Certainly! Here's a list of each major organ with its traditional functions and additional roles it could be operating in under the Three Pillars Model. This helps explain why symptoms and diseases can be hard to isolate—because organs interact and share control over multiple functions, with signals coming from and going to several locations.
Expanded Organ Functions in the Three Pillars Model
Organ Traditional Function(s) Additional/Shared Functions (Three Pillars Model)
Brain Information processing, sensory integration, voluntary and autonomic control Modulates gut motility and microbiome via the vagus nerve; influences heart rhythm and blood pressure; receives metabolic and immune feedback from gut and heart.
Heart Pumps blood, circulates oxygen and nutrients Responds to gut-derived hormones and metabolites; adjusts output based on brain and gut signals; influences immune cell trafficking and systemic inflammation.
Colon (Gut) Absorbs water/nutrients, hosts microbiome, forms stool Produces neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin) affecting mood and cognition; sends immune/metabolic signals to heart and brain; modulates systemic inflammation and hormone levels.
Lungs Gas exchange (O₂/CO₂) Interacts with gut (gut-lung axis) via immune and microbial signals; affected by brain (breathing control) and heart (circulatory status).
Liver Metabolizes nutrients, detoxifies blood, produces bile Receives direct blood flow from gut (portal vein); processes gut-derived toxins and hormones; communicates metabolic status to brain and heart.
Kidneys Filter blood, regulate fluid/electrolytes Respond to hormonal signals from heart and gut; adjust blood pressure and pH in response to systemic needs.
Pancreas Produces insulin, digestive enzymes Coordinates with gut hormones; blood sugar regulation affects heart and brain function.
Spleen Immune surveillance, filters blood Immune signals from gut and circulatory system; interacts with brain during stress/infection.
Stomach Digests food, secretes acid Sends hunger/fullness signals to brain; interacts with gut microbiome and hormones.
Skin Barrier, temperature regulation Reflects immune/metabolic status from gut and circulatory changes from heart; affected by nervous system.
Reproductive Organs Gamete/hormone production Influenced by systemic hormones from brain, heart, and gut; microbiome health can affect reproductive function.
Why This Explains Diagnostic Challenges
Many symptoms and diseases are the result of shared or overlapping control: for example, anxiety can be driven by brain chemistry, gut microbiome imbalance, or heart rhythm disturbances.
Signals are bidirectional and networked: The gut can influence the brain and heart, the brain can modulate gut and heart function, and the heart can affect both through circulation and hormones.
Organ systems are not isolated: Doctors may struggle to isolate a root cause because dysfunction in one organ often triggers compensatory or pathological changes in others.
In summary:
Each organ not only fulfills its classic roles but also participates in a web of shared functions—explaining why symptoms can be multifactorial and why effective diagnosis and treatment often require a systems-level approach.
Absolutely—your "cat and mouse" analogy is spot-on for describing the challenge of diagnosing and treating complex, interconnected organ systems. When dysfunction or disease arises, it often doesn't stay confined to one organ; instead, it can "hide" or manifest elsewhere because of the body's overlapping, networked functions. This is why treating one symptom or organ might only provide temporary relief, as the underlying issue may shift or trigger compensatory changes in another system.
Let's make this practical by connecting the dots—showing how dysfunction in one organ can move through the network, and how knowing these connections can help us anticipate where problems might "run and hide."
Cat-and-Mouse in the Three Pillars Model: Connecting the Dots
1. Example Pathways of Dysfunction
A. Gut-Originating Problem
Start: Colon (gut) dysbiosis (microbiome imbalance)
Moves to:
Brain: Causes anxiety, depression, or brain fog via the gut-brain axis (microbial metabolites, vagus nerve).
Heart: Increases inflammation, affecting heart rhythm or blood pressure.
Possible Outcome: Treating only the brain (e.g., with antidepressants) may not resolve the root gut issue—symptoms can shift or recur.
B. Heart-Originating Problem
Start: Heart failure or arrhythmia
Moves to:
Brain: Reduced blood flow causes cognitive impairment or dizziness.
Gut: Poor circulation leads to gut barrier breakdown ("leaky gut"), triggering immune responses.
Possible Outcome: Treating only the symptoms (e.g., dizziness) won't fix the underlying heart issue, and gut symptoms may emerge later.
C. Brain-Originating Problem
Start: Chronic stress or trauma
Moves to:
Heart: Raises heart rate and blood pressure, increasing cardiovascular risk.
Gut: Alters motility and microbiome, leading to IBS or inflammation.
Possible Outcome: Treating gut symptoms (e.g., with antacids) won't resolve the stress, and heart symptoms may follow.
2. How to Connect the Dots: A Systems Approach
Symptom Appears In Check These Connected Organs/Systems Why?
Brain (mood, cognition) Gut, Heart Microbiome and circulation affect brain chemistry and function
Heart (palpitations, pressure) Brain, Gut Stress and inflammation from other organs can drive heart symptoms
Gut (pain, bloating) Brain, Heart Stress, circulation, and immune signals from brain/heart influence gut
Skin (rash, inflammation) Gut, Heart Microbiome and immune system, as well as circulation, impact skin health
Kidneys (fluid, blood pressure) Heart, Gut Blood flow and hormonal signals from heart and gut affect kidney function
3. Visual: Cat-and-Mouse Pathways
text
[Brain] ⇄ [Heart] ⇄ [Colon]
↑ ↑ ↑
[Other Organs: Lungs, Liver, Kidneys, Skin, Spleen, Pancreas, Stomach, Reproductive Organs]
Arrows show bidirectional influence—dysfunction can move in any direction.
Symptoms may appear in one place but originate elsewhere.
4. Why This Matters Clinically
Holistic Diagnosis: Understanding these connections helps clinicians look beyond the obvious and consider root causes.
Integrated Treatment: Addressing multiple pillars at once (e.g., gut health, stress management, cardiovascular support) can prevent the "cat and mouse" chase.
Predictive Power: Knowing the network, doctors can anticipate where new symptoms might arise if the root cause isn't addressed.
In summary:
The Three Pillars Model shows that the body's organs play a complex game of cat and mouse with dysfunction—problems can shift location due to interconnected pathways. By "connecting the dots," we can better track, predict, and treat health issues at their source, rather than just chasing symptoms as they move through the system.