qi and its function

8/10/2019 Qi and Its Function

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Concept of Qi in TCMfrom a Transcultural Perspective

--Dr. ZHANG ChunyueDepartment of Humanities, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Eigner Department of Medical Anthropology, Medical University of Vienna


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Contents:

1. Brief introduction of TCM (Traditional ChineseMedicine)

2. The concept of Qi

3. Cases

4. More details of qi exercises


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1. Brief introduction of TCM(Traditional Chinese Medicine)

(1) Background generating TCM theories (2) Characteristics of TCM theories (3) Basic terms


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Background generating TCM theories

1. Zhouyi (Chou yi; Chou I; I; I Ching, I Jing ) 2. Huang and Lao Philosophy: framework Daoism 3. Agriculture society nature, climate, geography


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Basic Characteristics of TCM

theories Mathematic idea showed in word, not in

symbol:

relationship among five element theoryreasoning from factual clinical experience

Connotation extension of concepts

narrow sense, wide sense Can be repeated, while hard to descript

clearly


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5. Eight principles in Diagnoses(pathogenesis)

(1) yin and yang (2) the interior and exterior (3) cold and heat (4) excess and deficiency


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6. Five zang and six fu Five zang: xin, gan, pi, fei, shen. heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney: the related

structure and function of the five organs and brain, pancreas, gall bladder,


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7. Diagnostic concepts

, , .

, . , .


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The first inquiry: cold and heatCold: feeling cold, aversion to cold, aversion to windHeat: fever, feeling heat, aversion to heat, preference to cold The second inquiry: sweating

spontaneous sweating in an adaptable temperature, nightsweating,experience of profuse perspirationwithout perspiration


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The third question: sensation of the head and body

headache, heaviness feeling of the head or body,general pain of the body, itching, any swollen

parts of the head and body The fourth question: function of the excretory

systemregularity of bowel movements and urinationcolor, soft or hard, diarrhea, dripping, pain


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The fifth asking: diet and thirst

regular diet,always feeling hungry, preference to sweet

foods, sour foods, and so on poor appetite

The sixth asking: sensation of the chest andabdomen pain, stress, swollen


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The seventh question: ability of hearing

deafness, poor hearing ability gradually orsuddenly

The eighth question: thirsty feeling

always thirst, without feeling of thirst,The feeling of thirst cannot be relieved

after drinking water.


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, . The ninth question: history of diseases The tenth question: causes of diseases And the history of taking medication and

treated by the other therapies


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, . Period asking for women Contagious diseases for children


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Concept of Qi

The ancient Chinese people believed qi was themost fundamental entity making up the world.They thought everything in the universe resultedfrom the movement and change of qi. The Chinese

character for "qi" is the same word used for air orgas, and it is thought to have the same propertiesas these substances. Qi can be interpreted as the"life energy" or "life force," . Sometimes, it isknown as the "vital energy" of the body.


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qi: air: , the heaven qi gas: , , the gaseous state of some

basic elementsField: full of

magnetic


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(1) Qi is the vital substance constituting the human body.

(2) Qi refers to the physiological functions oforgans and meridians.In fact, it may be difficult to find one equivalentEnglish word or phrase that completely describesthe nature of qi. Most often, qi is best definedaccording to its functions and properties.


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A normal healthy person: a person withabundant (healthy) qi and good spirit

the body and mind medicinethe psychosomatic medicine

Meridian qi, liver qi, stomach qi


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The origin of qi

Two main sources: (1) inherited from parents"innate vital substance

prenatal qi, innate qi, inherited qi(2)derived from essential substances in nature such as theair the body breathe, food and water

postnatal qi, acquired vital energies, acquired qi


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The kidney first sends the innate vital substance upwardswhere it combines with food essence derived from thespleen. It further mixes with the fresh air from the lungswhere it finally forms into qi of the body.

By understanding how qi is formed, TCM has identifiedtwo important factors necessary for maintaining health. Byeating a healthy diet and breathing fresh air, the bodyextracts their most valuable essences and uses them to help

form the vital energy. Following these simple principlesare the first steps towards creating a healthy balance in the body.


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Case analysis

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Qi exercises:

details


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quotation

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