What Is Qi? Where Does It Come From?

The Wei Qi circulates outside the vessels and all around the exterior of the body. Its main function is to protect the body against pathogens, warm and nourish the organs, skin, and surface of the body. It also helps to regulate the opening and closing of the pores.

Every person is infused with Original Qi, given to them at the moment of conception and nourished throughout one’s gestational period . When a person is born and takes their first breath of air and begins to become nourished by food Food Qi, their Post Heaven Qi is created . This then differentiates to form Ying and Wei Qi, the nutritive and defensive aspects of the body.

There are a variety of physical and emotional conditions that are thought to diminish your qi. Among the most common causes are chronic stress and sleep deprivation. Both of these can elevate the stress hormone cortisol, which can interfere with immune function and increase the risk of depression and burnout.

It also helps to regulate body temperature and warm up the organs. It is derived from the Qi of “food essence.” The balance of the Wei and Ying is very important and if out of balance many types of illness can occur. As we become more adept at this skill, we become directly aware of the vibratory nature of all-that-is. Not only do we experience our bodies as being comprised of patterns and flows of qi, but also come to understand that “emotions” and “thoughts” are also forms of energy.

Others have shown it to improve the survival rate of cancer patients and ease symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and nausea. A TCM practitioner will typically take a detailed medical history and conduct a physical examination to identify the pattern of disharmony. The tongue is believed to be a strong indication of a person’s harmony or disharmony. Most of a person’s qi comes from the foods they choose to eat and the air they breathe, so often nutritional recommendations are made to treat a deficiency. They typically include the elimination of raw foods and cold foods like ice cream and fruit.

This wonderful concept of change is beautifully illustrated in the simple image of the "yin-yang symbol." Yang refers to aspects or manifestations of Qi that are relatively immaterial, amorphous, expanding, hollow, light, ascending, hot, dry, warming, Qigong bright, aggressive, and active. Yin refers to aspects or manifestations of Qi that are relatively material, substantial, condensing, solid, heavy, descending, cold, moist, cooling, dark, passive and quiescent. And resting on these principles is the rest of TCM theory and application, such as the causes of patterns of disharmony, which form the "branches." For example, it applies as equally to a human being as it does to a family, community, or the environment.