Appendix IV: Basic Concepts of Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM)
What is Jin? And what is Jin-Suo?
Jin (筋; pinyin: jīn): A Chinese medical term referring to virtually all soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system. It encompasses everything from tendons, ligaments, muscles, fascia to subcutaneous tissues, joint capsules, fibro-cartilages, etc. Generally,
Jin is referred to as tendons, or ligament.
Jin-Suo (simplified Chinese:筋缩; traditional Chinese:筋縮; pinyin: jīn suō): Contraction, atrophy or degeneration of the functions of Jin, which is the major contributor to aging and most illnesses.
⇧ Lajin position on lajin bench
About Qi (Chi)
Qi (Chi )(simplified Chinese:气; traditional Chinese:炁; pinyin: qì) is the invisible life force or vital energy that flows in all living things, including in the human body. And its movements explain various life processes. Qi in its physiological sense constitutes, replenishes and nourishes the body.
Qi is formed from inhaled oxygen, dietary nutrients, and inborn primordial Qi stored in the kidneys, which could be genetically related. It circulates along the body’s meridians and collaterals. The smooth flow of Qi through the body's meridians is crucial to maintaining a balance among one’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms, hence preserving a healthy body. Emotional instability may cause the stagnation of Qi and induce diseases. For instance, anger may lead to dizziness, headaches, distress in the chest, dilatation in the stomach, or poor appetite.
Qi is often classified according to what it acts upon. For instance, the heart-qi (simplified Chinese:心气; traditional Chinese:心炁; pinyin: xīn qì) refers to the force with which the heart works and the blood circulates, so it regulates the cardiac function; the
stomach-qi (simplified Chinese:胃气; traditional Chinese:胃炁; pinyin: wèi qì) refers to the force with which the stomach functions, so it regulates the gastric functions. Metabolism of materials and energy also depends on the movements of Qi, including metabolism of blood, fluids and other essential materials.
Another classification is zheng-qi, yang-qi, or positive qi, which maintains normal functioning of the body for resistance against diseases; and xie-qi, yin-qi or evil qi, which causes diseases.
According to CCM theory, “骨正筋柔，气血自流”, i.e. where bones are in place and tendons are flexible, there will naturally be smooth Qi and blood flow.
Sufficient Qi and blood and their smooth flow in the body is vital to good health; Insufficient Qi and blood, or obstructed flow makes one frail and induces various physical or mental disorders.
Where there are clogs in the meridians, Qi cannot flow smoothly. when Qi is charging at such a disease nidus, various symptoms of
Qì Chōng Bìng Zào occur.
Basics of the meridian system
Meridians (simplified Chinese:经络; traditional Chinese: 經絡 ; pinyin: jīng luò) are invisible pathways or channels through which
Qi, the body’s vital energy, flows. They form a network that connects all parts of the body including organs, muscles, bones and joints.
The meridian system supplies Qi to every part of the body, assists in the distribution of blood and body fluids, maintains yin - yang balance, and protects the body against diseases. Along these channels are acupoints through which the Qi of the organs and meridians is transported to the body surface.
There are twelve standard meridians running along the arms and legs (six yin and six yang), and each relates to one of the internal organs: Along the arms are three yin meridians on the inside (Lung Meridian, Heart Meridian, and Pericardium/Heart Governor Meridian) and three yang meridians on the outside (Large Intestine Meridian, Small Intestine Meridian, and Triple Burner/Warmer/ Heater Meridian); Along the legs are three yin meridians on the inside (Spleen/Pancreas Meridian, Kidney Meridian, and Liver Meridian) and three yang meridians on the outside and along the back (Stomach Meridian, Urinary Bladder Meridian, Gall Bladder Meridian). Apart from these, there are two other chief meridians: Ren Meridian/Conception Vessel Meridian (running in the middle of the front) and Du Meridian/Governing Vessel Meridian (running along the spine at the back and up to top of the head).
Apart from these, there are two other chief meridians:
Ren Meridian/Conception Vessel Meridian (running in the middle of the front) and Du Meridian/Governing Vessel Meridian (running along the spine at the back and up to top of the head).
Acupoints mentioned in the Manual :
Laogong acupoint
Neiguan acupoint
Lingdao acupoint
Quchi acupoint
Xuehai acupoint
Sanyinjiao acupoint
Zusanli acupoint
Yanglingquan acupoint
Fengshi acupoint
Dazhui acupoint
Renzhong acupoint
To better visualize the concept of Qi and the meridians, think of the meridians as a river-bed, over which water flows and irrigates the land, feeding, nourishing and sustaining the substance through which it flows. (In Western medicine, the concept would be likened to the blood flowing through the circulatory system.) If a dam were placed at any point along the river, the nourishing effect that the water had on the whole river would stop at the point the dam was built.
What is Jin? And what is Jin-Suo?
Jin (筋; pinyin: jīn): A Chinese medical term referring to virtually all soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system. It encompasses everything from tendons, ligaments, muscles, fascia to subcutaneous tissues, joint capsules, fibro-cartilages, etc. Generally,
Jin is referred to as tendons, or ligament.
Jin-Suo (simplified Chinese:筋缩; traditional Chinese:筋縮; pinyin: jīn suō): Contraction, atrophy or degeneration of the functions of Jin, which is the major contributor to aging and most illnesses.
