In Western and Eastern medicine, theories and methods used to diagnose and treat patients have differences and similarities. This writing will compare the role of the heart and kidneys in Eastern and Western medicine to provide a clearer understanding of how and why these contrasting cultures have different theories and views of the human body. Resources such as ‘The Foundation of Chinese Medicine’ (Maciocia, 2005) will be utilized to examine the different roles these organs take between both medicines. Chinese medicine is one aspect of Eastern medicine, but a popular and important type of medicine, it will give valuable examples of Eastern methods and treatments, which will be the main focus of this writing.
Larre and Schatz (1986) explain how Eastern medicine, specifically acupuncture, is an ancient tradition, which existed before recorded history. Western cultures are seemingly uncomfortable when grasping the tenet of Eastern medicine. Chinese society has a natural understanding of the presence of energies in a solid and palpable way. This may be a strenuous notion for Westerners where the background has not been observed in this form. The theory of Eastern medicine is the acknowledgment of patterns and balance of harmony within the body. Connecting the mind, body, and spirit through natural energy. At the beginning of the Lingshu, Huang Di asks his minister and teacher, Qi Bo, not to ‘invent’ medicine, but to restore ancient doctrine in its authenticity (Larre and Schatz, 1986, p.23).
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Through changes in history, Western medicine has improved with developments in anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Breakthroughs in science and technology have increased knowledge and understanding of human anatomy in Western culture. From DNA testing, organ transplants, and imaging such as MRI, these fields are more physically understood than ever before (NHS, 2019).
Western View of the Heart
The heart pumps blood around the body, it is an essential organ. It lies in the chest cavity just behind and slightly left of the breastbone. The heart is responsible for providing blood that has been re-supplied with oxygen (oxygenated blood), this gets pumped around the body in one direction in a continuous process so the body can continue functioning appropriately. The heart has four chambers: the left and right aortas and ventricles.
The heart receives deoxygenated blood, which passes through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. The blood is then pumped into the pulmonary valve and carried to the pulmonary artery then to the lungs to collect oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood returns to the heart and passes through the left atrium, which is through a mitral valve, and into the left ventricle, which pumps the blood out through the aortic valve.
The heart is a hollow vessel approximately the size of a fist, weighing 7-15 ounces. It serves as a pump to circulate blood through a network of arteries and veins called the cardiovascular system. The heart is the core of this system and beats over 100,000 times a day by contracting. The ventricles contract, forcing blood into the vessels going to the lungs and body, when the ventricles relax, this is called diastole. The heart contains a partition called a septum that divides the two sides of the heart to prevent both types of blood from mixing. The valves prevent blood from flowing backward.
Cardiovascular disease is a major health concern in Western society and is the primary cause of death in many countries. Treatment of cardiovascular disease involves testing the system and arteries and clearing blockages to ensure constant blood flow around the body and through the heart. Other treatments include synthetic drugs to thin the blood and placing stents in the heart to prevent arteries from closing. In extreme circumstances, a heart transplant is performed.
Western medicine focuses on a symptom and therefore separates the organs into specialist groups. When a symptom in an organ is revealed, a practitioner will refer to a specialist in that field, in doing so Western medicine can lose sight of the body when diagnosing. A system such as the cardiovascular system draws Western medicine to various parts of the body, and much like Eastern medicine, a map of networks and patterns are followed for diagnosis and treatments between organs, such as Eastern medicine’s five-phase theory method in balancing, nourishing and controlling the energy between organs and pathways within the body.
The pericardium is a tough sac that surrounds the heart. This thin, two-layered sac provides lubrication for the heart, it contains a small amount of serous fluid which helps lubricate the heart’s movement. The sac creates separations from surrounding tissues and protects the heart, when the blood quantity increases, it expands. In Western views, the pericardium is not recognized as an organ but a structure that protects the heart and holds its location.
Western View of the Kidneys
The kidneys are two matching red, bean-shaped organs located at the back of the abdomen on either side of the spine behind the peritoneum, approximately 9-12cm long. Tortora and Anagnostakos (1990) explain the main function of the kidneys is to regulate the condition, volume, and waste from the blood and remove utilizing in the form of urine. The kidneys are part of the urinary system, which contains the ureters, bladder, and urethra. This system controls the amount of water, salts, and nutrients in the body.
The structure of the kidneys contains inner and outer surfaces, capsules, and tubes containing filters called nephrons that divide and filter fluid substances from the blood. They send clear fluid upwards and waste fluids downwards.
The heart movement and strength of the blood vessel walls provide the hydrostatic pressure for filtration, known as glomerular filtration. Kidneys receive deoxygenated blood from the heart through the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta by descending from the heart through the abdomen where it branches off into the right and left renal veins. Oxygenated blood comes to the kidney from the right and left renal arteries from the abdominal aorta. The heart pumps blood around the body and the kidneys clean and remove what is no longer needed, together they work as a system that keeps the body functioning. The kidneys release hormones to help control blood pressure and assist in making red blood cells retain bone health.
Eastern View of the Heart
“The Heart is the Emperor, the Supreme Controller” (Schmidt, 2007, p.8). The heart contains a space in which ‘Shen’ the spirit and mind reside. 'Shen' resides at night (yin) silent and in muscles during the day (yang), therefore both yin and yang are silent and physical. A function of the heart is to move the blood containing the life energy ‘Qi’ through the circulatory system. Blood provides the material basis for all aspects of mental activity and organ networks – healthy blood and a healthy mind. In both medicines, blood is acknowledged as the energy which circulates messages around the body either through ‘Qi’, hormones, oxygen, or minerals and carries these nutrients to all organs to survive.
