Courage, perseverance, and a strong sense of destiny.
The Hun is housed in the Liver and represents the subconscious mind, imagination, dreams, and life purpose. It is the aspect of the psyche that survives physical death and navigates the spiritual realm.
This article explores the foundational theories of the TCM psychic model, the emotional archetypes known as the Five Shen, and how this ancient framework applies to modern mental health. The Fundamental Concept of Mind-Body Unity the psyche in chinese medicine pdf
: An original article discussing the three levels of mind and the "Shen-Jing" continuum. Traditional Chinese Medicine for Psychiatric Disorders
. It provides the drive, determination, and persistence needed to achieve goals. The Interplay of Emotions and Organs Courage, perseverance, and a strong sense of destiny
Nourishes Liver and Heart blood to eliminate irritability and sleeplessness. Qigong and Mind-Body Practices
Chinese Medicine describes five different aspects of Shen, each of which is associated with a different organ system: This article explores the foundational theories of the
When a practitioner evaluates psychological symptoms, they do not look for a generic "chemical imbalance." Instead, they identify specific patterns of disharmony across the organ systems. Two common patterns include:
In TCM, internal emotions are considered one of the primary causes of disease when they become excessive, repressed, or prolonged. This chart highlights how specific psychological states disrupt physical health: Associated Organ Direction of Qi Physical Manifestations Stagnates or Rises Headaches, hypertension, rib pain, PMS Joy / Over-excitation Scatters or Slows Palpitations, insomnia, mania Worry / Pensiveness Knots or Stagnates Bloating, poor appetite, fatigue, IBS Grief / Sadness Consumes / Dissolves Shortness of breath, low immunity, crying Fear / Shock Descends / Scatters Lower back pain, incontinence, night sweats Diagnostic Approaches to Psychiatric Disorders in TCM
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the psyche is not a single entity but a constellation of five spiritual aspects, each "housed" in a specific internal organ: