Category Archives: Body Organs and Watersheds

Evelyn’s Symbolic Image of Liver and Gallbladder: Spring General

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The liver produces bile, which is sent through a network of bile ducts, down to the gallbladder for storage. The gallbladder then releases the bile into the duodenum of the small intestine. This process is triggered by the hormones cholecystokinin, secretin, gastrin, and somatostatin, which are released in response to the presence of fat in the duodenum (Daniels, 2022). Bile is a concoction of various substances including: water, bile acids/salts, metals, electrolytes, phospholipids, and waste products like the pigment bilirubin and cholesterol. It enables three important digestive functions: the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, the removal of metabolic waste products, and deconstruction of fat into absorbable forms. Bile acids are the facilitators of fat deconstruction and are conveniently absorbed by the lower intestine to be returned to the liver for repurposing (Daniels, 2022).”

Kaya’s Symbolic Image of Liver and Gall Bladder

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This image I created illustrates the connection between the liver and gallbladder, as well as the connection both organs have to the spring season. The liver is shown and drawn according to its anatomical shape in a dark pink color. The gall bladder is also depicted anatomically correct. However, the gall bladder is shaded in green and branches out through vines that are actually known as the cystic duct, hepatic artery, left hepatic duct, right hepatic duct, hepatic portal vein, and the common hepatic duct. Connecting these veins, arteries, and ducts to the gall bladder and spreading their growth throughout the liver illustrates the direct relationship, close proximity, and overall connection between the liver and the gall bladder. Furthermore, transforming these veins, arteries, and ducts into nature vines that sprout into flowers in the spring illustrates the relationship between spring and the liver and the gall bladder.

Chelsea’s Symbolic Image of Liver and Gall Bladder

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“Marsh Liverwort”. Chelsea Robb, 2022.
My art piece represents the function of the liver and gall bladder processing bile. Marshes are
weedy, mucky, dank and sometimes ominous places full of oddities like snakes and toads and
strange plants. Liverwort is an odd marshy plant that is carnivorous! It eats small bugs and flies.
To me this is a bit like the bile of the marsh, all these strange plants and creatures melded
together in their own little ecosystem.

Megan

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 The Triple Burner is an organ unique to traditional Chinese medicine, therefore being one of the most, if not the most, difficult organ to understand from a western perspective. The upper burner governs the intake of fluids, the middle the transformation of nutrients, and the lower the expulsion of waste. Not only does the triple burner promote the flow of fluids and nutrients, but also the flow of qi. Yuan qi (our natal qi) goes to the upper burner to create zong qi (chest qi). Afterwards, the zong qi is refined into wei qi (defensive qi) and sent to other parts of the body. In the middle burner, zong qi is processed into ying qi (nutritive qi) and flows into the interior of the body. Lastly, in the lower burner is the origin of the yuan qi (original qi), from there it will flow upwards and begin the process once more

Jen’s Symbolic Image of the Lungs

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TCM acknowledges that the body is balanced by what is referred to as Qi.  The simplest way to explain Qi is by giving the Oxford Dictionary’s definition: “The circulating life force whose existence and properties are the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine.”

This energy must flow freely to maintain good health. 

By addressing emotional needs  and eating healthy it is easier for individual to maintain positive flow of Qi energy.

Chelsea:

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“The combination of both scientific and spiritual mindedness in this thinking encourages health and well being and a connection to our inner and outer world.

Melanie Cooper, in her article Lung and Large Intestine Meridians, states that the large intestines let go of their waste “like the trees let go of their leaves in autumn. Compost for the next spring, to move forward to the next cycle.” (Melanie Cooper Yoga, November 27, 2021)