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the hollow interior of the middle portion of long
bones. In cases of severe blood loss, the body can
convert yellow marrow back to red marrow to increase
blood cell production.
Various diseases and drugs can affect the bone
marrow. Malignancies, aplastic anemia, or infections
such as tuberculosis can lead to a decreased
production of blood cells and blood platelets. There
are types of leukemia that are cancers of the hematologic
progenitor cells in the bone marrow. Exposure
to radiation or chemotherapy can kill many of
the rapidly dividing cells of the bone marrow and so
result in a depressed immune system. Many of the
symptoms of radiation sickness are due to damage to
the bone marrow cells.
A bone marrow aspiration is sometimes performed
to diagnose diseases of the bone marrow.
This typically involves using a hollow needle to acquire
a sample of red bone marrow from the crest of
the ilium under general or local anesthesia.
Figure 1
The Brain is functionally related to the Kidneys,
since Marrow originates from the Kidneys. The
Brain is nourished by the Heart, particularly Heart
Blood. The Kidneys store Essence and the Heart
governs Blood. If Essence and Blood are abundant,
the Brain will be healthy, vision and hearing will be
clear. Deficiency of Heart Blood and Kidney Essence
can result in slow thinking, poor memory, low
vitality and impaired sight and hearing. The interrelation
of the Brain with the Kidney and Heart explains
why in clinical practice symptoms such as
poor memory and concentration, blurred vision and
dizziness can result from a deficiency of the Kidney
essence or Heart Blood.
2. Brain (Danao)
Chapter 33 in the Miraculous Pivot states that
the Brain is a Sea of Marrow. Its upper part lies beneath
the scalp with vertex at Bahui (Du 20) and its
lowest part at Fengfu (Du 16). Chapter 10 in Simple
Questions says that the Marrow pertains to the
Brain. The Du (Govening) Meridian ascends the
spinal column and enters the Brain at Fengfu. Many
acupoints of the Du Meridian are used for pathological
conditions of the Brain.
Chapter 17, in Simple Questions, says that the
head is the residence of intelligence. This can be
interpreted as stating that the Brain is related to
thinking. Chapter 33 of the Miraculous Pivot states
that deficiency of the Brain leads to vertigo and dizziness.
The ancient Chinese doctors ascribed the functions
of the Brain to various Organs, particularly, the
Kidneys, Heart and Liver. Therefore, many syndromes
and treatments of brain disorders are included
in syndromes of the Organs.
Later, some of these functions of the Brain were
ascribed to the brain itself. In the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644), Li Shizhen clearly indicated that the
Brain is the palace of the Mind. During the Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911), Wang Qingren’s book,
“Revision of the Medical Classics” postulated that
intelligence and memory rely on the brain. He
stated that thinking, memory, smelling, vision, hearing
and speaking are all functions of the brain.
Western Concepts of the Brain
The nervous system is composed of two parts.
The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the
brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system
is composed of cranial and spinal nerves, which
carry impulses to and from the central nervous system.
The cranial nerves handle head and neck sensory
and motor activities, except the vagus nerve,
which conducts signals to visceral organs. Each spi-
20 Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) Volume 2, Issue No. 5