Qi
Qi is the second Treasure, and in the three treasures system
includes both energy and blood. Although Qi may be defined as
all energy, in the three treasures system it represents human
vitality on an immediate basis. This Qi is the aspect of our
life which involves action, function and thought. Qi is the
source of our vitality. It nourishes and protects us. That Qi
which nourishes us is known as nutritive Qi and that Qi which
protects us is known as protective Qi. Both are produced from
food and air on a day-to-day basis.
In the system of the three treasures, blood is considered to be
a part of the Qi component of our being. Blood is said to be
produced from the food ingested after the Qi has been extracted
through the action of the Spleen. The red blood cells are said
to be nutritive and are Yin, while the white blood cells are
protective and aggressive and are therefore Yang.
Qi tonic herbs, composed of energy and/or blood tonics, increase
our ability to function fully and adaptively as human beings. Qi
is said to be produced as a result of the functions of the Lungs
and Spleen. Therefore, Qi tonics strengthen the digestive,
assimilative and respiratory functions. In addition, they have
potent immune potentiating activity.
Qi tonics increase the amount, and improve the quality, of the
energy and blood flowing through our system. This increase in
energy and blood results in an overall increase in physical and
mental vitality.
THE NATURE OF QI
All that exists in the universe is, in one form or another, a
manifestation of Yin and Yang. Through the interaction of Yin
and Yang, energy is created. Thus, from the densest object to
the subtlest vibration, all is a form of energy. All of Chinese
philosophy is founded on the energetic nature of all things.
Things are not seen materially, but as ever changing energy
states. This is the same idea expressed by modern physicists,
who now universally agree that mass and energy are one and the
same. The Chinese word for energy is Chi or Qi (both pronounced
Chee ), or Qi in Korean and Ki in Japanese (both pronounce it
Kee). Qi permeates all things in the universe and is the
motivating force of all activity. A Chinese classic states that:
"There is nothing between Heaven and Earth but Qi (energy)
and Tao (the Way, the laws that govern it). Tao (the Way of
Life) itself is based on Qi. Everything in the Universe relies
upon it. When the Qi is outside Heaven and Earth, it embraces
them. When Qi is inside Heaven and Earth, it circulates through
and sustains them. Planets depend on it for their brightness;
weather is formed by it, and the seasons are caused by it. Man
cannot stand outside of Qi. It supports him and permeates him as
water is contained within the ocean."
Even modern astro-physicists recognize the existence of a primal
energy. R. A. Muller, a noted astro-physicist points out that
"a curious radiation bathes the earth almost uniformly from
every direction. Most astro-physicists now believe that this
microwave radiation was emitted shortly after the 'big bang,'
the cataclysmic explosion in which the universe was created some
15 billion years ago. Not only is it the most ancient signal
ever detected; it is also the most distant, coming from well
beyond the quasars, the most remote luminous sources
known." Recent research, very interestingly, has revealed
that the temperature of this radiation varies by about a tenth
of a per cent across the sky, with the warmest region being in
the direction of the constellation Leo and the coolest in the
direction of Aquarius. The temperature varies smoothly between
these two regions. Indeed, virtually all physical properties are
governed by the laws of physics, which are in fact the laws of
energy dynamics and of the various forces that can easily be
translated as "Qi."
Qi is sometimes translated as vitality or life force. These are
useful descriptive terms insofar as Qi influences life. It is
important for the student of Oriental philosophy and especially
of the Oriental healing arts to remember that Qi exists
everywhere, even in a lowly rock. The atmosphere is full of Qi,
and the air is a primary source of Qi for human beings. The
Earth provides Qi that it has itself accumulated, in the form of
food which we eat. The nature of life is to extract Qi from its
environment and to transform it so as to live, adapt and to
create more life. The more energy, or Qi, that a living system
can accumulate and utilize, the more success it will have as a
living being. A less than adequate ability to extract Qi from
one's environment and/or an inability to utilize it properly
will result in failure of the organism and death.
The Chinese define many different kinds of human physiologic Qi
. Qi that is more yin tends to be more concentrated and forms
substantial matter while Qi that is more yang results in action
and functioning of the organs and tissues. There are several
important types of Qi that we will be working with as manual
therapists. Cosmic Qi (or Air Qi) is the energy derived from the
air through our breathing. The energy derived from food is
called Grain Qi (or Food Qi) and includes all the nutrients and
electromagnetic energy ingested and absorbed from foods and
liquids. Other types of Qi include the Essential Qi (which
includes the nutritive Ying Qi and the defensive Wei Qi), and
Ancestral Qi (or Original Qi), and Jing Qi, which represents the
energy that we store and also the energy of the sperm and ova.
