References

Below are field-specific terms commonly used in TCM and throughout this site with definitions, as well as some authoritative texts on various subjects pertaining to TCM that provide a more in-depth explanation of tfhe details of its theory and practice.

I. Terms

NOTE: Here are some TCM-specific terms and their definitions...this discussion is the first instance where they appear so perhaps it is best to deal with them directly while we are still within the context of Five Phase relationships, which gathers them together in a rather coherent and memorable structure.

For an exhaustive discussion on TCM-specific terminology, please consult Nigel Wiseman's text, listed below.
‍
ORGAN SYSTEM = the combination of a physical organ wth its energetic channel network that runs throughout the body via the acupuncture channels.
‍
ZANG FU = Yin & Yang organ system pairs. Each of the Five Elements relates to one pair of organ systems, one Yin and one Yang, except the Fire element, which relates to two pairs as described below.
‍
ZANG ORGAN = 'solid organs' or Zang are those that contain more parenchyma and less lumen than their 'hollow organ' counterparts. These Zang organs are regarded as Yin relative to their Yang counterparts, or the Fu Viscera. They include the Lung, Kidney, Liver, Heart and Spleen-Pancreas.
‍
FU VISCERA = 'hollow viscera' are those with more hollow lumen volume relative to their Zang counterparts. Fu Viscera also communicate directly. or indirectly with the eterior of the body or convey substances that are excreted. They are Yang relative to their Zang counterparts and, following the fule of Yang being more exterior to Yin, are primarily comprised of epithelial tissue as opposed to the endothelial and stroma cells of their Zang counterparts.

SPLEEN-PANCREAS this is a composite term that includes the accepted translation of "Pi Zang" or the 'spleen organ,' which may be a partially-incorrect translation having bneen committed in the late 1800's, and the term for the vital organ, pancreas, that incudes many of the functions ascribed to the "Pi" system in TCM. Other texts often simply refer to "Pi" as 'spleen,' but this leads to confusion among non-TCM audiences who will benefit from the inclusion of the pancreas in understanding that what is actually being discussed is more than one individual organ but an organ system and all of its attendant functions and tissues.

TONIFY = to augment or en rich the quality, integrity or quantity of that which is tonified.
Derrived from the word tonic.
‍

II. Text References