The absence of balance in the body is popularly attributed to the cause of illnesses. What many do not understand is that there’s a force that binds everything together, the physical, emotional, and entire being.
You might have come across the word “Qi” pronounced as “Chi”, it is a major concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and it has two branches. The first branch explains the concept of nourishing the body, as in, the air, water, and food we absorb. While the second branch focuses more on the energy flow and vital fluids within the body.
The need for balance
To understand the need for balance, it is essential to know the concept between Yin and Yang, as they serve as the basis that defines good health.
Yin and Yang are interdependent, yet they reside within each other, and thus, there’s a free flow of energy that continually exists creating proper balance. Concerning qi, Yin is the aspect that is cold, heavy, solid, moist, and dark, and Yang is the hot, dry, light aspect of the universe.
Hence, in a bid to remove the imbalance that causes illnesses, different healing techniques, such as acupuncture and the likes, works to balance the qi.
Take, for example, a qi deficiency could turn out as, a lack of sleep, or food, basically anything the body needs to function properly.
While, Excess qi can be as a result of exposure to toxins, such as polluted air or water. Or, an increase in stress levels, overeating, and emotional imbalances.
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5 Cardinal functions of Qi
1. Actuation: What ensures the proper body development and growth is “qi” which is the vital life energy, also taking into account the body functions, blood meridians. A qi deficiency resulting in illness would mean that there was an interference in the functionality and vital substances of the body.
2. Warming: The production and regulation of heat and body temperature by the human body are aided by qi. It could be stated, that when a person gets cold limbs or a lowered body temperature, it is a deficiency in qi.
3. Defending: Qi helps as a defense against external factors, that can harm the body, such as, pathogens.
4. Containment: What ensures the body’s organ and fluids properly circulating, and in the right places is qi. As it regulates the proper amount of fluids(sweats, saliva), and even blood to be in the right proportion, and not leaking out. In a case where there are symptoms concerning blood fluids and organs, it could result in a qi deficiency.
5. Transformation: As regards nutrition and air, qi transforms them into subdivisions of qi, such as blood for bodily functions.
Finally, qi is essential in the human body, as it is the life force or vital energy of the entire being. I hope you understand the importance of qi in the body. If you have any questions related to this article, please feel free to drop it in the comment section.