Blood too is considered to be a form of highly concentrated Qi.
These will be described in detail as we proceed.
It is the purpose of the Oriental manual healing arts to improve
the absorption and utilization of Qi, according to the laws of
Nature. It is possible through the manipulation of the acu-points
and energy circuitry, and through the development of one's
breathing, to influence the various aspects of Qi within our
systems and to establish harmonious functioning as a result.
There is a long-established principle in the Oriental healing
arts that the practitioner should himself or herself be an
example of health. It is one of the beauties of this approach to
healing and health maintenance that by practicing these arts,
one learns to increase and regulate their own intake of Qi and
thus improve or even perfect their health and increase wisdom.
HUMAN ENERGY PRODUCTION AND TRANSFORMATION
There is a fundamental pattern of Qi production and
transformation in the human body that must be understood by the
manual therapist in order to help establish optimal functioning
and thus radiant health. It is possible to influence this
production and transformation, and with great skill one can have
a truly significant influence, an influence that can change the
course of lives.
At conception, the refined essence of the mother and father
merge and become one within the new fetal cell and this new life
takes up residence in the womb. This united essence creates an
energy which forms the foundation of the new human being's life.
It is called the Original Qi (orPre-natal Qi). During pregnancy,
the fetus relies upon the mother to nurture and protect the
Original Qi. However, at birth the infant becomes independent of
the mother's direct umbilical nourishment and begins to breathe
and eat by its own power. After birth, the Original Qi becomes
active and aids in the transformation of foods and thus in the
production of energy. It acts as the primary catalyst for all
energy transformation in the body throughout one's lifetime, and
it provides the fundamental life force that determines the life
span and the innate vitality of the individual. It is also
generally believed that the Original Qi has a major determining
influence over the quality of one's life.
It is considered to be extremely difficult to enhance the
Original Qi after conception, although it is not difficult at
all to deplete and weaken it and thus to weaken and in fact
shorten one's life. The only way to strengthen the Original Qi
is through specific highly sophisticated yogic techniques such
as those developed by the Taoists. These Taoist techniques
include the practice of self-applied acupressure and the
consumption of extremely potent tonic herbs known as essence
tonics. However, it is possible, through proper living to
protect the Original Qi and to ensure a long and happy life.
Excessive stress and abusive lifestyle are the factors that use
up the Original Qi (prenatal essence) before its predetermined
time. Either chronic or acute stress can have devastating
effects upon the ability of the Original Qi to properly
influence the transformation of Qi as well as on the actual
amount of Original Qi retained in the body. Excesses of every
kind deplete the Original Qi. Sexual excess, dietary excess,
emotional excess, drug excess and work excess in particular are
believed to be particularly debilitating.
The Original Qi is said to reside in the Lower Field of Elixir ,
(known as the Lower Tanden in Japanese, the Lower T'an Tien in
Chinese and the Lower Dan Jun in Korean). This primal energy
center is located internally, approximately three fingers width
below the navel. It is associated with the Kidney function as
defined in Chinese medicine. A person born with an abundance of
Original Qi will have more vital force throughout their life and
will have the opportunity to live longer than one who is born
with less Original Qi. However, one who abuses their Original Qi
may die well before an innately weaker person who does not abuse
their Original Qi, whereas a person born with little Original Qi
but who protects and enhances their essence and consistently
enhances their Qi may live a long and fruitful life. It is now
believed that the Lower Field of Elixir is actually associated
with a large abdominal nerve center known as the hypogastric
plexus.
When food enters the stomach, the Original Qi acts upon it,
resulting in the extraction of Qi from the food. In other words,
this primal bio-electrical energy field located in or about the
hypogastric plexus influences the extraction of ionized
particles and electromagnetic energy from the food as it is
broken down into its basic components in the stomach. This
extracted energy is known as Grain Qi . Under the influence of
the Spleen function, the Grain Qi is directed upwards to the
Lungs. In the Lungs, and under the influence of the Original Qi,
it mixes with the electromagnetic energy that has been extracted
from the air by the Lungs (known as Air Qi), resulting in what
is known as the Essential Qi, which can now be used by the body
and psyche for all its functions.
