Qi, Blood and Fluids

Compiled by Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM, L.Ac. , Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM) from Giovanni Maciocia, the
Foundations of Chinese Medicine and Nigel Wiseman, Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine.

Theory 1 Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

In Chinese Medicine, Qi has two major aspects:
•Refined essence produced by internal organs to
nourish the body and mind
•Indicates the functional activity of the internal
organs.

Nan Jing: "Qi is the root of a human being"

There are many different types of Qi, however, there is

ultimately only one Qi within many manifestations.
The different types of Qi are defined by their function
and location.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Organs involved with the production of Qi
•Kidneys
•Spleen/Stomach
•Lungs

Types of qi:
•Yuan qi/Original qi/Source qi
•Gu qi/Grain qi
•Da qi/Great qi/Air Qi/Qing Qi
•Zong Qi/Ancestral Qi/Gathering Qi
•Zhen Qi/True qi/Normal Qi
•Ying Qi/Constructive Qi/Nutritive Qi
•Wei Qi/Defensive Qi/Protective Qi
•Zang Fu Qi/Organ Qi
•Jing Luo Qi/Channel Qi
•Zheng qi/ Upright Qi/ Righteous Qi
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Gu Qi - Grain/water Qi comes from Sp/ST. First stage of
transformation from food to energy ---to the formation of Qi
and Blood. It is the Qi of Food.

•Food is the starting point. Food related to quality and quantity

- defines Gu Qi
•If food quality/quantity not good, it uses up Jing.

Da Qi/Air Qi
- Great big, the Great Qi ====> Air.
-Qi we share with all living being beings, all that breathes.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Zong Qi - Qi of the Chest (Chest Qi) - The gathering Qi,

•regulates respiration, breathing, the heart and the pumping of

the heart.
•Gathering Qi assist the Heart and Lungs to push qi and blood
to the limbs, especially to the hands.
•The Qi behind the power of voice, coordination of heart and
respiration.
•Regulates both Heart and Lungs

SW75 - if gathering qi does not descend, the blood will stagnate

in the vessels."If weak, limbs will be cold.”

After all, this will interact with (Yuan Qi) - catalyst -

The Yuan Qi acts on Zong Qi to transforms it into Zhen Qi

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Yuan Qi(pronounced: U.N.Qi)

•It is the Original Qi, comes from Kidneys, from essence.

•An essence in the form of Qi.
•Its original from prenatal and relies on Postnatal nourishment.

Key: It flows in the body to catalyze all of our transformation in our body.

It is the Yuan Qi that activates/facilitate transformation. Day to day activity,

circulates whenever needed to activate transformation.
•Acts as a link between Prenatal and Postnatal.
•Facilitate transformation of Blood
•Circulated by San Jiao - Triple Burner
•It circulates in the channels to emerge at the Source Point - (you will learn in
points class)
•Governed by the Kidneys.
•The original Qi - Yuan Qi is the foundation of all yin and yang energies of the
body, it originates between two Kidneys.
•Derived from Prenatal Essence and relies on postnatal qi for nourishment.
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
“The Original Qi (Yuan Qi) can be seen as
the dynamic motive force that is behind all
movement and transformation of Qi in
every part of the body.” -Maciocia p: 75

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

BOX 4.2 THE FIRE OF THE GATE OF LIFE
(MING MEN) AS THE WARMTH FOR THE
TRANSFORMATION OF Ql
• The Original Qi between the Kidneys is related to the Fire of the
Gate of Life (Ming Men)

• The Fire of the Gate of Life, also called Minister Fire. is the root of
Pre-Heaven Qi, the source of Post-Heaven Qi and the foundation for
the Original Qi

• The Essence is Yin and it provides the Fire of the

Gate of Life with the biological substance for life

• The Fire of the Gate of Life is Yang and it gives

the Essence the necessary warmth for its
Activation

• The Fire of the Gate of Life provides the warmth

necessary to all physiological processes
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Zhen Qi - True Qi - last stage of transformation of Qi.
Gathering Qi is transformed into True Qi under the catalytic action
of Yuan Qi/Original Qi.
•Qi of all body refined.
•Becomes all Qi to activate our organs.
•Circulates in the channels and nourishes the organs.

