How Qi impacts your life & what you need to know about it
Imagine your body as a landscape. the mountains. the sky. the rocks and pebbles. There is a vibrant rushing river flowing straight through the mountain side towards the ocean. Qi energy is sparkling water flowing through a network of rivers, streams, and tributaries.
Mirroring your blood circulation, lymph, immune cells and respiration system. Just as rivers nourish the land and allow life to thrive, Qi energy is vital to your organs, systems, mood and cells. Not only nourishing your body but mind and spirit too. Have you experienced the feeling of standing infant of a massive mountain? The goosebumps inducing knowing that you are connecting with a more expansive energy.
That is Qi.
In this blog article, we’ll discuss the nuanced energy form, Qi that Traditional Chinese Medicine's philosophy and medicine is founded upon:
- What is Qi? : the River
- Qi Movement: Flow and Balance
- Qi Stagnation: Obstacles and Blockages
- Vital Qi: Nourishing the Land
- Qi Excess or Deficiency
- Seasonal Qi
- Activities to cultivate healthy Qi flow
Among various East Asian healing practices, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, the concept of Qi energy flow is a primary principle in herbalism based, holistic practices.
Qi - pronounced "chee"- is the vital life force or energy that flows through all living things. From birds, plants, trees and dolphins, it runs through every body system to sustain life, health, and vitality. This profound yet subtle energy has been described by many cultures as Prana, Shakti, Reiki,
To help you understand how Qi flows through the body, let’s use a river analogy since this energy flows on specific pathways or channels that guide and nourish the energy throughout the body.
The River of Qi
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are 12 primary meridians aka energy channels that correspond to different organs, such as the lungs, kidneys, heart, and liver. Qi flows through these pathways to vitalize all the organs and the pathways which are on the legs, face, arms and chest.
Just as rivers follow specific courses, these meridians have anciently mapped routes that direct Qi to respective parts of the body. Each meridian connects to a specific organ system, much like how a river might provide water to a specific region of land. For example, the Lung meridian supplies Qi to the lungs and the upper body.
If there’s a blockage in one of the main meridians like a river damming up. There are smaller channels or tributaries that can sometimes redirect or compensate for the lack of flow in the primary path.
Qi must flow and stay in balance
To maintain a healthy internal ecosystem, Qi must flow freely through the body for optimal health. Healthy Qi flow, just like blood, is balanced and uninterrupted, nourishing everything it touches. If the flow of Qi becomes stagnant, like a river with debris or blockages, this is a sign of the beginning of a disease process - leading to discomfort, pain, or illness.
As with anything natural phenomenon in the universe. Dynamic flow is the natural order of Qi. It moves with the rhythms of life, such as day and night, seasons, and even emotional states. (more on this in a later post) When a disruption arises like weakness, excess or a blockage, an imbalance results to manifest as physical or emotional symptoms. This is exactly what Acupuncturist’s diagnosis and treat.
Obstacles and blockages when Qi stagnates
Like a river blocked by fallen trees, rocks, or drought, Qi can become stagnant due to various factors like stress, poor diet, lack of movement, or emotional trauma.
Stagnation is the mother of all disease.
When stagnation occurs in the closed body system, organs and structures "downstream" are deprived of energy or nourishment. Physical signs in the body include inflammation, pressure or swelling. That is what the ancient therapy of acupuncture and herbal medicine is so effective with clearing blockages and restore smooth flow.
Nourishing your body with vital Qi
Free flowing Qi nourishes all the "lands" - parts of the body - by bringing vitality, warmth, and balance. Each organ system benefits from the flow of Qi in much the same way a river nourishes a region, allowing it to thrive. For instance, the Heart Qi nourishes the heart and circulatory system, while Liver Qi helps with detoxification and smooth emotional regulation.
When Qi is flowing properly, we experience good health, emotional balance, and vitality. When there are disruptions in the flow of Qi, it can result in illness, fatigue, emotional instability, or even pain. Noticing the nuances in your temperament, muscles and internal organs is crucial in being your own best health advocate. To aid in your Qi's vitality be mindful about eating nourishing foods, moving often and protecting your peace.
Excess or Deficiency: Flooding or Drought
Just like a river can experience flooding or drought, Qi can be excessive or deficient in the body. If there is too much Qi in one area, it can "flood" and cause symptoms like inflammation or overactivity. If Qi is deficient or blocked, it can "drought" and lead to fatigue, weakness, or poor circulation.
Everything in nature seeks balance or homeostasis. In TCM, the goal is to restore the right balance of Qi: not too much and not too little, much like managing a river system to prevent both flooding and drought. Naturally you may experience an imbalance due to hormonal cycles, menstruation, emotional stress, environmental changes and even work. To help you maintain a healthy Qi flow, incorporate practices like Yoga, Qi Gong, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Stretching and Meditation into your weekly/monthly routine.
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Seasonal Changes and Qi Flow
The seasons come and go. Just as rivers are affected by the seasons —sometimes swelling with spring rains or slowing during winter— so is the Qi humans influenced by seasons, emotions, and even time of day. In TCM, there are foundational five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal, water - each connected to a season, emotion, time and internal organ!
- Here is an example, during the spring, the Liver Qi is most active - corresponding to the wood element. Linked to growth, movement, and renewal. During this time, it’s especially important to keep Qi flowing freely to avoid liver Qi stagnation, which can lead to irritability or stress.
Cultivating Healthy Qi Flow
- Qi Gong or Tai Chi: These practices help to harmonize and balance the Qi flow, much like teaching a river to flow smoothly. Movement, breathwork, and mindfulness all work together to guide the Qi throughout the body.
- Acupuncture: By inserting needles into specific points along the meridians, acupuncture clears blockages, encourages smooth flow, and restores balance to the Qi.
- Herbal Remedies: Herbs are used to tonify or sedate the flow of Qi, depending on the person’s needs, much like using water to either nourish the land or control flooding.
- Breathing Exercises: Deep, intentional breathing helps circulate Qi through the body, just like the wind can influence the course of a river.
When dynamic, balanced and uninterrupted, healthy Qi flow nourishes the body, mind and spirit. Being nourished is our birthright - containing the seed of highest expression. On the contrary, when blockages or imbalances in Qi happen, our expression is contracted. This misalignment looks like illness, emotional turmoil, mental fogginess, dissonance and body restrictions. You are here to experience a harmoniously healthy life - Qi plays a big role in that. Use it as a feedback mechanism for how your spirit and body is being treated - by the most important person YOU.
Till the next one ~ Sai 🪬