The physiology of Tibetan medicine revolves around a system of self-organization that emphasizes the balance of the Three Principle Energies, or Three Humors (Nyes-pa).
The Three Humors
rLung
The word rLung means mobility in Tibetan, and this humor is a subtle flow of energy that circulates through body and aids activities of mind,speech, and body. This humor is often associated with the element of air, and is also called the wind humor. It is connected with the heart, large intestines, lungs, blood vessels, and nerves.
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Humors in Harmony
Firstly, it should be mentioned that despite having translations and alternate names in English, the humors of Tibetan medicine are complex concepts that cannot be conveyed in a translation and thus the Tibetan names are most often used in order to capture them in their entirety and make sure nothing is lost in translation. Although the humors are the building blocks of human physiology, they also have a strong link to factors outside the body. The elements are a common theme throughout Tibetan medicine, and everything in existence (including the humors) is considered to be composed one or more elements, which leads to an innate harmony or discord between objects and ideas with similar or opposing element associations. Consequently, the humors are connected with and affected by innumerable factors such as foods, behaviors, the environment, and many more. Additionally, each person has an innate disposition toward one humor over the others based on gender, age, personality, and physical traits. When the humors are in balance, one is healthy, and when the humors are imbalanced (nyes-pa-gsum), one is ill. However, it is important to make the distinction that disease is not caused by the imbalance of humors, but rather the imbalance manifests itself as illness.