You are on page 1of 3

The Material Basis of TCM Immunology: Zang Organs http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/materialbasisimmune.

html

Hom e > Bas ic Principle s > The Im m une Sys te m & Chine s e M e dicine >
The M ate rial Bas is of TCM Im m unology: Zang Organs

The M ate rial Basis of TCM Immunology: Zang Organs

The zang organs of TCM, w hich include the lungs, spleen, kidneys, liver and heart
(also named as the f ive solid organs) are at the core of the immune activities. They
combine w ith the tissues, viscera (organs), m e ridians , qi (vital e ne rgy), blood
and body fluids , and f orm a unity. Unlike Western medicine, their physiological
and pathological meanings are not entirely the same. Rather than a single
anatomical structure, a zang organ is part of the overall dynamic energy process
of the body. Healthy energy is closely associated w ith their physiology activities.
They are the center of the w hole immune process. Their collaborative jobs are to
act as messengers, be responsible f or transportation and storage, deal w ith
excesses and w astes, control internal communication, make decisions and
activate body f unctions.

In TCM, healthy energy (zheng qi) refers to the body's natural resistance
against diseases and its repair ability, which is closely associated with
the physiological activities of the five zang organs.

Details for individual organs are outlined in the following:

1. The lungs are an immuno-barrier.

The lungs preside over qi (vital energy). They connect externally w ith the skin and
hair and disseminate prote ctive qi over the body's surf ace. The lungs' protective
qi belongs to part of the healthy energy (zheng qi); because it f orms the f irst
barrier against the invasion of e xoge nous pathoge ns . The protective qi
provides w armth and nourishment to the skin, subcutaneous tissues and muscles;
it also controls the opening and closing of skin pores. When protective qi is
abundant, muscles are smooth, skin is tender and subcutaneous tissues are f irm.
Theref ore, the ability to resist external pathogens is ensured.

In this w ay, the lungs maintain the integrity of the body's outer barriers. Their
actions are similar to the anatomical skin and mucosa linings such as that f ound in
the mouth, w hich act like a natural immune barrier.

2. The s ple e n promotes immune functions.

In w estern physiology, the spleen is a large, vascular, lymphatic organ. How ever,
in TCM, the spleen is regarded as the "acquired f oundation of lif e", the source of

1 of 3 09/10/2017, 13:38
The Material Basis of TCM Immunology: Zang Organs http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/materialbasisimmune.html

blood and qi (vital energy) production. Actually, the spleen is a multi- f unctioning
unit, w hich covers f unctions of the w estern anatomical spleen and pancreas and
promotes activities of the digestive, endocrine, nervous and blood systems.

The spleen governs transportation and transf ormation of body f luids and nutrie nt
e s s e nce s and also controls blood f low . Although to a certain degree, the pow er
of healthy energy is determined by congenital (inherited) f actors, it is mostly
dependent upon the nourishment of the spleen to keep it in regular supply.
Theref ore, the spleen determines the abundance and depletion of healthy energy.
In turn, it assures bodily protection against diseases.
3. The k idne ys are the basis of immune functions.

TCM view s the kidneys as the "congenital f oundation of lif e", the root of healthy
energy. It governs congenital constitution and prosperity of the healthy energy. The
stored k idne y e s s e nce (jing) is the material basis f or the entire body's yin and
yang f orces, w hich make the body's physical f orm and f unctions mutually restrict
and depend on one another. Theref ore, the kidneys play an important role in
saf eguarding the internal equilibrium. Moreover, abundance in kidney essence
(jing) promotes vitality and f unctioning of protective-qi, thereby strengthening the
body's resistance.

According to modern understanding, the TCM kidneys not only regulate the urinary
system, they also exercise control over the reproductive, hematological, endocrine
and nervous systems. They w ork closely w ith the neural-endocrine immune
regulating netw ork.

4. The live r helps to maintain normal immune activity.

From a TCM view point, the liver is responsible f or part of the f unctions of the
endocrine, digestive, circulatory and immune systems. The liver promotes f low ing
and spreading movements. By stimulating f low , the liver adjusts and ensures the
smooth movement of qi, blood and body f luids, and spreads these substances to
the entire body. TCM believes that e m otional activity is an outer manif estation of
the physiological status of the internal organ system, w hich is considered the
major internal cause f or diseases (regarded as endogenous evils in extreme
conditions). Normal emotional health depends on the harmony of qi and blood f low ,
and the liver is mainly in charge of this aspect. When the liver keeps everything
f low ing smoothly, a regulated internal environment is created keeping diseases
out.

5. The he art regulates the immune activities.

The heart controls and regulates the f low of blood through the vessels of the
body. It also rules the spirit, w hich in TCM, is the chief administrator of all the
physiological and mental activities. Normally, the heart exerts its inf luence over
other organs through the m onarch-fire (heart f ire) w hich cooperates w ith the
prim e -m inis te r fire to promote the f unctional activities of other organs. When
the heart's "ruling" is good, then the other organ systems w ork in harmony, and the
body can f ight against diseases eff ectively.

In addition to pumping blood, the heart possesses our Western understanding of


the brain's role in regulating the nervous, cardiovascular and endocrine f unctions,
because, the heart houses the s pirit (s he n). Since the heart plays a role in
regulating nervous and endocrine f unctions, it naturally also plays a part in immune
regulation.

Furthermore, the m e ridians are the pathw ays of qi and blood circulation as w ell
as the channels w here the immune f unctions take eff ect. The triple burne r
directs the various types of qi, and they act as the channel stations f or the body
f luids to circulate. They have an important eff ect on immune activities.

2 of 3 09/10/2017, 13:38
The Material Basis of TCM Immunology: Zang Organs http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/materialbasisimmune.html

TOP

3 of 3 09/10/2017, 13:38

You might also like