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The Chinese Model of the Human Body by G Lederman

The Chinese medical view of the body has been researched and developed over the past three thousand years. Its foundation lies in ancient Chinese culture based on the Yi Jing (I Ching) Book of Changes and in the wisdom of Daoism (Dao De Jing) dating back to the legendary Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, Huang Di Nei Jing, is the oldest medical text in existence and dates back to the 3rd century B.C in the time after the unification of China (Qin dynasty) and early Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- 220 A.D.)

When we speak of the fundamental theories of Chinese medicine we are referring to a few very important schools of thought. Yin yang theory (circa 5th century B.C.) is based on the idea of the two opposite qualities in nature that complement each other. Like day and night, male and female, heaven and earth, hot and cold, they are interdependent in so far as they give each other meaning and cannot exist the one without the other. The human body is made of substance and function or yin and yang, so every part of it can be categorized as either one or the other in relation to another part.

The untranslatable concept of Qi or Chi (pronounced chee) can be interpreted as the vital life force (Breaths) that runs through every living body, which is responsible for that constant movement from yin to yang and from yang to yin.

Qi is the basis of all phenomena in the universe and in the human body it manifests in physical and spiritual capacities as both form and energy. It is responsible for all the activities that occur in the human body, from digesting food and immune functions to blood circulation and mental activities.

The Chinese medical theory of the Five Elements is based on the same naturalist school of thought that developed yin yang theory. This theory links phenomena in nature with the human body using a system of correspondences that resonate with the Elements (see table) 1. Thus, it creates a complete model that describes a healthy human being. This model of health is maintained by keeping the balance between the Elements through the use of the generating (sheng) and controlling (ke) cycles/sequences (see diagram) 2. Each Element when dominant will create a specific body type and tendency towards different imbalances or diseases.

The Zangfu organ theory describes the yin and yang organs or the viscera and bowels. The organ in Chinese medicine has a much more extensive meaning than in conventional medicine, and this is key, because it includes all of the physiological functions of that organ as well as the mental, emotional, spiritual and energetic system capacities. For example, the Heart (Xin) in Chinese medicine is translates as heart and mind. The Heart organ system is responsible for cardio functions of pumping blood around the body and is also the seat of all mental activities, memory, awareness and consciousness.

This brings us to the Jingluo meridian theory, which describes in detail the channel pathways and connections. It maps out the flow of Qi energy throughout the human body. Each organ system has its meridian along which the acupuncture points are strategically located. Every point has its functions and indications so by placing acupuncture needles in certain points we can access the specific pathway to the Qi that will rectify the imbalance in the system and solve the problem. In the body there are twelve 12 primary meridians and 361 acupuncture points through which the Qi flows (see figure) 3.

Essentially the meridians are structured like a perfectly designed system of super-highways. It enables perfect communication and facilitates free flow of Qi, blood and information constantly in a state of movement. An illness then would be an interruption or blockage of this flow. So keeping the highways in mind, we could see a traffic jam in the Foot Tai Yang Urinary Bladder meridian manifesting as back pain. In this case, performing acupuncture on points along the UB channel unblocks the congestion and restores the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body relieving the pain.

Looking through these views at the human body they clearly define a complete model of health.

In ancient China it was thought that the best doctor treats the illness before it manifests. You would go to the doctor regularly when healthy to get a ‘tune-up’, but if you fell ill your doctor would treat you for free because it was their responsibility to keep you healthy. Maintaining balance and harmony, preventing disease from manifesting in the body and thus attaining optimum health and longevity. This is the essence of the Chinese model of the human body.

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