What is Qi?
I’m going to take a guess that if you’ve stumbled upon my blog and are new to Chinese Medicine, you might have noticed “Qi” being mentioned (on my website and elsewhere) and want to know: What even is Qi??
The answer is as elusive as Qi itself and therefore has understandably captivated humans for centuries.
Qi is often translated as “energy” or “life/vital force”. However, this doesn’t quite capture the concept fully.
Qi, in all its many forms, is the fabric of the Universe. It is both substantial and insubstantial. It is continuously in a state of flux between condensing (substantial) and dispersing (insubstantial), and it is this that gives rise to everything we perceive and sense around us.
This immense definition is captured by the Chinese character for Qi (氣). It contains two aspects: the substantial, which is represented by uncooked rice, and the insubstantial, which is the vapour or steam that ascends from said rice.
From the substantial, comes the insubstantial, just like the way Qi is made from the food we consume. The character encompasses the constantly evolving nature of Qi, its ability to be two seemingly contradictory things at once, and that the subtle energy that is Qi comes from something more material and dense (and vice versa).
To speak to this in the context of the human body, the condensing of Qi gives rise to life, and its dispersal coincides with death. Qi takes on different forms and roles, and exists both on the physical and spiritual-emotional-mental planes.
Qi is also Jing (Essence), but in its most substantial and dense form, and Shen (Spirit), in it’s most ethereal form.
If normal circulation of Qi is hindered, Qi can accumulate and get stuck, and this can manifest as pain or masses.
Through Chinese Medicine diagnosis we tune into the Qi of the body, to ascertain its quality and state. We do this by feeling the pulse, observing the eyes and complexion, palpating the channels, observing the tongue.
Through acupuncture and herbal medicine, we aim to keep the Qi moving, and as abundant as possible.
Qi is everything you can see and everything you cannot. It is the entire Universe. Everything is made from Qi in one of its many forms. Including you. And so, we are all inextricably connected to all things with which we share the Universe.
So yes, it’s a bit elusive and overwhelming, and tricky to grasp, but I think that’s in part the point of being human: there is wonder and awe in the curiosity that comes with perhaps never completely understanding something.
Stay curious ✨🫶🏼