Shen is considered one of the Vital Substances.

• It is Qi in its least material state.

See: Theory of Vital Substances

Shen is the vitality of the organism.

• It is the external expression of the vital activities of the organism.
• It represents the set of mental-spiritual activities of the person, which identifies it with the spirit.

Root of Shen

Shen comes from congenital Jing and must be constantly nourished by acquired Jing.

• Jing nourishes Shen
• Shen directs Jing.
• Shen, Jing and Qi are the three treasures of life and are present in all organs.
• Jing must be saturated, Qi must be sufficient, and Shen prosperous and well nourished.

Inspection of Shen is performed in two aspects related to pre-Heaven and post-Heaven.

In acupuncture we mainly treat Qi and Jing, while Shen indicates the person's state of health, their Qi and Jing, the prognosis of the disease and its evolution.

Greater or lesser psycho-emotional capacity depends to some extent on Zong Qi.

Zong Qi is transformed, when Wei and Rong combine, into Zheng Qi and this is irrigated throughout the organism through the eight extraordinary vessels to regulate total body energetics. Through them Qi and Wei are redistributed, also activating the functions of the extraordinary organs.

The pathological function of the Master of the Heart or the set of the other five is:

• Disorientation.
• Unconsciousness.

Aspects of Shen

There are five mental-spiritual aspects, each linked to the five Yin organs:

• The Hun or Ethereal Soul: Liver.
• The Po or Corporeal Soul: Lungs.
• The Yi or Intellect: Spleen.
• The Zhi or Will-Power: Kidneys.
• The Shen in the sense of "mind": Heart.

States of Shen

We can obtain information about Shen through the external expressions of the individual: their gaze, manner of speaking, posture, respiration, movements...

See: States of Shen

Shen and Mind

The Shen of an individual and the Shen of the Heart or Mind are not the same.

Both Shen and the Mind or Heart Shen are housed in the Heart.

Global Shen also manifests in the other organs.

Shen

• It is the totality of the psychological, mental and spiritual aspects of the individual. The vitality.
• It contains within itself these faculties of all five Yin organs.

Spirit can be defined, in this sense, as a transformation of Qi and essence:

• Pre-Heaven and post-Heaven interacting to develop the individual "ego".

Mind

• The Heart Shen refers to mental activity itself.
• Being the Heart the Monarch of the body, its alteration can affect the rest and vice versa.