THE SHEN (神) OF THE HEART
The Shen of the Heart plays a prominent role in memory
partly by itself and partly because it coordinates the Yi of the Spleen and the
Zhi of the Kidneys which also play a role in memory.
The Shen of the Heart plays a role in memory in the
sense of memorizing but especially also in intrinsic memory (see below).
Information that we have to consciously work to
remember is known as explicit memory, while information that we
remember unconsciously is known as implicit memory. Implicit memory is not always unconscious as it includes what we
call “muscle memory” which in psychology is called “procedural memory” (see
below).
Explicit
Memory
When we are trying to intentionally remember
something (like the names of acupuncture points or a list of dates for a history class), this information is stored in our explicit memory. We use
these memories every day, from remembering information for a test to recalling
the date and time of a doctor's appointment. This type of memory is also known
as declarative memory, since we can consciously recall and explain the
information.
Some tasks that require the use of explicit memory
include remembering what we learned in a class, recalling a phone number, writing
a research paper, and remembering what time we are meeting a friend, etc.
There are two major types of explicit memory:
1. Episodic memory: These are our long-term memories of specific events,
such as what we did the day before or our high school graduation.
2. Semantic memory: These are
memories of facts, concepts, names, and other general knowledge information.
Implicit
Memory
Things that we do not purposely try to remember are
stored in implicit memory. This kind of memory is both unconscious and
unintentional. Implicit memory is also sometimes referred to as non-declarative
memory, since we are not able to consciously bring it into awareness.
Procedural memories, such as how to perform a
specific task like swinging a baseball bat or sewing, are one type of
implicit memory since we do not have to consciously recall how to perform these
tasks. While implicit memories are not consciously recalled, they still have an
influence on how we behave as well as our knowledge of different tasks.
Some examples of implicit memory include singing a
familiar song, typing on our computer keyboard, daily habits, driving a car,
riding a bicycle, sewing.
Riding a bicycle is another great example. Even
after going years without riding one, most people are able to hop on a bike and
ride it effortlessly.
The Shen of the Heart plays a role in both extrinsic
and intrinsic memory but it is especially the one that is responsible for
intrinsic memory, which the Yi of the Spleen and the Zhi of the Kidneys are
not.
Heart-Blood deficiency and Heart-Yin deficiency are a common
cause of poor memory.
HEART-BLOOD DEFICIENCY
Palpitations, dizziness,
insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, poor memory, anxiety, propensity to be
startled, dull-pale complexion, pale lips.
Tongue: Pale, Thin, slightly
dry.
Pulse: Choppy or Fine.
Key symptoms:
palpitations, insomnia, poor memory, Pale tongue.
Acupuncture
Points: HE-7 Shenmen,
Ren-14 Juque, Ren-15 Jiuwei, Ren-4 Guanyuan, BL-17 Geshu (with moxa), BL-20
Pishu.
Method: all with
reinforcing method. Moxa can be used.
Herbal formula
Shen Qi Si Wu Tang Ginseng-Astragalus-Four
Substances Decoction.
Three Treasures
Calm the Shen (variation of
Gui Pi Tang).
HEART-YIN DEFICIENCY
Palpitations,
insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, propensity to be startled, poor memory,
anxiety, mental restlessness, dry mouth and
throat, night sweating.
Tongue: no
coating, deep midline crack reaching the tip.
Pulse: Floating-Empty.
Key symptoms:
palpitations, mental restlessness, night-sweating, tongue without coating.
Acupuncture
Points: HE-7 Shenmen,
Ren-14 Juque, Ren-15 Jiuwei, Ren-4 Guanyuan, HE-6 Yinxi, SP-6 Sanyinjiao.
Method: all with
reinforcing method, no moxa.
Herbal formula
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan Heavenly
Emperor Tonifying the Heart Pill.
Women’s
Treasure
Heavenly Empress (variation of
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan).
THE YI (意) OF
THE SPLEEN
The Chinese character for the mental aspect of the
Spleen is Yi which can mean “idea”
or “intention”.
