The TCM Theory of Qi Movement and Its Clinical Application
The theory of qi movement (qijixue shuo) is an important part of TCM basic theory and has great clinical value. TCM holds that as long as the body's qi moves unceasingly, human life is maintained and health is assured. Once qi becomes obstructed, disordered, or collapsed, the person falls ill; in severe cases life itself is threatened. The qi within the body should circulate without cease for a person to live healthily. Therefore, when treating disease, experienced TCM physicians attach great importance to smoothing and regulating the patient's qi movement. Even serious conditions—such as pleural effusion, ascites, and pain caused by cancer—can hopefully be relieved, or even have their symptoms eliminated, by regulating qi movement. A considerable part of the theoretical foundation of ancient Chinese qigong health cultivation is precisely this TCM theory of qi movement.
The body's essential qi and spirit move in four forms: upward, downward, outward, and inward. Upward means rising from below; downward means descending from above; outward means exiting from within; inward means entering from without. This movement of essential qi never stops; once it stops, the person is in immediate danger. Although it is difficult for us to interpret TCM qi-movement theory precisely with modern science, one thing is certain: the theory matches our intuitive sense of the body. It is somewhat like the complex that modern medicine calls metabolism, respiratory function, excretory function, and nervous function—but not exactly equal to their sum.
The human body is a closed circulatory system. When qi moves freely through it, appetite is normal, urination and defecation are normal, breathing is unobstructed, and the whole person feels clear, alert, and at ease. But if qi movement is blocked, the person falls into various discomforts, with body and mind both unable to function normally. Then illness easily arises and may even worsen day by day.
The ascent, descent, outflow, and intake of qi are best when in balance: the light and clear rises, the heavy and turbid descends; there is both outflow and intake, so that circulation never ceases. If the heavy and turbid congests above and the light and clear lingers below, outflow and intake become difficult. Although we wish qi to be always unobstructed, many causes can make a person's qi stagnant. At such times, using the TCM method of smoothing qi movement—with qi-moving herbs such as Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen), Houpo (Magnoliae Cortex), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Chantui (Cicadae Periostracum), Dadoujuan (Sojae Semen Germinatum), and the like—makes what should descend descend and what should rise rise, and the body as a machine returns to normal. In this way one need not necessarily rely on diuretics and laxatives to solve the patient's problems; diuretics and laxatives both greatly damage the body's upright qi.
Once the body's own absorption and dispersion functions return to normal, normal eating, breathing, and bowel movements can relieve part of the disease. This is why, when treating pleural effusion and ascites, Professor Zhao Shaoqin first prioritized smoothing qi movement: the effect was outstanding without major harm to the patient's body, safely and effectively relieving suffering and prolonging life to the greatest extent.
The theory of qi movement is an exquisite doctrine, and regulating the body's qi movement is an exquisite therapeutic method—one of the advantages of TCM's holistic view. Mastering qi-movement theory and applying it skillfully in the clinic can greatly help patients.