Shen (Spirit/ Mind)

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Shen is one of those topics in TCM that can sound particularly esoteric and

even bizarre to Westerners. But, the concept of Shen is very practical from

both a diagnostic and treatment standpoint.

 

Maciocia prefers the Mind translation of Shen. Since I'm about to quote

from him again, I'm pointing this out.

 

" holds that the Heart is the residence of the Mind (Shen).

The word Shen can have many different meanings and, in , it

is used in at least two different contexts.

 

" Firstly, Shen indicates the complex of mental faculties which are said to

'reside' in the Heart. In this sense, the Shen corresponds to the Mind and

is specifically related to the Heart.

 

" Secondly, Shen is used to indicate the whole sphere of emotional, mental

and spiritual aspects of a human being. In this sense, it is related not

only to the Heart, but it encompasses the emotional, mental and spiritual

phenomena of all the other organs, notably the Yin organs. "

 

My notes: In other words the concept of Shen may relate to mental things

like memory and mental slowness or quickness (1), or it can (in conjunction

with other Organs) encompass emotional and spiritual aspects of the person's

life in things like depression, fear, etc. (2).

 

" According to , mental activity and consciousness 'reside'

in the Heart. This means that the state of the Heart (and Blood) will

affect the mental activities including the emotional state. In particular,

five functions are affected by the state of the Heart:

 

" Mental activity (including emotions)

 

" Consciousness

 

" Memory

 

" Thinking

 

" Sleep

 

" If the Heart is strong and Blood abundant, there will be a normal mental

activity, a balanced emotional life, a clear consciousness, a good memory,

keen thinking and good sleep. If the Heart is weak and Blood deficient

there may be mental problems (such as depression), poor memory, dull

thinking, insomnia or somnolence and in extreme cases, unconsciousness. The

'Simple Questions' in chapter 9 says: 'The Heart ... is in control of the

Mind ...'7 The 'Spiritual Axis' in chapter 71 says: 'The Heart ... is the

residence on the Mind'.8

 

" Thus, some of the Heart functions in relation to the Mind (such as memory

and intelligence) correspond to the brain's mental activities from a modern

medical viewpoint. For example, the intellectual pwer of slow-to-learn

children can, to a certain extent, be stimulated by tonifying the Heart.

 

" The Heart's function of housing the Mind depends on an adequate nourishment

from the Blood and conversely, the Heart's job of governing Blood depends on

the Mind. Thus there is a relation of mutual dependence between the

function of controlling Blood and that of housing the mind. The Blood is

the root of the Mind. This concept is important in practice as Heart-Blood

roots the Mind, it embraces it and anchors it, so that the Mind will be

peaceful and happy. If Heart-Blood is deficient and does not root the mind,

this will result in mental restlessness, depression, anxiety and insomnia.

Conversely, mental reslessness, emotional problems and sadness can induce a

deficiency of Blood of the Heart causing palpitations, a pale complexion and

a weak or irregular pulse. " (Maciocia, The Foundations of ,

pp. 72-73.)

 

My notes: Poorly handled emotions is one of the possible Roots of just

Heart Blood being Deficient while overall Blood is sufficient.

 

One of the more commonly-encountered examples of Blood Deficiency being at

the Root of feelings of depression, not being able to think clearly, etc. is

postpartum depression. In many of these cases, the woman lost too much

Blood during childbirth. She may or may not have been Blood Deficient

before delivery, but she lost enough Blood that she's depressed. Obviously,

men too can become depressed and be unable to think clearly if they lose

enough Blood in an accident.

 

The important concepts to remember are that Shen is translated as Mind or

Spirit, Shen resides in the Heart and is Rooted in the Blood, and that Heart

Blood Deficiency can cause a host of problems from mental & emotional to

consciousness to memory to thinking to sleep.

 

Victoria

 

 

 

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