The Yi resides in the Spleen and is responsible
for applied thinking, studying, memorizing, focusing, concentrating and
generating ideas.
The Post-Natal Qi and Blood are the physiological
basis for the Yi. Thus if the Spleen
is strong, thinking will be clear, memory good and the capacity for
concentrating, studying and generating ideas will also be good.
If the Spleen is weak, the Yi will be dull, thinking
will be slow, memory poor and the capacity for studying, concentrating and
focusing will all be weak.
The Spleen is responsible for memory in the sense of
studying, concentrating, focusing and memorizing data in the course of one’s
study or work.
Note that the Chinese character for “Yi” is based on the “heart” radical. This indicates two things. Firstly, it indicates that the memory of the
Spleen depends also on the Heart. Secondly,
it refers to the Shen’s coordinating and integrating function in respect of the
Hun, Po, Yi and Zhi.
SPLEEN-BLOOD
DEFICIENCY
Poor appetite, slight abdominal
distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, dull-pale complexion, weakness
of the limbs, loose stools, poor memory, thin body, scanty periods or
amenorrhoea.
Tongue: Pale, Thin and slightly
dry.
Pulse: Choppy or Fine.
Key symptoms:
tiredness, slight abdominal distension, scanty periods, Pale tongue.
Acupuncture
Points: Ren-12 Zhongwan,
ST-36 Zusanli, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, BL-20 Pishu, BL-21 Weishu, Ren-4
Guanyuan, BL-17 Geshu (with direct moxa).
Method: reinforcing
method. Moxa is applicable.
Herbal formula
Gui Pi Tang Tonifying the
Spleen Decoction.
Three Treasures
Calm the Shen
(variation of Gui Pi Tang).
THE ZHI (志) OF
THE KIDNEYS
The word Zhi
has at least three meanings:
1. it indicates “memory”
2. it means “will power “
3. it is sometimes used to indicate the “five Zhi”,
i.e. the five mental aspects Shen, Hun, Po, Yi and Zhi itself.
In the first sense, the Kidneys influence our capacity
for memorizing and storing data. Some of the ancient doctors even said that the
Yi of the Spleen and the memory of
the Kidneys are almost the same thing, except that the Yi is responsible for memorizing in the course of studying and the Zhi of the Kidneys is responsible for
the storing of data over the long term.
Tang Zong Hai says: “Zhi indicates Yi with a
capacity for storing [data]”.
The character for Zhi
is indicated below. It is composed of Shi on the upper part and the “Heart” in
the lower part.
KIDNEY-YIN DEFICIENCY
Dizziness,
tinnitus, vertigo, poor memory, hardness of hearing, night-sweating, dry mouth
and throat at night, lower backache, ache in bones, dark-scanty urine,
infertility, premature ejaculation, tiredness, lassitude, slight
anxiety.
Tongue: normal-coloured without
coating.
Pulse: Floating-Empty.
Key symptoms: backache,
night sweating.
Acupuncture
Points: Ren-4
Guanyuan, KI-3 Taixi, KI-6 Zhaohai, KI-10 Yingu, KI-9 Zhubin, SP-6 Sanyinjiao,
Ren-7 Yinjiao, LU-7 Lieque and KI-6 Zhaohai in combination (opening points of
the Ren Mai).
Method: reinforcing
method, no moxa.
Herbal fomula
Zuo Gui Wan Restoring the
Left [Kidney] Pill.
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan Six-Ingredient
Rehmannia Pill.
Three
Treasures
Nourish the
Root
(variation of Zuo Gui Wan).
In the sphere of thinking, remembering and memorizing
there is considerable overlap between the Yi of Spleen, the Shen
of Heart and the Zhi of Kidneys. The main differentiating factor is that
the Spleen is responsible for memorizing
data in the course of one's work or study.
For example, it is not uncommon for
someone to have a brilliant memory in his or her field of study or research (a
function of the Spleen), and yet be quite forgetful in daily life (a function
of the Heart).
The Heart and Kidneys also contribute to this
function, but they are also responsible for the memory of past events and
implicit memory. In particular, the overlap between the Yi and the Shen in
thinking activity is very close, so much so that the “Ling Shu” says in chapter
8: “The Heart function of recollecting is called Yi”.
