5 Vital Substances Flashcards
Name the 3 origins of Qi
Yuan Qi (prenatal Qi)
Gu Qi (grain Qi)
Kong Qi (natural air Qi)
What is Qi?
Vital energy - YANG
Matter/change on the verge of becoming energy
Root thread connecting all being (life)
Define Yuan Qi
Original/source/prenatal
Transmitted by parents @ conception and partly responsible for inherited constitution
Define Gu Qi
Natural air Qi
Derived from digestion of food & water
Define Kong Qi
Natural air Qi
Extracted by the lungs from the air one breathes
Define zangfu Qi
Internal organ Qi
Major functional aspect of each individual organ
Define Zhen Qi
Meridian Qi (upright/true Qi)
Channels, pathways for Qi & blood circulation
Includes Wei Qi, Ying Qi, & Jing circulation
Define Ying Qi
Nutritive Qi
Mainly assoc. with Blood, which moves with Qi, for nourishment
Define Wei Qi
Defensive or protective Qi
Bodily resistance to EPI (external pathogenic influences)
Define Zong Qi
Ancestral Qi, Qi of the chest
Gathers in the chest to form a “sea of Qi” at Ren17, btw the nipples
Qi warms…
The body
Qi ensures…
stability (structure) & insures retention (holds things up & in)
Qi is the source…
of transformation & transportation (T/T) of food, fluids & air into Qi, Blood & Fluids
Qi is the source of all…
movement & accompanies all movement in the Bodymind with 4 primary directions: ascending, descending, entering, leaving
2 major pathologies of Qi
Deficiency of Qi: sx = lethargy, exhaustion, paleness (complexion), weak voice, no desire to move, insufficient Zangfu function, weak pulse, etc
Sub pathology: collapsed Qi
Stagnation of Qi (excess): sx = blockage leads to distention & pain, purplish tongue, soft changeable lumps, moodiness, frustration, wiry pulse
Sub pathology: rebellious Qi
2 minor pathologies (disharmonies) of Qi
Collapsed Qi (excess): sx = prolapses - subcategory of def of Qi
Rebellious Qi: sx = Qi flows in wrong direction
- subcategory of Qi stagnation
Name the 5 vital substances
- Qi (yang)
- Blood/Xue (yin)
- Body fluids/Jingye
- Jing/Essence
- Shen/spirit
Define blood as a tcm vital substance
Responsive, accepting, effortless, soft & nurturing
Qi is pervasive, dynamic, transforming
Yin substance
Relationship of blood & Qi
Yin & yang of everyday ordinary life
Origin of blood
Gu Qi combines with Kong Qi to form blood
Define Xue
Blood
2 functions of blood
- Nourish the mind
2. Moisten the various parts
2 disharmonies/pathologies of blood
Def of blood: sx - thin weak emaciated constitution, dizziness, visual disturbances ( floaters), numbness of extremities, general dryness, scanty menses, paleness, lusterless complexion & think pulse
Congealed blood (blood stasis): sx - stabbing pain, relatively hard fixed lumps, darkened complexion, dark purplish tongue w possible red spots, rough chopping pulse
What does jinye mean?
Body fluids
What are body fluids by Chinese definition?
Much the same as western physiology: sweat, saliva, gastric juices, urine, blood, serous fluid, etc
Origin of body fluids (2)
- Transformed from food & drink
2. Absorbed & regulates mainly be Qi of kidneys
2 types of body fluids
Jin: lighter, clearer fluids
Ye: heavier thicker fluids
2 functions of body fluids
- Moisten (&partly nourish hair, skin, membranes, orifices, flesh muscles, organs, joints, brain, marrow & bones
- To cool preventing the body from over-heating
Pathologies/disharmonies of body fluids (2)
- Def of fluid (yin): sx - general or localized dryness and/or heat, which may lead to inflammatory conditions
- Accumulation (excess) of fluid: sx - mainly due to build up of mucus & phlegm (often due to underlying def of kidney yang root)
What does Jing mean?
Essence; ancestral energy, Qi
2 origins/sources of Jing
- Prenatal (congenital) Jing: inherited @ conception (DNA), fixed @ birth and with yuan Qi determines each ind. constitution
- Postnatal Jing: derived from purified transformed food & drink (Gu Qi) & may replace prenatal Jing throughout life
Define Jing
Hereditary factor specific to organic life that makes humans unique
Deep potential which forms and films the life cycle
3 functions of Jing
- Rule growth processes t/o life
- Basis of production & development
- Development of deep awareness & wisdom
Pathologies/disharmonies of Jing
Manifests ONLY in deficiency
Sx: improper maturation & growth, congenital defects, sexual dysfunction, infertility both male & female, inherited predisposition to disease, in graceful aging, lack of self-reflection w/ aging
What does Shen mean?
Spirit, mind
Define Shen
Psychosomatic aspect - vitality of the individual, force of ones personality as manifested through eyes & felt by others
Each organ has character or spirit
5 types of Shen
Hint: Correspondence to organs
- Yi: consciousness of potentials,
- Hun: non-corporeal soul
- Zhi: will
4 Shen (small Shen): totality of Shen virtues residing in heart - Po: animal/corporeal soul
Define Yi
Type of Shen: consciousness of potentials
Thought consciousness, intention
Insightfulness, awareness of others needs
Assoc with spleen/earth
Define the Hun
Non-corporeal soul
Unattached to the physical body
Virtue of good deeds
Assoc with liver/wood
Define the Zhi
Type of Shen: the will
Virtue of wisdom, basic intuition, quality of force, self determination
Assoc with kidneys/water
Define the Shen (small Shen)
Type of Shen: totality of all Shen virtues
Resides in heart, responsible for Big Shen’s proper connection to world of real people/places
Assoc with
Define the Po
Type of Shen: animal/corporeal soul
Ceases with death, dependent of physical life, compelling passion that drives knee-jerk reactions, reactivity
Assoc with lungs/metal
