health, wellness, qi, chinese medicine, acupuncture

The concept of Qi (pronounced “chee”) is as fundamental as yin and yang in eastern philosophy (see last newsletter/blog). It is the most basic substance of which the world is made and is the thread that connects everything- and yet it has no form. Qi is a difficult word to translate, but a working definition could be “vital force.” The Chinese character for Qi is the same used for the word “Air.” Sometimes it is depicted with an additional character which denotes a bowl of rice, and the literal translation of the combined characters then becomes “steam rising from a bowl of rice.” This signifies the mystery, energy, and formlessness of Qi.

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 In the movie Star Wars, what Yoda describes as “The Force” is basically qi: it is everywhere and must be cultivated, as he taught his student Luke Skywalker. Luke practiced both physical and meditative exercises to enhance his qi and in turn developed great power and longevity. Living things are innervated by qi. It permeates all parts of the human body and circulates constantly; if a person has abundant qi, they will be healthy; if qi is weak, it may lead to disease. Everyone is born with qi that they receive from their parents at conception. This “Original” or “Primary” Qi (also called Yuan Qi) which is stored in the kidneys, is finite and must be augmented throughout life. It’s important for growth, development, and sustenance. Acquired Qi is the supplemental qi that we make ongoingly from the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. Qi does a few specific things in the human body: it promotes function and movement, it regulates body temperature, it protects the body from harm, it nourishes the body, and it promotes metabolism and the transformation of qi, blood, and body fluid.

Blood in Chinese medicine is not just the red liquid that carries nutrients throughout the vessels; it has an energetic quality and is unique to each individual. It nourishes and moistens the tissues and organs, but it also affects mental faculties. For example, insufficient blood may cause restlessness, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, etc. Many syndromes that afflict the mind are rooted in the blood.

Qi and blood have a complementary Yin-Yang relationship; Blood is Yin, Qi is Yang. Furthermore, they depend upon one another in the human body: qi commands the blood and blood contains qi. A healthy flow of qi and blood maintains all vital activities in the body. They are the material basis for the actions of the tissues and organs. The organs also generate qi and blood, so they have a mutual relationship- they are both the function and the outcome. This fabric determines health and longevity and can be maximized with healthy lifestyle habits.

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