The most enduring interpretation of yinyang in Chinese thought is related to the concept of qi (ch'i, vital energy). According to this interpretation, yin and yang are seen as qi (in both yin and yang forms) operating in the universe.
Two concepts that are unique and fundamental to Chinese medicine are Qi (usually translated as "vital energy") and yin and yang (the harmony of all the opposite elements and forces that make up existence). These two concepts form what we might call the "roots" of Chinese medicine.
In many Asian cultures, Qi, also spelled chi or ch'i, is the life force that every person and thing has. Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture both address the concept of Qi; if you're feeling a little under the weather, an unbalanced qi may be the culprit.
“Qi,” or “Chi,” means life energy and it stands for the energy in all things. Your Qi provides the energy for important bodily functions like your digestion, metabolism, and overall strength. It is also represented in all other physical aspects of energy like sunlight, plants, animals, and electricity.
Lung qi deficiency leads to the loss of water channel regulation and fluid stoppage. Heart-yang deficiency cannot warm the spleen yang, leading to heart and spleen disease at the same time. The spleen is incapacitated, unable to transport water, causing water-dampness retention, affecting the heart and lung.
The Yang and Qi deficiency is manifested as intermittent, spasmodic abdominal pain that responds favorably to local application of warmth and pressure, reduced appetite, cold and sore extremities. The Qi and blood deficiency is manifested as a lusterless complexion, palpitations, a pale tongue and a thready pulse.
The lung governs the motions of Qi(vital energy), as have long been established in the basic theories in traditional Chinese medicine, but in this paper, the authors attempt to define the close relations between the heart and Qi by proposing that the heart also governs Qi, through either immediate and indirect actions.
The function of the Liver is to ensure the “free flow” of qi around the body and to “store blood”. It plays an important role in harmonising the emotions via this ability to ensure qi flow is smooth. Yin Yang Theory becomes combined with Zang Fu Theory in descriptions of pathology of the zang-fu organs.
Qi therapy (or external Qi) is an oriental complementary therapy preventing, curing disease and strengthens health and improving the human potentiality through regulation of body.
Qi, also commonly spelled ch'i (in Wade-Giles romanization) or ki (in romanized Japanese), is a fundamental concept of traditional Chinese culture. Qi is believed to be part of everything that exists, as a “life force” or “spiritual energy” that pervades the natural world.
After conception occurs, parental qi is stored in the kidneys. Pectoral Qi: Pectoral or zong qi is qi that is produced by breathing. It is stored in the chest area. Nutritional Qi: Nutritional or ying qi is derived from eating foods and is responsible for the circulation nutrition throughout the body.
They believed it permeated everything and linked their surroundings together. Qi was also linked to the flow of energy around and through the body, forming a cohesive functioning unit. By understanding the rhythm and flow of qi, they believed they could guide exercises and treatments to provide stability and longevity.
Yang is hot, dry, and active like fire; yin is cold, moist, and passive like water. Symptoms of too much yang and not enough Yin are: feeling hot, restlessness, dry skin, scanty urination, constipation, and fast pulse.
1-3am is the time of the Liver and a time when the body should be alseep. During this time, toxins are released from the body and fresh new blood is made. If you find yourself waking during this time, you could have too much yang energy or problems with your liver or detoxification pathways.
Liver: 1am-3am
For example, I do not wake early but often feel excessively tired at around 6pm and this, according to my acupuncturist, is because my kidney function is weak. As you can see from this schedule, 1-3am is 'liver time'.
Chinese medicine has observed this systematically since ancient times; the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, one of the earliest medical texts (~2500 years old), states that “anger makes Qi rise, joy slows down Qi, sadness dissolves Qi, fear makes Qi descend… shock scatters Qi… pensiveness knots Qi.”
Liver Qi Stagnation can be a consequence of emotional and mental disharmony,145 such as depression, anger, frustration, and resentment. Qi can also become stagnated as a result of excessive thought, anxiety, and fear. Lack of emotional regulation causes complicated disorders in subfertility.
Fear and fright cause the qi to descend and disperses qi. Another way to view fright is that it confuses qi, like a frightened horse that runs any which way, in any direction. Both fear and fright injure the kidneys, the internal organ associated with the water element.
Foods You Should Eat to Nourish Qi
Foods that tonify Qi also tend to be sweet and warm. This includes foods like rice, shiitake mushrooms, lean beef, chicken, lentils, grapes, figs, cherries, sweet potatoes, whole grains, tofu, ham, dates, ginseng, royal jelly, squash, potatoes, yams, herring, or longan.