Chapter four

The Theory of qi ,blood and body

fluid
XIA Xinxin
2015.9.24

qi ,blood and body fluid

The

material basis of the functional activit

ies the body.
The physiological products of their functi
onal activities.
To study the development ,transportation an
d distribution ,physiological functions, patholo
gical changes and mutual relations of qi,blood,
and body fluid of human body.

Section 1
1.The

Qi

Concept of Qi

qi is the most basic substance of which the world is co

mprised. Everything in the universe results from the m
ovements and changes of qi.
two aspects:
the vital substances comprising the human body and m
aintaining its life activities. (qi of food essence, qi of br
eathing)
the physiological functions of viscera and bowels, chan
nels and collaterals.( qi of the heart )

III.

2. The formation of Qi
two sources:
the innate vital substance one inherits from ones parents before bi
rth.
the substance one receives from the natural world: the food essenc
e and fresh air.
procedure in production
fresh air.(inhaled by the lung)

IV.

the food essence (digested by the spleen )

V.

the innate vital substance acted on by the kidney)

3. The Functions of Qi
1) Promoting Action
Qi is a sort of essence full of vitality.
activate the growth and development of the
human body.
promote the physiological functions of
body.
speed up the formation and circulation of
blood and the metabolism of body fluid as
well.
if the above function are weakened as a
result of the deficiency of qi,
what will happen?

Late and slow growth and development of

human body or senilism.
Weakened functions of viscera and
bowels,channels and collaterals,tissues
and other organs
Insufficient blood formation or stagnation
in blood vessels.
Disturbance in the metabolism of body
fluid

2) Consolidating and Governing Action

qi has the ability to command, control and
consolidate the liquid substances and organs in
the abdominal cavity.
(1)Keeping the blood flowing within, not
extravasating out of the vessels;
(2) Controlling and adjusting the secretion and
excretion of sweat, urine and saliva, and
preventing the body fluid from escaping;
(3)Consolidating and storing sperm and preventing
spermatorrhea premature ejaculation.
(nephroqi)
.
(4)Consolidating the organs so as to prevent them
from descending.(spleenqi)

Hypofunction of qi in fixation and governing:

Various kinds of hemorrhage , spontaneous
perspiration, polyuria, salivation,
spermatorrhea premature ejaculation,
prolapse of the stomach , kidney and uterus.

3) Warming Action
Qi has a warming action.
qi is the main source of the heat needed by the
human body.
lower temperature,intolerance to cold,cold limbs.
4) Defending Action
the defending action of qi is shown in two aspects.
to guard the surface of the skin against the
exopathogen;
to combat the invading exopathogen so as to ward it
off.
Easy to be sicken ,the diseases are hard to cure

5)promoting metabolism and transformation

qi hua it refers to the metabolism of
fundamental substances(essence of life), qi,
blood and body fluid, and the transformations
which can occur between them.

4.The movement of qi
Different kinds of qi move in different way.
four basic ways:ascending,descending,exiting,
entering
the lung :exhaling is exiting, inhaling is
entering, dispersing is ascending and keeping
the inspired air flowing downward is
descending.
qi of the spleen: ascend
qi of the stomach: descend.
The various functions of qi are all performed by
its movement.

5.The classification of qi
1) Inborn Qi (primordial qi)
Formation:mainly from the innate essence stored
in the kidney.and depends on the supplement and
nourishment of the acquired essence developed in
the spleen and stomach.
Movement:commences from the vital gate,
passes the triple warmer and circulates throughout
the body.
Functions: activating growth and development
and promoting the functional activities of all the
viscera and bowels, channels and collaterals,
tissues and other organs.

2) Pectoral Qi
a combination of the fresh air inhaled by the lung and
the food essence derived by the spleen and stomach
from water and grain.
Movement: stored in the chest and poured into the
channels of the heart and lung just. It goes out of the
lung and circulates through the larynx and pharynx.
Functions: 1)to promote the respiratory movement of
the lung and is involved in the loudness or softness of
voice and words.2)to fill the heart channel to promote
and adjust its beat, and to promote and adjust the
circulation of blood and vital energy.3)exerts an
influence on the warmth and activities of the limbs.

3) Nourishing Qi
the qi circulating within the blood vessels and
having a nourishing function.
Formation
a complex of inhaled air and absorbed food
essence.
Movement: originates from the middle
warmer and enters the channels by way of
the lung. It circulates throughout the body
along one after another of the fourteen
channels.
Function: to produce blood, nourish the
whole body.

4) Defending Qi
the qi moving outside the conduits and having
protective functions.
Formation : a complex of inhaled air and absorbed
food essence.
Movement: circulates outside the channels, it
travels between the skin and flesh.
Fuction:1)guarding the surface of the body against
exopathogen. 2)keeping a relatively constant body
temperature by controlling the opening and closing
of the pores and adjusting the excretion of sweat.
3) nourishing the viscera, bowels, muscles, skin and
hair.4) associated with sleep.

Section 2

Blood

The concept of blood

Blood is a kind of red liquid rich in nutrit
ion, circulating within the blood vessels.
And vessels are pipes through which bloo
d flows.

2 The formation of blood

Blood originates from two sources.
1 food essence. absorbed by the spleen
and stomach goes up to the lung where it is
turned into blood through the cardioqi and
pulmonoqi.
2 the essence of life the stored essence of
life goes into the liver and changes into clear
blood.

