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Blood, Energy & Body Fluid

Chapter 2: Blood is a good example to illustrate the duality of Yin and Yang.

Blood Metabolism (Xue)

Blood synthesis involves multiple organs working together:

Stomach: Receives nutrients and fluid, digests, separates into pure and impure
Spleen: Absorbs purer nutrition, stores some, sends rest down to Kidneys
Kidneys: Make bone marrow, which makes Blood (white blood/plasma without nutritional value)
Lungs: Contribute oxygen to the nutrition
Heart: Synthesizes red Blood (oxygenated Blood) combining all nutrients
Liver: Holds Blood within vessels — Liver Yin stores, Liver Yang releases

Blood is Yin Because...

  • • It is fluid
  • • It carries nutrients
  • • It nourishes the whole body

Blood is Yang Because...

  • • It is flowing
  • • It circulates warmth (any part not receiving Blood becomes cold)
  • • If excessive heat cannot be controlled by Yin, the body bleeds to eliminate heat (bleeding releases and reduces heat)

Vital Essence (Jing) & Vital Energy (Qi)

Our total energy in present life is called Vital Energy. When not used for function, it is stored by the Kidneys as Vital Essence.

Life Cycles

A woman's life is made of seven yearly cycles; a man's of eight yearly cycles. Vital Energy peaks with reproductive energy:

Woman (7-year cycles)

7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 (menopause)

Man (8-year cycles)

8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64

Kidney Deficiency Energy Patterns

Three Types of Energy

Body Fluid (Jin Ye)

Fluids make up 75% of the body's substance — two types:

Thin Fluid

Cerebro-spinal fluid, urine, sweat, saliva, tears, watery mucus. Excess = excess Yin in organ and Kidneys. Less = Yin deficiency.

Thick Fluid

Blood, lymph, thick mucus, various discharges. Excess = dampness in organ and Spleen. Excess in one area = Damp stagnation caused by Spleen Qi deficiency.

Substance Flow Simulator

Yin extension — fluid that carries nutrients and warmth

Deficiency Symptoms

PalenessDizzinessNumbness improving with activityWeakness, tirednessPoor memory and sleepBlurred visionDry eyesBrittle nails

Related Organs

Heart, Liver, Spleen

Key Treatment Points

Ren 14 (Mu Heart)UB 15 (Shu Heart)UB 17 (Influential Blood)Sp 10 (Sea of Blood)GB 39 (Marrow)St 36
Reflect

Do you show signs of Qi deficiency (fatigue, weak voice) or Blood deficiency (dryness, pale, dizzy)? What substance needs building?

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