TCM I: Qi Flashcards
Energy
Qi is frequently translated as ‘energy’:
* Qi can be as rarefied & immaterial as a gas or as dense & palpable as a solid
* The Chinese character for Qi shows steam rising from cooked rice
* Just as streams and rivers irrigate the land, Qi (and blood) circulate and irrigate the body, bringing life and health. Stagnant, flowless water becomes polluted. Stagnant, flowless Qi causes ill-health
Qi organs
The organs involved in the production and circulation of Qi:
* The digestive system (named stomach and spleen in Chinese medicine)
* The lungs
* The kidneys
* The liver
The digestive system (Stomach & spleen in TCM)
- The digestive system (named stomach and spleen in Chinese medicine) extracts nutrients to circulate.
The lungs
- The lungs extract Qi from the air and circulate it
The kidneys
- The original Qi (Yuan Qi) of the kidneys is a catalyst for all the QI transformations in the body
The liver
- The liver is not involved in the production of Qi but regulates its flow
- The liver is not involved in the production of Qi but regulates its flow
- Transforming
- Transporting
- Protecting
- Raising/stabilizing
- Warming
‘True Qi’ Types
There are many types of Qi, each performing different functions. Unless you are studying TCM, you do not need to know them all.
* The Qi that circulates in the body is called ‘True Qi’, which is made of:
o Nutritive Qi (Ying Qi)
o Defensive Qi (Wei Qi)
Nutritive Qi (Ying Qi)
- Nutritive Qi (Ying Qi), which flows in the acupuncture channels and organs
Defensive Qi (Wei Qi)
- Defensive Qi (Wei Qi), which circulates to the skin and muscles
Qi Synthesis overview
AIR - LUNGS - TRUE QI - NUTRITIVE QI / DEFENSIVE QI
FOOD & WATER - STOMACH AND SPLEEN - TRUE QI - NUTRITIVE QI / DEFENSIVE QI
INNATE VITAL SUBSTANCES - KIDNEYS - TRUE QI - NUTRITIVE QI / DEFENSIVE QI
