Understanding Chinese Medicine: The Four Layers Within the Human Body

Understanding Chinese Medicine: The Four Layers Within the Human Body
By Amit S.Katz

When we talk about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), in many ways we are discussing a highly evolved system of medicine. This system recognizes that the human body is not just a collection of organs, each fulfilling its own individual task, but rather that they are all connected and share a relationship with each other.

For Example, if an individual suffering from Asthma should experience an attack, the lungs inability to collect enough oxygen for the blood will result in an elevated heart rate. Here the heart is compensating for the lungs inability to oxygenate the blood, circulating it faster in order to meet the bodies needs.

The same is true but in reverse, if a heart patient should experience a slowing of their heart rate as in cases of Braydicaria, they will experience a shortness of breath forcing them to draw in more air or gasp.

TCM does not just identify organ relationships, it also distinguishes between four layers within the body;

1. Protective Layer
2. Qi Layer
3. Nutritive Layer
4. Blood Layer.

Each one of these layers is deeper than the one before it. The Protective layer is the most superficial and actually comes in contact with the outside world. It is most closely aligned with the skin and our bodies ability to defend against outside influences.

The Qi Layer is the theoretical pathway by which Qi (Vital Energy) moves through the body. When an acupuncturist needles you, this is the layer they are shooting for.
This complex system of inter-crossing pathways is also called Meridians.

The Nutritive Layer is considered the vital energy (Qi) of the blood layer directly beneath it and in many ways supports the blood and muscles.

The Blood layer is the last layer of defense before the organ layer. It is the system of blood vessels running throughout the body.

TCM goes one step further and actually designates three specific zones in which both health and disease may appear. The 3 "zones" are known in TCM as San Jiao, which translated means Triple Burner.

The first zone is known as the Upper Burner, which is the head and chest and it includes the heart and lungs. The second is the Middle Burner, which is the area below the chest and above the navel, it includes the Spleen and Stomach. The third is the Lower Burner just below the navel and it includes the Liver and Kidneys. Each burner may manifest disease and have no bearing on the other two, and at times they may have an influence which is felt in another burner.

If a persons Protective Qi is sufficiently weak or a pathogen sufficiently strong, it may take root in one of the for layers of the body. If the person does not overcome the assault, the pathogen will continue to the deeper layers of the body and possibly take root within one or several organs.

For example, adult onset of diabetes has been know to occur in individuals who did not necessarily abuse their body with a sugar/junk food rich diet. In some cases this occurred after a bad cold or flu infection.

Let me tie the whole human arena together for you from the perspective of a person who just got over a bunch of nagging infections. In November I went hiking near Idyllwild. It was warm down in the valley and I didn't think to bring warm clothing for the hike.

When I came back I had a slight sore throat (Cold attacking the upper burner and assailing the protective layer). I took my usual regime of supplements and went to bed.

Over the next 3 days the sore throat got progressively worse (the pathogen was sufficiently strong), it started to travel down my throat towards the lungs and I developed a slight cough. I took enough supplements to stop it from penetrating deeper but the sore throat did not go away.

My wife was concerned that this "strep throat" was going to windup going to my heart (pernicious influence penetrating all four layers and settling in the organ layer) and possibly killing me! I was about to give in to her pleading and go get a course of antibiotics, but my conscience told me that some member of the human race needed to develop his own antibodies against this “tough little bug."

The Missus assured me that my heroism would be lost on humanity either way.
I got well over the next 3 days, then followed it up with an acupuncture treatment to insure a total and complete recovery. Humanity – 1. Tough little bug - 0.


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Understanding Chinese Medicine: The Four Layers Within the Human Body By Amit S.Katz THE HUMAN ARENA When we talk about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), in many ways we are discussing a highly evolved system of medicine. This system recognizes that the human body is not just a collection of organs, each fulfilling its own individual task, but rather that they are all connected and share a relationship with each other. For Example, if an individual suffering from Asthma should experience an attack, the lungs inability to collect enough oxygen for the blood will result in an elevated heart rate. Here the heart is compensating for the lungs inability to oxygenate the blood, circulating it faster in order to meet the bodies needs. The same is true but in reverse, if a heart patient should experience a slowing of their heart rate as in cases of Braydicaria, they will experience a shortness of breath forcing them to draw in more air or gasp. TCM does not just identify organ relationships, it also distinguishes between four layers within the body; 1. Protective Layer 2. Qi Layer 3. Nutritive Layer 4. Blood Layer. Each one of these layers is deeper than the one before it. The Protective layer is the most superficial and actually comes in contact with the outside world. It is most closely aligned with the skin and our bodies ability to defend against outside influences. The Qi Layer is the theoretical pathway by which Qi (Vital Energy) moves through the body. When an acupuncturist needles you, this is the layer they are shooting for. This complex system of inter-crossing pathways is also called Meridians. The Nutritive Layer is considered the vital energy (Qi) of the blood layer directly beneath it and in many ways supports the blood and muscles. The Blood layer is the last layer of defense before the organ layer. It is the system of blood vessels running throughout the body. TCM goes one step further and actually designates three specific zones in which both health and disease may appear. The 3 "zones" are known in TCM as San Jiao, which translated means Triple Burner. The first zone is known as the Upper Burner, which is the head and chest and it includes the heart and lungs. The second is the Middle Burner, which is the area below the chest and above the navel, it includes the Spleen and Stomach. The third is the Lower Burner just below the navel and it includes the Liver and Kidneys. Each burner may manifest disease and have no bearing on the other two, and at times they may have an influence which is felt in another burner. If a persons Protective Qi is sufficiently weak or a pathogen sufficiently strong, it may take root in one of the for layers of the body. If the person does not overcome the assault, the pathogen will continue to the deeper layers of the body and possibly take root within one or several organs. For example, adult onset of diabetes has been know to occur in individuals who did not necessarily abuse their body with a sugar/junk food rich diet. In some cases this occurred after a bad cold or flu infection. Let me tie the whole human arena together for you from the perspective of a person who just got over a bunch of nagging infections. In November I went hiking near Idyllwild. It was warm down in the valley and I didn't think to bring warm clothing for the hike. When I came back I had a slight sore throat (Cold attacking the upper burner and assailing the protective layer). I took my usual regime of supplements and went to bed. Over the next 3 days the sore throat got progressively worse (the pathogen was sufficiently strong), it started to travel down my throat towards the lungs and I developed a slight cough. I took enough supplements to stop it from penetrating deeper but the sore throat did not go away. My wife was concerned that this "strep throat" was going to windup going to my heart (pernicious influence penetrating all four layers and settling in the organ layer) and possibly killing me! I was about to give in to her pleading and go get a course of antibiotics, but my conscience told me that some member of the human race needed to develop his own antibodies against this “tough little bug." The Missus assured me that my heroism would be lost on humanity either way. I got well over the next 3 days, then followed it up with an acupuncture treatment to insure a total and complete recovery. Humanity – 1. Tough little bug - 0.