What are Qi and meridians in Chinese medicine ?
“If there is free flow, there is no pain; if there is pain, there is lack of free flow.” (Huang Di Nei Jing)
“Act without doing; work without effort.” (Lao Tzu)
Qi can be defined as the most basic energy of which the world is comprised. But, what is the most basic energy in the world ? Is it chemical energy ?thermic energy ? electromagnetic energy… ?
What kind of energy are we taking about with Qi ?
Probably, no one knew what was the exact nature of Qi until recently, not even ancient Chinese physicians!
In fact, in ancient China, people were more interested in defining Qi by its function rather than by its inner nature. We need to understand that Qi is — first of all — the personal observation of a phenomenon and not the analysis of the nature of that phenomenon.
More precisely, Qi results from the general observation of a certain conservation of energy (known today as the 1st principle of thermodynamics).
In other words, some ancient Chinese philosophers or shamans (Chinese medicine has shamanic origins) observed that, despite the many transformations that occur in Nature, there is an underlying motivating ‘force’ that doesn’t change: it is Qi (energy).
This original observation is recalled everytime we look at the Chinese ideogram for Qi (氣). In fact, the Qi ideogram (氣) is comprised of the ideogram for rice (米) and the ideogram for smoke/steam (气, which can also stand for vigor/vitality). Basically, Qi is symbolized by hot steaming rice.
That symbol is a simple way of communicating the idea of conservation of energy : there is some energy in the rice that causes steam. The relationship between the rice and the steam is Qi. In other words, Qi is what motivates the “transformation” of rice into steam.
It can also symbolize the transformation of rice into energy in our own bodies.
Hence, it becomes clear that blood is not Qi but it is moved by Qi, even though blood helps providing Qi/energy. Blood, as a yin/inertial substance, is just a potentiality of energy, therefore it is wrong to say that Qi travels in the blood.
Using the TCM perspective, it is clear that Qi doesn’t travel through blood vessels, because — by definition — Qi never stops moving, and being transported by something implies being still. In fact, when something allows or “stocks” energy (as blood, rice or whatever material), it is no longer Qi (yang) but just a potentiality (yin) of energy.
Since Qi never stops moving, it produces heat or pain (“friction” losses) when it cannot circulate freely. Conversely, blood can be contained in a glass, without really producing heat or radiating energy (blood can be cooled down). As any organic substance, blood is just a potentiality.
Ok, Qi is not blood, but what can I do to influence Qi ? What does Qi mean in practice ?
The core purpose of Qi Gong and Tai Chi is to both develop and master Qi, for health, healing and/or martial applications.
But, first, let’s define these two disciplines. The difference between Qi Gong and Tai Chi is that Tai Chi is a less flexible discipline, more orientated towards martial application, and with more complex movements. On the other hand, Qi Gong focuses more on Qi, not only by coordinating breathing with simple movements, but also by using visualization techniques (Qi follows intention).
That said, Qi Gong and Tai Chi are often combined together, so there is not always a true difference. Besides, both involve the development of focus and meditation skills.
In the context of this article, what’s interesting about Qi Gong and Tai Chi is that they both rely on the original definition of Qi.
Since Qi is the constant that underlies/explains any transformation, a core Qi Gong and Tai Chi principle is to become aware of the transformations occurring in the body, enhancing some of the associated feelings and trying to improve the flow of these transformations.
In fact, Qi is first defined as the motivating factor that underlies any transformation that is not resricted to the transformation of the external environment, but that also includes the transformation of feelings occuring inside our being. By feeling, I mean really any kind of feeling, not just emotions.
Each feeling is associated to some kind of energy expression in the body. So when a feeling changes into another, we must become aware that the underlying energy has not changed. This should help us to realize (and not just understand theoretically) that all phenomena are part of the “Tao”, i.e. the oneness of life.
“Think of the circular path of each movement, in Tai Chi every movement is in curve or circle that has no ending or beginning.” (Paul Lam)
The practice of Qi Gong and Tai Chi allow the smooth succession of all Qi expressions, enhancing health. There is also a delicate compromise between the natural expression of Qi and discipline/intention, allowing the development of a certain control of Qi.
To sum up, Qi can have a very general definition and can express different forms of energy depending on the circumstances. In some cases, Qi can even refer to something quite material such as oxygen or ATP (“energy molecules” produced inside mitochondria). By the way, this can spur confusion because Qi should be something immaterial (pure energy).
However, in the case of body’s meridians (used in acupuncture and Qi Gong), Qi means something very specific: it is a bioelectromagnetic energy that travels within specific vessels called “meridians” (1).
Acupuncture uses needles to induce mechanical stimulation on specific points of these meridians. That mechanical stimulation is immediately converted into electromagnetic stimulation via the connective tissue (2).
