Module 2.
1 Balance and Interactions
In Chinese Medicine, we concern about “Balance” and “Interaction”.
So, what is Balance? Balance within the body is about maintaining a dynamic
balance between Yin and Yang, thus enabling the generation of Qi. On the other
hand, what is Interaction? Interaction within the body is about the interactions among
visceral organs under the Five Element Theory. The interactions among visceral
organs are made possible by the ever-circulating Qi such that the body can function
normally. That is why we look at Balance and Interactions together.
Let’s talk about “Balance of Yin/Yang for generating Qi” in this video.
Qi serves as an intangible driving force for the manifestation of body function. The
concept of Qi in Chinese Medicine covers a broad area, in that it refers not only to
the air one breathes but also to a form of energy. The manifestation of normal body
functioning depends on whether or not a dynamic balance between Yin and Yang
can be maintained in the body for generating Qi, which is referred to as Normal Qi.
As mentioned in the video of basic theories, there are three sources from which
Normal Qi is derived: namely Primordial Qi, Grain Qi and Clean Air. We have also
learnt briefly about the functional manifestations of different kinds of Qi. Now, I am
going to elaborate more on the function of different Qi.
Primordial Qi, which is the primary driving force of human life, can be functionally
related to the pumping action of the heart that energizes the circulation of blood
throughout the body. In fact, the beating heart is the earliest observable body
function in a developing fetus. Primordial Qi works by driving the circulation of blood
or Normal Qi throughout the body.
Pectoral Qi results from the combination of inhaled clean air (that is oxygen) and
ingested food (meaning nutrients). The digested and subsequently absorbed
nutrients are first transported to the liver for incorporating or converting into
biomolecules and cellular structures. In essence, Primordial Qi (Yang) interacts with
Pectoral Qi (Yin) to form Normal Qi, which is comprised of Nutritive Qi and
Defensive Qi.
Nutritive Qi is responsible for nourishing visceral organs. In this regard, Nutritive Qi
is related to the ability of tissues/cells to efficiently generate energy from nutrients,
that is the efficiency of mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) to generate ATP
(the energy currency of the cell) using fuel molecules.
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Finally, Defensive Qi is responsible for protecting the body against disease-causing
external factors. This concludes the importance of Balance of Yin-Yang for
generating Qi
As we know, Interaction within the body is about the interactions among visceral
organs under the Five Element Theory. We are going to explain further on
“Interaction”
Let’s take Spleen as an example for illustrating the interactions of organ function.
Spleen works with the Stomach to regulate the transport and metabolism of water
and nutrients. Water is absorbed and transported upward to the Lung for the
generation of Qi, and excessive water plus metabolic wastes produced by various
regions of the body are transported downward to the Kidney for excretion. Spleen
also regulates the circulation of Blood. The transport of nutrients in Blood to skeletal
muscle is controlled by the Spleen. Therefore, Spleen is an important determinant
for maintaining the proper functioning of skeletal muscle. Furthermore, Spleen is
also related to immune function.
On the other hand, the Five Zhi (meaning emotions), namely, joy, anger, grief,
anxiety and fright, are characterized by the Five Elements, namely, Fire, Wood,
Metal, Earth and Water, respectively. As Zang-Fu organs are linked to the Five
Elements, the over-expression of each Zhi can affect the function of its respective
Zang-Fu organs. In addition, there is a generation cycle and a suppression cycle in
which the five Zang-Fu organs interact. The generation cycle describes the ways in
which each Element, serving as a “mother”, promotes the growth and development
of the following “child” Element. The suppression cycle provides for a check and
balance system among all of the Elements.
Let’s discuss how anxiety affects the Spleen function, both belong to Earth, in the
context of Modern Medicine.
Anxiety activates the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamo-pituitary-
adrenal (HPA) axis. The SNS serves to inhibit digestion. The over-stimulation or
under-stimulation of the digestive system mediated by the SNS, leads to irritable
bowel symptoms or gastrointestinal diseases, which are associated with Spleen
Deficiency in Chinese Medicine. On the other hand, the HPA axis regulates a series
of endocrine glands, wherein the hypothalamus secretes corticotropin releasing
hormone (CRH) that stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropic
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hormone (ACTH), and ACTH in turn stimulates the secretion of cortisol from the
adrenal cortex, with resultant immunosuppression and thus Spleen Deficiency.
Speaking of depression (a neurological disorder relating to an inadequacy in Fire),
chronic stress disrupts the negative feedback response in the HPA axis, down-
regulates GABAergic signaling, and up-regulates glutaminergic signaling.
Downstream effects of these processes include the suppression of neurogenesis
and the induction of apoptosis in the corticolimbic system, with a resulting decrease
in serotonergic signaling, thereby giving rise to depression.
Under healthy condition, Liver Qi (Wood) nourishes the brain (Fire) by supplying fuel
molecules and plasma proteins. According to the Five Element Theory, the
experience of anger and/or stress (which negatively influence the Wood) disrupts Qi
circulation in the Liver, leading to a deficiency in fuel molecule production and
plasma protein synthesis. Thus, the brain (belonging to Fire) is not sufficiently
nourished, leading to defective neurotransmitter signaling, resulting in depression.
This explains how Liver Qi stagnation causes depression.
To conclude, one crucial factor for a healthy body is the maintenance of a dynamic
balance and interaction between Yin and Yang, which results in the generation of Qi.
Besides, a holistic manifestation of a healthy body also necessitates a harmonic
relationship among organs and their functioning. This phenomenon can be illustrated
by the Five Element Theory which assigns an organ and its function to a
corresponding element (namely, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) and then
describes the functional relationship among organs.
Within the conceptual framework of Chinese Medicine, a holistic manifestation of
body functioning requires the co-ordination of organ functions. Put simply, a
functional imbalance in an organ will not only affect its own performance but also
can have an influence on the functioning of other organs.
For instance, a problem in the Liver (belonging to Wood) can affect the functioning of
the digestive system, that is, the Spleen (belonging to Earth) because an excessive
Wood influence can restrict the Earth.
By and large, an appropriate “generation” and “suppression” relationship among
organ functions is essential for the maintenance of optimal health. The holistic view
of Chinese Medicine in relation to body function therefore forms the basis of the
“Health Concepts in Chinese Medicine”, which encompasses “Balancing Yin and
Yang, Invigorating Normal Qi and Regulating the functioning of organs”.
