Exploring the Physiological Functions of San Jiao in TCM

This report provides a detailed overview of the physiological functions of San Jiao, also known as the Triple Burner, within the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It elucidates the concept of San Jiao as a unique organ-energy system, distinct from Western medicine, and its influence on the body's overall health. The report explores the three individual burners (upper, middle, and lower) and their respective roles in respiration, digestion, and elimination. It delves into the production and circulation of Qi, the vital energy force, and the function of each burner in this process. Additionally, it discusses the role of original Qi and its relationship to the body's various systems. The report draws upon TCM principles and explores the implications of Qi flow alterations. The report uses diagrams and cited sources to explain the different components of the San Jiao system and its impact on the human body.

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PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF SAN JIAO (TRIPLE BURNER)
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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Individual burners......................................................................................................................3
The function of each burner in Qi production............................................................................4
Role of original Qi.....................................................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
San Jiao is a unique concept in traditional Chinese medicine or the TCM and
acupuncture. This is referred to as the sixth organ of Fu without any equivalence with the
western medication. According to TCM, there are five organs which are solid and each of
them has a counterpart which is hollow in nature (Davis & MSA, 2015). The heart is one of
the solid organs and the small intestine is the hollow counterpart. This concept is only
applicable to Fu organs in the TCM. San Jiao is actually thought to be a body cavity with the
ability to influence all the organs and the overall health of the human body. The free Qi
movement has been found to be associated with the good health of a human being. Qi is
referred to as the fundamental energy of the force called life which helps every living
organism to breathe and move around with interactions. San Jiao is an innovative concept
utilised by traditional Chinese acupuncturists (Avijgan, Avijgan & Salehzadeh, 2017). This
factor has been a major resource for research on traditional medicines and has also been used
as a concept in various animations and movies.
Fig 1: Concept model of San Jiao
Source: (Gong & Liu, 2019)

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Individual burners
The meaning of San Jiao is three burners. The topmost burner has been found to consist of
all the organs in the thorax and all parts above the diaphragm. Thus, it can be stated that the
topmost burner is associated with the respiratory functions including breathing as the main
function. The middle burner has been found to consist of the organs which include the
stomach. Thus, it can be stated that the middlemost burner has been found to be concerned
with digestion. Similarly, the concept has also a lower burner which starts from the pyloric
valve and runs down straight to the urinary tract and anus which is responsible for the
separation of impure and pure products of the digestive system. San Jiao triple burner has
been found to be referred to as an organ-energy system that is not recognised by the western
physiology (Gong & Liu, 2019). This system has been stated to be responsible for the
movement of various solids and fluids, and the transformation of the same throughout the
system. This movement has also been found to include the production and circulation of
nourishing energy referrer to as Ying chee or the Wei Qi (protective energy). From the
quotations of Chinese medical text, it can be stated that the upper burner is responsible for
controlling the intake of solids and fluids, the middle burner has been found to control the
process of transformation and the lower burner has been found to control the process of
elimination. All the burners of the human body system have been found to be linked to a set
of psychological structures and functions. The next section will discuss the role of the
important organs responsible for the generation of Qi inside the human body.

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Fig 2: Qi flow paths
Source: (Majid & Rouh, 2018)
The function of each burner in Qi production
The upper burner has been found to travel from the base of the human tongue to the
entry of stomach where it controls the intake of air, food and fluids. Thus, it can be stated that
the upper part of the human burner system consists of respiratory, olfactory and food intake
system. The respiratory system is directly connected with the production of energy by various
types of mechanisms involving metabolism. Various types of metabolisms such as
carbohydrate, fat and proteins are only possible after the human system takes food through
the topmost burner. From this burner, the food materials get transferred to the middle burner.
In this burner, the digestion and assimilation of food take place (Hopwood, 2014). Qi is the
term used for energy in the Chinese medicine foundations. Energy is only produced in the
system when the human body can perform metabolism needed for production. All the
metabolic reactions have been stated to start after the digestion process performed by the
middle burner. This burner is not a single and self-contained organ. Instead, this organ is
responsible for the production of Qi which is termed as ATP in biological terms. The
protective energy or the Qi has been found to be distributed properly to the external body
surfaces by the harmonization function of lungs and heart by the upper burner. The middle
burner is responsible for harmonizing the functioning mechanism of spleen, pancreas and

