WHAT IS Qi?

Qi in Traditional Chinese Medical terms is defined by its function and structure. Qi is vital energy, the overall capacity that sustains life. Qi is matter without form. Qi is the substance that all physical, tangible things in the world are made of. Qi in its material form is protons, neutrons, electrons, cells, tissues and organs. Einstein’s famous E=Mc2, energy equals mass times the speed of light squared, is, in fact, the discovery of Qi. The Chinese recognized this a millennium before Einstein.

Qi in its immaterial form travels along pathways in an orderly fashion and in a timely fashion. These pathways are called meridians. Qi protects the body. Qi warms and maintains heat in the body. Qi is the very root of all activity and movement. It moves in association with blood and lymph. Qi also functions to maintain organs and substances of the body in place. This is its holding function. Qi keeps blood in the blood vessels, capillaries, arteries and veins. A deficiency of this kind of qi could result in hemorrhage, blood moving out of blood vessels, prolapsed rectum, hemorrhoids or miscarriage. Qi is also responsible for transformation in the body, for converting food into blood, qi and fluids like saliva, sweat and urine.

Functionally, there are more than thirty types of Qi. “Yuan qi” is that qi which we inherit from our parents at conception. This is the basis of an individual’s constitution. It cannot be replenished during one’s lifetime. “Wei qi” is ones defensive system, which circulates close to the surface of the body. Wei qi protects our bodies from invasion by wind, cold, heat or damp. These are referred to as External Pernicious Influences. If you stood out in the cold rain, it would be the strength of your Defensive / Wei (pronounced way-chee) that would determine if you fall ill or not. The modern equivalent is the immune system, its associated cellular components and the lymphatic system. “Zhen Qi” is true qi or real qi. Zhen Qi is the basic dynamic force of all vital functions. This is tissue level Qi. It corresponds to the production of energy on the cellular level. The production of ATP by the cells mitochondria. “Ying Qi” is Nutritive qi or Gu qi. Nutritive qi flows in the blood vessels. It functions to nourish and moisten the body. It corresponds to blood coagulation factors, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, protein, vitamins and oxygenated blood.

The smooth flow of Qi through the body without obstructions in a predetermined sequence is what balance is all about. Essentially, the natural balance that our bodies need to function at their healthiest. The disharmonies that effect Qi are described by specific patterns of signs and symptoms. A pattern of generalized body weakness, fatigue, poor appetite, shortness of breath, soft weak voice, lack of desire to move or speak is called deficient Qi. There is insufficient Qi in the body for it to perform its functions. Deficient Qi can apply to specific organs (Liver, Lung, or Spleen, for example) or specific types of Qi as well (Defensive / Wei qi deficiency). Collapsed Qi occurs when the deficiency is so severe that the organ cannot perform its basic functions. Examples of collapsed Qi include prolapsed uterus, prolapsed rectum, hemorrhoids and urinary incontinence. Stagnant Qi occurs when there is an obstruction to the flow of Qi. Rebellious Qi occurs when Qi travels in the wrong direction, examples are hiccups, nausea and vomiting. The practices of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine function to help reestablish this balance.

The flow of Qi through the 12 Meridians in a 24-hour period is termed the Horary Cycle. The Chinese first mapped the flow of Qi thousands of years ago. They discovered that at certain times of the day or night, the energy flow had more focus in a certain part of the body.
It flows as such:

This means that the Qi running through the Lung Meridian is strongest at its peak between 3 & 5 a.m. It then flows into the Large Intestine Meridian, peaking between 5 & 7 a.m. From Large Intestine the pathway follows as Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Urinary Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, Triple Heater, Gall Bladder, Liver and back to Lung to start the sequence of flow again. Clinically, this is vital information. Treating a spleen deficiency patient between 9 - 11 a.m., the period in which Qi flow is highest through that meridian can produce a stronger response to the acupuncture treatment.