What is a Yin Organ?

I’m often asked to explain what it is that I do.  I’ll start out with something along the line of I work with energetic disharmonies in the yin organs, channels…. And at about this time the eyes glaze over. The next thing I hear is “Uh, what’s a yin organ?”.

There are many ways to approach answering the “what do you do” question.  I could talk about Yin-Yang theory.  Five Element Theory.  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Theory.  Psychotherapy.  Energy emission and regulation.

In fact, all of them come in to play at different times.  To answer this question today, however, I’m going to begin with Yin-Yang theory.  It seems the quickest way to start thinking about TCM.  That said, ‘quickest way’ doesn’t mean easiest.  Or most thorough.  It simply means we’re only working with two things at once rather than five or a dozen or more.

In this post, I’m going to begin with a brief overview of Yin-Yang concepts.  I’ll follow up with an explanation of what the Yin Organs are.  Then list the general functions of the Yin Organs as well as some other features or relationships.  I’ll explain these in more detail in the individual Yin Organ posts (sneak-peek:  there will be five).  Then, I’ll let you know what you can expect in the future posts.  Finally, we will wrap up with a message of caution and expectations for you as you begin your journey into TCM study.

Yin-Yang–not just a fancy symbol

You’ve probably already seen a yin-yang symbol.  The one with two-colored sides separated by a sinuous line.  Maybe one with a couple of smaller circles in the larger lobes…  And there it is.  The yin and the yang.

Personally, I don’t like to think of yin and yang as opposites (although they may be).  I prefer to think of them as complements applying to a single “thing” that has certain “characteristics.”  In my work, I also think about the relationship between those characteristics and how they apply to the problem at hand.  But, you say, this still doesn’t explain what they are.  Let’s look.

In general, Yin-Yang theory states that things and phenomena are in a constant state of change.  They are expanding or contracting.  Getting cooler or warmer.  Lighter or darker.  In fact, this last is possibly the earliest recognition of Yin and Yang’s cyclical nature:  observations of the daylight following darkness following daylight.  And the “cycle” is one key.  The “relationship” is another.

You can find lists of Yin-Yang correspondences and relationships all over the internet.  Here’s a short list to illustrate:

Let’s consider the Sun and the Moon and relate it to the time of day.  In general, it’s easier to see the moon at night and the sun is out during the day.  If we face south, the sun rises in the east and to our left.  Since the sun is yang, our left is yang (as is east) and therefor our right is yin.  The sun warms our skin, which is outer and yang, the inner (or deeper) body parts are yin.

Here’s where it gets fun.  Thinking about our skin (which we just identified as yang), the dermis (yin) is deep to the epidermis (yang).  So even within the one thing, the skin, there are yin and yang aspects.  And this is true of anything.

A stovetop is cool (yin) until turned on and heats up (yang).  The same hot stovetop is yin if you compare it to the heat in a kiln or to the sun.  The cool stovetop is yang to the depths of outer space (yin).

Ultimately, yin and yang are both in opposition to each other and at the same time completely dependent on each other.  One cannot exist without the other.

So, what is a Yin organ? There must be a Yang organ, as well, right?

Well, to answer the second part first, yes, there are both yin and yang organs.  Interestingly, they pair up nicely.  I’ll list them in a minute.  But for the moment, we need to consider one more yin-yang correspondence: active (yang) and passive (yin).

The yang organs are active.  They move stuff around.  Think about the stomach.  It’s empty until you eat.  Then its full.  When it’s done beginning the digestion process, the food moves into the small intestine (thus making the stomach “empty” again—more yin-yang).  And from there, into the large intestine, the colon, and out.

The yin organs, on the other hand, store stuff.  Specifically, blood, essence, and qi.  In fact, in Chinese, the character for yin organs (zang) contains elements that mean “organ” and “to store”.  Now you may be wondering if there is a yang aspect to the yin organs and vice versa.  You would be correct.  The structure (yin) often determines the function (yang).

For example, in TCM, the Liver’s yin aspect stores the blood.  Its yang aspect controls the volume of blood in the body at a given time.

Here is a list of the Yin and Yang organs.  They come in pairs.

There are a several functions and relationships of each of the Yin Organs.  Looking ahead to the individual Yin Organ posts, you can expect a more specific explanation of what these functions/relationships mean.  For now, here’s an overview to set the stage.

Functions include the type of Qi governed (as there are many different types); the tissues controlled by the organ; where it manifests (i.e. you can see the effects) on the body; what Spiritual Aspect is housed there; associated emotions; and the sense organ into which it opens.

Relationships include smell, color, taste, climate, and sound, among others.  Is it weird to think of the spleen having a sweet, fragrant smell?  Maybe…

In each post, I’ll also cover what can go wrong with the organ as well as what we can do to maintain that harmonious (balanced yin and yang) functioning.  After all happy wife, happy life…wait, wrong blog entry.  <backspace backspace backspace>

A cautionary tale

So, this has been a lot, right?  I’m not going to sugar coat it, learning TCM is tough.  It is a completely different mind-set than we in the West typically think.  It is not linear.  There is no real cause-and-effect that you can trace back to “the beginning.”  In fact, the way it’s taught in many schools is all at once.  Literally.

You cannot start with one organ, learn all about it, and go on to the next from there.  Because which one is next?  Each organ interacts with and impacts each of the other organs on functional, physical, and energetic levels.  It is the various interactions that must be considered as a whole, concurrently, that give the true picture of what’s happening.  At that moment in time.  Before something else changes the mix.

It’s hard.  And it’s confusing.  In fact, that’s exactly what I was told when I started this journey.  “Be prepared to be confused for the first couple of years.”  And I should get comfortable with that confused feeling.  Because there’s too much to take in all at once.

But eventually, after some time and contemplation, you get a nugget that does create an identifiable relationship in the pattern.  Suddenly there is some structure.  And then another nugget that further fleshes out the pattern.  Things start to come together.  Now you can start to anticipate what might happen if…  and then, as they say, we’re cooking with gas.  Which is light and active and yang.

And that’s the last point.  Once you do start thinking in this way, you’ll find yourself seeing the patterns of yin-yang everywhere.  And before you know it, you’ll be answering questions like “What is a Yin organ?” Good luck.  And enjoy the coming posts.  As always, my best to you.