氣
概述
Qi is the fundamental substance constituting the human body and sustaining vital activities in traditional Chinese medicine. It is a highly active, continuously moving subtle material classified as yang in nature. Qi originates from three sources: prenatal essence inherited from parents and stored in the kidneys, grain essence transformed by the spleen and stomach, and natural air inhaled by the lungs. It manifests in four primary types—yuan qi, zong qi, ying qi, and wei qi—each with distinct functions. The movement of qi, known as qi mechanism, follows the patterns of ascending, descending, exiting, and entering; harmony in this movement ensures health, while disruption leads to disease. Qi performs essential functions including promotion, warming, defense, containment, and transformation, and its imbalances manifest as conditions such as qi deficiency, qi stagnation, qi counterflow, and qi sinking.
理論要點
- Qi is the most basic substance constituting the human body and maintaining life activities; it is a continuously moving, highly active subtle material, classified as yang.
- Qi has three sources: prenatal essence (inherited from parents, stored in the kidneys), grain essence (transformed by the spleen and stomach), and natural air (inhaled by the lungs).
- Qi is divided into four types: yuan qi (original qi, rooted in the kidneys, the primordial motive force of life), zong qi (gathered in the chest, governing respiration and the movement of blood), ying qi (moving within the vessels, transforming into blood and nourishing the whole body, yin in nature), and wei qi (moving outside the vessels, warming the skin, protecting the body surface, resisting external pathogens, and controlling the opening and closing of sweat pores, yang in nature).
- The movement of qi is called qi mechanism, with basic forms of ascending, descending, exiting, and entering; when qi movement is smooth, health prevails, while stagnation, counterflow, sinking, or deficiency leads to disease.
- The main functions of qi include: promotion (growth and development, organ function, and the movement of blood and fluids), warming (maintaining body temperature), defense (resisting pathogens), containment (controlling blood, sweat, urine, and essence), and transformation (the mutual conversion of essence, blood, and fluids).
常見病機
- Qi deficiency: characterized by fatigue, shortness of breath, and spontaneous sweating, due to insufficient qi to promote and contain.
- Qi stagnation: marked by distension, fullness, and wandering pain, resulting from impaired movement of qi.
- Qi counterflow: manifested as cough, wheezing, nausea, or vomiting, when qi moves in the wrong direction.
- Qi sinking: presenting as prolapse of internal organs, due to failure of qi to ascend and hold structures in place.
日常調養
- Maintain regular physical activity to promote the smooth flow of qi, but avoid overexertion which can deplete qi.
- Practice deep, relaxed breathing to support the lungs in receiving natural air and nourishing zong qi.
- Adopt a balanced diet with warm, easily digestible foods to support the spleen and stomach in transforming grain essence into qi.
- Ensure adequate rest and manage stress, as emotional disturbances can disrupt the movement of qi.