by Kate Henderson, L.Ac.
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Chinese medical theorists from the last two thousand years have written about the functions of the organs in the body and how to affect them with acupuncture and herbs. Based on Taoist theory of yin and yang as well as thousands of years of applied practice, Chinese medicine suggests that all functions of the body have a yin and a yang component. A person can be diagnosed according to these principles by assessing all of their bodily signs and symptoms. Some of this is done by asking the patient questions, and some of this is done by observation: looking at the complexion, observing how the person interacts with others (irritable, jumpy, lethargic, talkative, restless), taking the pulse on both radial arteries and observing its qualities in different positions (overall, is the pulse forceful? is it hard to find? is it deep or at the surface when you place your fingers there? and are the qualities different at the three different pulse positions at each side?), and checking the tongue for different phenomena such as redness, paleness, coating, or cracks.

Yang:
Inflammation, redness, forcefulness, restlessness, and excessive energy indicate conditions that are more yang in nature. This means that rather than the body balancing itself by maintaining an appropriate amount of energy and being able to rest when necessary and rejuvenate itself in a balanced daily cycle, it stays active past the point of appropriateness. The body stays in a sympathetic “fight or flight” mode for too long, causing problems such as insomnia, anxiety, and eventually exhaustion.

Yin:
Lethargy, the need for excessive amounts of sleep, lack of energy and animation (someone who seems listless, speaks quietly, lack of expression) indicate conditions that are more yin in nature. The body imbalanced by excessive yin stays in a parasympathetic “rest and digest” mode an inappropriate amount.

Yin/Yang analysis also extends to individual organ function and possible dysfunction (rapid heartbeat, slow digestion), and how to bring that organ back into optimum function with the choice of acupuncture points.

According to the CM view, there are 6 yin organs of primary importance (LU, SP, HT, KD, PC, LV) and six of yang (LI, ST, SI, UB, TH, GB). All of these work in pairs of yin and yang function that support each other (LU/LI, SP/ST, KD/BL etc.) Acupuncturists choose points on different parts of the body based on strengthening or reducing the action of the organ (stimulating the needles in various ways, inserting the needles in different directions, against or with the flow of the channel) and regulating the yin and yang activity.

Qi:
Now the real kicker of explaining acupuncture is explaining the concept of Qi (also sometimes written as Chi or Ki). Qi is said to make the organs function. Each organ has its own specific type of Qi that originates in the organ and flows toward the surface of the body along paths/channels that disseminate the Qi, animate the body and circulate in the tissues. Qi has yin or yang qualities depending on bodily function and Qi permeates the body. The concept has some parallels to Western thought typically in theology. Many English-speakers will be familiar with the Christian concepts of “spiritus” or “pneuma” which aren’t true equivalents to Qi but get to the energetic and animating force that it embodies. In Chinese Medicine, both herbs and acupuncture help Qi flow more freely and distribute itself more evenly in the body.