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stomach. The Qi generated from this burner has been found to distribute the energy or Qi
across the lungs and upper regions of the body. The lower burner has been stated to run from
the pyloric valve down to the urinary tract and the anus. This burner is required to separate
the impure and pure digestion products, absorbs the nutrients and eliminates the liquid and
solid wastes. The Qi mechanism has been found to compose the ascending or descending and
entering or exiting the flow of Qi in various organs and places of the human body. According
to this concept, each of the organs has the ability to move Qi in a particular direction. For
example, it has been found that Qi from spleen moves in an ascending direction whereas
stomach Qi moves in a descending direction. In every channel of the triple burner system,
this Qi either moves upwards or downwards. Acupuncturists have been found to be very
much familiar with the descending and ascending movement of Qi. A problem inside the
triple burner or the human body is detected whenever there is an alteration in the flow of Qi
across the three burners. Ascending and descending movements of Qi are used for the
treatment of problems in human shoulders. In this way, Qi is produced inside the human body
by the three burners and are also utilised by the body correctly.
Role of original Qi
After Qi is produced, it is free to enter and exit various organs and structures. Qi has
been found to enter and exit the spaces between muscle and skin, the joint capsules, the
membranes and all the other body cavities. Qi has also been found to enter and exit all the
body parts along with Tai Tai Yang, Shao Yang and Yang Ming and among the Tai Yin, Jue
Yin and Shao Yin. According to the “Avernus of Qi" it can be stated that in the chest,
abdomen, head and lower legs, Qi has streets to move throughout. Now as soon as a problem
with Qi occurs in the head, brain functioning is stopped. A problem in the chest has been
found to stop the front chest and Back-Shu points (Pan, Kangming & Gao, 2017). This is the
whole process and role of Qi production and the result of Qi transformation has been found to

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lead to the production of three types of Qi. Nutritive-Qi (Ying Qi), Defensive-Qi (Wei Qi)
and Blood and Body Fluids are the three Qi types produced by the before-mentioned steps. In
other words, it can also be stated that the triple burner itself is the main Qi of the body. This
is the Yang organ of clear Qi and controls 5 Zang and 6 Fu, Wei Qi and Ying Qi, all the
interior and exterior Qi channels, above and below, left and right (Qu, 2018). Thus, it can be
stated that this triple burner is responsible for the irrigation of the body, harmonize the
interior and exterior, properly benefit the left and finally nourish the right side.
Conclusion
Thus, from the above discussion, it can be said that San Jiao is a unique concept in
traditional Chinese medicine or the TCM and acupuncture. This concept is only applicable to
Fu organs in the TCM. San Jiao is actually thought to be a body cavity with the ability to
influence all the organs and the overall health of the human body. This report showed that
free Qi movement has been found to be associated with the good health of a human being. Qi
is referred to as the fundamental energy of the force called life which helps every living
organism to breathe and move around with interactions. San Jiao has been described as an
innovative concept utilised by traditional Chinese acupuncturists.

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Bibliography
Avijgan, M., Avijgan, M., & Salehzadeh, F. (2017). Meraque/San Jiao of Eastern Medicine in
Comparison with the Mesentery System Presented in Western Medicine. Integrative
Medicine International, 4(3-4), 101-106.
Davis, J., & MSA, L. (2015). The San Jiao Organ System Found Within the Extracellular
Matrix and Collagen Fibers of Connective Tissue (Doctoral dissertation, Oregon
College of Oriental Medicine).
Gong, C. Z., & Liu, W. (2019). Convergence of Medicines: West Meets East in Newly-
Discovered Organs and Functions. Chinese journal of integrative medicine, 25(5),
323-326.
Helu, T. I. A. N. (2018). Find the Source of Sanjiao Theory in Huang Di Nei Jing. Journal of
Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, (1), 2.
Hopwood, V. (2014). The San Jiao/Triple Energizer meridian. AACP ACUPUNCTURE, 41,
42.
Majid, A., & Rouh, M. A. (2018). Qi before and after production; basic concept of life. Int J
Complement Alt Med, 11(2), 139-143.
Pan, J., Kangming, L. I., & Gao, X. (2017). A Preliminary Study on the San Jiao Theory of
ZHENG Qin'an. Journal of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 41(5), 375-377.
Prabu, N. (2018). Efficacy of sanjiao and ren meridian massage on blood sugar level among
type 2 diabetics: A Randomized control trial (Doctoral dissertation, Government
Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College, Chennai).

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Tian, H. (2018). Find the Source of Sanjiao Theory in Huang Di Nei Jing. Journal of
Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 42(1), 1-7.
Qu, L. (2018). Structure and distribution of the San Jiao and Cou Li–Recognized interstitium
in human tissues. Chinese Medicine and Culture, 1(2), 84.