Acu-Care Health Centers

Qi Facts:

The concept of Qi has been a major topic of discourse in Chinese Philosophy from ancient times up through today. It is very difficult to translate the word "Qi" because it can assume different manifestations and can be different things in different situations. However, most would agree that a close approximation would be the term "Life Force" which is energy (electro-magnetic in nature).

Types of Qi

Within the human body flows a form of Qi that we inherit from our parents known as Yuan Qi, roughly translated as "Original Qi" or "Congenital Qi." Because this is the Qi that animates us and gives us life, it is also known as "Heavenly Qi." In addition to the Yuan Qi we are born with, there are several forms of Acquired, or Post Heavenly Qi. It is beyond the scope of this page to discuss all the types of Acquired Qi, so we'll just cover the main three:

1. Ying Qi is produced by the spleen/stomach system from food and water, which mixes with Yuan Qi and is stored in the kidneys.
2. Zhong Qi, or Pectoral Qi, is produced in the lungs from air and water.
3. Wei Qi is a defensive Qi that exists in the exterior layers of the body and skin. Its main function is to warm the body and defend it against outside invasion of heat, cold wind, dryness or dampness. This is, in essence, the immune system.

Flow of Qi

Qi flows through the main acupuncture meridians (discussed after this next question) and it flows out of the body through exhalation, elimination and general body metabolism.

Now, see if you can answer this question...