Jang and Bu provide viewpoint for inspecting the human body. Study of Jang through its manifestation(臟象學) deals with not only physiologic but pathologic aspects related to each Jang and Bu as well. The viewpoint is also applied well in clinical diagnosis: differentiation of symptoms through Jang and Bu is widely applied for treatment. Putting Jang and Bu as the originating pathogenic factor, it shows pathologic mechanisms with relevant symptoms, some of which simply refers to the organ of Western medical concept, and others to the “linked parts”-disorder in Heart may not only involve the blood pump itself, but changes on tongue, mental condition, impacts on the Kidney, perspiration, Fire-induced symptoms around the body. (You may well see that tongue, happiness, Fire, and sweat are all “linked parts” of Heart.)

The reason why we look into the phases-through “linked parts” as well as the actual organs themselves is because some images reflected on the exterior part of the body tells how our organs function in a normal state and in their afflicted states.

This is way in Korean medicine the mutual relationship of each organs is important as well as their individual functions. For Ki, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney are related, while Liver, Heart, and Spleen is relevant to Blood. Human biological organs are distinguished by Jang and Bu, of which Jang plays the main role.

* Five Jang (五臟) refers to Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney which as a whole function to produce and deposit Essence of the body

* Six Bu (六腑), consisting of Gall Bladder, Small Intestine, Stomach, Large Intestine,

Urinary Bladder, and Triple Burner functions to transform nutrient matters into chyme and excrement from primary digestion.

* Extraordinary Organs (寄桓之府) are the organs that carries the function of both Jang and Bu. They are Gall Bladder, Brain, Bone, Bone marrow, Vessels, and Uterus.

Coupling of Jang and Bu

1. HEART (心)

Major functions: Regarded as the most important organ in the body, Heart promotes and circulation of Blood and facilitates mental activity

⑴ Heart is in control of the Blood vessels

Heart regulates smooth and continuous circulation of blood through the blood vessels and supplies nutrients to the whole body.

* Blood vessels are known as the “residence” of blood.

⑵ Tongue is the orifice of Heart.

In classic text it is said that tongue is the “sprout of Heart”. Refer to our 4th newsletter

for the relationship of the two:

http://koreanmedicine.net/4news/4news_07_02.html

⑶ In and out relationship with Small Intestine

Heart and S. Intestine is collaterally binded (絡屬) in Meridian’s point of view and also related in pathological ways. For example, when the Fire in the Heart grows too strong the exuberant Heat is transferred to Small Intestine, causing redness in urination with pain. Clinically, Do-jeok-san(Powder for leading Red out) is prescribed for difficult urination from Heat in the Small intestine.

⑷ Relationship with Spleen

While Heart controls Blood, Spleen is the initial source in producing Blood and Ki.

⑸ Relationship with Kidney

When we divide our trunk into three parts, Heart belongs to the upper third of the body and Kidney belongs to the lower third. The Heart Ki-representing Fire Ki, descends to Kidney-representing Water Ki, and the Kidney Ki ascends to Heart, thus facilitating smooth interaction between Water and Fire within our body. When this inter-relationship falls, it induces insomnia and somnambulism (also known as the symptom of sleepwalk).

| Upper Burner: Heart, Lung |

| Middle Burner: Spleen |

| Lower Burner: Liver, Kidney |

2. Lung (肺)

Lung is called the “florid canopy” of our body because of its position at the chest and its arch type shape.

Main functions: Controls Ki and Blood

Regulates respiration

Assists water metabolism; regulates secretion of sweat

Moistening of the skin

Activates Defensive Ki to protect the exterior of our body from pernicious influence

⑴ Water Metabolism regulated by Lung is divided into two:

① Dispersing mechanism (宣散) :Transports water to rest of the body and when it reaches the pores it is then secreted as perspiration

② Suppressing mechanism (肅降) :descends water to Urinary Bladder after being used for excretion

⑵ Lung is manifested through the nose

The olfactory sense functions normal when Lung Ki is in healthy state.