The Essential Qi emerges from the Lungs in two forms, one known
as Ying Qi and the other calledWei Qi. The Ying Qi(nutritive
energy) circulates through the blood vessels and meridians. It
is the energy that nourishes the body and is used by the body
for movement and thought, and for the multitude of functions
required in order to live. It is said to be a combination of
Heavenly and Earthly energies. Because it is nourishing, it is
considered to be relatively yin when compared to the Wei Qi.
The Wei Qi (defense energy) also is derived from the Essential
Qi created in the Lungs. However, its function is not to nourish
the body and mind, but to protect it. The Wei Qi does not flow
through vessels or meridians like the Ying Qi, but circulates
instead in the subcutaneous tissues between the skin and muscle
and in the fatty membranes of the abdomen and thorax. Its
function is to defend the body against the attack of the
"external evils" such as heat, cold, wind, dryness and
moisture, as well as against the attacks of microscopic
infectious agents. The Wei Qi opens and closes the pores,
produces sweating and shivering, etc. The Wei Qi is responsible
for maintaining soft, resilient, active skin that is capable of
adapting to changes in the environment and protecting the
tissues and organs that lie under them. The Wei Qi is yang in
nature because it is fast moving and resides primarily at the
surface of the body.
As the Ying Qi circulates to the organs themselves, the organs
absorb and utilize this nutritive energy. If the supply is
abundant and there is more Ying Qi than required, the yin organs
concentrate and store the surplus. This stored energy is known
as Jing (the word Jing means literally "essence," or
"extract"). The six solid organs that are capable of
storing surplus Qi can hold only relatively small amounts,
except for the Kidney. In fact the surplus energy of the whole
body is stored in the Kidney (that is, the Kidney as defined by
Chinese medicine). The Kidney is thus a reservoir of this highly
refined energy that can be utilized by any organ at any time.
One of the first goals of Taoist yoga, Chinese herbalism,
acupuncture and the Oriental manual arts is to develop large
reserves of Jing so that the body is always prepared for
emergencies and extreme stress. If one never dips too low into
this reserve and maintains an abundant supply of Jing, a long,
secure life will result. If on the other hand one is under
perpetual or acute stress and the reserves of Jing Qi in the
Kidneys are used up, the only backup beyond that is the Original
Qi. Further stress will result in a depletion of this Prenatal
Qing and this will in turn result in an overall weakening and
breakdown of the body, mind and spirit and will result in a
shorter life, even if the stress is overcome. There is a great
Qinese maxim that should never be forgotten: It is alright to
become fatigued, but never to become exhausted. In other words,
there will be no severe permanent consequences if one
experiences some stress that requires utilizing some of the Jing
reserves; but if one exhausts the supply of Jing and is forced
to utilize their Original Qi, one will pay dearly indeed. This
idea of avoiding extreme stress and thus avoiding the depleting
of one's Jing while cultivating strong reserves lies at the
heart of many of the standard health practices of the Oriental
masters.
All of the energy transformations described here can be
specifically influenced and coordinated through acupressure and
the other manual therapeutic arts. Breathing exercises, diet and
herbal therapy, especially the use of the Chinese tonic herbs,
also profoundly influence the manufacture and transformation of
the life energy. A knowledge of these energies and their
transformations can lead to a better life--and not even just our
own or that of our clients. It is possible, by cultivating our
own energy and by protecting our Original Qi, to enhance the
energy that we pass on to our children. Jing, which is stored in
the Kidney, is further refined to an absolutely pure state in
the reproductive glands, and it is this primal essence that
energizes the sperm and ova. This primal essence is in fact the
final distillation of our life to this point, including the way
we have eaten, acted, felt and thought. The vitality, happiness
and longevity of our children and theirs will depend to a very
large degree upon the quality and vitality of this primal
essence. Enhancing this primal essence is one of the ultimate
goals of life, whether we recognize it or not, for this is the
determining factor in the survival of the species. The Oriental
people and the followers of Taoism are very aware of this, and
this is why their race has flourished for so many centuries, but
modern Western man has perhaps lost sight of this bigger
picture, at least for the time being. It is time to once again
take the bigger view of life and remember that what we do at one
moment will have consequences far into the future. We start by
refining our character, practicing moderation in all things,
accumulating Qi, cultivating essence (Jing), and protecting
ourselves against the unnecessary loss of our Jing.
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