Acupuncture points can also be stimulated by magnetic fields, human intention, electricity (“electroacupuncture”), light and sounds. For example, Fabien Maman became famous by developing an efficient technique that uses sounds to influence acupuncture points. In order to do that, he places and hits specific tuning forks on top of the acupuncture points.
Many people think that meridians are nerves, but they are actually different. Nevertheless, studies showed that acupuncture requires good nervous response in order to be effective. So, although they are different, there is a tight relationship between meridians and nerves.
Anatomically, the meridians system has been identified as the primo vascular system (PVS).
The PVS was first discovered by Bong-Han Kim, MD, in the early 1960s as an anatomical structure corresponding to acupoints and meridians (3). The acupuncture points were named Bonghan corpuscles or primo nodes (PNs), and the meridians were called Bonghan ducts or primo vessels (PVs) (1).
Acupuncture points or “jie” are also called neurovascular nodes. They are characterized with a high concentration of sensory fibers, fine blood vessels, fine lymphatic vessels and mast cells.
Here some characteristics of the PVS:
- PVs seems to have a quite resistant structure: PVs are vessels with a double coat, containing a bunch of subvessels. The first coat is adventitia that contains collagen fibers. The second coat is a common membrane surrounding the subvessels. The diameter of the lumens of the PVs is 5–10 μm. (1)
- The connective tissue (made of collagen) is the carrier of the mechanical stimulation induced by acupuncture. The PVS is thought to originate from fascia connective tissue and be developmentally mesodermal in origin. (4)
- Biophotons (electromagnetic waves or Qi) travel inside PVs. These electromagnetic waves may be transformed into information that gets stored in the DNA granules of the PVS microcells. (1) Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE), often designated as biophoton emission, is generally observed in a wide range of living organisms, including human beings. The UPE spectrum covers the spectral range of 450–750nm, with a dominant emission region of 570–670nm (5)
- The PVS has a high concentration of innate immune cells, especially mast cells, as well as stem cells, suggesting its regenerative function. (6)
- “A liquid, called “the primo fluid”, circulates in the PVS. Its flow is slower than blood flow and lymphatic flow. The primo fluid flows in one direction, attending blood flow. The liquid flow depends on the heart beat and on the pressures of the blood and the lymph. The PVS fluid has DNA outside the cell nucleus. The biochemical components of primo fluids are DNA, RNA, nitrogen, fats, reducing sugar, hyaluronic acid, 19 free amino acids, and 16 free mononucleotides. The routes of flow are interconnected, but relatively independent. Primo fluid circulates only in a specified region, but it can also be transmitted through interconnections with other pathways.” […] “Primo vessels have bioelectrical activity, excitatory conductivity, and mechanical motility. The electrical activity changes in relation to stimuli to the PVs.“ (1)
- The PVS receives external and internal signals. The external signals come from the environment as electromagnetic waves. The internal signals are products of metabolic processes and arise as bioelectrical, bioluminous, and acoustical fields. (1)
- As an interface between DNA and environment, PVS is also thought to play a big role in evolution. By capturing and storing information from environmental electromagnetic fields, the PVS would permit dramatic and sudden changes in an organism’s DNA. Besides, the PVS plays an important role during the development of an organism and seems to exist throughout the biological world, including in invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants. (1)
- The development of meridians (i.e., the PVS) takes place prior to the development of other organs such as blood vessels and the nervous system. The PVS is duplicated by the vascular and the nervous systems during the very early stage of body development. For this reason, the PVS combines the features of the vascular, nervous, immune, and hormonal systems. After all embryonic body systems have been developed, the primordial PVS subsequently remains connected with these systems, but dominates and controls them because it is the oldest morphological functional system. (1)
- The PVS may be an endocrine organ because of the presence of chromaffin cells in the acupoints and the PVS liquid carries adrenalin and noradrenalin (1).
- There is also an unusual concentration of blood vessels around acupoints (6) : “The tissues surrounding acupoints have been found to have an abundance of regularly distributed blood vessels. According to histologic observations, 99.6% of acupoints are located in tissues with an abundant distribution of small blood vessels and capillaries, and 45.5% of acupoints are located close to large blood vessels.”
Cheers !
Giovanni Navajo
Navajo Heal
Fit Navajo Heal
References:
(1)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2005290113002082
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4202904/ ; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24210270_Role_of_Collagen_Fibers_in_Acupuncture_Analgesia_Therapy_on_Rats
(3) Kim BH. Study of the substance of kyungrak. J Jo Sun Med. 1962;9:8–21; Kim BH. Sanal and hematopoiesis [in Korean]. J Jo Sun Med. 1965;108(12):1–6
(4) https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2015/303769/
(5) https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-55227/v1/d35ccc55-bd9f-4e4d-a556-abcae39d5f19.pdf
