Types Of Qi

Question 1

Yuan Qi

Answer 1

• Original Qi; Ancestral Qi
• Basis of KD Qi
• Spark of change, transforming Zong Qi into Zhen Qi
• Participates in production of blood - transformation of Gu qi into blood
• Gate of Vitality (Ming Men) dwells between 2 Kidneys
• Motivates functional activities of internal organs, foundation of vitality

Question 2

Gu Qi

Answer 2

• Food or nourishment Qi - ST & SP
• First stage of transformation of food (Rotted and Ripened) by ST and then sent to SP to make Gu Qi (unusable form)
• Sent to Middle Burner (houses ST and SP) to Upper Burner (LU and HT) combines w air to form Zong Qi
• Part of Gu Qi from middle burner is sent to LU then HT where (w help from Yuan Qi and KD Qi) to form blood

Question 3

Zong Qi

Answer 3

• Gathering Qi, Qi of chest) - LU & HT
• Nourishes LU and HT; forms basis for involuntary functions of respiration and heartbeat
• Assists LU in controlling Qi and respiration
• Assists HT function of governing the blood and blood vessels (if Zong qi is weak extremities, esp hands, will be cold)
• Gathers in throat and influences speech (which is under control of HT) and strength of voice (under control of LU) (ex. Weak Zong qi - weak voice, weak circulation to hands)

Zong Qi and Yuan Qi mutually assist each other - Zong qi flows down to aid KD - Yuan Qi flows upward to aid in respiration (formation of Zong Qi)
-Easily affected by emotional problems (ex. Griefs weakens LU and disperses energy in chest)

Question 4

Zhen Qi

Answer 4

• True Qi
• Normal Qi
• Zong Qi is transformed into Zhen Qi w help of Yuan Qi
• Final stage in the transformation refinement of Qi
• Wei Qi and Ying Qi

Question 5

Ying Qi

Answer 5

• Nutritive Qi
• Nourishes organs and whole body
• Closely related to blood and flows w blood in vessels as well in channels
• Qi that is activated by insertion of acupuncture needle - spends 2 hours in channels, moving through 12 channels in a 24 hr period - during this period specific organs are nourished and maintained by Ying Qi

Question 6

Zhong Qi

Answer 6

• Central Qi
• Qi of ST and SP (middle burner) - Postnatal Essence
• Often used to describe pathological condition where is SP Qi is def and caused organ prolapse

Question 7

Zheng Qi

Answer 7

• Upright Qi
• General term to describe various forms of Qi that protect body from exogenous pathogens
• Usually only used when contrasting the strength of body’s Qi w the strength of invading pathogen