The Curious Organs are a group of six Organs associated more with our evolution than with the capacity to manage our daily activities. They include the Brain, Bones, Marrow, Uterus (including the male genitalia), Vessels, and Gall Bladder, the unique Organ that links the Curious Organs to the Primary Channels.
As we engage in our lives we rely on the Internal Organs/Zang-Fu to manage our postnatal needs. If our postnatal needs exceed the capacity of the Internal Organs, the Curious Organs are motivated to try to fill the gap. For example, if the Spleen is not producing sufficient red substance to create the Blood, the Marrow will get involved.
The Curious Organs are primarily associated with the survival and perpetuation of the species, which is continually evolving in order to accommodate new information as our environment changes. For example, if we study the remains of early hominids, the biggest differences we find between ancient people and modern human beings are the size and shape of the brain and the cranial cavity.
This group of Organs is defined in the classics as having both yin and yang qualities. They have the ability to both store and transport Essence, which is why they are called Curious or Extraordinary Organs.
From a therapeutic standpoint, many modern textbooks state that there are few applications for the Curious Organs. They are nevertheless important, particularly for the pediatric population, when we might be working with developmental issues such as poor growth, and for the elderly, where conditions affecting these Organs are likely to occur during the aging process.
Brain
The Jing-Shen/Essence-Spirit is contained in the Brain. This is referred to as the Big Shen, which gives our Soul its most direct connection to Spirit. The Big Shen represents the dialogue that is occurring on the cellular level between our constitution and the experiences our constitution is undergoing. It is the relationship between RNA and DNA. Our RNA translates experiences so that our DNA can accommodate to changes that may need to be made. This differs from the Little Shen of the Heart, which contains the curriculum that we must undergo and dialogues with the Essence/Jing.
Bones
The Bones refer particularly to the bony cavities of the skull, thorax, and pelvis, as well as to the spine. The Bones have a relationship to the Kidneys, especially in regard to the Moving Qi of the Kidneys as it travels up along the spine to be disseminated to the Bladder Shu/Transporting points.
Marrow
The Marrow deeply nourishes us with its production of Blood. As with the Brain, the Marrow is engaged in an inner dialogue between Essence/Jing and Spirit/Shen, between RNA and DNA, between the reality of our lives and how we perceive our lives to be. When we are injured, physically or emotionally, the Marrow produces more blood to heal the wound.
Vessels
There is controversy over what is meant by the Vessels. The classics may have been referring to the vessels that carry Blood, or perhaps to a set of energetic channels known as the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. As conveyors of Essence/Jing, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels reflect the aspect of our DNA that we have inherited from previous generations. They are vessels that link the past and the future. The Eight Extraordinary Vessels are discussed in more detail in chapters 9 and 17.
Uterus
Both male and female reproductive organs are referred to as Bao, or Uterus.
Gall Bladder
As a channel and organ included in the Primary Channels of the Internal Organs, the Gall Bladder makes the link between the energetic system responsible for daily life and the deeper energetic mechanisms offered by the Curious Organs.