Zang-Fu: The Organ System (臟腑)
Chinese Medicine recognizes twelve organ systems (臟腑) — five Zang (臟, solid/Yin organs) and six Fu (腑, hollow/Yang organs), plus the Pericardium and Triple Burner. These are functional systems rather than purely anatomical structures.
The Five Zang Organs (五臟) — Yin/Solid
Liver (肝): Stores Blood; ensures smooth Qi flow; controls tendons; houses Hun (魂). Pathology: Qi stagnation (depression, hypochondriac pain), Blood deficiency (pale nails, insomnia), Yang rising (headache, red eyes). Heart (心): Governs Blood and vessels; houses Shen (神). Pathology: Qi/Blood deficiency (palpitations, anxiety), Fire (tongue ulcers), Blood stasis (stabbing chest pain). Spleen (脾): Transforms and transports food essence; controls Blood; houses Yi (意). Pathology: Qi deficiency (fatigue, loose stools), Dampness (heavy limbs, bloating). Lung (肺): Governs Qi and respiration; houses Po (魄). Pathology: Qi deficiency (weak voice, breathlessness), Yin deficiency (dry cough), Wind-Cold invasion (acute cough). Kidney (腎): Stores Jing; produces Marrow; houses Zhi (志). Pathology: Yin deficiency (night sweats, hot flashes), Yang deficiency (cold extremities, impotence), Jing deficiency (premature aging).
The Six Fu Organs (六腑) — Yang/Hollow
Gallbladder: stores and excretes bile; controls decisiveness. Small Intestine: separates pure from impure. Stomach: receives and ripens food. Large Intestine: transports and excretes waste. Bladder: stores and excretes urine. Triple Burner (三焦): coordinates all three body regions — Upper (heart/lung), Middle (spleen/stomach), Lower (kidney/bladder).
The Heart-Mind Connection
In Chinese Medicine, the Heart (心) is not merely a pump — it is the residence of the Mind (Shen 神). All mental and emotional disturbance ultimately involves the Heart system. This is why anxiety, insomnia, poor memory, and disturbed emotional states are primarily treated through Heart-related acupoints and herbs.