What are Yin and Yang? They are a symbol of a perfect balance and this concept of Yin and Yang is the basis for understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine. This concept originated from observation of the material world and explanation of nature in ancient China. The material world we live in is changing, generating and developing due to relations of Yin and Yang. When two opposites unite, the world becomes whole. The world is a result of interaction of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang describe opposing forces, which depend on and complement each other at the same time. Yin represents cold, silence, passiveness, darkness (literally, the dark side of the mountain), inside, latent and descending abilities. Meanwhile, Yang stands for the characteristics like heat, warmness, activeness, light (meaning, the sunny side of the mountain), ascending, outside and expression. The nature of Yin and Yang is relative. For example, day is Yang and night is Yin, but afternoon is Yin within Yang. Same as summer belongs to Yang, winter to Yin, but the autumn becomes Yin aspect in Yang. It’s a gradual flow between substances in the universe. Yin and Yang are inseparable; they oppose, but interconnect at the same time. The balancing act of Yin and Yang constantly goes on in every entity of human body, from the organs and bodily systems to the smallest cells. Only when Yin and Yang are in balance, the world and human body can be in a perfect harmony. "Yin and Yang could amount to ten in number, be extended to one hundred, to one thousand, to ten thousand and ever to the infinite." |
Qi Qi is the most important concept in the Traditional Chinese Medicine. Qi is translated into energy, vital energy, life force and the most fundamental substance for maintaining life, however, actually there is no concept telling the content accurately. Qi can exist in numerous states and forms. Qi between heaven and earth forms the human body. Everything in the universe consists of Qi and is produced by its movement and changes. Qi is also known as the life force, providing heat to different parts of ones body and linking the organ networks. The total absence of Qi is death; therefore one’s good health depends on balanced distribution of Qi throughout the channel network. The main functions of Qi are: • Foundation of body’s activity and movement • The warming action (body’s source of heat) • The protecting action (strengthening body’s resistance and immune system) • The controlling action (regulating and distribution of body fluids) Being healthy, according to TCM, means the state when Qi flows smoothly and harmoniously through the channels and each system and organ in ones body interacts with and affects all the other systems and organs, which are interdependent and interrelated. Qi has many different names in Traditional Chinese Medicine depending on its origin, location and functions in the human body. Main classifications are:
fundamental Qi which originates from the prenatal essence and is nourished by the refined matter (nutrients) of food after birth. Sometimes called Qi of the kidney, it promotes the growth and development of the body and warms various organs and tissues.
absorbed by lungs in combination with nutrients transported by the spleen and stomach. Chest Qi is collected in the chest and has the function of nourishing the lung and the heart, therefore promoting respiration and blood circulation.
matter of food transformed by the spleen and stomach. It is the component of blood flowing throughout the body, thus it’ s called the nutritional Qi. It generates the blood and nourishes the body.
essential substances of food and water. It circulates outside the channels mainly spreading through the muscles and skin. It’ s strong, fast and active. Defensive Qi has functions of defending the body surface against the invasion of evil factors (heat, cold, dampness, bacteria and viruses), warming and nourishing the tissues and organs, and regulating the excretion of sweat by opening and closing the pores on ones skin. |
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What is The 5 Elements Theory? The Five Elements - wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, were recognized by ancient Chinese as the basic elements of the material world after observation of various processes and functions in nature. The material world is born and created by motion and change of these five substances. They are created by, depend on, and restrain each other. Later, The Five Elements Theory was applied to TCM interpreting the relationship between the physiology and pathology of the human body and the natural environment. It became a way of explaining complex links between physiology and pathology of human body and the natural environment. The theory clearly points out that the Chinese Medicine is based on the proposition of balance, development, and harmony in the nature. The Categorization of Things The most important thing is the categorization of the Five Elements, meaning that properties and characteristics of things in nature and human body similar to fire are classified into fire, those things similar to water into water and so on. Main characteristics of fire imply heat, warmth and ascending action; earth involves the aspects of generating, nourishing, receiving and changing; metal - clearing, strength, and descending action; and water is associated with cold, coolness, moisture, and downward flowing. As in the case of wood, the main aspect is flourishing growth and harmony. The following table shows different categories of objects in human body and nature according to five elements classification: |
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