This chart
shows the characteristic of the 5 major organs with the 5
hollow organs.
1) Heart (心)- The element of the heart
is FIRE (火), therefore the representative colour is RED. The
purpose of the heart is transporting of the blood thru the
veins to all parts of the body. It is also incharge of the person
outlook as well as the sweating function. The inducing
resusciation or "open and close" (开窍) organ is thru the
tongue. This means that by looking at the tongue, you can tell the
condition of the heart. The representative taste of the heart
is bitter. The link between the 脏 and the 腑
is the heart (心) and the small intestine (小肠).
This means that before the heart gets ill, the small intestine may
show the first sign of illness. So, in order to treat the illness
in the small intestine, you have to take care of the root cause the
heart too.
2) Lung (肺)- The element of the lung is METAL
(金) , therefore the representative colour is WHITE. The
purpose of the lung is for breathing, sweat glands to regulate the
body temperature and transportation of
water/sweat. The inducing resusciation or "open and
close" (开窍) organ is thru the nose. Therefore patients with lung
problem can be seen with running nose etc. The representative taste
of the lung is "fishy". The link between the 脏 and the 腑
is the lung (肺) and
the large intestine (大肠). This means that before the
lung gets ill, the large intestine may show the first
sign of illness. So, in order to treat the illness in the
large intestine, you have to take care of the root cause the
lungs too.
3) Spleen (脾)- The element of the spleen is
EARTH (土), thefore the representative colour is YELLOW. The purpose
of the spleen is for transportation, energising the Qi and blood
forming. The inducing resusciation or "open and close" (开窍)
organ is thru the mouth. Therefore patients with
spleen problem can be seen with a smelling mouth etc. The
representative taste of the spleen is sweet bitter. The link
between the 脏 and the 腑
is the spleen (脾) and the stomach (胃).
This means that before the spleen gets ill, the
stomach may show the first sign of illness. So, in order to
treat the illness in the stomach, you have to take care of the root
cause the spleen too.
4) Liver (肝)- The element of the liver is
WOOD (木), thefore the representative colour is GREEN. The
purpose of the liver is for storage of blood, veins and
fulid. The inducing resusciation or "open and close" (开窍)
organ is thru the eyes. Therefore patients with liver problem
can be seen with a yellowish eyes etc. The representative
taste of the liver is sour bitter. The link between the 脏 and
the 腑 is the liver (肝) and the gall (胆).
This means that before the liver gets ill, the gall may
show the first sign of illness. So, in order to treat the illness
in the gall, you have to take care of the root cause the
liver too.
5) Kidney (肾)- The element of the liver is
WATER (水), thefore the representative colour is BLACK. The
purpose of the kidney is for storage of energy,
filteration of fluid and bone function. The inducing resusciation
or "open and close" (开窍) organ is thru the bladder. Therefore
patients with kidney problem can be seen with a urinal
problem etc. The representative taste of the kidney is
salty. The link between the 脏 and the 腑
is the kidney (肾) and the bladder (膀胱).
This means that before the kidney gets ill, the
bladder/urine may show the first sign of illness. So, in order
to treat the illness in the bladder, you have to take care of the
root cause the kidney too.
