What is QI anyway - and how does it apply in health and wellness. before we can understand its role in health and wellness, it is important to define QI from a a TCM perspective.
QI has been an integral part of the eastern philosophy, history, and way of life, but has for the most part been relegated to the occult in the western societies. In recent years it has found renewed attention, primarily as a result of greater interest in its apparent healing and medical applications. From an esoteric point of view, Qi can be defined as follows.
QI is the will of the universe manifesting in form of the intricate relationship of YIN and YANG within each life form. It is the macrocosm manifesting within the microcosm. QI represents the sum total of subtle yet powerful universal energetics responsible for creating, changing, and evolving life in the universe.
Within the medical or scientific context, Qi can be defined as the "biomorphic" energy, (measurable and identifiable) which is responsible for sustaining a living organism. It is in this area that a great deal of research has been conducted since 2300 BC by Chinese Physicians. Throughout the years, the work has been continually improved upon and recently has seen many validations from continual theoretical and practical successes.
At the heart of the eastern medical theory is the fact that a living organism represents the relationship of the YIN and YANG energies of the universe. Many of us have seen the symbol depicting the Yin and Yang. But upon further study, it reveals a great deal more information about the concept of Yin and Yang. For example the light half represents the Yang energies, the Dark YIN energies. The circular integration of the two shows the cycle of life and also the inter-dependencies of Yin and Yang. The smaller circles demonstrate the mutual creation of Yin from Yang and vice verse. The friction created by this interaction of Yin and Yang creates QI and it is this QI that powers the life processes.
According to the Traditional oriental medicine the QI that is directly involved in a persons life has three origins (Sources). The first of these is the original or Prenatal QI (Yuan-QI) and comes to us at conception from our parents. It brings with it the sum total of our parents QI and their parents and so on. In this form it represents the inherited energetics from our parents, the genetic and learned essence of our ancestors. It is partly responsible for the individual inherited constitution. The second is Grain Qi (Gu-Qi) this energy is produced throughout the life of the person by consuming and converting food and drink. The third is the Air Qi (Zhong-Qi), which is produced by the process of respiration. These three Qi's power and operate the life process.
The functions of QI
Within the person, Qi and its varying manifestations have five major functions. 
Through these functions Qi is responsible for the integrity of the entity and the changes that entity undergoes. These five functions are:
Through these functions Qi is responsible for the integrity of the entity and the changes that entity undergoes. These five functions are:- Qi is the source of all movement and accompanies all movement. It is said that Qi is responsible for all functions Including walking, dancing, involuntary actions (like breathing, heartbeat) and also esoteric functions like thinking, dreaming and emotional experiences. Qi is not the cause of function it is the function. Within the body Qi moves and cycles following the solar cycles. There are many manifestations of these in medical applications. The picture shows the actual cycle times during a 24-hour period.
- Qi protects the body. It resists the entry into the body of pathogens from the exterior. It also combats any pathogen that has managed to invade the body. In this context QI is the body's immune systems function.
- Qi is the source of transformation. It is the "Fuel" used by the digestive system in the process of consuming and transforming food and drinks into the body's essential nutrients.
- Qi is responsible for holding and containing. It is the energy that binds and provides structure for our body. It is responsible for keeping the blood in our vanes and for organ stability. It is the energy that keeps the muscles and tendons in a structural stability.
- QI warms the body. In this context it is the internal homeostatic mechanism that keeps the body's temperature intact. It warms when we are cold and it cools when we are hot.
Applications in Medicine
In the oriental medical theories, the medicine does not treat the symptoms only. It attempts to identify and understand the functional deficiencies within the body and the root causes for the disease. According to the oriental medicine the healthy body is in harmonious balance within itself. Any imbalance within the body, whether caused by an external pathogen (bacteria, or virus) or an internal pathogen (emotions, organ dysfunction etc) creates a state of disease.
To treat the patient the oriental doctor looks to the entire body and its functions, determines where the disharmony or imbalance exists and treats the root cause for the imbalance. In this treatment a great deal of attention is paid to the body's QI. It may be stagnant, it may have been depleted, it may be misdirected, or any number or combination of these. Even in acupuncture treatments, the doctor identifies certain locations on the body where he/she can access the body's QI and with a thin metallic needle, he activates the QI at that point. Once activated, the doctor can guide, move, replenish or redirect the QI within the patient. Hence affecting a cure.
Qi within the body is responsible for the interaction and interrelationship of the internal organs as well. In this context the doctor can identify how one organ QI can affect another organs function. (For example a deficient QI of the Stomach will affect the it's ability to digest food and will eventually effect the liver and other organs and their functions) There are many other applications of Qi and its role within the body. The reader is encouraged to conduct further research. Reference for further reading is provided in the appendix.
How does Medical QI and QI gong interrelate? Practice and cultivation of Tai Chi and Qi Gong, and meditations are very much applicable to the medical realm as well. It is the self-healing and self-maintenance aspect of the medical application. Since the body is healthy when there is balance, than it follows that to maintain the balance one needs to diligently and consciously cultivate, practice and exercise their QI. Qi Gong and many other forms of meditations can assist in this process.
To treat the patient the oriental doctor looks to the entire body and its functions, determines where the disharmony or imbalance exists and treats the root cause for the imbalance. In this treatment a great deal of attention is paid to the body's QI. It may be stagnant, it may have been depleted, it may be misdirected, or any number or combination of these. Even in acupuncture treatments, the doctor identifies certain locations on the body where he/she can access the body's QI and with a thin metallic needle, he activates the QI at that point. Once activated, the doctor can guide, move, replenish or redirect the QI within the patient. Hence affecting a cure.
Qi within the body is responsible for the interaction and interrelationship of the internal organs as well. In this context the doctor can identify how one organ QI can affect another organs function. (For example a deficient QI of the Stomach will affect the it's ability to digest food and will eventually effect the liver and other organs and their functions) There are many other applications of Qi and its role within the body. The reader is encouraged to conduct further research. Reference for further reading is provided in the appendix.
How does Medical QI and QI gong interrelate? Practice and cultivation of Tai Chi and Qi Gong, and meditations are very much applicable to the medical realm as well. It is the self-healing and self-maintenance aspect of the medical application. Since the body is healthy when there is balance, than it follows that to maintain the balance one needs to diligently and consciously cultivate, practice and exercise their QI. Qi Gong and many other forms of meditations can assist in this process.
Additional References and recommended reading.
1. The complete works of Lao Tzu – Hua-Ching Ni
2. The web that has no weaver – Ted J. Kaptchuk, OMD
3. Foundations of Chinese Medicine – Giovanni Maciocia OMD
4. The path of Qi Gong – Cohen Kenneth
2. The web that has no weaver – Ted J. Kaptchuk, OMD
3. Foundations of Chinese Medicine – Giovanni Maciocia OMD
4. The path of Qi Gong – Cohen Kenneth
There are three treasures
which I embrace and follow closely:
the first is to be kind;
The second is to be simple;
The third is not to put one's own importance first in the world.
Lao Tzu – 67
The complete works of Lao Tzu
which I embrace and follow closely:
the first is to be kind;
The second is to be simple;
The third is not to put one's own importance first in the world.
Lao Tzu – 67
The complete works of Lao Tzu
© Aram A. Akopyan LAc.Dipl. OM. Total Wellness Center for Healing Arts
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