Traditional Chinese Medicine 101: What is Qi?

By Kavita Gill, R.Ac, R.TCMP

Traditional Chinese Medicine 101: What is Qi?

Welcome to this Educational Series dedicated to exploring complex theories in Traditional Chinese Medicine! Qi is a tough concept to describe. I remember in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) school a teacher told us that if we called Qi ‘energy’, we were being inaccurate and lazy. They then asked, “What is the dynamic force that animates the body, that instant when a new heart begins to beat’? Wow! Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that behind all phenomena is an invisible life force that animates the universe and individuals alike. This force is known as Qi. In this series, Tradition Chinese Medicine 101, I will attempt to simplify certain core concepts of TCM that come up frequently in treatment. In this post, we’re going to understand, “What is Qi?”

The Role of Qi in the Body

Without a body, life force or Qi would have nothing to animate. But without Qi the body would be like a lump of clay; full of potential but no dynamism. Qi’s also has the important role of circulating blood and nourishing tissues. Blood is considered to be a denser version of Qi. Qi and blood are inseparable from each other, just like the concept of Yin and Yang. Qi infuses life into blood, but without Qi, Blood would just be an inert fluid. Blood is crucial to our well-being because it nourishes and supports the body. It also Houses the Mind (i.e. Mental health) and it determines menstruation in women amongst other functions. This begs the question, how can an acupuncture needle affect ones Qi or Blood? This potent cosmic Qi suffuses the body through an invisible network of branching channels called the Meridians.

The Meridian Network: How Qi is Transported

The meridian network is likened to that of irrigation channels that feed and nourish the body and mind together. Keeping the meridians unblocked and the Qi flowing is essential to the notion of health. When the flow is unencumbered, we are without pain and our health is balanced.The Meridians lay upon the bodies surface like streams of energy traversing the landscape of our skin. In brief, there are 12 regular meridians that are linked to the 12 organs all terminating in the toes or fingers. Along these meridians, like pearls on a string, are hundreds of acupuncture points. Because the meridians are anatomically specific locations on the body where the meridians and thus the flow of Qi can be manipulated.

Avoiding the Stagnation of Qi

Another very common analogy of the meridians and Qi flow is that of a River. A rushing river is dynamic; its force is powerful, directed and helps to support the surrounding flora and fauna with life sustaining water. But imagine a river that has been blocked and perhaps a recent heavy rainfall caused some rocks to slide into the river cutting off its flow. On the one side, the river’s kinetic energy is backing up from being dammed. But on the other, the water is still, becoming stagnant causing algae, bacteria and insects to proliferate.This is why we want the bodies meridians to flow effortlessly with Qi so that stagnancy doesn’t fester causing dis-ease to form. And just like a rolling stone gathers no moss, moving Qi staves off disease.

What is Qi? Qi is Vital

Now that we’ve briefly explored the importance of Qi and its influence on the body, we can now confidently answer, What is Qi? And we’ve discovered that Qi is vital! Without smooth flowing, robust Qi, our bodies would struggle. We need Qi to propel blood, suffuse our tissues and keep our mental health in check. By utilizing the meridian network, Qi can travel throughout the body bringing with it the spark of life. And by this measure, we can glean that Qi that does not more, or is stagnant can bring about poor health and decline. Acupuncture can be a powerful tool in manipulating the bodies Qi. The Qi can be taken to areas of the body lacking in vitality, or draining other areas that may be in access causing such issues as pain or inflammation.