What is Yang Qi? Yang Qi is the innate energy received from parents combined with the acquired energy from respiration and 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 luck? Luck refers to the laws of life and movement of Qi. Throughout a person’s life, there are times of good luck and times of bad luck. The ups and downs of life are like winding roads; there are no perfectly smooth paths, nor are there paths that are always bumpy.
“When Yang is strong, life is prolonged; when Yang declines, life is cut short.” A person’s luck and Yang Qi are closely related. If luck 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. If we overdraw a little today and a little tomorrow, over time, the bank will refuse to operate. When health is continuously overdrawn, the body will signal discomfort, such as back pain, neck stiffness, or colds, reminding you that Yang Qi is insufficient and your currency is overdrawn. Restoring Yang Qi is like financial management; it requires both increasing income and reducing expenditure.
80% of modern people suffer from insufficient Yang Qi—many ailments stem from a deficiency of this vital Yang Qi.
According to the “Huangdi Neijing: Suwen”, “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 pathogens and safeguarding the body’s safety. Anyone with abundant Yang Qi can remain free from disease.
Ancient people compared Yang Qi to the relationship between the sky and the sun; without the sun, the earth would be dark and lifeless, and nothing could 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, it will shorten life and not shine,” thus, nurturing Yang Qi is the foundation of health 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, allowing life to continue. 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 diseases or difficult-to-treat conditions in modern people are caused by imbalances in 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.
So 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 (Intellect), and Zhi (Will)—are closely linked to the body’s 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 spirit can also lead to organ disease. 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 the innate Yang Qi is abundant before the age of 24, 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 illness 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 rush 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 the five organs, which in turn can affect emotions; for instance, people with liver issues may become irritable. 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 texture 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 pathogens, 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 influences longevity and good fortune.
03. To enhance Yang Qi and improve luck, it is recommended that friends first regulate themselves and then adjust their living environment. Only then can one maximize strengths and minimize weaknesses, cultivate Yang energy, and achieve vitality and good fortune.