The Five Yin Organs (zang organs)
In traditional Chinese medicine, the liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys are regarded as the core functional units of the body, they work together to accomplish complex physiological activities for life. The five organs, also known as five zang organs, do not work independently but rather in a highly coordinated manner, they dependent and restrict each other physiologically, and also affect each other pathologically. Below are some of the important body activities that are mutually regulated by the organs.
In ancient time, the five elements theory was used to establish the holistic view on the body. It was once a routine for physicians to take the relationships of the five elements in explaining the interrelationships between five organs, and are still regarded as important guidelines in modern clinical applications.
- Heart and lungs: their interrelationship contributes to the blood circulation and respiration.
- Heart and spleen: their interrelationship contributes to the production of blood and its circulation.
- Heart and liver: their interrelationship contributes to blood circulation and blood storage, and also in the balance of mental or emotional state.
- Heart and kidneys: their interrelationship contributes to the overall balance between upper and lower body.
- Lungs and spleen: their interrelationship contributes to the production of qi and fluid metabolism.
- Lungs and liver: their interrelationship contributes to the balance of qi movements of entire body.
- Lungs and kidneys: their interrelationship contributes to fluid metabolism, respiratory movement and material metabolism of the body.
- Liver and spleen: their interrelationship contributes to regulated dissemination and transformation actions, and also the balance between blood storage and circulation of entire body.
- Liver and kidneys: their interrelationship contributes to interchanging of different fundamental substances, and also their supply and nourishment to the body.
- Spleen and kidneys: their interrelationship contributes to motivate the entire life activities, and also in the regulation of body fluids.
In ancient time, the five elements theory was used to establish the holistic view on the body. It was once a routine for physicians to take the relationships of the five elements in explaining the interrelationships between five organs, and are still regarded as important guidelines in modern clinical applications.
