Concept of the Shen-mind in Traditional Chinese Medicine - Essay Example

Running Head: Shen-mind in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine Concept of the Shen-mind in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chinese Medicine holds that the Heart is the residence of the Mind (Shen). The word Shen can have many different meanings and, in Chinese Medicine, it is used in at least two different contexts. Firstly, Shen indicates the complex of mental faculties which are said to "reside" in the Heart. In this sense, the Shen corresponds to the Mind and is specifically related to the Heart.Secondly, Shen is used to indicate the whole sphere of emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of a human being. In this sense, it is related not only to the Heart, but it encompasses the emotional, mental and spiritual phenomena of all the other organs, notably the Yin organs.Let us now discuss the nature and functions of the Mind in the first sense outlined above.According to Chinese Medicine, mental activity and consciousness "reside" in the Heart. This means that the state of the Heart (and Blood) will affect the mental activities including the emotional state. In particular, five functions are affected by the state of the Heart: Mental activity (including emotions) Consciousness Memory Thinking Sleep. If the Heart is strong and Blood abundant, there will be a normal mental activity, a balanced emotional life, a clear consciousness, a good memory, keen thinking and good sleep. If the Heart is weak and Blood deficient there may be mental problems (such as depression), poor memory, dull thinking, insomnia or somnolence and in extreme cases, unconsciousness. The "Simple Questions" in chapter 9 says: "The Heart ... is in control of the Mind...". The "Spiritual Axis" in chapter 71 says: "The Heart ... is the residence on the Mind". Thus, some of the Heart functions in relation to the Mind (such as memory and intelligence) correspond to the brain's mental activities from a modern medical viewpoint. For example, the intellectual power of slow-to-learn children can, to a certain extent, be stimulated by tonifying the Heart. The Heart's function of housing the Mind depends on an adequate nourishment from the Blood and conversely, the Heart's job of governing Blood depends on the Mind. Thus there is a relation of mutual dependence between the function of controlling Blood and that of housing the Mind. The Blood is the root of the Mind. This concept is important in practice as Heart-Blood roots the Mind, it embraces it and anchors it, so that the Mind will be peaceful and happy. If Heart- Blood is deficient and does not root the Mind, this will result in mental restlessness, depression, anxiety and insomnia. Conversely, mental restlessness, emotional problems and sadness can induce a deficiency of Blood of the Heart causing palpitations, a pale complexion and a weak or irregular pulse.Apart from the mental activity aspect, the Mind also affects the emotional state. If the Heart is strong, the Mind will also be strong and the person will be happy. If the Heart is weak, the Mind lacks vitality and the person will be sad or depressed or in low spirits. If the Heart is in an excess condition, the Mind will be affected and the person may display symptoms of mental illness, such as manic depression. Of course, this is an oversimplification, as a person's emotional state is related to all the other organs too.On an emotional level, the state of the Heart determines a person's capacity to form meaningful relationships. A healthy Heart and Mind will positively influence our ability to relate to other people, and conversely, emotional problems due to difficult relationships can weaken the Heart and the Mind.Chinese Medicine sees the Mind closely linked to the body. Essence and Qi form the physical basis for the Mind. If the Essence is flourishing and Qi vital, then the Mind will be happy and peaceful. Conversely, if the Essence is weak and Qi deficient, the Mind will suffer. For this reason, the glitter of the eyes shows both the state of Essence and the Mind. Essence, Qi and Mind are called the "Three Treasures" (see also p. 41).We can now discuss the nature of Shen in its second sense, i.e. not as the Mind residing in the Heart, but as the whole complex of emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of a human being. In this sense, it is related not only to the Heart, but it also encompasses mental and spiritual aspects related to other organs, and particularly the Yin organs. For this reason, it would be wrong to identify our mental and spiritual life simply with the Heart. All 5 Yin organs influence emotions, Mind and Spirit in different ways.Each of the 5 Yin organs is related to a certain mental aspect. These are: - the Mind (Shen) for the Heart - the Ethereal Soul (Hun) for the Liver - the Corporeal Soul (Po) for the Lungs - the Will Power (Zhi) for the Kidneys - Thought (Yi) for the Spleen. The complex of these five mental and spiritual phenomena represents the Chinese medical view of body and mind. Each of these will be discussed in more detail with the functions of their relevant organ. The Ethereal Soul (Hun) pertaining to the Liver broadly corresponds to our Western concept of "Soul" or "Spirit". According to ancient Chinese beliefs it enters the body shortly after birth. It is ethereal in nature, as opposed to the Corporeal Soul which is more physical, and after death it survives the body. The Ethereal Soul can be described as "that part of the Soul [as opposed to the Corporeal Soul] which at death leaves the body, carrying with it an appearance of physical form". (Giles 1912) This corresponds closely to the ancient Greek views on "spirit" as being p???µa (which means "breath") or "soul" as being f??? (which means "wind or vital breath"). The Corporeal Soul (Po) can be defined as "that part of the Soul [as opposed to the Ethereal Soul] which is indissolubly attached to the body and goes down to Earth with it at death". (Chinese-English Dictionary) The Corporeal Soul is closely linked to the body and it could be described as the somatic expression of the Soul. As the "Simple Questions" says in the passage mentioned above, the Corporeal Soul is close to Essence and Qi. The "Classic of Categories" (1624) says: "The Corporeal Soul moves and accomplishes things and [when it is active] pain and itching can be felt". (Concise Dictionary of Chinese Medicine) This passage illustrates just how physical the Corporeal Soul is. It gives us the capacity of sensation, feeling, hearing and sight. (Hua 1983) References Chinese-English Dictionary, p 1144 Concise Dictionary of Chinese Medicine, p 953. Geng Junying & Su Zhihong (1995) practical TCM and Pharmacology - basic theories and principles. Beijing: new world press Giles, H. (1912) Chinese-English Dictionary, Kelly & Walsh, Shanghai, p 650. Hoizey, D. & Hoizey M. (1988) A history of Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh Universoty Press Hua, Wang Xin. (1983) Selected Historical Theories in Chinese Medicine (Zhong Yi Li Dai Yi Lun Xuan), Jiangsu Scientific Publishing House, Jiangsu, p 31. Kaptchuk J (ed) (1983) The web that has no weaver. New York Congdon & Weed Inc. Maciocia G. (20050 The foundations of chinese medicine. edinburgh, churchill livingston. Maoshing Ni, (1995)the yellow emperer's classic of medicine: a new translation of the Neijing suwen with commentary. Shambala USA Read More