3 The function of blood

nourishing and moistening the whole body

The liver having received blood has the function of determining goo
d eyesight.
The feet nourished by blood have the ability to walk.
The palms having received blood have the power of gripping.
The fingers having obtained nutrients from blood can hold objects.
The blood is the mental energy.

4 The circulation of blood

The blood continuously circulates within the vessels r

ound the body.

How many organs have certain actions on the normal

circulation of the blood? And how does it perform its
function well?

The heart:control the power to force the blood circulate.

The lung:take in charge of vital energy and link to the
formation of pectoral qi.
Pectoral qi:entering into the heart channel to promote the
movement of blood and vital energy.
The spleen:keeping the blood flowing within the
vessels,not extravasating.
The liver:regulate the rate of the flow of the blood
according to the different physiological needs of activity
or calmness,causing the circulation of blood to kept at a
constant level.

Section 3

Body fluid

1 The conception of Body Fluid(jinye)

It is a collective term of all normal liquids. body flui
d refers to the intracellular and the extracellular fluid
in modern medicine.
jin is the fluid which is dilute, flows easily in the p
ores, skin and muscles, and has a moistening functio
n. thin fluid )
yeis the fluid which is thick, flows less easily in the
joints, viscera, bowels, brain and marrow, and has a n
ourishing function.(thick fluid )

 The formation,distribution and excretion of jin

ye
The formation :comes from water and food. It is formed in

the process of digestion in the stomach and transformation

of the spleen. the small intestine has a function of separati
ng the clear from the turbid, and the large intestine dominat
e thin fulid , the formation of body fluid.
Through which organs function is the transportation and di
stribution of the body fluid completed?

The transportation and distribution :is, in the main,

completed jointly by the spleen through its function of
transmission and transportation, by the lung through its
efforts of dispersing and descending, and by the kidney
through its role of regulating water metabolism.And the
triple warmer is the passage through which it passes.the
livers function of smoothing and regulating the vital
energy and blood also helps transport and distribute
jinye.

the excretion :waste and excessive water is excreted

according to the different physiological needs.
the lung:activate the flow of body fluid, to the surface
of the body and , is there turned it into sweat.
the kidney:separate the clear from the turbid and
change it into urine.
the urinary bladder: store and excrete urine.
Others are transformed into nasal mucus, saliva and
tears and are removed from the nose, mouth , eyes by
the functions of the corresponding organs.
The air exhaled by the lung takes away some moisture.

multiple choice questions

Which are the key organs in
maintaining the normal
metabolism of water:
A. The lung B.The spleen
C.The heart D.The kidney.

3 The function of jinye

Moisturizing and nourishing
Distributed to the surface and pores of the bod
y has the function of moisturizing the skin, the
hair, the muscles, the eyes, the nose, the mouth
and others.
Poured into the internal organs, the marrow, t
he spinal cord and the brain has the function of
nourishing them.

 2)As

a component of blood
through the blood capillaries, Jinye seeps int
o the blood vessels. Performs a nourishing and
lubricating function and becomes a component
part of blood.
3)excrete the waste and poisonous substances f
rom the body along with sweat and urine after
the metabolism in the body, thus maintaining t
he clearness of the body itself and ensuring the
normal physiological functions all of the organ
s , collaterals and tissues.

Section 4
The relationship between qi blood
and body fluid

1 the relationship between qi and blood

Qi belongs to yang and has a warming function; whil

e blood belongs to yin, and a nourishing function.
(1) Qi as the Commander of Blood
1)Making Blood: Qi is the motive power for makin
g blood.
2)Qi as the driving force of Blood:Qi in motion ren
ders blood circulating normally.
3) Keeping blood flowing within the Vessels.

in treating a deficiency of blood often adds drugs having

the function of invigorating qi. Chinese Angelica
Decoction :6g angelica root ( ,30g Radix Astragali
seu hedysari root .
In treating the syndromes of stagnation of blood, often
adds drugs having the function of promoting the
circulation of ,or supplementing qi. And pay attention to
recuperating the function of the relevant viscera and
bowels.
In treating hemorrhage not using excessive hemostatics,
but mainly using drugs having the function of invigorating
the spleen to benefit qi.ie. Radix Astragali seu hedysari
root, ginseng root .
recuperate the function of the spleen.

(2) Blood as the Motherof Qi

Qi is in blood and carried by blood.
Blood permanently provides nutrients
for the movement of qi.
Qi should be reinforced at the same time
as blood is toned up ,and vice versa

2 The relationship between qi and body fluid

1) Qi, the motivating power in promoting the
development of body fluid through the function of
the spleen and stomach.
2) Qi, the motivating power in promoting the
circulation of body fluid and the excretion of water.
3) Qi, the mechanism of guiding body fluid
4) Body fluid, the carrier of Qi

promoting the circulation of or supplementing

qi and promoting diuresis.
spontaneous sweating ,enuresis and polyuria
invigorating qi to control body fluid is often
used.
severe vomiting and diarrhea cause heavy
loss of qi

3. The Relationship between Blood and Body

Fluid
They both belong to yin. and both derive
from food essence. Their main function is
nourishing and moisturizing.
Heavy loss of blood are followed by heavy
loss of body fluid:thirst, oliguria and dry skin.
Less body fluid causes blood to be less but
thicker.so those blood loss is too heave have to
avoid perspiring.