Zhen Qi  Ying Qi + Wei Qi

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Ying Qi - Nutritive Qi. Flows inside the blood vessels into the blood
with the blood.
It flows internally inside the vessels. It transforms nutrients and
delivers nutrients.
It is more yin Qi (interior) provides nutrition. It is the most yin of all
types of Qi.
Helps generate/make blood

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Wei Qi - Defensive/Protective Qi - Related to "immune
system"

Flows on the exterior, outside the blood vessels, flows in the space
between the muscle layer and the skin called Cou Li, on the border
under the skin.

function: - to defend/fight off disease.

1. Protects the body against pathogen, "evil spirits", evil qi,
external influences.
2. Warms surface of the body/skin and surface of organs.
3. Regulate pours and ability to sweat. This controlling has to do
with body temp and pores to open and close and block disease.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Wei Qi - Defensive/Protective Qi - Related to "immune
system“ – CONT.

•It is under the control of Lungs.

•Immunity is rooted in Kidney (essence) - related to Yuan Qi, but
nourished by spleen and lungs
•Wei Qi and lungs are connected. Lungs pushes wei Qi and distribute to
surface.
•Wei Qi depends on food, air, nourishment, good digestion and essence.
•During daytime, it protects
•At night it leaves the surface of the body goes internally to be nourished.
Mostly when sleeping. At night, not much of body protection.
•Ying and Wei Qi work together in harmony (They are paired),
BALANCED to protect the body.
•Wei Qi always on protective boarder. Ying Qi back up wei qi, with
interior support and nutrition that allows wei qi to protect.
•There is a yin yang aspect to immune system.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Zheng Qi - GENERAL/THE COMMANDER DEFENSE QI

•Fighting disease (will learn in pathology)

•It is the upright/righteous Qi
•Zheng Qi vs. Xie Qi (Upright Qi vs. Evil Qi)
•Zheng Qi - All qi comes together to battle, to fight Xie Qi (evil qi)
•Zheng Qi is about fighting, the whole army.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

THE DYNAMICS AND PHYSIOLOGY OF
THE TRANSFORMATION OF Ql
The Qi Mechanism
The 'Qi Mechanism' (Qi Ji) indicates the complex
process of movement of Qi in all parts of the body.
The direction of movement of the various types of Qi
in various physiological processes is essential to the
proper transformation of Qi. The Qi Mechanism relies
on four fundamental movements of Qi:
• ascending (a Yang movement)
• descending (a Yin movement)
• exiting (a Yang movement)
• entering (a Yin movement).

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Function of Qi
Warming
Defense
Activation and Movement
Transformation
Containment/Control/Holding

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

•Qi is warming: movement, constantly circulating, if stagnant or
stopped = cold
•Defense – See Wei Qi
•Movement and activation: involves/includes physical movement,
involuntary activity (digestion, breathing, thinking or dreaming,
growth, blood/fluid circulation)
Four direction: up bearing, down bearing, inward, outward.
•Transformation: metabolism of fundamental substances. Take food
and extracts nutrients (water/food), requires qi to make qi, blood,
urine, sweat, etc.
•Control, holding, and raising: holds and contains, raises the qi
Qi holds blood in vessels.
Qi holds blood, sweat, urine, and regulate the function of opening
and closing. Holds and prevents loss of essence.
Qi Holds things up and in place, holds organs in place, prevents
prolapse.
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Qi Pathologies

1. Qi Vacuity/Deficiency
2. Qi Fall/Qi Sinking: A type of Qi vacuity mostly occurring due to
Spleen Qi vacuity
3. Qi Stagnation: Qi flows smoothly and freely throughout the
body. Any blockage in the free flow of qi is called qi stagnation.
4. Counterflow Qi/Rebellious Qi: Impairment of the normal
movement of qi, usually as a result of stagnation.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

 General Description
Qi Vacuity: Not enough Qi, characterized by weakness, lack of strength.
symptoms: weak pulse, low energy, shortness of breath (SOB), weak voice, poor
digestion, poor appetite. Wei Qi deficiency - sweat improperly (spontaneous sweat),
or get sick easily.

