What is qi? We often hear the term interpreted as energy or life force. It is what makes up and animates our bodies. It is responsible for every function from our first breath to our last heart beat. It needs to be abundant and moving harmoniously throughout our bodies to prevent disease. To get a better understanding of qi we need to examine where qi comes from, how it functions, and what we can do to remain in good health.
Origins of Qi
The Chinese story of creation begins with Yuan Qi or Source Qi. This is the potential energy, small and dense, from which the creation of the universe sprang forth. When our world began, the Yuan Qi divided into two parts, Yin Qi and Yang Qi. The heavier and denser Yin Qi became the earth. The lighter Yang Qi rose upwards and became heaven. Qi is considered to be both substance and transformative force.
Man is the meeting of heaven and earth, the mingling of yin and yang. In our bodies, yin and yang divide into over 40 different types of qi. Two of the most important types of qi are Congenital/Pre-natal Qi and Acquired/Post-natal Qi. They are the foundation for everything else in our body.
Jing Qi (essence) the only form of congenital qi. It is formed at conception when the egg and sperm meet. It is responsible for our development and growth from a fetus in the womb until we reach adulthood. It naturally declines as we age. If it is insufficient at birth, it leads to developmental problems and birth defects.
Gu Qi (food qi) and Kong Qi (air qi) are the two types of acquired qi. Gu Qi comes from the food and drink we put into our bodies. As the body digests, it pulls out the nutrients (qi) to nourish our body so it can function correctly. Kong Qi is extracted by the lungs from the air we breathe. We take in clean Kong qi to re-oxygenate our cells, and release dirty qi (carbon dioxide and other wastes) back into the environment.
These main types qi intermingle and produce the entire qi of the person. It is important to give our bodies enough healthy food and clean air. If we do not, our bodies will start to draw on our reserves or Jing Qi. When we use our Jing too quickly, it can cause pre-mature aging, fertility problems, chronic fatigue, or poor health in general.
Functions of Qi in the Human Body
Now that we know more about where our qi comes from, let’s look at how it functions in the body. Qi gives our bodies animation. It is considered both the source of all movement and part of the movement itself. It is responsible for physical activities such as moving our fingers, involuntary movement such as breathing and digestion, and willed action like closing your eyes. It is also responsible for mental activity, development during childhood and adolescence, growth, and life processes. Qi should be constantly balanced and moving in four directions, ascending, descending, entering, and leaving. When our qi does not move correctly it leads to the various health problems we experience throughout our lives.
Another major function of qi is to protect the body. This is the job of Wei Qi, which is often equated with our immune systems. This qi resists the entry of pathological environmental factors into the body. In Chinese Medicine these factors are wind, cold, heat, damp, and dryness. In Western Medicine they are harmful viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other environmental toxins. They cause problems such as colds, flus, allergies, and skin disorders. It is the Wei Qi’s job to fight off these intruders and return us to health.
Qi warms our bodies. Qi is responsible for harmonious transformation in the body. It also ensures stability and governs retention. This means it maintains the structure of our bodies. it keeps organs in place, blood in blood vessels, and prevents excess loss of body fluids.
When we have sufficient qi that is flowing freely and harmoniously in our bodies, we will experience good health. Unfortunately our bodies are often our of balance. There are many causes for this. Disease, trauma, illness, and childbirth can all disrupt our qi. Unbalance can also be caused by lifestyle deficiencies or excesses, such as poor diet, unbalanced emotions, insufficient sleep, too much sex, stressful environments at home or work, overwork, or excessive exercise. These factors can cause qi to become deficient, when there’s not enough qi for our bodies to perform normal functions. In extreme cases, qi can collapse and become so insufficient it can no longer hold organs in place. Unbalance can also create stagnation, normal movement of qi is impaired, or rebellious qi, qi goes in the wrong direction.
Healthy Qi Means a Healthy Body
There are many ways to promote health and balance in our bodies. The best way is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes having a nourishing balanced diet, maintaining a regular sleep cycle, and getting moderate exercise. It is also important to nurture a connection between our bodies and minds. This can be done through things like meditation, yoga, qigong, martial arts, journaling, and being in nature. Regular acupuncture treatments are great at regulating qi in our bodies. Other holistic therapies such as herbal medicine, massage and chiropractic care can also help keep us in balance.
Qigong Exercise
Qigong has been practiced in China for thousands of years. It uses breathwork, movement, and meditation to maintain the correct flow of qi in the body. A daily practice leads to better health and vitality, reduced stress, and a peaceful mind. Do this simple exercise every day for 10-30 minutes to get maximum results.
To Begin: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Bend your knees slightly. Touch the tip of the tongue to the upper palate and close your eyes slightly. Imagine there is a string attached to both ends of your spine pulling it long and straight. The string on your head is pulling your spine towards the heavens, the one on your tailbone is pulling down towards the earth. Beginning at the top of your head and moving to your feet, become aware of your body relaxing any areas of tension.
The Exercise: Bring your arms up level with your naval. Fingers point towards each other and palms face your abdomen. Imagine that you are holding a large beach ball against your stomach that goes all the way through to your spine. Now imagine this beach ball is made of qi that you are drawing into your body from the world around you. Fill the entire abdomen with qi, from your pelvic floor to your sternum, your abdominal muscles to your spine. You may start to feel warmth and/or tingling in your hands. This is the sensation of qi. Stand here breathing long and deep, holding a large ball of qi for 5-30 minutes.
To Finish: Move your hands towards your naval until you are touching your abdomen. Imagine compressing your ball of qi smaller and smaller until it’s tiny and condense. Stay here for a moment then move your hands to prayer pose in front of your chest. Rub your hands together and slowly become aware of the environment around you. Separate your hands and gently rub your face, scalp and shoulders. Lastly cup your hands over your eyes, hold them there for a moment, then remove them and open your eyes.
www.acupuncturealexandria.com