The body is separated into three ‘Jiao’, which represent ‘Shen’ (heaven) upper ‘Jiao’, ‘Qi’ (man) middle ‘Jiao’, and ‘Jing’ (moving ‘Qi’, ‘Ming Men’) lower ‘Jiao’) using the ‘Jiao’, this system is used to access the balance of ‘Qi’ (energy) within the body to diagnose. When an imbalance of yin and yang occurs, disease materializes. Heart disease can be diagnosed through upper and lower ‘Jiao’. The heart and the kidneys are connected through a pattern called ‘Shao Yin’ of the hand, this is where control or nourishment is chosen for the required treatment (Maciocia, 2005).
The heart meridian in acupuncture opens out at the tongue, this is the five-phase element for the heart. Emotions are spoken through the tongue; the color of the tongue reflects the condition of the blood. A healthy heart means you speak the truth. Heart ‘Qi’ communicates with the tongue, your ‘Qi’ is balanced within, and therefore your body is healthy. Yin and yang, between heaven and earth, are balanced, preventing disease. The heart is responsible for sweat, which is the fluid of the heart, the opening and closing of pores are referred to as doors of ‘Qi’. Sweat is a precious substance known as 'Jin Ye', this term describes all the liquids within the body.
The pericardium known as the ‘heart protector’, has another function in both Western and Eastern medicine: it protects and surrounds the heart and forms a network of pathways around the heart through which ‘Qi’ and blood pass to and from the ends of the body (Keown, 2014). Heart pathogens occur when ‘Shen’ is disrupted. Trauma can scatter 'Shen', and as 'Shen' controls mental activity, this can result in symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and depression. A healthy 'Shen' is often observed through the complexion and shines out through the eyes, this is known as ‘Shen Ming’, your true self. 'Shen' the spirit refers to the capacity to transform and accept change (Larre and Schatz, 1986).
Eastern View of the Kidneys
The kidneys have mastery over the conversation of life found in hibernation. The kidneys are the main organs for supporting life. They are responsible for growth, maturation, development, and reproduction. Keown (2014) explains the kidneys’ role is to control the bones, dominate water, fill the marrow, and are responsible for creating the brain and spinal cord. They are a yin ‘Water’ element organ, therefore, contain fluids within. They are paired with the bladder in the five-phase element theory, connected with bones, teeth, ears, and head hair, and produce marrow to fill inner bones. The spirit associated with the kidneys is ‘Zhi’. The emotion is fear, the kidneys’ issues arise when there is fear within your life, so yin and yang are imbalanced within the kidneys, resulting in pathogens.
The kidneys are traditionally called the gathering place of authentic yin and authentic yang; they are also called the Authentic Water and Authentic Fire of Early Heaven (Larre and Schatz, 1986, p.170).
Kidneys store a substance called ‘Jing Essence’. This transforms to ‘Qi’ and blood, along with ‘Qi’ and ‘Shen’, the essence is considered one of the three treasures, as the essence within the kidneys can never be in excess with diagnosis it is only deficient. The kidneys are dual: one is kidney-yin and the other is kidney-yang. Kidney-yin contains the ‘Jing’ essence and fluids within the body, so moistens and nourishes. Kidney-yang creates movement and transformation of fluids, this is the warmth (Maciocia, 2005). Kidney-yin contains the ‘Prenatal Essence’ that Western medicine understands as hereditary genes. This is the essence passed down from parents deciding how someone will grow and develop over eight-year cycles. This peaks at adolescence to drive maturation reproduction and starts to reduce in the late 30s and 40s (pre-menopausal) when growth and reproduction slow. ‘Ming Men’ is a region located between the kidneys and in all probability of embryonic origin.
Postnatal yang essence, known as ‘Acquired Constitution’, is increased after birth through food, oxygen, water, social, and environmental conditions. The Eastern medicine view of the heart and kidneys is one connection and balance maintained through descending movements of yin fluid and ascending yang ‘Qi’. ‘Ming Men’ is the location where the yin and yang energy transforms into the purest kind of ‘Qi’.
Conclusion
When summarizing Eastern and Western views on the roles of the heart and kidneys, there are clearly contrasting theses regarding levels of spiritual, physical, and psychological views on the heart and the kidneys. It becomes clear that Western medicine’s theories depend on physical and seen evidence-based data. Physically through anatomy, seen through technology, separates the human body into sections that can be individually analyzed. The medicine treats and diagnoses through man-made technology or synthetic drugs. Eastern medicine, although acknowledging the physical form of man, go beyond the seen and is understood on a spiritual level. Diagnosis and especially treatment is given through natural remedies, using the human body’s own channels of energy, environmental factors, and herbal medication. It uses the channels and meridians for acupuncture and connections between organs through climate and correspondences in the body.
Nearly every aspect of Eastern medicine is unseen, therefore Western medicine cannot prove it. The heart ‘Shen’ and the kidneys ‘Jing’ essence are not seen, so consequently not understood within Western medicine. The reproduction from the kidneys, the heart being where love resides, is acknowledged through both medicines. The similarities acknowledged confirm that although they use contrasting methods for diagnosis and treatment, they both aim to balance the human body towards good health and well-being, which is not possible without a healthy heart and the kidneys to support the heart in this role. When the heart and kidney do not function normally, disease in the other is inevitable. The connection between the heart and the kidneys in Western medicine is one without spirit, essence, and union of organs.
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