Qi falling/sinking - prolapse. We see symptoms of weakness plus symptoms of

falling (prolapse), bruising easily (unable to hold blood), leakage of fluids.

Qi Stagnation: when qi stops moving. Disturbed by sth. e.g. emotions, poor

diet/digestion, injury.
Symptoms: pain (localized), qi not flowing. Emotions disturbances (should flow
freely), tightness, sighing, irritability.

Counterflow/Rebellious of Qi: impairment of Qi movement. Counterflow as a

result of stagnation.
e.g. Lung Qi suppose to decend (while taking a deep breath), the counter flow
would be coughing and wheezing or shortness of breath.
Same with stomach, should go down, but when it's not, see symptoms such as
vomiting, nausea... Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Class 6 - Blood and Fluids

Formation of Blood:
Like all vital substances in the body, blood is formed from the
interaction of pre-natal essence/qi and post-natal essence/qi.

Blood is formed from the qi that is derived from the spleen and
stomach which becomes red after transformation through the heart by
ying qi and yang qi.

Functions of Blood:
Nourish the body, skin and hair, sinews/muscles and bones, channels,
bowels, and viscera.

Moistens the tissues

Serves as the material foundation for the Shen/mind and all mental
activities (HOUSES THE SHEN)Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Blood

The meaning of 'Blood' in Chinese Medicine is different from its meaning in

Western medicine. In Chinese Medicine, Blood is itself a form of Qi, a very
dense and material one, but Qi nevertheless. Moreover, Blood is inseparable
from Qi itself as Qi infuses life into Blood;without Qi. Blood would be an
inert fluid.

Source of Blood
Blood is derived mostly from the Food-Qi produced by the Spleen. The
Spleen sends Food-Qi upwards to the Lungs, and through the pushing action
of Lung-Qi this is sent to the Heart, where it is transformed into Blood.
The 'Spiritual Axis' says in chapter 18: 'The Stomach is in the Middle Burner,
it opens onto the Upper Burner, it receives Qi, secretes the dregs, evaporates
the fluids transforming them into a refined essence pours upwards towards
the Lungs and is transformed into Blood.'46

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

The 'Discussion on Blood Patterns' (by Tang Zong Hai,
1884) says: 'Water is transformed into Qi, Fire is
transformed into Blood ... How can we say that Fire is
transformed into Blood? Blood and Fire are both red in
colour, Fire resides in the Heart where it generates Blood,
which moistens the whole body. Fire is Yang, and it
generates Blood that is Yin. '47

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Su wen, Chapter 10
When man lies down, the blood returns to the liver
When liver receives the blood, one can see.
When the feet receive the blood, one can walk
When palms receive the blood, they can grasp
When fingers receive the blood, they can hold.

Relationship between Qi and Blood:

Qi is the commander of Blood
- governs circulation and production of blood
- Qi moves and contains blood, this is why it's called "Qi is the commander of Blood"
Blood is the Mother of Qi
-Blood gives the body the nutritional substance to carry out body functions, nourishes.

Qi and Blood are different but inseparable. They depend on one another
Su Wen - "If Blood and Qi fall into disharmony, the hundred diseases may arise"

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Substance and organs involved in the production and
management of Blood:

Gu Qi: substantial basis for blood

Ying Qi: motive force
Essence and Marrow: substantial basis, marrow can transform into blood as
needed
Fluids: forms part of the blood

Heart, Spleen, Lung, Liver, Kid

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Organs involved in the production and management of Blood

Heart:
"The Heart governs the blood"
Heart blood houses the spirit/Shen/mind
Heart fire transforms the qi into blood
Blood is pumped by the heart qi through the vessels to all of the body. The
rhythmic and smooth circulation of blood depends on the heart and zong qi (qi
of the chest)

Spleen:
"The spleen is the source of qi and blood"

The spleen/stomach system is key to the formation of blood: the initial

transformation from food to pure essence takes place here.

"spleen manages the blood/contains the blood:: blood is prevented from

spilling out of the vessels by the containing function of the spleen qi.

