The Jing Well Points are a subsection of the Five Shu Points within TCM Theory. They have the following general usages:
What are the Functions of Large Intestine Meridian?
The Large Intestine is the Yang organ paired with the Yin Lungs in the Metal Element. According to the Huangdi Neijing medical text written in 2,700 BCE, its function is to “Transport all turbidity. All waste products go through it”. The Large Intestine is closely associated with the lungs and skin, which are other important detox organs. It absorbs liquid and releases anything that is no longer needed in the way of food, toxins, emotions, thereby cleansing the body, mind, and spirit.
The Source Point of the LI meridian is LI-4, Hegu, in the web of the hand between index finger and thumb. Massaging this point helps to relieve pain, clear stagnation, and vitalize Qi flow in all meridians. It’s also good for sore throat, blocked nose, abdominal pain, constipation, and more.
Large Intestine Psycho-Spiritual Issues:
The Large Intestine’s close relationship to the Lungs makes it equally affected by emotions of sadness, grief, and worry. An imbalance in the Large Intestine can cause physical weakness or emotional introversion, accompanied by feelings of depression, irritability, discouragement, distress, and apathy.
Large Intestine Consciousness
Letting go, Releasing , Grief, Self-poisoning, Control, Stubbornness, Compulsiveness, Confusion, Rigidity, Guilt, Regret, Hanging on.
Signs of Imbalance in the Large Intestine Meridian:
Colitis, Constipation, Diarrhea, Diverticulitis, Constipation,sallow skin, age spots, slow metabolism, stubbornness, confusion, sore throat, rigid thinking, resisting change, clinging to the old, control issues, tendency to eat too many cold foods, tendency to like greasy or spicy foods, tendency to consume excessive meat or alcohol, Acidic body ph, swollen gums, smelly or bloody stools, burning anus, accumulated mucus, or slick stools, bloating, lack of energy, bottling up or stifling emotions, tends to gain weight, inflammation, food allergies, edema, foul breath, thin hair, hair loss, colon cancer.
Large Intestine’s Worst Enemies:
Dehydration, sedentary lifestyle, gulping down meals, stagnant job, toxic environment, poorly chewed foods, irregular eating patterns, low-nutrient foods, acidic foods and foods that cause congestion, such as dairy (except yogurt), sugar and sweets, gluten, wheat, GMO-foods, refined or processed foods, excess raw fruits (sugar), excess raw vegetables and mushrooms (mold from the soil), peppers, cold beverages (which immobilize the digestive track), yeast, excess vinegar, alcohol, fatty, greasy and deep-fried food, ice cream, milkshakes, and cold dairy foods.
Large Intestine’s Best friends:
Drinking plenty of clean water, Chewing food completely down to a liquid, Moving the body, Energetic, relaxing movement such as Qigong, Taichi, Nadhi Shoshana breathing. Massage and lymph movement for detoxing, Sweat a bit. Release the old and accept the new. Express emotions including crying. Meditation, Yoga. Eat an alkaline diet of fresh vegetables lightly cooked in steam. GREEN vegetables, Eat lots of natural fiber from vegetables. Avoid sugar.
Foods that relieve dampness are: onion, cinnamon, ginger, scallion, basil, rosemary, dill, oregano, sage, parsley, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, anise, clove, coriander, leek, chives, adzuki beans, celery, lettuce, alfalfa, turnips, raw honey, seaweed, fenugreek, and flax seed.
To Balance the Large Intestine Meridian:
Set a clear intention to build health. Trace the entire meridian in an upward direction. Start at LI-1, the outside corner of the index fingernail. Trace up the edge of the finger, between the two tendons of the thumb at the wrist joint along the bony margin of the inner edge of the arm (the radius bone) to the elbow. Continues up to LI-15 on the outer shoulder muscle. Cross the shoulder to center spine at GV-14 Trace forward to the collarbone and up the side of the neck, over the top lip to LI-20, the end point by the opposite nostril. (You may optionally trace the internal branch connecting down from collarbone around the lung and to the large intestine. It descends internally to the lung and then the large intestine. ) Trace both sides at the same time, or one after the other.
To Clear the Large Intestine Meridian:
Set a clear intention to build health. Trace backwards from the end point by the opposite nostril. Trace across the midline of face down the neck to collarbone, back around the shoulder to C-7 at center of spine, then up over to the inner arm, down the inner arm to the outside corner of the index fingernail. Then trace forward 3 times as indicated above, both sides together or one at a time.
What is the skeletal system made of? What does the skeletal system do? At the simplest level, the skeleton is the framework that provides structure to the rest of the body and facilitates movement. The skeletal system includes over 200 bones, cartilage, and ligaments.
