The Five Types of Wind

Having explained the general locations and functions of the three humors, I shall
now give a more detailed account of the specific functions and locations of each of the
five kinds of wind, bile, and phlegm. Beginning with the five winds, the life-sustaining
wind is located on the crown of the head, but it moves from there, through the throat
and chest, down as far as the solar plexus. It functions principally in the channels,
bones, and the brain, and it contributes to swallowing food and drink, inhaling and
exhaling, expelling saliva and mucus, and facilitates the process of sneezing. It also
contributes to the clarity of the mind and senses and to attentional stability.
The ascending wind is located in the bones just above the solar plexus. Its
functions pertain to the nose, tongue, uvula, and esophagus, for it contributes to verbal
articulation. Furthermore, it contributes to the general strength, radiance and
complexion of the body, bringing clarity especially to the ruddy and pale hues of the
complexion. Finally, it is responsible for all types of exerting effort, and it maintains
ones mindfulness and powers of recollection of ones actions and concerns pertaining
to the past, present and future.
The pervading wind is located in the heart, but it pervades the entire body
including the internal organs, the five sense faculties, and the seven bodily constituents
out to the pores of the skin. Once food and drink have passed through the three phases
of digestion in the alimentary canal, the pervading wind distributes the nutriment
throughout the various bodily constituents. Moreover, it has the function of moving the
major and minor limbs, including walking and all other types of movement. It also
opens and closes all of the orifices of the body such as the eyes. Generally speaking,
all the movements of the body occur in dependence upon the pervading wind.
The fire-accompanying wind is located in the large intestine, but it also moves
through the stomach, the small and large intestines, and throughout all the cavities in
the body. Its principal function is to segregate the nutriment from the residue. It also
ripens the ten afflicted elements of the bodynamely, the seven bodily constituents
and the three waste productsand generally causes growth throughout the body.
The descending wind is located in the perineal region and extends upwards as far
as the lower portion of the thoracolumbar fascia that lines the spinal column. It is also

moves in the male and female genitals, the large intestine, the urinary bladder, the
seminal vesicle, the ovaries and uterus, and the thighs. Its function is to expel and
retain the male and female regenerative substances, the fetus, menstrual blood (the
older blood is expelled while new blood is being produced), urine, and excrement.
Moreover, if the fetus dies in the womb, the descending wind expels it, and at birth it
also expels the placenta.
The Five Types of Bile
The most complicated and important of the five types of bile is the digestive bile,
which is located in the small intestine, between the areas where the food is undigested
and where it has been digested. In terms of its functions, it digests the food, and it
plays some role in differentiating the nutrient from the residue. It produces all the
warmth in the body; even the warmth produced by the four other types of bile arises in
dependence upon this bile, which supports all the rest. It also contributes somewhat to
the transformation of color within the body, and it is responsible for drying up ingested
fluids within the body. Finally, it is responsible for producing hunger and thirst.
The color-transforming bile is located in the liver, but it courses through all the
bodily constituents, including the nutriment, the blood and so forth. It creates the
colors of all of the bodily constituents, especially the red and white colors in the body.
For example, it makes blood red, the bones white, and it provides color to the hair. In
addition, it produces the warmth in all the internal organs.
The accomplishing bile is located in the heart. It prevents attentional scattering,
sustains attentiveness, and supports the stability and clarity of ones intelligence.
Ambition, effort, and determination, as well as ones sense of personal identity, arise
in dependence upon the accomplishing bile.
The sight-giving bile is located in the eyes, and it enables one to see external
forms, including shapes and colors, and spatial dimensions, and it also provides one
with the ability of subtle discernment.
The complexion-clearing bile is located in all the pores of the skin. Its function is
simply to bring a clarity to the complexion of the skin. If you have a good complexion,
that is due to this bile.

The Five Types of Phlegm

The supporting phlegm is located in the chest, specifically in the breast bone and
the upper ribs to the left and right of the breast bone, perhaps corresponding to the
xyphoid. It supports all the other four types of phlegm, and it performs the functions of
all the fluids of the body. Moreover, it supports the elements of earth and water
throughout the body.
The decomposing phlegm is located in the stomach, where the food is still
undigested. It has the function of decomposing the ingested food and drink, congealing
them, and sending them on to the next phase of the digestion, where they are processed
by the digestive bile.
The experiencing phlegm is located in the tongue, and it has the function of
experiencing all the six types of tastes.
The satisfying phlegm is located principally in the head, but it functions from the
base of the neck upwards. It has the function of bringing satisfaction to the five senses
as they perceive their various objects.
The connective phlegm is located in all the major and minor joints. It has the
function of connecting and lubricating all the joints, which provides them with a
pliancy so that one can extend and retract the major and minor limbs.
Among the three humors, wind, being of the nature of the air element, has the
characteristics of being rough, light (the opposite of heavy), cold, thin (i.e., it is able to
course through very narrow passages), hard, and motile. Bile, being of the nature of
the fire element, has the characteristics of being sharp, oily, hot, light, odorous,
purgative and moist. Phlegm, being of the nature of the earth and water elements, has
the characteristics of being oily, cool, heavy, dull, smooth, stable, and sticky.
The wind humor is imbued with neither strong warmth nor coolness.
Nevertheless, when it works in conjunction with bile, it aids the bile in the production
of warmth. When it works in conjunction with phlegm, it aids phlegm in producing
heaviness and coldness. Pervading all parts of the body, it facilitates both warmth and
cold, so it is said to be neutral, though it is a bit cool. Bile is simply hot, and phlegm is
cold.