The relationship between five internal organs and four seasons is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine, and it is also an important basis for understanding human physiology and disease prevention. This relationship has a long history, which was discussed in detail in Huangdi Neijing in 2000.

First of all, the five internal organs here refer to the five main organs of the human body, namely, heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney. The four seasons refer to spring, summer, autumn and winter. In the theory of Yin and Yang, the four seasons belong to Yang and the five internal organs belong to Yin.

The general reaction here refers to the correlation and influence between the five internal organs and the four seasons. Specifically, the functional activities of the five zang-organs are closely related to the climate changes in the four seasons, and with the changes of the four seasons, the functions of the five zang-organs will change accordingly.

Specifically, spring is the season when everything recovers, corresponding to the liver. The liver governs the circulation of qi, which can promote the smooth flow of qi and regulate the operation of blood, so spring is also the most active season for blood circulation.

Summer is the season when everything grows, which corresponds to the heart. Heart governs blood vessels and can promote blood circulation, so summer is also the most vigorous season for blood circulation. Long summer is the wettest season, corresponding to the spleen. Spleen governs transportation and can absorb and transport subtle Shui Gu, so long summer is also the season with the most vigorous spleen and stomach functions.

Autumn is the harvest season, corresponding to the lungs. The distribution of lung governing qi can disperse and inhibit qi in the body, so autumn is also the most active season of respiratory system. Winter is the season of collecting all things, corresponding to the kidney. Kidney storing essence can store and nourish the essence of human body, so winter is also the season with the most vigorous kidney function.

This universal relationship between yin and yang is not only reflected in the relationship between the functions of the five zang-organs and the climate change of the four seasons, but also in the fact that the pathological changes of the five zang-organs will be affected by the climate change of the four seasons.

For example, in spring, liver qi is vigorous. If liver qi is not discharged smoothly, it will easily lead to diseases such as stagnation of liver qi and inflammation of liver fire. The heart is full of fire in summer. Strong heart fire can easily lead to diseases such as hyperactivity of heart fire and palpitation and insomnia.

Long summer is wet and heavy, and if the spleen and stomach function is weak, it will easily lead to diseases such as damp-heat and diarrhea in the spleen and stomach; Autumn is dry, if lung qi is not well publicized, it will easily lead to lung dryness and cough; Winter is cold, if kidney yang is insufficient, it will easily lead to diseases such as kidney yang deficiency and cold.

In a word, the relationship between five zang-organs and four seasons is an important theory of traditional Chinese medicine, which guides the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in clinic. Knowing this relationship, we can better understand the laws of human physiology and the occurrence and development of diseases, so as to better prevent and treat diseases.