Pericardium

Abbreviation: PC. Also pericardiac network [vessel].

Pericardium Nature and Function

The pericardium (心包 xīn bāo), also called the pericardiac network (心包络 xīn bāo luò), and chest center (胸中 xiōng zhōng) is the membrane surrounding the heart. Its function is to protect the heart.

The Líng Shū (Chapter 35) states, Chest center is the outer wall of the palace of the heart governor. The Líng Shū (Chapter 71) further states, The heart is the great governor of the five viscera and six bowels, the abode of the essence-spirit. If the viscus is strong and secure, evil is incapable of penetrating. If it does penetrate and the heart is damaged, the spirit will depart. When the spirit departs, the patient dies. So, any evil in the heart is [actually] in the pericardiac network. For this reason, in warm disease theory, externally contracted disease manifesting in signs of the spirit failing to keep to its abode, such as clouded spirit and delirious raving, is called heat entering the pericardium (热入心包 rè rù xīn bāo). Similarly, phlegm turbidity causing clouded spirit and deranged spirit is sometimes called phlegm turbidity clouding the pericardium (痰浊蒙蔽心包tán zhuó méng bì xīn bāo). In reality, clouded spirit and deranged spirit are conditions of the heart.

Some historians believe that heart conditions resulting from external contractions are attributed to the pericardium because of a political taboo in imperial China against suggesting, even in medical analogies, that the imperial palace might be vulnerable to invasion.

Pericardium’s Associations

The hand reverting yīn (jué yīn) pericardium channel stands in exterior-interior relationship with the hand lesser yáng (shào yáng) triple burner channel, and for this reason the pericardium is said to be a viscus that stands in internal-external relationship with the triple burner.

The Pericardium Channel (心包经 xīn bāo jīng)

The channel associated with the pericardium is the hand reverting yīn pericardium channel (PC).

Pericardium Disease Signs and Patterns

See pericardiac pattern.