The different aspects

The five spiritual aspects: when the organs carry the soul

One of the most distinctive characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the belief that each internal organ not only performs physiological functions, but also houses a specific aspect of the human soul. In TCM, body and mind are not two separate domains but two dimensions of one living whole. The five Yin organs are the physiological basis of the soul — and the state of Qi and Blood in each organ directly influences the corresponding mental and spiritual quality.

A two-way relationship

This is not a one-way relationship. When the Qi or Blood of an organ becomes weak or disturbed, the corresponding aspect of the soul suffers. But the reverse is equally true: changes in the mind or soul — emotional shocks, persistent stress, suppressed emotions — affect the corresponding organs. Anger damages the Liver, fear the Kidney, pensiveness the Spleen, grief the Lung, excessive joy the Heart. In this way, TCM recognises something that modern psychosomatic medicine increasingly emphasises as well: mind and body are inseparable.

The five aspects in detail

The Shen (Spirit) in the Heart is the overarching consciousness — thinking, feeling, remembering and being present. The Hun (Ethereal Soul) in the Liver is the visionary, planning dimension — dreams, life goals and direction. The Po (Corporeal Soul) in the Lung is sensory, somatic consciousness — hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting and direct bodily sensation. The Yi (Thought) in the Spleen is the analytical, concentrating intellect — learning, remembering and thinking. The Zhi (Willpower) in the Kidney is the deepest motivating force — perseverance, endurance and the will to live.

Clinical application

Knowledge of the five spiritual aspects greatly enriches TCM diagnosis. A patient with sleep problems, lack of life goals and difficulty making decisions shows Hun disturbances — and therefore a Liver problem. A patient with concentration problems, obsessive thinking and pensiveness shows Yi disturbances — a Spleen problem. A patient with fear, lack of willpower and loss of motivation shows Zhi disturbances — a Kidney problem. The spiritual dimension of the organs is not a side issue in TCM: it is a fully-fledged diagnostic level.