TCM AND FERTILITY: THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAL SUBSTANCES AND MAINTAINING BALANCE

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has presented such a challenge to my Western scientific perspective that I neglected to define the basic principles on which TCM is based. TCM, and life itself, according to Chinese tradition which developed over the past three thousand years starts with the vital substances, Qi and Essence, in addition to blood and body fluids.  Our human physiological functioning is dependent on these vital substances which the body attempts to maintain in balance between Yin and Yang.  The Qi and Essence, blood and body fluids will interact and perform their essential roles throughout the body dependent on the Zang-Fu and “extraordinary” organs and the states of Yin and Yang while traveling through vessels, channels, and branches that interconnect with each other.
The concept of Qi comes from the Chinese Taoist philosophy that has been described as a “life force” but is actually an aggregate of ideas that we Western thinkers like to separate to better understand.  To our way of thinking it likely is a form of energy, or electric potential that crosses cell membranes as it traverses from one part of the body to another.  Chinese tradition identifies many different forms of Qi each with different functions affecting physiology and life.  The acupuncturist studies the channels through which Qi flows in the body to modify its flow for a particular purpose… whether to eliminate pain or improve an individual’s health, both of which may be impacted by some pathology of Qi level or flow.
Essence (Jing) is considered one of the three treasures of TCM, along with Qi and Shen (spirit).  Jing is stored in the kidneys according to TCM and nourishes and fuels the body.  There is Prenatal Essence which is supposedly inherited much like DNA and cannot be renewed.  It is responsible for an individual’s constitution and congenital illness. Postnatal Essence can be replenished by food, herbs, acupuncture, or exercise such as T’ai Chi.  Total Essence is made up of both Prenatal and Postnatal Essence and is responsible for growth, development, and reproduction.  Effects of aging may be caused by a deficiency or deterioration of one’s Essence.
In Chinese philosophy, the concept of Yin and Yang is used to describe opposite yet complementary forces that are both interdependent and interconnected and give rise to each other.  Yin and Yang interact in a dynamic way.  Whenever one quality reaches its peak, it will naturally transform into the other.  In TCM, good health is directly related to the balance between Yin and Yang qualities within oneself. If Yin and Yang become unbalanced, one of the qualities is considered be either deficient or in excess… which can lead to illness and disease.
The traditional Chinese concept of human organs, known as Zang-Fu and “extraordinary organs”, are not primarily based on anatomical considerations.  They instead are defined as functional entities with a general location in the upper, middle, or lower Jiao separated by the diaphragm and the umbilicus.  The three Jiao (San Jiao) together is considered a functional organ in TCM and… in addition to separating the other organs into three cavities including chest, upper abdomen and lower abdomen… it functions in the transport of Qi and body fluids.  These Zang-Fu and additional “extraordinary” organs are interconnected with each other through channels of Qi in addition to vessels containing blood and body fluids.  As a result, a problem in one organ can affect the functioning of another.
TCM differs from Western Medicine mostly in its holistic approach as compared to our Western reductionist way of scientific thinking.  Disease and illness according to TCM is a result of a disharmony in the functions of Yin and Yang, Qi and its pathways or meridians, the organs (Zang-Fu and “extraordinary”), Essence, and/or the interaction between the individual and his/her environment.  Therapy is based on which disharmony pattern is identified and may include behavioral modifications including diet and exercise, treatments including herbs, acupuncture, and moxibustion, as well as other interventions.