Qi, Blood, Fluids and Their Interactions within Chinese Medicine

It will probably be helpful to read about Qi, Blood and Fluids

individually first if you haven't already done so. Grasping how the interactions between qi, blood and fluids work is an important step to understanding Chinese medicine as a whole and will deepen your knowledge about any ailments from which you might be suffering. 

In Western medicine, it is easy to separate out blood from other fluids in the body and look at them under a microscope. Chinese medicine takes a step back with a more holistic approach and considers the outcome of interactions between elements. Qi, blood and fluids are all interrelated, so much so that they cannot be easily separated. For example, qi can produce blood, and blood carries qi. From studying relationships like this, we see that not only is it important to understand each substance individually, but it's vital to know how each part fits into the function of the whole.   

For more about how the interaction between qi, blood and fluids affects your body, continue reading. To learn about other aspects of Chinese medicine, choose from the following:

Yin and Yang  Five Elements  Qi  Blood  Fluids  Essence  Channels/Meridians  Viscera  Diseases and Their Causes  Four examinations  Syndrome Differentiation (Pattern Identification)

Table of Contents:
-Qi and Blood
-Qi and Fluids
-Blood and Fluids

Qi and Blood
Qi is the commander of blood.
1.Qi can produce blood. If qi is deficient, then blood may become deficient.
2.Qi can move blood. If qi is stagnant or deficient, then blood stasis can ensue. If qi reverses its direction of flow, then blood’s movement will be scattered [血乱 xue2luan4].
3.Qi can control blood. If qi is deficient, hemorrhaging can occur.

Blood is the mother of qi.
1.Blood can nourish qi. If blood is deficient then qi can become deficient.
2.Blood can carry qi. If there is heavy hemorrhaging, qi will follow the blood as it flows out.

Qi and Fluids
Qi’s function toward fluids.
1.Qi can produce fluids. If qi is deficient, there won’t be enough fluids.
2.Qi can move fluids. If qi is stagnant or deficient, phlegm [痰tan2] can build up.
3.Qi can control fluids. If qi is deficient, your body may excrete too much fluid.

Fluids' function toward qi.
1.Fluid can replenish qi. If there aren’t enough fluids, there will be a lack of qi yin.
2.Fluid can carry qi. If too much fluid is excreted, qi will follow the fluid out.

Blood and Fluid
Blood and fluid are very similar in that they are both produced by transforming digested food. They also have the ability to turn into each other. From the yin yang theory, they are intertwined and mutually supportive. So if major hemorrhaging occurs, there will be a lack of fluids in the body. If there is a decrease in the amount of fluid, blood may coagulate. This is a serious problem, so it is important to maintain a balance of blood and fluid.

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