Inheriting the legacy of Qi Huang, a public account with substance and warmth
Ai Yu Xiang Tang
Fundamental guiding principles for health preservation:To nourish the stomach qi, cultivate the kidney qi from a distance, and regularly adjust the liver qi, is the essence of Zheng Qi. This mnemonic is a systematic and reliable guiding principle for health preservation that I have summarized over many years. Following this principle can nourish both body and mind, leading to long-term health. Below, I will explain in detail, starting with an understanding of what stomach qi, liver qi, and kidney qi are.▢Author/Mi Luo
Stomach QiAs previously mentioned, health preservation primarily focuses on the nourishment of the organs, with the essence being the innate foundation—kidneys, and the acquired foundation—spleen and stomach. The kidneys store the essence of life, which is often related to genetic factors, inheriting the yin and yang of parents. Some individuals are innately stronger, while others are weaker, which is often beyond our control. However, we can compensate for innate deficiencies through acquired nourishment. It has been proven that those with innate deficiencies can still achieve health and longevity with proper care. The acquired nourishment must focus on the spleen and stomach to improve health. The spleen and stomach belong to the earth element in the five elements, which is the foundation for nurturing all things. In TCM, the stomach is the source of qi and blood transformation. This qi and blood are generated through the transformation of various foods by the spleen and stomach, which nourish all organs. Here, stomach qi refers to the ability of the spleen and stomach to transform and transport nutrients. When this ability is strong, the organs have sufficient resources to function well. If this ability is lost, the organs will not receive their necessary nourishment, leading to dysfunction. Therefore, the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing warned us, “With stomach qi, there is life; without stomach qi, there is death.” This highlights the urgency of maintaining stomach qi, akin to the necessity of daily meals. We must treat this as a top priority in health preservation, leaving no detail overlooked. What does maintaining stomach qi include? I summarize it in three aspects: First, eat less cold and raw foods: The stomach prefers warmth, and overly cold foods require more vital energy to warm them, which depletes stomach qi. Second, avoid overeating: Both yoga and TCM health philosophies advise against excessive fullness. It is best to eat until 70-80% full, allowing space for air and fluid movement in the stomach. Overeating exceeds the operational capacity of the spleen and stomach, leading to a decline in their function over time. Third, eat slowly: With the fast pace of modern life, people rush through meals. Many eat quickly due to work or habits, leading to accelerated gastrointestinal activity. Just like a machine running faster consumes more energy, eating too quickly can also deplete stomach qi.Kidney QiThe kidneys are the innate foundation. In the human body, qi can be broadly categorized into yin and yang. The kidney yin governs the body’s yin energy, while the kidney yang governs the body’s yang energy. Thus, kidney qi is fundamental to the yin and yang energies of the body. Only when “kidney yin” and “kidney yang” support and interact with each other can they nourish various organs, tissues, and support reproduction. The kidney qi refers to the functional activities of the kidneys. Kidney qi is produced by the kidney yang warming the kidney yin, primarily manifested in the following aspects: 1. The kidneys store essence: They store vital energy, which is the foundational substance for reproduction, blood production, growth, development, and defense against diseases. 2. The kidneys govern water: They balance the body’s fluid metabolism. 3. The kidneys govern the intake of qi: They are responsible for coordinating respiratory movements. 4. The kidneys nourish the bones and marrow: They support brain function and intelligence. 5. The kidneys manifest in hair: They promote hair growth. 6. The kidneys open to the ears: Kidney qi influences hearing. 7. The kidneys control the two yin: They regulate the opening and closing of the two yin, affecting urination and defecation. It is evident that the kidneys are an extremely important organ with multiple functions, encompassing all aspects of bodily function. They are the innate foundation and root of life, directly related to lifespan. Therefore, from a long-term perspective, maintaining kidney qi should be a top priority. Regarding the maintenance of kidney qi, I summarize it in three adjustments. First, adjust sleep: Nourishing with food is better than nourishing with medicine, and nourishing with spirit is better than nourishing with food. Sleep is a crucial aspect of spiritual nourishment. For modern individuals, staying up late and nightlife are major causes of kidney deficiency. The standard for staying up late is based on the