QI Flashcards
all about Qi
5 functions of ZONG QI. (Gathering)
1) Nourishes Heart and Lungs
2) Assists w Lung fx of controlling Qi and respiration and Heart fx of governing blood and blood vessels
3) Is energy of the chest- controls speech and strength of voice
4) Affects and promotes circulation to extremities
5) Is coordinated with Yuan Qi to regulate breathing.
Properties of Gu Qi (4)
- transformed from food into Gu Qi by Spleen
- is the basis of Qi and Blood
- rises to Lungs, mixes w air to form Zong Qi
- rises to Heart, is transformed into Blood by Kidney Qi and Yuan Qi
Functions of Original Qi (6)
1) MOTIVE FORCE - circulates Qi in channels, arouses all fx activity of organs, link between essence (slow, fluid), and Qi (fast-moving)
2) BASIS OF KIDNEY QI- basis for and related to all kidney qi fx; dwells in Gate of Life, between 2 kidneys
3) FACILITATES TRX OF QI- agent of change in transforming Zong Qi into Zhen Qi
4) CONDUIT FOR TRIPLE BURNER - “conductor to move heat”; triple burner= special envoy that makes Yuan Qi separate and differentiate in different forms around body
5) FACILITATES TRX OF BLOOD- facilitates transformation of Gu Qi into Blood in Heart (the yang to transform the yin)
6) COMES OUT AT SOURCE (YUAN) POINTS- originates in Gate of Life, passes through Triple Burner, spreads to organs and channels, stays at Source Points
Zong Qi derives from:
interaction of Gu Qi (from SPLEEN & Stomach) w/ air in Lungs
Gu Qi derives from:
Food rotted and ripened by Stomach; transformed into Gu Qi by Spleen. (still raw form- unusable by body)
Yuan Qi derives from:
Relies on:
Kindey Essence- dynamic, rarefied form of Essence with origin in the Kidneys
*relies on nourishment from Post-Heaven Essence
Weak Zong Qi might manifest as:
Weak circulation; weak voice.
An example of mutual assistance between Kidneys and Lungs, as it realtes to Qi:
Zong Qi flows downwards from Lungs to aid Kidneys; Yuan Qi flows upwards from Kidneys to aid breathing.
The two forms of Zhen Qi/True Qi are:
Defensive (Wei) Qi and Nutritive (Ying) Qi.
Zhen Qi is:
- final stage in refinement and transformation of Qi
- the Qi that circulates in the channels & nourishes organs
- originates from Zong Qi in Lungs
Zhen Qi originates from:
Zong Qi, in the Lungs
What are the main qualities and functions of Ying Qi?
- more refined aspect of True Qi (Zhen Qi)
- interior- nourishes internal organs
- closely linked to Blood; flows with it in blood vessels
- also flows in channels; it is the qi activated when needling
- is the basis for the immune system- “the supply lines/reserves” (Zach quotes)
“Nutritive Qi is extracted from food & water, regulates the 5 Yin organs, moistens the 6 Yang organs, enters the blood vessels, circulates in the channels, is linked to Yin organs and connects to Yang organs.”
Which Qi are you accessing when needling?
Ying Qi / Nutritive Qi
What are the mains functions of Wei Qi?
- protects from exterior pathogens (cold, heat, wind, dampness)
- warms, moistens, partly nourishes skin & muscles
- under control of Lungs, it opens and closes pores (sweat; temperature regulation)
- “immune system; first (few) lines of defense” (Zach quotes)
What are the qualities of Wei Qi?
- courser aspect of Zhen Qi than Ying Qi
- circulates on outer layers/ exterior; diffused under skin
- does not enter channels
- circulates 50 times in 24 hours (25 day; 25 night)
Describe how Lungs and Wei Qi interact to control sweating
Lungs diffuse fluids to skin and muscles, where it mixes with Wei Qi, which controls the opening and closing of pores (holds). If Wei Qi is weak, it won’t hold it in = excess sweat.
What determines the strength of Wei Qi?
Lung Qi; Kindey Yang.
ROOTED in Lower Burner (Kidneys); NOURISHED by Middle Burner (Stomach and Spleen); SPREAD OUTWARD in Upper Burner (Lungs).
Explain the daily circulation of Wei Qi:
- circulates exterior of body 25 times per day in Yang superficial channels
- circulates Yin organs 25 times per night (KD, HT, LU, LR, SP)
- flow from interior to exterior, emerging at inner corner of eyes- this is what open eyes and wakes us up in the morning