Spleen deficiency will lead to blood deficiency.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Organs involved in the production and management of Blood
Liver:
"The Liver stores Blood". the liver stores and regulates the amount of blood in
circulation. When the body is active the blood is in the vessels, when at rest
the blood returns to the Liver where it is stored.

Liver is the key component in menstruation.

Kidney essence and liver blood transform into one another to ensure adequate
supply.

Lungs:
Lungs assist with the formation of blood.

Kidney
Essence and marrow are the source of blood: the power of the yuan qi acting
on the marrow transforms the blood in the chest and heart.

Kidney essence transforms into blood if needed

Kidney yang warms the spleen/stomach to assist with transformation

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Organs involved in the production and management of Blood

Three most important Zang organs in relation to the

control of blood are:
Liver, Heart, Spleen

Liver: stores and regulates the blood

- when the body moves, blood flows thought the channels
-When the body at rest, the blood returns to the liver and is stored

Heart: governs the blood, which means the Heart pumps the blood

Spleen: Contains the blood. The Spleen manages the blood (prevents the
blood from spilling out of the vessels. i.e.: hemorrhage, bruising)

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Blood Pathologies:

Blood deficiency: Can be general or specific to an organ.

Blood fails to nourish the organs and vessels due to profuse bleeding due to weak stomach and
spleen functions, mental strain ( over thinking consumes blood), or consumption of body fluids.
General symptoms: pale complexion, lips and nails; dry skin, blurry vision, papitations, insomnia,
numbness of hands and feet, pale short menses or menopause.

Blood Stasis (stagnation):

Congealed blood not flowing smoothly, becomes solid.
can cause stagnation of other substances. It is often a result of qi stagnation, qi deficiency, heat,
cold or trauma.
Remember: Qi moves Blood, and Blood is the mother of Qi (blood nourishes qi)
General symptoms: localized pain that is stabbing in nature and worse with pressure or at night,
tumors, or cysts, petechiae, purplish color.

Heat in the Blood

Often due to heat in the body or when pathogens enter the blood
Symptoms: mental restlessness, or mania, dryness, hemorrhaging, profuse menstrual flow, skin
conditions. (heat creates wind, as blood moves fast in blood vessels, it spills out - bleeding)

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

 Fundamental Substances - Continue

FLUIDS (Jin-Ye) AND FLUIDS PATHOLOGY

P: 65 M

Source of Fluids: comes from the assimilation of food and fluids. This is brought about by the transformation quality of the Spleen.
Fluid process starts with the Stomach, where fluids are ingested and churned and then separated.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Fundamental Substances - Continue

Fluids: Jin and Ye

FLUIDS AND FLUIDS PATHOLOGY
Jinye: Includes all normal fluids in the body: tears, sweat, saliva, stomach juices,
urine, mucous, any secretions, fluids that moisten skin, flesh, tendons, bones and
marrow.

Fluids are material substances (yin) - They are very sensitive to changes in the state of
qi and blood, organ function, or external environment.

There are two types of fluids that form the yin and yang aspects of the
single entity of body fluids.

They are mutually convertible.

1. Jin: fluid, thin, rapidly moving and circulation. They follow the circulation of qi and
blood. Moistens the surface of the body and organs, mucous membranes, sense
organs and orifices. Sweat and urine are formed from these fluids.
2. Ye: Known as humor, these fluids are thick and slow-moving. They are found in
the bowels and viscera, brain, bones and joins. Ye does NOT circulate throughout the
body.
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Fundamental Substances - Continue

FLUIDS AND FLUIDS PATHOLOGY

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Formation of Fluids:

Constant separation to pure and unpure.

Fluid metabolism requires Qi !

Fluid metabolism is a series of purification process, each stage further
separating into a pure and impure/turbid part. This is governed by the
movement of the spleen.

