Article 27: A Woman's Troubles - Insufficient Qi and Blood: Definition and Manifestations of Qi and Blood

A woman's problem – insufficient Qi and blood

After a woman turns 30, signs of aging begin to appear: wrinkles creep around the eyes, complexion gradually becomes haggard, hands become rough, weight gain occurs slowly, and skin becomes dull. Besides external signs of aging, internal changes also subtly occur, and gradually, various ailments begin to appear. We often hear the saying, "A man at thirty is in his prime, a woman at thirty is past her prime." While this saying is old-fashioned, it's not without merit. Women often age faster than men, and the culprit is often their blood and energy (qi and blood).

Qi and blood are collective terms for the qi and blood in the human body. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that qi and blood are two major substances that constitute the human body and maintain its life activities. They share a common mission: to nourish the organs and tissues and maintain life activities.

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic states: "What a person possesses is blood and qi."

Qi and blood are the foundation of life. Qi is the body's driving force, and blood is the source of this driving force. Qi has a warming and propelling function, while blood has a nourishing and moisturizing function; the generation of blood cannot be separated from Qi, and Qi cannot exist independently of blood. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine has the saying, "Blood is the mother of Qi, and Qi is the commander of blood." During a woman's special physiological periods-menstruation, leukorrhea, pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation-Qi and blood are indispensable.

The *Nan Jing* states, "Qi is the root of man; if the root is severed, the stem and leaves wither." In other words, if a person is likened to a tree, Qi is the root, and the body is the trunk, branches, and leaves. Nourishing Qi is nourishing the root; only with deep roots can the leaves flourish, and only with abundant Qi can one live a long life. If the root is weak, the trunk and leaves will wither, and the body will decline.

Qi is the most basic energy in the human body, formed by the combination of the essence of the kidneys, the qi absorbed and transformed from food and water by the spleen and stomach, and the clear qi inhaled by the lungs. When qi is abundant, the body is strong; when qi is weak, the body is weak. When the body's vital energy is abundant, pathogenic factors cannot invade. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the body's qi includes primordial qi, ancestral qi, nutritive qi, defensive qi, liver qi, lung qi, kidney qi, and spleen qi, which together drive the transformation of energy and metabolism within the body.

Vital energy (yuanqi) is the driving force behind human life activities. It originates from the congenital essence in the kidneys and is continuously replenished and nurtured by the essence of food and water acquired later in life. Vital energy can promote and facilitate human growth and development, warm and stimulate the physiological activities of various tissues and organs, and is the most basic energy for maintaining human life activities.

Zongqi (宗气) is generated by the combination of the clear qi inhaled by the lungs and the essence of food and water transformed by the spleen and stomach. One function of zongqi is to ascend through the respiratory tract to facilitate respiration, and another is to permeate the heart vessels to circulate qi and blood. The functions of lung respiration and heart blood circulation are closely related to zongqi.

Nutrient Qi is the Qi that nourishes the whole body within the blood vessels, and it is generated from the acquired essence of food and water transformed by the spleen and stomach. The functions of Nutrient Qi are to nourish the whole body and generate blood.

Wei Qi refers to the Qi that has a protective function. The functions of Wei Qi include protecting the skin surface, defending against the invasion of external pathogens, regulating and controlling the opening and closing of sweat pores and the excretion of sweat, and maintaining a constant body temperature.

Lung qi is the driving force that propels the lungs. After the lungs breathe in fresh air, they transport oxygen down to the heart, where it is then incorporated into the bloodstream. The energy required for this process comes from lung qi.

Generally speaking, there are two main causes of Qi deficiency: congenital insufficiency and acquired malnutrition. Congenital insufficiency is self-explanatory, while the main cause of acquired malnutrition is overexertion and depletion of Qi. Traditional Chinese medicine states that "exertion depletes Qi." If we utilize the Qi in our body within a normal range and replenish it regularly with sufficient nutrients, the depletion of Qi will be slow; however, if the depletion is excessive and not replenished in time, the Qi will be depleted too quickly, eventually leading to Qi deficiency.

