In Chinese, body fluids are called Jin Ye. Jin means fluids. Ye refers exclusively to fluids belonging to living organisms.
Production
Body fluids are produced through food and drink that we ingest, which passes through various organs and viscera where it is transformed, separated, and distributed.
The movements of Qi are vital for the transformation of body fluids.
- Descending, ascending, entering, and exiting.
- The Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys are especially involved in the production of body fluids.
See: Relationships of Body Fluids with the Organs
1st Separation
The Spleen separates and transforms food.
The pure part:
- Ascends to the Lungs.
- The Lungs diffuse much of the Jin Ye through the skin.
- The remainder descends toward the Kidneys.
The impure part:
- Descends from the Spleen toward the Small Intestine.
2nd Separation
The Small Intestine again separates a pure and an impure part.
- The pure part goes from the Small Intestine toward the Bladder.
- The impure part goes to the Large Intestine. The Large Intestine reabsorbs some water and evacuates the rest in the form of stools.
3rd Separation
The Bladder separates the fluids it receives into two parts. The Kidney-Yang or Gate of Life gives the Bladder the strength to separate the fluids and transform them.
- The pure part flows upward and forms the sweat that exits to the exterior.
- The impure part descends and forms the urine.
Types of Jin Ye
From the Yin/Yang perspective, there are two types of Jin Ye:
Pathologies
Two pathologies can be related to Jin Ye:
- Deficiency of Body Fluids
- Accumulation of Body Fluids
Jin Ye and Qi
- The Qi transforms and transports body fluids.
- Qi contains Jin Ye.
- Body Fluids nourish Qi.
Jin Ye and Blood
Blood and Jin Ye are Yin. They have the same origin and deficiency of one results in deficiency of the other.
Body Fluids constantly enrich the Blood.
- They make it more fluid to prevent stagnation.
- Nutritive Qi and Jin Ye circulate within the blood vessels forming Blood.
Blood nourishes and supplies Jin Ye.