Zi hour; if you are not asleep by 11 PM, you are considered to be staying up late. Staying up late harms the kidneys and depletes vital energy. Missing this time means that sleeping longer does not significantly help. I often say, “Sleeping during the Zi hour is like gaining golden health.” If you repeatedly miss this sleep time, your vital energy will diminish, directly depleting your life force. There is a saying, “Staying up one night shortens your life by seven days,” which, while exaggerated, holds some truth. Second, adjust diet: There is an old saying in China that nourishing with food is better than nourishing with medicine. Modern people often resort to various supplements, which is a misconception. In TCM, the true nourishment of vital energy comes from food. Food can replace medicine, but medicine cannot replace food. The essence of food that maintains normal metabolic functions comes from food itself. In TCM’s dietary nutrition perspective, all foods are classified, with the five elements as the overarching principle. The core idea is the five colors, with flavors entering the five organs. Black foods are beneficial for the kidneys, so options like black beans, black rice, black sesame, mushrooms, and others should be consumed more. Third, adjust the kidney meridian: The kidney meridian is an extension of the kidneys in the body, serving as a channel connecting the kidneys to the outside. We can stimulate the external kidney meridian to harmonize the internal kidney qi of yin and yang. I have a set of vital energy maintenance exercises—Dantian Hui, suitable for long-term practice, which can balance yin and yang, cultivate kidney qi, and ensure smooth meridian flow. Specific methods can be found in the later section on “Fundamental Practices of Yuan Yoga.” Liver QiLiver qi refers to the essence and function of the liver. TCM believes that the liver is a yang organ, characterized by activity, like a general who prefers movement over stillness. The liver governs the smooth flow of qi and blood, promoting normal circulation. When the liver’s function is normal, qi and blood flow smoothly, leading to a harmonious state of mind and body. If there are issues with liver qi, it can lead to stagnation, resulting in qi stagnation and blood stasis or transforming into fire, causing the liver to act recklessly and disrupt other organs, leading to a series of pathological changes. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that liver qi flows smoothly and is not suppressed. The most important aspect of nourishing liver qi is regulating emotions, which means maintaining a cheerful disposition. Thus, whether in life or work, we should maintain a positive and optimistic mindset. Urban dwellers should spend more time in nature during leisure to soothe their emotions and nourish liver qi. Regarding the nourishment of liver qi, I summarize it in three aspects: First, emotional regulation: Cultivate a good mindset, foster harmonious relationships, properly handle stress, engage in outdoor activities, learn to control emotions, and find joy. As long as emotions flow smoothly, liver qi will also flow smoothly, leading to a stable emotional state and preventing disease. Second, bowel regulation: Constipation is the source of many diseases. Long-term constipation leads to the accumulation of waste, akin to a “toxic nuclear reactor,” continuously producing various toxins, deteriorating the intestinal environment, disrupting gastrointestinal function, causing endocrine disorders, metabolic disturbances, poor appetite and sleep, and irritability, severely affecting the smooth flow of liver qi. Therefore, maintaining bowel regularity is also an important aspect of nourishing liver qi. This book will include many simple and effective meridian secrets to help you clear the intestines and eliminate waste. Third, liver meridian regulation: The liver meridian is the channel connecting the liver to the outside, playing an important role in regulating liver qi flow. In the “Fundamental Practices of Yuan Yoga,” I provide you with the “point, line, and surface techniques” for liver meridian regulation. Regular practice can help smooth liver qi and relieve stagnation, leading to emotional well-being. Understanding the above three aspects leads us to the fundamental guiding principles for achieving health and longevity: the spleen and stomach are the acquired foundation, the source of qi and blood transformation, and the five organs rely on qi and blood for sustenance. Therefore, we must start by nourishing the spleen and stomach, which is to nourish stomach qi. The kidneys are the innate foundation, determining lifespan, so we should establish a long-term kidney nourishment plan, which is to cultivate kidney qi. The liver governs the smooth flow of qi, influencing emotional states, which in turn affects physical health. Therefore, the factors of emotional illness should not be overlooked, and we should regularly nourish liver qi.The content of this article is for reference only,not for professionaldoctorsto try acupuncture or medication