Vital Life Force in Chinese Medicine
Vital life force in Chinese Medicine is a concept that does not directly translate into Western medical thinking. Both medical systems consider blood to be a substance vital for life, and that it circulates in the entire body through the blood vessels. However, Chinese medicine conceptualizes the vital substance in much different terms than does Western medicine, adding another aspect which is Qi. Without Qi, blood is thought to be lifeless, doing nothing to sustain us.
Qi (pronounced ‘chee’, often written as ‘chi’) is universal energy. It encompasses all manifestations of life-form energy as we know it—from the physical such as observable movement, to more intangible forms such as light, heat, thought and emotion. In Chinese Medicine, the blood is considered a dense form of universal energy.
Qi is dynamic. It constantly fluctuates, changing form. Life itself is said to be a gathering of Qi, and health is considered a balanced gathering of it.
The Whole Self
Blood and Qi nourish, activate and sustain all human systems. Vital nutrients are carried to every part of the body through the bloodstream, lubricating the body’s working parts and enlivening them. We are energetically nourished and sustained during rest, work, stress, crisis and trauma. Thus, our everyday functioning, and our biological calls to action in critical times, rely upon blood and Qi.
Here are some specific ways vital life force and human aspects relate:
- The Spleen: The spleen is considered to be the origin of blood, producing the root substance of it known as Grain Qi. The Grain Qi is transformed by the heart into blood as we know it. The spleen is also responsible for holding the blood in the proper places to prevent bleeding.
- The Heart: The heart is the governor of blood and Qi. It provides the fire of transformation in which blood is prepared for the maintenance of life. The heart circulates vital life force to all our physical parts such as the organs, muscles, connective tissues and so on.
- The Mind: The fundamental functions of blood and Qi touch all aspects of what it means to be human. The mind, for example, relies upon the foundation of blood for its functioning, and the state of mind we have is reflected in whether there is adequate Qi to nourish it. When vital life force is deficient, symptoms emerge such as feelings of dis-ease, irritability, dissatisfaction, and anxiety, to name a few.
- The Liver: The liver is said to store and regenerate blood and Qi when one is at rest, underscoring the importance of regular and adequate rest. It also governs the smooth flow of Qi and blood throughout the system, balancing the rate of flow needed to meet all of our physical needs.
Blood Disturbances
Fundamental types of blood disturbances include blood deficiency, blood heat and blood stagnation. Here is a very basic sketch of those conditions below.
- Blood Deficiency: Blood Deficiency, or Qi deficiency, refers to inadequate vital life force to sufficiently nourish the body for healthy functioning. This deficiency can involve all of the body’s organs, but in particular the spleen, stomach are typically involved, and the liver and kidneys are vulnerable to adverse effects as well.
- Blood Heat: Blood heat occurs when the body holds too much heat. This typically involves the liver since this is where blood is stored and regenerated. Blood heat involves the blood being pushed out of the vessels such as we see in particularly heavy cycles of menses or excessive bruising.
- Blood Stagnation: Stagnation is considered coldness in the blood system. This coldness causes stagnation of Qi, or the slowing and pooling of Qi in which bodily fluids do not move effectively causing such problems as phlegm accumulation.
If you are in search of a Chinese Medicine practitioner in the Louisville area, you can contact:
Jeffrey Russell, MS, DOM, L.Ac who is a Board Certified Chinese Herbalist and Acupuncturist
Abacus Chinese Medicine
1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 3411
Louisville, KY 40217
You may schedule an appointment online here or by texting (502) 299-8900.