FUNDAMENTAL ENERGIES AND SUBSTANCES

There are four substances that are fundamental for life and the normal activities of the body:

1. Essence (jing) – a fundamental material of the human body and the material basis for various physiological functions of the body; there are two types of essence:
   • congenital or prenatal essence, which is received from our parents and is stored in the kidneys; it promotes the growth, development and reproduction of the body, which is why it is also called reproductive essence;
   • acquired essence, which is derived from food and drink nutrients through the function of the zang-fu organs, and it serves as the material basis for the functions of these organs, which is why it is also called essence of the zang-fu organs.

2. Qi (energy) – the fundamental substance that makes up the Universe and the human body

The Inner Cannon of the Yellow Emperor states: “Human beings are the product of the union of qi of the heaven and earth.”

All matter is formed by the change and movement of qi. In the human body, qi is constantly moving (upwards, downward, to the outside, to the inside), and all life activities depend on it.

The qi of the human body is derived from three sources:

      a. congenital qi – from the essence of our parents; its manifestation depends on the kidneys’ ability to store it;

      b. nutrient qi– from food and water nutrients; its production depends on the transporting and transforming functions of the stomach and spleen;

      c. air qi – inhaled by the lungs; it is dependent on the activity of the lungs.

Qi may be classified into four forms:

      –      primordial qi (yuan qi)
      –      pectoral qi (zong qi)
      –      nutrient qi (ying qi)
      –      defensive qi (wei qi)

3. Blood (xue) – the red liquid circulating in the blood vessels, fundamental to the human body. It is transformed from food essence by the spleen and the stomach; it is governed by the heart, stored in the liver, and controlled by the spleen. It nourishes the zang-fu organs and other tissues; it is also deemed the material basis of mental activity.
4. Body fluids (jin ye) – fluids that are normally secreted in the body and essential for life activities:
   • saliva
   • gastric juice
   • intestinal fluid
   • synovial fluid

They derive from food and water and are transformed by the stomach and spleen. They nourish and moisten the skin, muscles, internal organs, body orifices; they lubricate the joints and nourish the brain and bone marrow. According to their properties, functions and location, they are divided into:

• jin – clear thin liquid distributed in the skin, muscles, body orifices and blood vessels to keep them moistened
• ye – thick nourishing liquid distributed in the joints, zang-fu organs, brain and marrow