Basic Eastern Definitions
BASIC EASTERN MEDICINE DEFINITIONS:
QI: Pronounced chi, is the life energy, the mainstay of an organisms life force. QI has four main components.
Hereditary- that QI that comes from our ancestors
Nutritive-that which comes from our diet
Cosmic- that which comes from the air that we breathe
Wei QI- which is associated with the immune system
Jing: Similar to the concept of DNA, genes, and hereditary traits in western medicine. Jing is the underlying factor predisposing us to health. The source of Jing is the kidneys.
Circadian Clock: Each organ and system corresponds to a time of day when that organ or system is at optimal functionality. Below is a simple chart reflective of these times.
3:00am - 5:00am- Lung
5:00am - 7:00am- Large Intestine
7:00am - 9:00am- Stomach
9:00am - 11:00am- Spleen and Pancreas
11:00 - 1:00pm- Heart
1:00 -3:00pm- Small Intestine
3:00 - 5:00pm- Urinary Bladder
5:00 - 7:00pm- Kidney
7:00- 9:00pm- Pericardium
9:00 - 11:00pm- Triple Heater
11:00 -1:00pm- Gall Bladder
1:00 - 3:00pm- Liver
THE ELEMENTS:
Earth- Linked to digestion (Spleen and Pancreas)
Metal- Linked to respiration and elimination (lungs and large intestines)
Water- Linked to the urinary/urogenital system (kidneys and urinary bladder)
Wood- Linked to the processing of toxins (liver and gall bladder)
Fire- Linked to Circulation (heart and small intestines)
DAMP- Saturates one with moisture, feels heavy and sluggish
HEAT- Similar to Yang; active and intense, nervousness, restlessness, and animated
COLD- Similar to Yin; stagnates the inside of the body causing sluggish behavior
WIND- Can enter the muscle layers and tendons, eventually reaching the bones. Associated with overpowering the immune system and arthritis. Wind invasion is made worse by both damp and cold.
DRYNESS- The opposite of dampness the body does not have enough moisture. Dryness is often associated with dry cough, asthma, and allergies.
YIN- Like water; cold and heavy
YANG- Like fire with the ability to heat.
YIN & YANG are inextricably connected, an imbalance of these two principals can be associated with illness.
TRIPLE HEATER: This term refers to a function in the body that lack specific organ alignments. It is as implied, associated with temperature regulation. The body is divided into three compartments. Each compartment needs to be regulated. The triple heater is considered to be part of the fire element.
MIDDLE BURNER: Associated with the middle compartment of the body. (Diaphragm to just below navel)
