What is Yang Qi? Yang Qi is the combination of the innate Qi received from parents and the acquired Qi from respiration, along with the essence of food transformed by the Spleen and Stomach. It plays a role in nourishing the body’s tissues and maintaining the functions of the organs. As one ages, Yang Qi gradually diminishes.
What is fortune? Fortune refers to the laws of life and movement of Qi. Throughout a person’s life, there are times of good fortune and times of bad fortune. The ups and downs of life are akin to winding roads; there are no paths that are always smooth, nor are there paths that are always rugged.
“When Yang is strong, life is prolonged; when Yang declines, life is cut short.” The relationship between a person’s fortune and Yang Qi is closely linked. If fortune is poor, it is likely due to insufficient Yang Qi, leading to an excess of Yin and a deficiency of Yang, resulting in misfortune.
How can one increase their Yang Qi?
The human body is like a bank, and Yang Qi is the currency we use. Overdrawing a little today and a little tomorrow accumulates over time, and eventually, the bank will refuse to operate. When health is continuously overdrawn, the body will signal discomfort, such as back pain, neck stiffness, or colds, indicating that Yang Qi is insufficient and the currency is overdrawn. Restoring Yang Qi is akin to financial management, requiring both income generation and expenditure reduction.
80% of modern people suffer from insufficient Yang Qi—most ailments stem from a deficiency of this vital Yang Qi.
The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) states: “Yang is the protector of the exterior and provides solidity,” referring to the body’s ability to resist external pathogens, which is the function of Yang Qi. In TCM, it is also called “Wei Yang” or “Wei Qi.” Wei means guard or protect. Yang Qi acts like the body’s guards, distributed at the skin’s surface, responsible for resisting all external evils and safeguarding the body’s safety. Anyone with abundant Yang Qi can remain free from diseases.
Ancient people compared Yang Qi to the relationship between the sky and the sun; without the sun, the earth is dark and lifeless, and nothing can grow. Therefore, the operation of heaven and earth requires the sun. Similarly, the Yang Qi in the human body must be harmonized to strengthen its protective function; otherwise, it will invite the invasion of pathogens.
The Huangdi Neijing states: “Yang Qi is like the sky and the sun; if it loses its place, life is shortened and unremarkable,” thus, nurturing Yang Qi is the foundation of health preservation and disease treatment.
The circulation of blood and body fluids within the body requires Yang Qi to facilitate their movement. Blood and body fluids need the vaporization effect of Yang Qi to nourish the entire body and support all organ functions, thus enabling continuous vitality. Normal bodily fluids require Yang Qi for maintenance and propulsion; body fluids account for 70% of the human body, and insufficient Yang Qi is most clearly manifested as excessive dampness in the body.
Normal body fluids are essential for moisturizing the skin and ensuring the proper functioning of the five organs. Both excess and deficiency can lead to pathological responses in the body. A deficiency leads to heat, while an excess leads to phlegm and dampness. Most chronic or difficult diseases in modern people are caused by the imbalance of Yin fluids due to insufficient Yang Qi.
Some friends may wonder, with such good living conditions, how can Yang Qi just disappear? In fact, there are many harmful factors in life that damage our Yang Qi, which we often overlook.
What consumes our Yang Qi the most? It is the mind. From a TCM perspective, the five external manifestations of Yang Qi—Shen (Spirit), Hun (Soul), Po (Corporeal Soul), Yi (Intention), and Zhi (Will)—are closely related to the organs. Shen belongs to the Heart, Hun to the Liver, Po to the Lungs, Yi to the Spleen, and Zhi to the Kidneys. Disharmony in the mind can also lead to organ diseases. This intangible Yang Qi constantly influences the health of the body, which is the greatest secret of health preservation.
Regarding our physical form, aside from congenital diseases, illnesses that occur before the age of 24 generally do not pose significant issues, as individuals have abundant innate Yang Qi before this age, and the body’s nerves, muscles, and bones are in optimal condition.
After the age of 24, the pressure on individuals gradually increases, leading to excessive mental strain, which in turn depletes Yang Qi, resulting in a state of excess Yin and deficiency of Yang. Therefore, adults over 24 should seek the causes of their illnesses from the mental and emotional aspects, as most diseases are caused by damage to the spirit and emotions.
One of the greatest factors damaging people’s spirits is the information pollution of modern society. The amount of information we encounter in a single day may exceed what ancient people encountered in their entire lives, filling our minds with various matters and our brains with all kinds of information.
Over time, the damage to the spirit is evident! For example, when a person hears bad news and becomes angry, they may immediately feel blood rushing to their head, and some may even suffer a heart attack. Information pollution harms people invisibly, and unfortunately, few people realize this, mistakenly believing it to be a symbol of technological advancement.
As the saying goes, “Illness enters through the mouth.” Another significant source of damage to Yang Qi comes from our diet. Although we can buy whatever we want to eat now, most foods are contaminated with pesticides, fertilizers, or various additives, including genetically modified foods. Long-term consumption of contaminated foods can disrupt the functions of our five organs, which in turn can affect our emotions; for instance, a person with liver issues may become irritable for this reason. Over time, the body may also present a state of Yang deficiency.
Currently, it is very popular to eat out-of-season vegetables, which contradicts the natural growth patterns of vegetables, as the life energy contained in the food changes. For example, rice from Northeast China, which is harvested once a year, appears oily and glossy, and has a delicate and smooth taste because it absorbs the essence of heaven and earth over the year, thus containing abundant vitality.
01. Everyone is born with a strong ability to resist external evils, and the foundation of this ability is to cultivate and solidify one’s Yang Qi.
02. Similar to the principle of “When Yang is strong, life is prolonged; when Yang declines, life is cut short,” a person’s fortune is also determined by Yang strength; thus, Yang Qi determines longevity and good fortune.
03. To enhance Yang Qi and improve fortune, it is recommended that friends first regulate themselves and then adjust their living environment. Only then can one maximize strengths and avoid weaknesses, cultivate Yang energy, and achieve vitality and good fortune.