Read on to get 10 key facts about the human skeleton.
When you look at the human skeleton the 206 bones and 32 teeth stand out. But look closer and you’ll see even more structures. The human skeleton also includes ligaments and cartilage. Ligaments are bands of dense and fibrous connective tissue that are key to the function of joints. Cartilage is more flexible than bone but stiffer than muscle. Cartilage helps give structure to the larynx and nose. It is also found between the vertebrae and at the ends of bones like the femur.
These bones provide structure and protection and facilitate motion. Bones articulate to form structures. The skull protects the brain and gives shape to the face. The thoracic cage surrounds the heart and lungs. The vertebral column, commonly called the spine, is formed by over 30 small bones. Then there are the limbs (upper and lower) and the girdles that attach the four limbs to the vertebral column.
The brain is surrounded by bones that form part of the skull. The heart and lungs are located within the thoracic cavity, and the vertebral column provides structure and protection for the spinal cord.
How does the skeleton move? Muscles throughout the human body are attached to bones. Nerves around a muscle can signal the muscle to move. When the nervous system sends commands to skeletal muscles, the muscles contract. That contraction produces movement at the joints between bones.
Bones of the appendicular skeleton facilitate movement, while bones of the axial skeleton protect internal organs. All skeletal structures belong to either the appendicular skeleton (girdles and limbs) or to the axial skeleton (skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage).
Bones of the human skeletal system are categorized by their shape and function into five types. The femur is an example of a long bone. The frontal bone is a flat bone. The patella, also called the knee cap, is a sesamoid bone. Carpals (in the hand) and tarsals (in the feet) are examples of short bones.
The outside of a long bone consists of a layer of compact bone surrounding spongy bone. Inside a long bone is a medullary cavity filled with yellow bone marrow.
Red bone marrow is soft tissue located in networks of spongy bone tissue inside some bones. In adults the red marrow in bones of the cranium, vertebrae, scapulae, sternum, ribs, pelvis, and at the epiphyseal ends of the large long bones produce blood cells.
One way to classify joints is by range of motion. Immovable joints include the sutures of the skull, the articulations between teeth and the mandible, and the joint located between the first pair of ribs and the sternum. Some joints have slight movement; an example is the distal joint between the tibia and fibula. Joints that allow a lot of motion (think of the shoulder, wrist, hip, and ankle) are located in the upper and lower limbs.
An infant skeleton has almost a hundred more bones than the skeleton of an adult. Bone formation begins at about three months gestation and continues after birth into adulthood. An example of several bones that fuse over time into one bone is the sacrum. At birth the sacrum is five vertebrae with discs in between them. The sacrum is fully fused into one bone usually by the fourth decade of life
An organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. Organs exist in most multicellular organisms, including humans, other animals, and plants. In single-celled organisms (such as bacteria), the functional equivalent of an organ is an organelle.
Although organs consist of multiple tissue types, many organs are composed of a main tissue that is associated with the organ’s major function, along with other tissues that play supporting roles. The main tissue may be unique to that specific organ. For example, the main tissue of the heart is cardiac muscle, which performs the heart’s major function of pumping blood and is found only in the heart. The heart also includes nervous and connective tissues that are required for it to perform its major function. For example, nervous tissues control the beating of the heart, and connective tissues make up heart valves that keep blood flowing in just one direction through the heart.
The human body contains five organs that are considered vital for survival: the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and lungs. The locations of these five organs — and several other internal organs — are shown in the figure below. If any of the five vital organs stops functioning and medical intervention is not readily available, the organism's death will be imminent.
Use this shadow diagram of human anatomy to locate the five organs described above: heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and lungs. Do you know the functions of any of the other organs in the diagram?
Functionally related organs often cooperate to form whole organ systems. The 12 diagrams in the figures below show 11 human organ systems, including separate diagrams for the male and female reproductive systems. Some of the organs and functions of the organ systems are identified in the figure. Each system is also described in more detail in the text that follows. Most of these human organ systems are also the subject of separate chapters in this book.
These diagrams represent 11 human organ systems and show some of their organs and functions. The male and female reproductive systems are shown separately because of their significant differences.
Organs of the integumentary system include the skin, hair, and nails. The skin is the largest organ in the body. It encloses and protects the body and is the site of many sensory receptors. The skin is the body’s first defense against pathogens, and it also helps regulate body temperature and eliminate wastes in sweat.
