Maintaining Yang Qi and nourishing Yin essence is an important principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The vitality of all living things is dependent on Yang; likewise, their demise is also due to the decline of Yang.
The growth, maturity, and aging of a person are all governed by Yang Qi: the generation of essence, blood, and body fluids is all transformed by Yang Qi. Therefore, “When Yang is strong, life is prolonged; when Yang declines, life is cut short.”
If one experiences bad luck, it is likely due to insufficient Yang Qi, leading to an excess of Yin and a deficiency of Yang, resulting in misfortune.
1. Reasons for Bad Luck
1. Unfavorable factors in the current year.
This means that it is destined for these years to be unfavorable. In other words, during these years, there is an excess of Yin and a deficiency of Yang, which can be observed through one’s Ba Zi (Eight Characters). In such cases, one can only focus on maintaining previous achievements.
2. Incorrect life direction.
For example, if one’s destiny is best suited for development in the east, but they pursue opportunities in the south, they are heading in the wrong direction. Even with good luck, efforts will yield little return, as one needs Yang but is moving towards Yin.
3. Choice of profession.
As the saying goes, “Men fear choosing the wrong profession.” This applies to everyone. Some individuals are naturally suited for technical fields, yet due to family or other factors, they end up in administrative roles, leading to constant struggles and minimal advancement. If they pursued a technical career, success would likely come easily.
From the above, it is evident that a person’s luck is closely tied to their Yang Qi; poor Yang Qi will result in poor luck. How can one increase their Yang Qi? Here is an article for reference.
The human body is like a bank, with Yang Qi as 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 control.
2. 80% of modern people suffer from insufficient Yang Qi, leading to various diseases caused by a deficiency of Yang Qi.
Yang Qi is like the sun in the sky; if it loses its place, life expectancy is shortened and vitality diminishes. — Huangdi Neijing, Suwen, Chapter on Vital Energy.
Many of my friends suffer from fatty liver, high blood lipids, and high blood pressure, frequently visiting hospitals and being troubled by chronic diseases. Their pulses are often deep, thin, and weak, sometimes accompanied by symptoms like chest tightness, palpitations, shortness of breath, and cold extremities, which I see as typical signs of Yang deficiency.
According to the Huangdi Neijing, Suwen: “Yang protects the exterior and provides stability,” indicating that the body has the ability to resist external pathogens, which is the role of Yang Qi, also known as Wei Yang or Wei Qi. Wei refers to the concept of guarding and protection. Strong Yang Qi acts as the body’s guard, distributed at the skin’s surface, responsible for resisting all external evils and safeguarding the body. Anyone with abundant Yang Qi can remain free from disease.
Ancient wisdom compares 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 expectancy is shortened and vitality diminishes,” thus, nurturing Yang Qi is fundamental to health and healing.
The circulation of blood and body fluids within the body requires Yang Qi to facilitate their movement, and blood and body fluids need the vaporization effect of Yang Qi to nourish the entire body and support all organ functions, allowing for 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. A deficiency leads to heat, while excess leads to phlegm and dampness. Most chronic or difficult diseases in modern individuals are caused by the internal imbalance of Yin fluids due to insufficient Yang Qi.
Some may wonder how, in such good living conditions, Yang Qi could be depleted. In reality, there are many harmful factors in our lives that damage our Yang Qi, which we often overlook.
What consumes our Yang Qi the most? It is our mental state. From a TCM perspective, the five external manifestations of Yang Qi—Shen (Spirit), Hun (Soul), Po (Corporeal Soul), Yi (Intellect), and Zhi (Will)—are closely linked to our organs. Shen belongs to the heart, Hun to the liver, Po to the lungs, Yi to the spleen, and Zhi to the kidneys. Imbalances in mental states can also lead to organ diseases. This intangible Yang Qi constantly influences the health of the body, which is one of the greatest secrets of health preservation.
Regarding our physical form, barring congenital diseases, illnesses that arise before the age of 24 generally do not pose significant issues, as individuals have abundant congenital Yuan Yang before this age, and their nerves, muscles, and bones are in optimal condition.
After the age of 24, individuals gradually face increasing pressures, 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 stem from damage to the spirit and emotions.
One of the greatest factors harming 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 numerous concerns and overwhelming our brains with various information.
Over time, the damage to one’s spirit is evident! For instance, when a person hears bad news and becomes angry, they may immediately feel blood rush to their head, and some may even suffer a heart attack. Information pollution harms us invisibly, and unfortunately, few people recognize this, often mistakenly viewing it as 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 internal organs, which in turn can affect our emotions; for example, individuals with liver issues may become irritable. Over time, the body may also present a state of Yang deficiency.
Currently, it is very popular to consume 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 grows in one season, appears oily and glossy, and has a delicate and smooth texture because it absorbs the essence of heaven and earth over a year, resulting in abundant vitality.
Comments:
1. Everyone is born with a strong ability to resist external evils, and the foundation of this ability is to cultivate one’s Yang Qi.
2. Just as “When Yang is strong, life is prolonged; when Yang declines, life is cut short,” the same principle applies to fortune: strong Yang leads to good fortune, while declining Yang leads to bad fortune. Thus, Yang Qi determines longevity and good luck.
3. To enhance Yang Qi and improve fortune, it is recommended to first regulate oneself and then adjust your living environment. Only then can one maximize strengths and minimize weaknesses, cultivate Yang energy, and achieve good fortune.