The source for this post is https://www.sacredlotus.com/go/foundations-chinese-medicine/get/relationship-of-qi-blood-in-tcm. I will add my own comments from my 21 years of experience doing ReiKI in italics. KI, the Japanese word for Life Force is the same as QI, the Chinese word for Life Source.
This may be a difficult subject for Westerners to grasp if they have not grown up in the Chinese culture. Admittedly, TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine is easier for Chinese citizens to learn than us because they take it for granted. However, if you can let go of 3D clenching and the teaching of Western Medicine you’ll eventually get it. If you even just realize that the reason you are alive is because you’re BREATHING that is a good start. The breath controls the flow of QI in the body. The inbreath and the outbreath is something to ponder, truly. My understanding from my Mayan Tzolkin studies is that the Universe breathes and has an inbreath and outbreath so the SOURCE of our breath is Galactic. It’s not just “Oh, I’m breathing oxygen and whatever else is in the oxygen”. Breath is the source of life and moves QI in the body.
Blood and Qi have a very close relationship. Blood is said to be is a denser form of Qi, and more Yin in nature. From a physics perspective, blood is denser because the molecules are spinning faster in order to be visible in this dimension, or manifested in this dimension. Because of the tension between electrons in an atom, the atom spins at 600mps (miles per second) and thus appears rigid whereas otherwise it would be invisible. The nucleus of the atom rotates at 40,000mps so…these are physics facts but the point is, what moves them is different dimension of QI. What moves our breath is also a different dimension of QI which then moves our blood which makes us conscious and visible whereas otherwise we would not be. We would have an etheric body with a soul and our same Mind but no body.
Qi and Blood are inseparable, and the Ying form of Qi (female) actually circulates with the Blood in the Vessels. While Blood engenders Qi, Qi is said to command or move the Blood.
The dependency of Qi on Blood can be illustrated as follows: After a patient has experienced heavy Blood loss, they will usually show signs of Qi deficiency, such as weakness, sweating, breathlessness, and fatigue. Also, after prolonged and heavy sweating or injures it depletes the Qi. A patient may develop symptoms of Blood deficiency with symptoms such as pale face, numbness, palpitations, and dizziness.
Qi Generates Blood
- Food Qi is the basis for Blood (some masters use BINU QI though and eat little food)
- Spleen Qi is essential for the production of Food Qi
- Original Qi is also essential as a catalyst
- Lung Qi is essential for the production of Blood (pushes the Food Qi to the Heart)
Where Qi is deficient, eventually Blood will become Deficient. Where Blood is deficient, one often needs to tonify Qi.
Qi Moves Blood
- Blood would be inert without Qi. Ying (Nutritive) Qi flows with Blood in the Vessels.
- Lung Qi infuses Qi into the Blood Vessels to push the Blood.
“When Qi moves, Blood follows”. “When Qi stagnates, Blood congeals.” When Qi is deficient or stagnant, it fails to push Blood, which also stagnates.
Qi Holds the Blood
Spleen Qi is responsible for holding the Blood in the Vessels, preventing extravasation. If Spleen Qi is deficient, hemorrhages may occur.
Blood Nourishes the Qi
It is said… “Blood is the mother of Qi” (This is seen in the DNA of the molecules. The mother’s DNA plays a special role. It’s also seen in the Mayan Tzolkin’s illumination of the subconscious family DNA in the cells)
- Qi needs Blood for nourishment.
- Blood provides a material basis (more Yin) which prevents Qi from “floating” away and producing signs of Empty Heat (see later)
The Relationship Between Blood and Jing
Blood also nourishes and replenishes the Jing (Essence).
References Used
The TCM information presented here has been referenced from numerous sources; including teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the following books, as well as other sources. If you have benefited from this information, please consider supporting the authors and their works by purchasing the books below.
Deep Tissue Therapy & Reiki Grand Rapids 