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| The essence of the Zang/Fu comes from food and air and is the basic nourishment of life. It is stored in the kidneys and can be released on demand by any organ. The kidneys engender the bones and marrow. Their opening are the ears. The kidneys are the water organ, master of the body fluids. Kidneys' orifices are the urethra and anus, therefore disorders of this organ give rise to anomalies in the evacuatory functions, both urinary and fecal. The kidneys are also in charge of the reproduction system. |
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| The second aspect of Chinese anatomy and physiology is related to the meridians which are the channels of energy. The meridians bind all parts of the body. They move in response to the smallest external change and inform the organs. The Yin and Yang meridians follow each other throughout the body without end. Because the practitioner of acupuncture knows how to diagnose according the Five Elements theory, the proper method of sedation or tonification on each of the points will be chosen along each channel. |
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| The actions and locations of the meridians are derived from many years of observation and from experience in treatment and response. Stimulation or sedation of various parts of the body produce an effect on the functioning of internal organs. Thus, a stimulation on the cannon bone may affect the stomach whereas a point in the fetlock joint will affect the face. Internal sicknesses often produce painful areas on the skin and these areas follow definite lines or pathways. Finally, the meridian may reflect internal disease and may become painful and other superficial symptoms will appear but the organ related to the meridian is still unaffected. Long usage has shown that the meridians are certainly no abstract theory and therefore we must approach the study of them from the practical aspect of how they relate to organic functions and their use in pathology. |
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