⑶ In and out relationship with Large Intestine

Lung conducts general water metabolism and Large Intestine controls Jin (津), the more watery bodily fluid. If excessive heat and phlegm is stuck in the part of Lungs,the Large Intestine gets stuffed and constipation results.

⑷ Relationship with Spleen

Lung is described as a container for holding phlegm, which has been produced in the Spleen. This is the theoretical basis for treating both Spleen and Lung for phlegm-related symptoms.

⑸ Relationship with Kidney

Lung is in charge of controlling Ki and Kidney is the origin of Ki itself. Lung Ki must join the Essence Ki of Kidney to make True Ki(眞氣) in human body.

3. Spleen

Spleen is in charge of transformation and is in control of elevating movements. (Clinically, diarrhea, which is a downward phenomenon, is seen as disorder in Spleen’s elevating functions.) In comparison, Stomach is in charge of receiving food and piling up and is in control of descending movements. (Clinically, nausea or vomiting, which are upward phenomena, is seen as disorder in Stomach’s suppressing function.)

⑴ Spleen transforms food into Ki and Blood, working as an energy source.

The energy transformed from food intake is dispersed to the rest of the body.

⑵ Regulating and holding mechanism

Spleen guides Blood to stay in the right blood vessel, otherwise unwanted bleeding might occur. This is applied to profuse menstruation, where Spleen is seen as having lost control of holding Blood.

⑶ Spleen rules over muscle, flesh and four limbs since it is the energy source of Ki and Blood. Gaining weight to obesity or losing weight to emaciation is dealt with in relation to Spleen.

Clinically, ladies’ unwanted muscle formation with pain on the legs (mostly from wearing high-heels) can also be alleviated from treating the Spleen.

⑷ Spleen is manifested through both mouth and lips. Appetite and taste sense are related to the co-action of Spleen and Stomach.

Pathologically, lips become sore and cold sores sprout when nutrition is poor. And Heat in Spleen makes one to feel sweetness in the mouth.

⑸ In and out relationship with Stomach

Stomach receives and accumulates food in preparation for Spleen for transformation process. Also the driving force of transportation of nutrients allows stomach to receive more food.

Below is the function of Small intestine and Large intestine in digestion after Stomach has finished its given task.

*Small intestine – Differentiates what is clear from turbidity. Participates in digestion process after primary digestion in the stomach has taken place. Sends useless water to Urinary Bladder after absorbing nutritious matters.

*Large Intestine – Transfers chyme and other leftover materials into feces and absorbs moisture.

4. Liver and Gall Bladder

⑴ Flow-promoting function

① Regulates Ki movement by spreading otherwise stagnant Ki.

② Secretion of Bile

When Liver Ki is weak abnormality occurs in the production of bile, leading to jaundice(basically seen as a combination of Dampness and Heat), bitterness in the mouth.

③ Effects on seven emotions

Because, Liver prefers to reach out, stagnant or congested conditions are uncomfortable for Liver. Of the seven emotions, Liver is especially related to anger.

⑵ Liver Stores Blood

⑶ Liver controls muscles, the condition of which is reflected on the finger nails. If there is not enough Blood stored in Liver, muscles in the body are malnourished. Likewise, when there is enough Blood the colors of nails are red and glossy, however when lacking Blood the color is faint and cloudy.

⑷ Liver is manifested through eyes. Eyesight is dependent on the Liver. Congested eyes, if not from infection, is basically dealt with the viewpoint that Liver-Fire(remember that anger is related to Liver?) has uproared.

⑸ Relationship to Heart

Production of Blood is initiated in Spleen to be stored in Liver, and pumped through the rest of the body by Heart. This is why Liver, Heart, and Spleen is referred to, when Blood is being dealt with.

⑹ Relationship with Kidney

* Liver stores Blood and Kidney stores Essence, both of which mainly consist our body and enable us to maintain life.