Physiologically the viscera in women mainly function to produce essence and transform qi and blood. The heart governs the blood, the liver stores the blood, the spleen commands the blood and is also the source of the blood; the lung controls qi and qi moves the blood; the kidney stores the essence, and the essence and blood share the same origin. The zang-organs and fu-organs, interiorly and exteriorly related to each other, together control the production, storage and regulation of the essence, qi and blood, also closely related to menstruation, leukorrhea, pregnancy and childbirth. Among the zang-organs and fuorgans, the kidney, liver and spleen (stomach) are the most important ones.
The main function of the kidney lies in kidney qi composed of kidney yin and kidney yang which depend on each other and restrain each other. It is the key factor for maintaining vital functions and visceral physiological activities. The conditions of kidney qi is directly related to the physical development and reproduction of woman. When kidney qi becomes exuberant, the tiangni, reproductive essence, in the kidney will be fully developed, the conception vessel will transport qi freely and the thoroughfare vessel will be abundant in content. Under such a condition menstruation occurs regularly and pregnancy is possible.
The kidney-qi functions to consolidate and astringe,and the kidney is connected with the uterine collaterals.After pregnancy, the fetus in the uterus depends on the nourishment of kidney yin and warmth of kidney yang to develop normally.
The kidney also governs water as well as opening and closing activities. If the kidney is abundant in qi and normal in closing and opening, yin fluid will constantly flow into the conception and belt vessels to lubricate the vagina and produce physiological leukorrhea.
The liver stores blood and governs distribution and conveyance of qi and blood, pertaining to yin physically and to yang functionally. Blood stored in the liver nourishes all viscera and skeleton and also flows into the thoroughfare vessel. That is why it is said that "the liver govenls the thoroughfare vessel" and "the liver is the congenital base of life for women". The liver also plays an important role in the production of menstruation. The storage, circulation and regulation of blood in the liver depend on the distribution and conveyance of liver qi. Only when the distribution and conveyance functions of the liver is normal can sufficient blood flow into the uterus regularly.
Besides, the liver meridian starts from the big toe and moves upwards along the inner line of the lower limbs to the genitals and lower abdomen, connected with the liver, gallbladder and diaphragm, distributing over the hypochondria and rib-side, finally reaching the vertex. Liver qi is also significant in distributing and conveying gastrosplenic qi and bile. The normal distribution and conveyance functions of liver qi are prerequisite to the reception and digestion of food by the stomach, the normal transformation and production of essence by the spleen,smooth transportation of bile from the gallbladder and constant production of qi and blood.
The dysfunction of the liver in distribution and conveyance affects the normal functions of the spleen, stomach and gallbladder, leading to epigastric oppression, hypochondriac pain, bitter taste in the mouth, anorexia, abdominal distension and loose stool which are commonly encountered in gynecology. Since the liver meridian distributes over the breasts, lower abdomen and genitals, the functions of liver qi and the conditions of liver blood are closely related to states of lactation and the nourishment of the genitals.
The spleen and the stomach function to transform food and transport cereal nutrients, known as the postnatal bose of life and the source of qi and blood. Menstruation, nourishment of the fetus and production of milk all depend on the spleen and stomach to transform and transport cereal nutrients to nourish qi and blood. The spleen also controls blood to flow inside the vessels. Normal functions of the spleen ensure normal production, transportation and command of blood which are key to menstruation, pregnancy, delivery and breast-feeding.
The spleen also governs the distribution of body fluid and transformation of water and dampness. Normal functions of the spleen will maintain normal distribution and conveyance of body fluid which ensure constant production of leukorrhea and lubrication of the vagina. On the contrary, dysfunction of the spleen affects the distribution and conveyance of body fluid, leading to the production of phlegm due to accumulation of fluid and leukorrbogia due to infusion of fluid into the conception and belt vessels.
The stomach, a fu organ characterized by sufficient qi and blood, governs reception and digestion of food and manages blood and qi production with the spleen. The stomach meridian moves downward to meet with the thoroughfare vessel at Qijie. Only when food and water in the stomach is sufficient can blood in the thoroughfare vessel and uterus be full enough to produce menstruation. Since the stomach meridian distributes downwards through the middle line of breast, the stomach influences the production of milk. So only when stomach qi is sufficient can blood and qi be abundant and the production of milk be constant.
Both the heart and the lung are located in the upper energizer, the former controls blood and the latter guyeros qi, both playing an important role in the transportation, circulation and regulation of blood. Menstruation,pregnancy, delivery and lactation in women are all related to qi and blood. The heart governs blood and vessels, the propelling of which depends on heart qi. Sufficiency of heart blood and smooth circulation of heart qi will enable blood to flow into the uterus to produce menstruation.The lung governs qi, connecting with all vessels and distributing cereal nutrients down to the uterus to influence menstruation. The heart governs the mind, the liver manages strategy, the spleen controls contemplation and the kidney stores conscience. Such mentaI activities also play an role in the regulation of menstrution.
Apart from direct influence on menstruation, leukorrhea, fetus and delivery, the kidney, liver, spleen, heart and lung are also connected with the twelve meridians through the relations of the meridians with zang and fu organs, uniting the viscera, qi, blood and meridians into an integrity to maintain and regulate the physiological functions of woman.