Qi, blood and body fluid, though different in characteristics and functions, play an essential role in constituting the human body and maintaining its life activities. Their however, is inseparable from the cereal nutrients trans- formed by the spleen and stomach. Besides, their physiological functions are inter-dependent, inter-restricted and inter-promoted. Hence, the relation- ships among them are very close either physiologically or pathologically. The Relationships Between Qi and Blood
Qi pertains to yang, governs warming and is active by nature; on the con- trary, blood pertains to yin, governs moistening and is quiet by nature. Apart from the distinction in terms of property and function, there is another difference between qi and blood: qi is the commander of blood while blood is the mother of qi. Specifically, their relations can be dis- cussed in terms of the following four aspects:
1. Qi can produce blood
Qi and its motion and variation, or qi transformation, play a significant role in the production of blood. From the transformation of water and food
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into cereal nutrients, from the conversion of cereal nutrients to nutrient qi and body fluid, and from the change of nutrient qi and body fluid to red blood, the movements and changes of qi are ubiquitous. Hence, if qi is abundant, blood will be sufficient; otherwise, if qi is inadequate, blood will be insufficient. For this reason, qi-supplementing herbs are often used clinically to treat blood- deficiency disorders in order to promote blood production.
2. Qi can promote blood circulation
Since blood pertains to yin and is characterized by quietness, it relies on the promotion of qi to circulate. So if qi stagnates, blood stasis will appear. The circulation of blood depends on the pulsation of heart qi, the dispersion of lung qi and the free flow of liver qi. Pathologically, either qi deficiency or qi stagnation will result in sluggish movement of qi or even blood stasis; adverse rise of qi may lead to reddened complexion and eyes, headache, or even vomiting of blood; sinking of qi will cause sinking and distending sensation in the stomach and abdomen, or even hematockezia and massive vaginal bleeding, etc. For this reason, clinically herbs with the functions of nourishing qi, promoting qi or descending qi can be used to treat disorders of blood circulation.
3. Qi can control blood
Qi is capable of containing blood within its vessels without extravasation. This action of qi, as a matter of fact, is attributable to the function of the spleen in controlling blood. Pathologically, if qi fails to control blood, there will be various manifestations of bleeding. So clinically qi-nourish- ing herbs are often used to stop bleeding.
4. Blood is the mother of qi
This means that blood carries qi and provides qi with adequate nourish- ment. Blood is involved in the entire process of qi production and circula- tion. Since qi is very active and liable to escape, it must adhere to blood or body fluid so as to exist inside the body. That is why it is called blood is the carrier of qi. Pathologically, blood deficiency and qi deficiency, or
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blood depletion and qi depletion, are correlated. Clinically, massive bleed- ing often involves depletion of qi due to its malfunction of carrying qi. Besides, blood can provide continuous supply of nutrients for the produc- tion or functional activities of qi. So the exuberance of blood will ensure abundance of qi, and the depletion of blood may lead to deficiency of qi. Clinically, if qi deficiency is caused by insufficiency of blood, simultane- ous nourishment of qi and blood should be applied.
The Relationships Between Qi and Body Fluid
The relationships between qi and body fluid are very similar to those between qi and blood
1. Qi can govern production of body fluid
Qi is the material foundation and motive power for the production of body fluid. Abundance of qi, especially the spleen qi and stomach qi, ensures the adequate supply of body fluid. Pathologically, if qi is deficient, there will be insufficient body fluid accordingly. So during clinical treatment, qi-nourishing herbs are often used to produce body fluid.
2. Qi can promote circulation of body fluid
The movements and changes of qi are the motive power for the distribu- tion and excretion of body fluid. This is a synthetic action involving the dispersing and transmitting function of the spleen, the dispersing and descending function of lung qi, as well as the steaming and transforming function of kidney essence. The coordinated performance of these viscera plays an essential role in promoting the circulation, distribution and excre- tion of body fluid so as to maintain the balanced metabolism of body fluid. Pathologically, the ascending, descending, entering and exiting of qi interact with the distribution and excretion of body fluid. For example, qi deficiency or qi stagnation may lead to retention of body fluid, call “qi failing to move (transform) water” in TCM; conversely, retention of body fluid may result in disorder of qi movements, called qi stagnation due to water retention. It is thus clear that the two are mutually affected and are responsible for retention of dampness, phlegm, fluid or even
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edema, etc. Clinically, qi-promoting and water-removing methods are often collectively used.
3. Qi can control excretion of body fluid
Under the control of qi, body fluid volume stays at a normal level to meet the requirements of the body. Pathologically, if qi is too weak to control body fluid, there will inevitably be unnecessary loss of body fluid, such as profuse sweating, dripping sweating, excessive urination or urinary incon- tinence. Clinically qi-supplementing herbs are often used to control fluid excretion.
4. Fluid can carry qi
Body fluid is one of the carriers of qi and qi is adherent to body fluid for existence. Pathologically, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea or urina- tion may lead to collapse of qi.