Relationship between functional spleen and lung and traditional Chinese medicine

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The concept of holism, the idea that all aspects of Creation form a unified whole and are governed by the same laws, is the foundation of traditional Chinese philosophy. The mutual interaction, mutual governance, interdependence, dynamic balance and mutual transformation of Yin and Yang, the two primal forces of the universe, as well as the generative and inhibitory cycles of the Five Elements, are expressions of holism.

Holism is applied to traditional Chinese medicine in two major areas. First, the organs, systems, and functions of the body are seen to form an interdependent organic system. Second, pathological changes, diagnosis, and treatment are considered to be closely connected with natural factors such as environment, climate, and seasonal changes. Holism is the foundation of all aspects of traditional Chinese medicine, including physiology, pathology, diagnosis, pattern identification, treatment and promoting health.

TCM considers the whole when predicting the progression of a condition, taking into account the effect that localized pathological changes will have on other areas of the body. According to Five Elements theory, problems in one of the five zang organs will usually affect the other four. For instance, liver-firecan move into the heart to produce effulgent heart-liver fire, with consequent agitation and irritability.

Liver-fire can also invade the lungs, with consequent rib pain and coughing of blood. Finally, liver-fire can invade the stomach, producing stomach pain, acid reflux, and vomiting of blood. Each component of each system of the body exerts an influence on the others.

TCM’s diagnostic theory applies the concept of holism by examining the exterior to understand the interior. The condition of the various systems of the body is determined by examining the pulses and tongue, listening, and observing the body’s appearance and bearing. These diagnostic methods utilizethe holistic concept that changes in the functioning of the internal organs produce corresponding manifestations on the exterior of the body.

Determining treatment takes into account the holistic interaction among the five organ systems, as well as that among the zang and fu organs and the entire body. For instance, the heart and tongue both correspond to Fire, which is associated with the color red. Pain, swelling, and redness of the tonguetherefore indicate that the heart has opened into the tongue, and are symptoms of effulgent heart-fire. This condition may be treated with herbal remedies or acupuncture methods that clear the heart and drain fire. Disorders of the liver can progress into the spleen, so these conditions are preemptively treated with supplementary methods to protect the spleen from the liver. TCM predicts the progression of disease according to the relationships among the five zang organs, and determines treatment principles and methods on this basis. This is a concrete application of the concept of holism to the treatment of disease.

Human beings live within the natural environment and are part of the material world. Humanity, Society, and Nature form a unified system, each part embodying the whole and governed by the same natural laws. Consequently, people are inevitably influenced by changes in both society and the environment. An example is the influence the natural progression of the seasons has on the human body and its functions. The weather changes from the warmth of spring to the heat of summer, the coolness of fall, and the cold of winter in an expression of natural law. The human body adjusts to these seasonal changes through a number of physiological mechanisms. When climatic changes become too extreme for the body to adjust to, or physiological problems make the body unable to adjust to external changes, disease occurs.

The human body must also adjust to the cycle of day and night. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the body’s Yang Qiwaxes and wanes according to the time of day. This is in accordance with modern science’s recognition of circadian rhythms and changes in body temperature over the course of the 24-hour cycle. Such regular fluctuations indicate that the functions of the human body are closely linked to the changes in external temperature that occur between day and night. The cycle of day and night also influences the occurrence of disease.

Regional differences in climate，geographical conditions，and lifestyle all influence the physiological functioning of the human body to a certain extent.For instance，southern China is hot and humid.As a result，people who live there tend to have large pores.The climate in northern China is cold and dry，and people there tend to have fine pores.Environment also has a distinct effect on the occurrence of disease.In particular，certain endemic diseases are closely related to local geographical conditions and lifestyles.

One of the underlying holistic concepts of traditional Chinese medicine is the Unity of Humanity and Nature.According to this theory，Humanity and Nature are microcosmic and macrocosmic embodiments of the One.This does not mean that human beings play a passive role.Rather，they actively adapt to their environment and alter it to suit their needs.Human beings are part of society.They caninfluence society，and in turn are influenced by social change.Social advances，stability and disorder，and individual social status all have a substantial impact on the human body.

Traditional Chinese medicine attaches great importance to the effect of both the natural and social environment on the human body.When arriving at a diagnosis，it is necessary to carefully considerthe influence of environmental conditions on physiological functioning and pathological changes；when determining treatment，the influence of time，place，and individual condition must be taken into consideration.