The skeletal system consists of bones, joints, teeth. The bones of the skeletal system are connected by tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Functions of the skeletal system include supporting the body and giving it shape. Along with the muscular system, the skeletal system enables the body to move. The bones of the skeletal system also protect internal organs, store calcium, and produce red and white blood cells.
The muscular system consists of three different types of muscles, including skeletal muscles, which are attached to bones by tendons and allow for voluntary movements of the body. Smooth muscle tissues control the involuntary movements of internal organs, such as the organs of the digestive system, allowing food to move through the system. Smooth muscles in blood vessels allow vasoconstriction and vasodilation, thereby helping to regulate body temperature. Cardiac muscle tissues control the involuntary beating of the heart, allowing it to pump blood through the blood vessels of the cardiovascular system.
The nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord — which make up the central nervous system — and nerves that run throughout the rest of the body, making up the peripheral nervous system. The nervous system controls both voluntary and involuntary responses of the human organism, and also detects and processes sensory information.
The endocrine system is made up of glands that secrete hormones into the blood, which then carries hormones throughout the body. Endocrine hormones are chemical messengers that control many body functions, including metabolism, growth, and sexual development. The master gland of the endocrine system is the pituitary gland, which produces hormones that control other endocrine glands. Some of the other endocrine glands include the pancreas, thyroid gland, and adrenal glands.
The cardiovascular system (also called circulatory system) includes the heart, blood, and three types of blood vessels: arteries, veins, and capillaries. The heart pumps blood, which travels through the blood vessels. The main function of the cardiovascular system is transport. Oxygen from the lungs and nutrients from the digestive system are transported to cells throughout the body. Carbon dioxide and other waste materials are picked up from the cells and transported to organs (such as the lungs and kidneys) for elimination from the body. The cardiovascular system also equalizes body temperature and transports endocrine hormones to cells in the body where they are needed.
The lymphatic system is sometimes considered part of the immune system. It consists of a network of lymph vessels and ducts that collect excess fluid (called lymph) from extracellular spaces in tissues and transport the fluid to the bloodstream. The lymphatic system also includes many small collections of tissue, (called lymph nodes) and an organ called the spleen, both of which remove pathogens and cellular debris from the lymph or blood. In addition, the thymus gland in the lymphatic system produces some types of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that fight infections.
Organs and other structures of the respiratory system include the nasal passages, lungs, and a long tube called the trachea, which carries air between the nasal passages and lungs. The main function of the respiratory system is to deliver oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the body. Gases are exchanged between the lungs and blood across the walls of capillaries lining tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs.
The digestive system consists of several main organs — including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines — that form a long tube called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Food moves through this tract, where it is digested. Its nutrients are then absorbed, and its waste products are excreted. The digestive system also includes accessory organs (such as the pancreas and liver) that produce enzymes and other substances needed for digestion, but through which food does not actually pass.
The urinary system is part of the excretory system, which removes wastes from the body. The urinary system includes the pair of kidneys, which filter excess water and a waste product (called urea) from the blood and form urine. Two tubes called ureters carry the urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder, which stores the urine until it is excreted from the body through another tube called the urethra. The kidneys also produce an enzyme called renin and a variety of hormones. These substances help regulate blood pressure, the production of red blood cells, and the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body.
The reproductive system is the only body system that differs substantially between males and females. Both male and female reproductive systems produce sex-specific sex hormones (testosterone in males, estrogen in females) and gametes (sperm in males, eggs in females). However, the organs involved in these processes are different. The male reproductive system includes the epididymis, testes, and penis. The female reproductive system includes the uterus, ovaries, and mammary glands. The male and female systems also have different additional roles. For example, the male system has the role of delivering gametes to the female reproductive tract, whereas the female system has the roles of supporting an embryo and fetus until birth and also producing milk for the infant after birth.
1. What is the primary tissue in the heart, and what is its role?
2. What non-muscle tissues are found in the heart? What are their functions?
3. Identify two vital organs in the human body. Identify their locations and functions.
4. List three human organ systems. For each organ system, identify some of its organs and functions.
5. Compare and contrast the male and female reproductive systems.
6. For each of the following pairs of organ systems, describe one way in which they work together and/or overlap:
a. skeletal system and muscular system
b. muscular system and digestive system
c. endocrine system and reproductive system
d. cardiovascular system and urinary system
7. What is the largest organ of the human body?
8. What are three organ systems involved in regulating human body temperature?
9. Teeth are part of the _____________ system.
a. integumentary
b. skeletal
c. nervous
c. A and B
10. Which organ system includes hair?
11. True or False: Organs only exist in animals.
12. True or False: The respiratory system helps remove wastes from the body.
