The Beginner's Guide toTraditional Chinese Medicine

Zang refers to the internal organs, whereas Xiang refers to an observable phenomenon. Together, Zang Xiang translates to internal organs and the external manifestations of a person’s physiological and pathological states.

In TCM, physicians will examine a person’s physical symptoms to determine the root cause of a particular illness before prescribing or administering the appropriate treatments.

The concept of Zang Fu in TCM is more than anatomical morphology. The functions of these organs are extensive and not limited to just the functions of the organs with the same names in modern medicine but also cover certain functions of other related organs.

Zang comprises the 5 organs with more internal functions (wu zang, 五脏) — Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung and Kidney — and 6 organs with more external functions (liu fu, 六腑) — Gall Bladder, Stomach, Bladder, Large Intestines, Small Intestines, and Triple Energiser.

Triple Energiser (san jiao, 三焦) describes the upper (above the diaphragm), middle (in between diaphragm and belly button), and lower (below belly button) regions of the body.

A central maxim within Chinese philosophy states that everything in the universe comprises two opposite yet interdependent forces called Yin and Yang. Some examples of the former include water, dark, cold, night, passive, female; while examples of the latter are fire, bright, hot, day, active, male. These opposites, the Yin and Yang, cannot exist without each other.

Understanding Yin and Yang is important within TCM because it helps us understand the connections and changes in our body, health, and well-being. As mentioned earlier, TCM is all about creating balance in our body, because if any organ, region, or forces lacking or is in excess, then our body becomes imbalanced and thus we become unhealthy. TCM physicians utilise Yin and Yang to diagnose any form of imbalance or disharmony, and then to determine treatment.

In the five-element TCM concept, each element — Earth, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Water — has its own literal and philosophic meaning. While the 5 elements are constantly moving and changing, there are 2 flows among them: the mutual nourishment cycle (相生) and the mutual restrain cycle (相克), which have naturally positive, or negative influences on each other.

This concept can provide a multi-dimensional view of our internal organs and help TCM physicians recognise imbalances. Because of this, TCM physicians spend years trying to understand how our bodies are connected to external elements like colours, foods, seasons, and the weather.

The best way to understand qi is to think of it as a life force or energy. Everything in this natural, material world has qi. Even the universe, which causes the ebb and flow of everything, has qi. In TCM, there are two kinds of qi: genuine (or normal) and evil (or pathogenic) qi. The former comprises the essentials we need for life, while the latter is bad for health.

When our qi is balanced and in harmony, we can be in good health and well-being, and experience contentment. When our qi is stagnated or deficient, we may suffer from illness and pain.