The Five Types of Wind

Having explained the general locations and functions of the three humors, I shall

now give a more detailed account of the specific functions and locations of each of the

five kinds of wind, bile, and phlegm. Beginning with the five winds, the life-sustaining

wind is located on the crown of the head, but it moves from there, through the throat

and chest, down as far as the solar plexus. It functions principally in the channels,

bones, and the brain, and it contributes to swallowing food and drink, inhaling and

exhaling, expelling saliva and mucus, and facilitates the process of sneezing. It also

contributes to the clarity of the mind and senses and to attentional stability.

The ascending wind is located in the bones just above the solar plexus. Its

functions pertain to the nose, tongue, uvula, and esophagus, for it contributes to verbal

articulation. Furthermore, it contributes to the general strength, radiance and

complexion of the body, bringing clarity especially to the ruddy and pale hues of the

complexion. Finally, it is responsible for all types of exerting effort, and it maintains

one’s mindfulness and powers of recollection of one’s actions and concerns pertaining

to the past, present and future.

The pervading wind is located in the heart, but it pervades the entire body

including the internal organs, the five sense faculties, and the seven bodily constituents

out to the pores of the skin. Once food and drink have passed through the three phases

of digestion in the alimentary canal, the pervading wind distributes the nutriment

throughout the various bodily constituents. Moreover, it has the function of moving the

major and minor limbs, including walking and all other types of movement. It also

opens and closes all of the orifices of the body such as the eyes. Generally speaking,

all the movements of the body occur in dependence upon the pervading wind.

The fire-accompanying wind is located in the large intestine, but it also moves

through the stomach, the small and large intestines, and throughout all the cavities in

the body. Its principal function is to segregate the nutriment from the residue. It also

“ripens” the ten afflicted elements of the body—namely, the seven bodily constituents

and the three waste products—and generally causes growth throughout the body.

The descending wind is located in the perineal region and extends upwards as far

as the lower portion of the thoracolumbar fascia that lines the spinal column. It is also

moves in the male and female genitals, the large intestine, the urinary bladder, the

seminal vesicle, the ovaries and uterus, and the thighs. Its function is to expel and

retain the male and female regenerative substances, the fetus, menstrual blood (the

older blood is expelled while new blood is being produced), urine, and excrement.

Moreover, if the fetus dies in the womb, the descending wind expels it, and at birth it

also expels the placenta.

The Five Types of Bile

The most complicated and important of the five types of bile is the digestive bile,

which is located in the small intestine, between the areas where the food is undigested

and where it has been digested. In terms of its functions, it digests the food, and it

plays some role in differentiating the nutrient from the residue. It produces all the

warmth in the body; even the warmth produced by the four other types of bile arises in

dependence upon this bile, which supports all the rest. It also contributes somewhat to

the transformation of color within the body, and it is responsible for drying up ingested

fluids within the body. Finally, it is responsible for producing hunger and thirst.

The color-transforming bile is located in the liver, but it courses through all the

bodily constituents, including the nutriment, the blood and so forth. It creates the

colors of all of the bodily constituents, especially the red and white colors in the body.

For example, it makes blood red, the bones white, and it provides color to the hair. In

addition, it produces the warmth in all the internal organs.

The accomplishing bile is located in the heart. It prevents attentional scattering,

sustains attentiveness, and supports the stability and clarity of one’s intelligence.

Ambition, effort, and determination, as well as one’s sense of personal identity, arise

in dependence upon the accomplishing bile.

The sight-giving bile is located in the eyes, and it enables one to see external

forms, including shapes and colors, and spatial dimensions, and it also provides one

with the ability of subtle discernment.

The complexion-clearing bile is located in all the pores of the skin. Its function is

simply to bring a clarity to the complexion of the skin. If you have a good complexion,

that is due to this bile.

The Five Types of Phlegm

The supporting phlegm is located in the chest, specifically in the breast bone and

the upper ribs to the left and right of the breast bone, perhaps corresponding to the

xyphoid. It supports all the other four types of phlegm, and it performs the functions of

all the fluids of the body. Moreover, it supports the elements of earth and water

throughout the body.

The decomposing phlegm is located in the stomach, where the food is still

undigested. It has the function of decomposing the ingested food and drink, congealing

them, and sending them on to the next phase of the digestion, where they are processed

by the digestive bile.

The experiencing phlegm is located in the tongue, and it has the function of

experiencing all the six types of tastes.

The satisfying phlegm is located principally in the head, but it functions from the

base of the neck upwards. It has the function of bringing satisfaction to the five senses

as they perceive their various objects.

The connective phlegm is located in all the major and minor joints. It has the

function of connecting and lubricating all the joints, which provides them with a

pliancy so that one can extend and retract the major and minor limbs.

Among the three humors, wind, being of the nature of the air element, has the

characteristics of being rough, light (the opposite of heavy), cold, thin (i.e., it is able to

course through very narrow passages), hard, and motile. Bile, being of the nature of

the fire element, has the characteristics of being sharp, oily, hot, light, odorous,

purgative and moist. Phlegm, being of the nature of the earth and water elements, has

the characteristics of being oily, cool, heavy, dull, smooth, stable, and sticky.

The wind humor is imbued with neither strong warmth nor coolness.

Nevertheless, when it works in conjunction with bile, it aids the bile in the production

of warmth. When it works in conjunction with phlegm, it aids phlegm in producing

heaviness and coldness. Pervading all parts of the body, it facilitates both warmth and

cold, so it is said to be neutral, though it is a bit cool. Bile is simply hot, and phlegm is

cold.