Relationship Between Essence, Qi, Blood, and Body Fluid
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is built on a foundation of more than 2,500 years of Chinese medical practice. TCM is a holistic practice that aims to treat the body as a whole, rather than alleviate specific symptoms of illness.
Within TCM, there is frequent discussion of substances called Essence, Qi, Blood, and Body Fluid. What’s the relationship Between Essence, Qi, Blood, and Body Fluid?
Qi is active by its very nature. It is categorized as yang (bright) and is responsible for warming the body. Blood is also active in nature, but is categorized as yin (dark), and is responsible for nurturing the body.
Qi is the primary driving force for the formation and subsequent movement of blood. Blood metaplasia is formed by qi and blood is its subsequent carrier within the body.
The Effect of Qi on Blood
- Qi can generate blood
The metaplasia of blood depends on the fullness and effectiveness of qi.- From the perspective of blood composition, ying qi (essential qi derived from water and grain) is the main component of blood. In other words, when ying qi enters the veins, it can undergo chemical assimilation to make blood.
- From the perspective of the production process of blood, its making depends on the proper release of qi from the viscera.
- Qi can move blood
The movement of blood depends on the impetus provided by qi. - Qi can control blood
This statement refers to the fact that blood relies on the fixation effect of qi, so it runs in the vessels without unwanted overflowing. This effect on blood comes mainly from the blood-controlling function of the qi stored in the spleen.
The Effect of Blood on Qi
- Blood can generate qi
The generation and function of qi depend on the nourishment of blood. Blood is a liquid substance rich in nutrients, which provides all the nutrition for the generation of qi and its functional activities in the viscera, meridians, and collaterals of the human body. - Blood can carry qi
Qi is stored in the blood and is transported by it.
Relationship Between Qi and Body Fluid
The Effect of Qi on Body Fluid
- Qi can produce body fluid
The movement and change of qi are the driving force for the metaplasia of body fluid and the abundance of qi in the spleen, stomach, and other viscera guarantees sufficiency for the metaplasia of body fluid. - Qi can move body fluid
The movement and change of qi are the driving force for the distribution and excretion of body fluid (when qi moves, fluid moves). - Qi can control body fluid
The proper solidification and dilution effect of qi can prevent the indiscriminate loss of body fluid and monitor the excretion of sweat and urine in a controlled manner.
The Effect of Body Fluid on Qi
- Body fluid can generate qi
The nourishment and replenishment of body fluid can make the spleen, stomach, lungs, kidneys, and other viscera function vigorously, and in turn help the metaplasia of qi. - Body fluid can carry qi
Body fluid is another carrier of qi around the body. And as qi is embedded within the body fluid, it can move around without being lost through vaporization.
Relationship Between Blood and Body Fluid
- Physiological relationship between blood and body fluid
Blood and body fluid are mutually convertible and mutually complementary between themselves. - Pathological relationship between blood and body fluid
In the context of pathology, body fluid and blood lesions can affect each other.
Relationship Between Essence, Qi, Blood, and Body Fluid
The intimate relationship between qi and essence is manifested in the way that qi can generate essence, and essence can transform into qi.
The relationship between blood and essence lies in the fact they originate from the same source so one can generate the other, and vice versa.
For body fluid and essence, it is due to their co-relationship with water and grain, from which both originate, and are then produced in the spleen and stomach. Therefore, the essence of water and grain and body fluid bears the distinct co-generation and assimilation relationship.
