Extraordinary Organ

A brief introduction to the brain and the uterus as extraordinary organs is given as follows:

1. Brain
As early as in the book Neijing there were descriptions of the brain, one of which is as follows: “The brain is a sea of marrow. Its upper part is under the scalp of the vertex, point Baihui (Du 20) and its lower part reaches point Fengfu (Du 16).” Subsequently a further understanding of the brain was obtained; that is, it was recognized in Yixue Yuanshi (Origin of Medical Science) that “the sense organs, i.e., the ears, eyes, mouth, and nose, are in the head close to the brain. Owing to their highest and most obvious position, they may perceive objects, which will impress the brain directly and remain in the brain”. Also it was suggested in Yilin Gaicuo (Medical Correction) that thinking and memorization are the main function of the brain. As mentioned previously, the essence of the kidney produces marrow that forms the brain. The filling of the “sea” of marrow depends on the essence of the kidney. Furthermore, the heart, which houses the mind, and the liver, which dominates the unrestraint and patency of vital functions, are also related to mental activities. A tenet of traditional Chinese medicine, therefore, is that mental activity is dominated by various organs, the heart being the main one.

2. Uterus
The function of the uterus is to preside over menstruation and nourish the fetus. Internal organs and channels related to the function of the uterus are as follows:

1. Kidney. The uterus is connected with the kidney, and only when the essence of the kidney is ample can the menstrual period recur regularly, and the impregnation and growth of the fetus be possible.
2. Liver. The liver performs the function of storing blood and regulating the volume of circulating blood, which is also responsible for normal menstruation.
3. Ren Channel and Chong Channel. Both originate in the uterus. The Ren Channel regulates the functions of all the yin channels and nourishes the fetus. The Chong Channel has the function of regulating the qi and blood of the twelve regular channels. The qi and blood of the twelve regular channels pass into the uterus through the two channels, affecting the amount of menstrual flow and its cycle.