The *Huangdi Neijing* states, "At seven years old, a girl's kidney qi is abundant, her teeth change, and her hair grows longer. At fourteen, her *tiankui* (menstrual blood) arrives, her *renmai* (conception meridian) is open, her *taichongmai* (Greater Chong meridian) is abundant, and menstruation occurs regularly, thus enabling her to conceive." Abundant *taichongmai* and plentiful blood are essential for a woman's menstruation and fertility. Blood's most important function in the body is nourishment, and this is even more crucial for women: abundant blood results in a rosy complexion, plump skin, lustrous hair, and even a vibrant spirit.

The book *Buju Ji* states, "The qi and blood of the body cannot be separated; qi contains blood, and blood contains qi. Qi and blood depend on each other and circulate endlessly." This illustrates that qi and blood are interdependent, mutually restrictive, and mutually supportive. Without the command and propulsion of qi, blood cannot reach where the body needs it; without blood as its foundation, qi becomes pathogenic heat within the body.

When a person's Qi and blood are balanced and their Qi and blood circulate sufficiently, after meals, the nutrients that should be absorbed are absorbed, the waste that should be excreted is excreted, and the substances that should be transformed into Qi are transformed, resulting in a good figure. However, in a person with Qi deficiency, the Qi in their body does not circulate sufficiently. After meals, the nutrients that should be absorbed are not absorbed, the waste that should be excreted is not excreted, and the substances that should be transformed into Qi are not transformed. As a result, these accumulated substances are converted into fat, making a person obese.

The problems caused by insufficient Qi and blood don't stop there; they can damage various organs in the body. Even if you're not overweight, if you have insufficient Qi and blood, you certainly won't look beautiful.

What are the symptoms of insufficient Qi and blood?

• The whites of the eyes are cloudy and yellowish, there are bloodshot streaks in the eyes, large eye bags, dry eyes, and heavy eyelids.

• Rough, dull, dark, yellow, pale, bluish, reddish skin, and spots.

Dry, yellow, gray, split ends, and hair loss.

• The ears are shrunken, dry, spotted, and wrinkled.

• Your palms are hot or sweaty, or your hands are cold.

• Difficulty falling asleep, easily startled and awakened, frequent urination at night, heavy breathing, snoring.

• During exercise, you may experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, fatigue, and difficulty recovering.

• Excessive or insufficient menstrual flow.

If you have most of the above symptoms, it means there is a problem with the circulation of your Qi and blood.

Qi and blood not only affect beauty but also have a significant impact on health because they are closely connected to the five internal organs. Qi and blood hold the power of life and death over human health. If a person's qi and blood are insufficient, the five internal organs will lack sufficient energy, and naturally, they will not be able to function properly, allowing various diseases to take advantage of the weakness.

Insufficient blood and qi energy in the heart: People will experience palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and a strong desire to rest; in later stages, a slowed heart rate and precordial pain may occur.

Insufficient Qi and Blood Energy in the Liver: When the Qi and blood in the liver are normal, it can convert all the fat ingested by the body into the energy needed by the body. However, when the Qi and blood are insufficient, its working capacity will decline, causing a lot of fat to be left in the liver, forming fatty liver, or accumulating in the blood vessels, forming arteriosclerosis.

Insufficient Qi and Blood Energy in the Kidneys: The kidneys cannot complete the body's detoxification work effectively and efficiently, resulting in various toxins not being excreted from the body in a timely manner, thus increasing the levels of uric acid and urea in the body.

Insufficient energy in the pancreas: When the sugar ingested by the body cannot be metabolized normally, the excess sugar remains in the blood vessels, causing high blood sugar.

Insufficient blood and energy in the brain: Mild cases may cause dizziness and memory loss, while severe cases may lead to shriveling and blockage of peripheral blood vessels due to insufficient blood supply, resulting in cerebral ischemia and cerebral infarction. Over time, this can cause brain atrophy and Alzheimer's disease.

Therefore, whether a person gets sick or not is determined by their Qi and blood levels. If you experience Qi and blood deficiency, you need to regulate it as soon as possible and take responsibility for your health.