• The Acupuncture Clinic of Tom Ingegno L.Ac 907 Lakewood Ave Baltimore, MD 21224
  • P: (443) 869-6584
    • 26 JUN 13
    • 0

    How is your Qi?

    There are many definitions for the Chinese word ”qi”. Here is one of them:

    noun: The circulating life force whose existence and properties are the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine.

    Ok, great, you might say. Obviously, if I think in Chinese terms, I need qi to keep me alive and healthy – for as long as possible! But how do I know how much of it I have? And how much of it do I need? Valid questions, so let’s take a closer look.


    There are three main states of qi for health and disease: harmony equals great health, and deficiency and stagnation cover a wide range of health problems, both minor and major. If your qi is plentiful and in balance, this is the time to maintain and enhance the status quo. If your qi is weak and insufficient in some way, measures must be taken to gather, strengthen and circulate it to restore balance. When qi is stagnant, its natural flow is blocked or toxic in some way. This is the time to and break through the blockage and regain the flow to bring qi back to its optimal state of harmony. In both cases of deficiency and stagnation, you may need acupuncture, herbs, massage, qigong and tai chi, or more conventional medicine. Throughout our lives we are more than likely to pass through each one of these three states of qi: balanced, deficient, stagnant.  Rarely, if at all, do we find a person who is in excellent health all the time. Stress, and life in general, play a major part on our mind and body functions, even if we do eat right, exercise, think positive, etc. However, if we can recognize and be aware of an imbalance when it first occurs, we stand the best chance of bringing back harmony to prevent illness and increase longevity.

    So, how do you know if you have a plentiful supply of qi and it is in balance? A person in good health will exhibit many of the following qualities.

    • little or no pain
    • normal body temperature
    • normal pulse
    • pink tongue with thin even tongue coating
    • energetic and rested
    • good stamina
    • creative and imaginative
    • happy
    • peaceful
    • productive and curious
    • humorous

    If you have many or all of these signs, congrats! Pat yourself on the back and keep up the good work! You will probably find, however, that from time to time you alsorecognize in yourself some of the qualities in this next list.

    • fatigue
    • stress, tension
    • pain in joints, head, neck or back
    • digestive problems
    • red, pale or thick coated tongue
    • slow, weak pulse
    • feeling hot and cold
    • anger, fear, worry, panic
    • sickness
    • frequent colds or flu
    • reproductive/sexual problems
    • allergies
    • shortness of breath, lung complaints
    • blood pressure problems
    • forgetfulness
    • insomnia
    • depression, anxiety
    • frustration, violence
    • lethargy, procrastination
    • obsessions and being over emotional

    Showing three or four of the above signs indicates that your qi is deficient or stagnant in some way. Paying attention to those signs now, by making a few changes in your lifestyle, will go a long way to prevent any kind of major health problem in the future. If you think you have more than five symptoms over a longer period, it may be time to seek professional help.

    Leave a reply →

Leave a reply

Cancel reply

Recent Posts