In turn, the memorizing function of the Yi is so closely related to the Zhi
of the Kidneys that the same chapter continues: “The storing [of data] of
the Yi is called Zhi”.
These passages
confirm that Shen, Yi and Zhi are a continuum.
Memory and sense of Self
In modern psychology, “memory” is more that just the ability to store facts and information in our brain. It is actually an essential part in which our consciousness exists, works and manifests itself and working memory plays an important role in our consciousness.
In modern psychology, “memory” is more that just the ability to store facts and information in our brain. It is actually an essential part in which our consciousness exists, works and manifests itself and working memory plays an important role in our consciousness.
Even the thought “I live in the present” requires
short-term memory. Even the immediate present requires involves memory – what
we know about the one present moment is basically what is in our working
memory.
Working memory allows us to know that the “here and now” is “here” and is happening “now”. This insight underlies the notion, adopted by a number of cognitive scientists, that consciousness is the awareness of what is in working memory.
Working memory allows us to know that the “here and now” is “here” and is happening “now”. This insight underlies the notion, adopted by a number of cognitive scientists, that consciousness is the awareness of what is in working memory.
LeDoux says: “The self is in part made and
maintained by memory and both implicit and explicit forms are involved.”[1]
Thus, in a broader sense, Zhi is much more than
“memory” in the sense of being able to remember past events. The Zhi (together with the Shen) contributes to our working memory
and also to the long-term memory.
Together with the Shen of the Heart, this contributes to creating our
consciousness and sense of self.
Treatment of poor memory
Memory can be stimulated by treating:
Memory can be stimulated by treating:
Heart (Shen): HE-7, HE-3, BL-15, BL-44 Shentang
Kidneys (Zhi): KI-3, BL-23, BL-52 Zhishi
Spleen (Yi): SP-3, BL-20, BL-49 Yishe
Du Mai (Brain/Sea of Marrow): SI-3/BL-62, Du-16,
Du-20.
The Du Mai and memory
Another factor in memory is the Du Mai for three
reasons.
1)
It flows through the Heart and
therefore affects Shen.
2)
It originates from the Kidneys and
therefore affects Zhi.
3)
It is the vessel through which the
Kidneys’ Sea of Marrow reaches the Brain.
The three main points are Du-11 Shendao, Du-20 Baihui
and Du-24 Shenting.
The Lungs and memory
However, remember that there are other factors at work in memory, e.g. the Lungs affect memory by regulating the amount of Qi reaching the head. Thus LU-7 and LU-3 are important for poor memory due to Qi not reaching the head.
However, remember that there are other factors at work in memory, e.g. the Lungs affect memory by regulating the amount of Qi reaching the head. Thus LU-7 and LU-3 are important for poor memory due to Qi not reaching the head.
The
“Explanation of the Acupuncture Points” says that LU-3 can make Qi rise to
treat forgetfulness, sadness and weeping due to Qi not rising to head.[2]
Forgetfulness
is an important indication for this point: this is forgetfulness due to clear
Qi not rising to the head. According to
the “Explanation of the Acupuncture Points”, this point treats forgetfulness by
stimulating the ascending of Qi of both Lungs and Heart.[3]
Phlegm and Blood stasis in memory
Finally, it is important to remember that memory is
affected by Full conditions, especially Phlegm and Blood stasis obstructing the
Brain. This happens especially in the elderly.
In particular, Phlegm is a common cause of poor
memory: when it is, poor memory is accompanied by dizziness and a feeling of heaviness
and muzziness (fuzziness) of the head.
The tongue is swollen, illustrated below.
Points for Phlegm obstructing the Brain and affecting memory are: Du-20 Baihui, Du-24 Shenting, ST-40 Fenglong, LU-7 Lieque, Ren-9 Shuifen, Ren-5 Shimen, BL-22 Sanjiaoshu, P-5 Jianshi.
These two tongues are both swollen, indicating Phlegm.
These two tongues are both swollen, indicating Phlegm.
