View source for Pericardium (Chinese medicine)

{{Short description|Concept from traditional Chinese medicine}}

As distinct from the Western medical concept of the [[pericardium]], this concept from [[traditional Chinese medicine]] describes a set of interrelated parts rather than an anatomical organ (see [[Zang Fu theory]]).

The Pericardium network includes the pericardial sac, the Pericardium meridian, the small intestine and some parts of the brain.<ref name=FS />

The Pericardium is also called the "heart protector",<ref name=FS>{{cite web|url=https://fiveseasonsmedicine.com/the-pericardium-channel-self-love-and-relationships/|title=The Pericardium Channel, Self Love and Relationships
|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=April 18, 2010|website=Five Seasons Medicine|publisher=|access-date=2023-10-20|quote=}}</ref> and, for clinical purposes, is considered a [[Yin and yang|yin]] organ<ref>{{cite web|url=https://calandraacupuncture.com/2023/09/the-pericardium-according-to-traditional-chinese-medicine-tcm/|title=The Pericardium According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)|last=Calandra|first=Teri|date=September 12, 2023|website=Calandra Center for Health & Wellness|publisher=|access-date=2023-10-20|quote=}}</ref> paired with the [[Yin and yang|yang]] organ [[San Jiao]].  In general theory, the Pericardium is not distinguished from the Heart.  It is also the first line of defence against the Heart from External Pathogenic Influences. In terms of the [[Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)|Five Elements]], these organs are both associated with the fire element.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://torbay-acupuncture-centre.co.uk/function-pericardium//|title=The Function of the Pericardium|last=Geary|first=Rachel|date=August 10, 2021|website=Torbay Acupuncture Centre|publisher=|access-date=2023-10-20|quote=}}</ref> 

The Pericardium has a [[Meridian (Chinese medicine)|meridian]] named for it, which reflects the health of the organ. According to traditional Chinese medicine, it is often best to approach the treatment of [[heart]] problems via the Pericardium, rather than the heart directly. {{Citation needed|reason=Unjustified comment, medical in nature|date=January 2022}}

==References==
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{{Traditional Chinese medicine}}

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[[Category:Traditional Chinese medicine]]


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