⇧ Lajin position on lajin bench
About Qi (Chi)
Qi (Chi )(simplified Chinese:气; traditional Chinese:炁; pinyin: qì) is the invisible life force or vital energy that flows in all living things, including in the human body. And its movements explain various life processes. Qi in its physiological sense constitutes, replenishes and nourishes the body.
Qi is formed from inhaled oxygen, dietary nutrients, and inborn primordial Qi stored in the kidneys, which could be genetically related. It circulates along the body’s meridians and collaterals. The smooth flow of Qi through the body's meridians is crucial to maintaining a balance among one’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms, hence preserving a healthy body. Emotional instability may cause the stagnation of Qi and induce diseases. For instance, anger may lead to dizziness, headaches, distress in the chest, dilatation in the stomach, or poor appetite.
Qi is often classified according to what it acts upon. For instance, the heart-qi (simplified Chinese:心气; traditional Chinese:心炁; pinyin: xīn qì) refers to the force with which the heart works and the blood circulates, so it regulates the cardiac function; the
stomach-qi (simplified Chinese:胃气; traditional Chinese:胃炁; pinyin: wèi qì) refers to the force with which the stomach functions, so it regulates the gastric functions. Metabolism of materials and energy also depends on the movements of Qi, including metabolism of blood, fluids and other essential materials.
Another classification is zheng-qi, yang-qi, or positive qi, which maintains normal functioning of the body for resistance against diseases; and xie-qi, yin-qi or evil qi, which causes diseases.
According to CCM theory, “骨正筋柔，气血自流”, i.e. where bones are in place and tendons are flexible, there will naturally be smooth Qi and blood flow.
Sufficient Qi and blood and their smooth flow in the body is vital to good health; Insufficient Qi and blood, or obstructed flow makes one frail and induces various physical or mental disorders.
Where there are clogs in the meridians, Qi cannot flow smoothly. when Qi is charging at such a disease nidus, various symptoms of
Qì Chōng Bìng Zào occur.
Basics of the meridian system
Meridians (simplified Chinese:经络; traditional Chinese: 經絡 ; pinyin: jīng luò) are invisible pathways or channels through which
Qi, the body’s vital energy, flows. They form a network that connects all parts of the body including organs, muscles, bones and joints.
The meridian system supplies Qi to every part of the body, assists in the distribution of blood and body fluids, maintains yin - yang balance, and protects the body against diseases. Along these channels are acupoints through which the Qi of the organs and meridians is transported to the body surface.
There are twelve standard meridians running along the arms and legs (six yin and six yang), and each relates to one of the internal organs: Along the arms are three yin meridians on the inside (Lung Meridian, Heart Meridian, and Pericardium/Heart Governor Meridian) and three yang meridians on the outside (Large Intestine Meridian, Small Intestine Meridian, and Triple Burner/Warmer/ Heater Meridian); Along the legs are three yin meridians on the inside (Spleen/Pancreas Meridian, Kidney Meridian, and Liver Meridian) and three yang meridians on the outside and along the back (Stomach Meridian, Urinary Bladder Meridian, Gall Bladder Meridian). Apart from these, there are two other chief meridians: Ren Meridian/Conception Vessel Meridian (running in the middle of the front) and Du Meridian/Governing Vessel Meridian (running along the spine at the back and up to top of the head).
Apart from these, there are two other chief meridians:
Ren Meridian/Conception Vessel Meridian (running in the middle of the front) and Du Meridian/Governing Vessel Meridian (running along the spine at the back and up to top of the head).
Acupoints mentioned in the Manual :
Laogong acupoint
Neiguan acupoint
Lingdao acupoint
Quchi acupoint
Xuehai acupoint
Sanyinjiao acupoint
Zusanli acupoint
Yanglingquan acupoint
Fengshi acupoint
Dazhui acupoint
Renzhong acupoint
To better visualize the concept of Qi and the meridians, think of the meridians as a river-bed, over which water flows and irrigates the land, feeding, nourishing and sustaining the substance through which it flows. (In Western medicine, the concept would be likened to the blood flowing through the circulatory system.) If a dam were placed at any point along the river, the nourishing effect that the water had on the whole river would stop at the point the dam was built.
The same is true in relation to Qi and the meridians. When Qi
flow is blocked, the rest of the body that was being nourished by the continuous flow, now suffers. Illnesses and diseases can result if the flow is not restored.
According to Chinese medicine, when the clogged meridians are cleared, diseases can be cured, thus restoring health.
Yin-yang balance
The yin-yang (simplified Chinese:阴阳; traditional Chinese:陰陽
; pinyin: yīn yáng) theory holds that everything in the universe is composed of two opposing yet complementary forces — yin and
yang.
Yin (black color) is characterized as cold, wet, passive, etc.;
Yang (white color), by contrast, is hot, dry, and active, etc.
In Chinese medicine, the yin-yang theory is used to decipher the interdependent links and constant changes in the body. These two forces represent the bipolar manifestation of all things in nature, and because of this, one must be present to allow the other to exist. On an emotional level, one would not know joy had he/she never experienced pain. Good health is represented as a balance of yin
and yang. When the balance is consistently altered, and one (be it
yin or yang) regularly dominates the other, health is compromised and illnesses will arise.
Toxins in the body are regarded as having the nature of yin (yin -qi), whereas the body’s self-healing power/immunity has the qualities of yang ( yang-qi).
Zang Fu and their functions
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