Lecture 2: The Nature of Qi PDF

The nature of Qi or the forms of Qi Dr. Abir El-Naggar  Chinese medicine divided the human body to three divisions of burners: Upper burner: is above the diaphragm which houses the heart, lungs, pericardium, throat and the head. Middle burner: is between the diaphragm...

The nature of Qi or the forms of Qi Dr. Abir El-Naggar  Chinese medicine divided the human body to three divisions of burners: Upper burner: is above the diaphragm which houses the heart, lungs, pericardium, throat and the head. Middle burner: is between the diaphragm and the umbilicus which houses spleen, stomach and liver. Lower burner: refers to the lower abdominal area below the umbilicus. San Jiao means triple burner. The normal vital activities of the human body depend on fundamental substances which are the Qi, blood, and body fluids. Qi Contain qualitative terms that differentiate qi in human body according to its source, function and distribution. These terms are: Yuan Qi (primary Qi) Zong qi (pectoral Qi) : is comprised of the natural air inhaled by the lungs and the Gu Qi transformed from food and water by the spleen. Ying Qi (nutrient Qi) Wei Qi (defensive Qi) Yuan Qi (Primary Qi) Derived from congenital essence, Yuan Qi is supplemented and nourished by the Qi obtained after birth from food essence. Take root in the kidney and spreads to the entire body via triple energizer. It stimulates and promotes the functional activities of the zang-fu organs. The more abundant Yuan Qi is the more vigorously the Zang-fu organs. Zong Qi (Pectoral Qi) Is formed by the combination of (Qing Qi) (Clean Qi) which is the inhaled by the lung and the qi of food essence which is produced by the spleen and stomach. Zong Qi is stored in the chest. Its main functions are: 1. To promote the lung’s function of controlling respiration (respiration is related to the quality of Zong Qi) 2. To promote the heart’s function of dominating the blood and blood vessels. Ying Qi (nutrient Qi) Derived from the qi of food essence produced by the spleen and stomach. Ying Qi circulates in the vessels. Wei Qi (defensive Qi) As Ying Qi, Wei Qi Is also derived from the Qi of food essence. However, unlike Ying Qi, it circulates outside the vessels. Its functions include: 1. Protect and defend the body against exogenous pathogenic factors. 2. Control the opening and closing of the pores, moisten the skin and hair. 3. Readjust body temperature 4. Warm up the Zang-fu organs. Qi As mentioned, the Zang-fu and meridians posses their own Qi originating from Yuan Qi, Zong Qi, Ying Qi, and Wei Qi. Zhen Qi (vital Qi): means the qi of the meridians. Functions of Qi: 1. Qi acts extensively in the human body by permeating all parts. Abundant Qi is the basis of good health, and weakness of Qi lead to diseases. 2. Promoting function: the growth and development of the human body, the physiological activities of the Zang-fu and meridians, the circulation of blood and distribution of body fluid. All mentioned above depend on the promoting and stimulating effect of Qi. 3. Warming function: the normal temperature of the body is maintained and readjusted by the warming function of Qi 4. Defensive function: Qi defends the body surface against exogenous pathogenic factors. 5. Nourishing function: This refers to Ying Qi, the nutrient substance formed from food. Ying Qi ( nutrient Qi) which circulate in the blood vessels is a part of blood and provides nourishment to the whole body. Qi Functions of Qi: Transforming (esp. SP) Transporting Holding Raising (SP) Protecting (LU) Warming. Pathology of Qi: Deficient (SP/KI/LU) Sinking (SP) Stagnant (LIV) Rebellious (ST) Blood In TCM blood is a form of Qi. Food is produced as shown in the illustration below. To nourish blood you should tonify the spleen and the kidneys Blood and the internal organs  The heart governs blood and blood vessels. Blood is made in the heart.  The spleen produces Food-Qi, which is the basis for blood production. The spleen also holds blood in the vessels.  The liver stores blood and regulates blood amount. Important in relation to menstruation.  The lungs help the spleen send food-Qi to the heart. The lungs also infuse Qi into the blood vessels and so helps “push” blood.  The kidneys contribute to blood production as shown in the illustration. Blood and Qi  Qi and blood cannot be separated in TCM. This has 4 aspects:  Qi generates blood (food-Qi and LU-Qi)  Qi moves blood.  Qi holds blood (SP-Qi)  Blood nourishes Qi Blood pathology  Blood deficiency (from spleen-Qi def.)  Blood heat (from liver-heat) Body fluids  Body fluids have their origin in food and drink. So the stomach is the “source” of body fluids.  They are transformed and separated by the spleen.  A “clean” part goes up to the lungs, and they send a part to the skin, a part down to the kidneys.  A “dirty” part goes down to the small intestine, and is here again separated into a pure and an impure part.  The pure part of this second separation goes to the bladder, and the impure part goes to the large intestine, where some fluid is re- absorbed.  The bladder transforms and separates the fluids it receives into a pure and impure part: the pure part goes upwards and to the exterior, where it forms sweat. The impure part flow downwards and is transformed into urine.The bladder plays an important part in this process, and it receives the necessary Qi from kidney-Yang. Body fluids  The spleen is responsible for the transportation and transformation of body fluids, so the spleen should always be treated in case of body fluids disorders.  The lungs “regulate the water passages” in the sense that they  Disperse the pure fluids from the spleen to the space under the skin.  Send fluids down to the kidneys and bladder.  The kidneys are very important in the physiology of body fluids as  They send fluids up to the lungs to keep them moist.  They supply the Yang / the heat needed for the functions of the other organs: the spleen, the bladder, the triple burner. Qi and body fluids  Qi transforms and transports body fluids  Qi holds body fluids  Loss of body fluids weakens Qi Blood and body fluids. They mutually nourish each other and can change into each other. Loss of one of them can therefore lead to loss of the other. Pathology of body fluids  Deficiency of body fluids  Accumulation of body fluids / oedema