What “Qi” Really Is and How It Can Keep You Healthy

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

What Traditional Chinese Medicine is garnering more and more interest in North America as people lose patience with mainstream medicine. After all, the system in China has been around for thousands of years. There is, in fact, an entire Doctors Health Press newsletter devoted to it (click here). To comprehend how you can stay healthy according to its principles, you must know of the amazing thing called “Qi.”

Qi is the energy that courses through our bodies. But whatever quick description – “energy” or “life force” — that we could give it here would not do justice to the power of Qi. In fact, no English words are effective enough to capture the importance and immensity of Qi.

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The energy of life is not only in our bodies, but everywhere in the universe. Everything around us is composed of Qi, which is part of both matter and energy. Qi’s presence in our environment and inside our bodies is just one piece of evidence in how the Chinese believe our bodies are closely linked to our Earth.

Qi gives vitality to people and objects as well. If a watermelon is high in Qi, it will taste better and impart that health into the person who eats it. In your body, a healthy Qi means that it is free of blockages, your organs are functioning properly, your mind is alert, and everything is essentially all clear. Qi is your energy that directs the flow of blood, most notably, and it has specific roles that include:

— Warming the body, maintaining temperature;

— Triggering all movements that you control and that are deep inside you;

— Protecting the body from external problems and disease-causing factors;

— Keeping all systems running smoothly and organs functioning properly;

— Maintaining the body’s structure, holding organs, vessels and tissues in their correct spots; and

— Defining our personality.

We continually receive the flow of Qi through food, air, and our own kidneys, which produce it. An interesting aspect of Chinese medicine is that most diseases can be traced back to a single cause: a flow of Qi that is not in harmony with the body. Stagnant Qi is believed to cause serious problems, such as viral illnesses and cancer. Sinking Qi over time will make the body lose its structural function. Deficient Qi causes many problems, including colds, flu and other infections. Rebellious Qi can result in minor conditions such as acid reflux, hiccups, nausea, and vomiting.

It may be hard to believe that Qi exists, as it is not measurable. The Chinese certainly do, and aim to reestablish a healthy flow of Qi using exercise, acupuncture, herbs and meditation. Should you try acupuncture, you’ll notice a sensation that you’ve never felt before. It makes even the most cynical person believe that Qi really does exist.