Abstract:
Traditionally, shuxie benefits and
enables traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM) physiology generally, and has a
close relationship with male and female
reproductive functions. With a more
detailed understanding of shuxie it is evident
that the xie-discharge/secretion
function is particularly important, for
example, for ovulation, menstruation
and lactation in women and emission in
men. In this context, the discussion also
highlights the liver-kidney relationship.
The liver and kidney pairing forms a fundamental
axis of TCM physiology, and
the harmonious integration of liver shuxie
(dredge and discharge) and kidney
fengcang (seal and store) is an essential
component of their relationship. Various
examples of shuxie function are examined
to show how TCM has adapted
classical interpretations so that Chinese
medicine discourse today includes
aspects of neural, endocrine and immune
physiology.
