preserve a little of this essence each day, so that we have something to draw upon when difficult times come. Interestingly, various stimulants that provide temporary relief essentially deplete this life-giving essence. The inherited traits are stored within this essence. The kidneys regulate water and distribute it to other organs. When the kidneys are healthy, there is wisdom, rationality, perception, gentleness, and self-awareness. When the kidneys are weakened, fear, longing, and insecurity accumulate throughout life. If you experience frequent nighttime urination or pain in your lower back and knees, it is likely due to problems with your kidneys. It is said that the kidneys are a "mischievous" organ; when they start to show problems, their treatment is often a long process, so it is important to pay attention to your fluid intake.
THE THREE BURNER SYSTEM governs the water channels.
It cannot be categorized, it has no fixed form, but it has three aspects:
The Upper Burner – is like mist, located in the area of the heart and lungs. It is related to the function of these organs, and diseases of the Upper Burner are characterized by cough, feelings of shortness of breath, expectoration, and affect the function of the lungs and heart.
The Middle Burner – is like a marsh, located in the area between the navel and the diaphragm. It houses the spleen, stomach, and anatomically, the liver and gallbladder. It is the place where food is transformed into Qi. Therefore, it is related to the digestive processes associated with the function of the spleen, stomach, liver, and gallbladder, so its disorders will be related to digestive problems such as bloating, constipation, indigestion, rumbling in the intestines, and diarrhea.
The Lower Burner – is like a channel, located in the area between the pelvic floor and the navel. It houses the kidneys, intestines (small and large), the urinary bladder, and functionally, the liver and gallbladder. It is related to excretion and is functionally connected to the kidneys, urinary bladder, small intestine, and large intestine. Because this organ supports the distribution of Qi and the transport of fluids throughout the body, its disorders manifest as various stagnations in the form of watery swelling, bloating, feelings of fullness, intestinal problems, and difficulty urinating.
The Three Burner System represents the pathways of water – mist, marsh, channel – the stomach breaks down food into a marsh-like substance. The spleen sends the refined substances upwards in the form of fine-grained substances that resemble steam. The steam is processed into Qi, blood, and fluids, and then travels through the meridians. What is not consumed through the channels and pathways is eliminated from the body – the Lower Burner is the channel for waste.
THE URINARY BLADDER governs the water reservoirs, storing fluids and excreting them.
It regulates the storage and excretion of urine. It is heavily influenced by the kidneys. The kidneys determine the overall water balance, and the urinary bladder stores and excretes what it receives.
To conclude this brief introduction to Chinese medicine, I would like to share a quote from the Yellow Emperor (along with Fu-shi and Shen-nong, he was one of the cultural heroes of China, according to myths, he created the first humans, invented metalworking, medicine, architecture, and road construction).
The Yellow Emperor said: "I have heard that in the most ancient times, there were people called the True People, who perfectly understood the laws of heaven and the principles of yin-yang transformation, and lived in harmony with them. They breathed the purest essence of Qi, protected their inner selves from the outside world, and achieved perfect bodily harmony through practice. Therefore, they are eternal like the heavens and the earth, and their days never come to an end. This is the result of living according to the Way."
With respect for Chinese medicine,
Alena Judit Bernardová
This article was published with the kind permission of the Sféra magazine.
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