Qi transformation occurs in each organ throughout the cycle of fluid

metabolism allowing for a continuous process of refinement, conservation and
excretion. Qi transformation occurs through the action of the Yuan Qi.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

FLUIDS AND FLUIDS PATHOLOGY

The CLEAR 

The IMPURE

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

 Formation and Process of Body Fluids

•Upper Jiao: Mist: Lungs dispersing throughout the body and skin
•Middle Jiao: Muddy pool: stomach churns the fluids and directs the impure down
•Lower Jiao: Drainage ditch: small intestine, large intestine, bladder and kidney
transform, separate and excrete.
FLUIDS – TRANSFORMATION AND SEPARATION

- Transform and Transport

- Diffusion and Descending

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

FLUIDS – TRANSFORMATION AND SEPARATION

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
FLUIDS AND FLUIDS PATHOLOGY

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

 Lungs

SP/ST

SI

KD
LI

UB

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

 Fluid Metabolism Summary

Organs Involved in Fluid Metabolism:

 Stomach/Spleen
Stomach receives the fluids
Spleen absorbs, transforms and transports to Lungs.
Stomach is easily affected by lack of fluids. Spleen is easily damaged by
accumulation of fluids.

Lungs: Upper source of water

Lungs regulate water passages through down bearing and diffusion, ensuring
the regular flow of water throughout the body.

Kidney: Lower source of water

Distills fluids by steaming action back up to the lungs to moisten them and
recycle.
Kidney yang qi powers the bladder to transform water and open and close to
discharge urine.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

 Fluid Metabolism Summary – cont.
Small Intestine:
Receives fluids from the stomach, separate the pure from the turbid, sends
the pure top to the bladder and the turbid to the large intestine.

Large Intestine:
Does a final separation of pure and turbid fluids then conveys solid waste out.

Bladder:
Qi transformation of kidney yang allows for distillation of clear fluids back
upwards to the lungs and the skin creating a constant circulation and
recycling of fluids.
Bladder excrete the turbid as urine.

San Jiao/Triple Burner: The passageway/conduits for fluids

Su Wen Chapter 8: "The Triple Burner is the official in charge of irrigation and
it controls the water passages." San Jiao acts as passageway or conduit for
fluids as they move through the body.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Relationships between Fundamental Substances

1. Blood and Qi: both are derived from prenatal and postnatal qi.
Yuan qi link between prenatal and postnatal.

• Qi: makes, holds and moves blood

• Blood: mother of qi
 Qi commander of blood: Qi makes the blood, moves the
blood, and qi contains the blood. (3 fx)
Blood on its own does not move
Blood is in nature. Yin moves when yang moves, hence Qi and Blood are rooted in one
another. Good blood need Good circulation

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Relationships between Fundamental Substances

Blood is the mother of Qi:

Qi needs nourishment in order to carry out its activity. The

nutrition is supplied by the blood. The ability to make and
circulate qi requires nourishment from Blood.
Blood nourishes Qi.
Qi depends on Blood for Rooting and attachment
otherwise Qi (yang) floats out.

- when someone loses lots of blood, they also lose Qi. Why? Because Qi follows
blood, they're rooted in one another. Similarly, if you use up Qi, eventually we
won't be able to make blood.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Relationships between Fundamental Substances

2. Qi and Jing (Essence): Prenatal/Postnatal relation

mutually dependant, supplied by Jing
Takes energy from Jing to make Qi
Qi supplement /support Jing in return
In emergency, Jing will supplement.
3. Blood and Essence Relationship:
They can transform to one another to supplement blood.
Mutual supplement
4. Fluid and Qi Relationship: similar to Blood and Qi
yin and yang relation
Qi helps transform fluids in each organ + distribution of fluids requires Qi
Excretion depends on Qi
Qi also contains fluids, holds fluids in body
Qi moves fluids
Fluids like Blood act like attachment for Qi, when fluids are lost also we lose Qi.
e.g.: In case of sun stroke, sweating, fluid loss, then pass out. Here there was a damage to fluids.

Note: Fluids do not provide nutrition like Blood.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Relationships between Fundamental Substances

5. Fluids and Blood Relationship:

•Blood is made up part of fluids
•Water within Blood
•Same source: yin in nature, same source
•Both moisten body
•Fluids are more moistening and cooling than Blood
•Blood is stronger in nourishing
•Blood loss leads to loss of fluids and Qi
•Loss of fluids leads to Blood deficiency.

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM
Fundamental Substances - Continue

FLUIDS AND FLUIDS PATHOLOGY

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM

Dr. Fate Daou, DAOM