The Zang-Fu organ system in TCM Acupuncture

The Zang-Fu

In TCM Acupuncture, the internal organs are classified into Zang organs and Fu organs.

The Zang organs manufacture, store and regulate the Fundamental Substances of Essence (Jing), Qi, Blood and Body Fluids.

The Fu organs receive and digest food, drink and fluids, and transmit and excrete waste. It is said that the Fu organs are ‘constantly filled but never full‘.

There are six Yin Zang organs, which are:

1. Heart
2. Spleen
3. Lungs
4. Kidneys
5. Liver
6. Pericardium

and six Yang Fu organs:

1. Small Intestine
2. Stomach
3. Large Intestine
4. Bladder
5. Gall Bladder
6. San Jiao

Note: The San Jiao (Three Jiaos) functions as a Fu organ but has no structural basis.

The Zang organs and the Fu organs are paired as follows:

• Heart and Small Intestine
• Spleen and Stomach
• Lungs and Large Intestine
• Kidneys and Bladder
• Liver and Gall Bladder
• Pericardium and San Jiao

There are also the Extraordinary Yang organs which are also know as the Extra Fu:

1. The Uterus
2. The Brain
3. The Marrow
4. The Bones
5. The Blood Vessels
6. The Gall Bladder (the Gall Bladder is both a Fu and an Extra Fu)

The Zang-Fu connect with one another and with the tissues, sense organs and muscles though the meridian and channel system (Jinglou) of the body.