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»All illness is connected with the state of Qi.«
\n\n\n\nHuang Di Nei Jing
(one of the oldest medical textbooks on the foundations of TCM)
Do you know the feeling? On some days you feel energetic, strong, and full of vitality. And then there are those days when you feel drained and as if someone has pulled the plug on you. In Chinese, Qi, or Ch’i, refers to our life energy – the energy that underlies everything and permeates everything. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the free flow of Qi is the foundation of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Stress, negative thoughts, an unbalanced diet, or lack of exercise can disrupt this flow.
\nIn Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi is also referred to as the “power of heaven.” The term Qi, or Ch’i, comes from Chinese Daoism, the ancient Chinese teaching of wisdom. Qi corresponds to the Indian concept of Prana and refers to the active life energy that is the prerequisite for all living things. According to the holistic approach of TCM, Qi is not only the foundation of our physical health, but also the basis for our joy of life, ability to act, self-confidence, and radiance.
\nBut where does Qi actually come from? We receive part of our life energy from our parents even before birth. It is also referred to as Original Qi. There are many other forms of Qi, including Food Qi and Breathing Qi.
»All illness is connected with the state of Qi.«
\n\n\n\nHuang Di Nei Jing
(one of the oldest medical textbooks on the foundations of TCM)
You can imagine the consumption of our life energy like a candle burning down. It is important that we treat our Qi mindfully and with care, and do not unnecessarily disrupt the flow of energy through stress, negative thoughts, or an unhealthy lifestyle.
In addition to Qi, there are other central elements in TCM. These include the functional systems, the theory of the elements, the phases of transformation, and Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are the two forces that are inherent in every living being, all things, and every event. Yin stands for the feminine, rest, darkness, and cold, while Yang embodies the masculine, activity, brightness, and warmth. Yin and Yang are therefore polar opposites and yet always related to and connected with one another.
We are healthy when Qi can flow undisturbed and Yin and Yang are in balance. A weakening, a blockage, but also an excess of Qi, as well as an imbalance between Yin and Yang, can make an organ or our entire organism ill. The aim of treatment in TCM is always to balance these disharmonies so that Qi can flow freely again and the balance between Yin and Yang is restored.
\nIn TCM, the term organ goes far beyond its purely anatomical meaning. Individual organs are never considered in isolation, but always in connection with the overall system. This is based on the assumption that all organs and all bodily functions always influence one another. The organs not only perform physical tasks; they also house the various emotional and mental forces that are reflected in our thinking, feeling, and behavior. The entire organ system (“Zang fu”) consists of individual functional systems.
\n\n\n\nA distinction is made between five Yin functional systems (“Zang”) and six Yang functional systems (“Fu”). The Yang functional systems include the stomach, the small and large intestines, the bladder, the gallbladder, and the Triple Burner. The five Yin functional systems are considered the supporting pillars of TCM. Each of the functional systems is connected to a main meridian through which Qi flows through the body.
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In TCM, our kidneys are of central importance. They are considered the carriers of Jing, our life essence. They are therefore regarded as the “root of life energy.” The corresponding Yang organ is the bladder.
A deficiency of Kidney Yang can manifest itself in symptoms such as lack of drive, fatigue, nighttime urination, or excessive sensitivity to cold. A Kidney Yin deficiency may manifest, among other things, as insomnia, inner restlessness, memory problems, or back pain. According to TCM, our willpower, courage, and drive also reside in the kidneys, which is why an imbalance in kidney energy can also be a cause of burnout syndrome.
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The Heart functional system controls the circulation of our blood as well as other bodily fluids, and it regulates our blood vessels. To have enough strength for these tasks, the heart needs sufficient Qi. According to TCM, the Shen resides in our heart; this is the spirit that guides our emotions, our emotional sensations, our consciousness, and our subconscious. The corresponding Yang organ is the small intestine.
Signs of weakened Shen can include concentration and sleep disorders, inner restlessness, and a lack of joy in life, even extending to depression.
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In TCM, the spleen and pancreas form one functional system. Together with the stomach as the corresponding Yang organ, they are the basis of our digestive power, i.e. the transformation of our food into Qi and blood. The spleen and pancreas are considered the pivotal point of the Qi flow, which is why they are also referred to as “our center.”
Numerous illnesses can be traced back to a weakness of spleen energy. A deficiency can manifest, among other things, in digestive complaints, food intolerances, al" }, "media": { "images": [ { "url": "https://drreinwald.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/header-artikel-qi-tcm.jpg", "alt": "", "type": "featured", "id": 1313 }, { "url": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/artikel-hintergrund-qi-tcm.jpg", "alt": "", "type": "inline", "id": null } ], "featured_image": { "url": "https://drreinwald.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/header-artikel-qi-tcm.jpg", "alt": "" } }, "ai_context": { "faq": { "type": "summary", "source": "generated", "visible": false, "confidence": "high", "purpose": [ "semantic_comprehension", "entity_disambiguation", "answer_generation" ] }, "semantic_qa": { "type": "summary", "source": "generated", "visible": false, "confidence": "low", "quality_score": 0, "purpose": [ "semantic_comprehension", "entity_disambiguation", "answer_generation" ], "items": [ { "answer": "Qi, also written as Ch’i, is described in Traditional Chinese Medicine as life energy. It is believed to flow through the body and support physical, mental, and emotional well-being.", "question": "What is Qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine?" }, { "answer": "According to TCM, health depends on Qi flowing freely and harmoniously. Blockages, weakness, or excess Qi may contribute to fatigue, emotional imbalance, pain, or illness.", "question": "Why is the free flow of Qi important?" }, { "answer": "Stress, negative thoughts, poor nutrition, lack of movement, emotional strain, and an unhealthy lifestyle can disturb the flow of Qi and affect overall balance.", "question": "What can disrupt Qi flow?" }, { "answer": "Yin and Yang are complementary forces in TCM. Health is seen as the result of balanced Yin and Yang together with a smooth, sufficient flow of Qi.", "question": "How are Yin and Yang connected to Qi?" }, { "answer": "TCM describes five key Yin functional systems: Kidney, Heart, Spleen/Pancreas, Liver, and Lung. Each is linked to organs, emotions, meridians, and Qi flow.", "question": "What are the main functional systems in TCM?" }, { "answer": "In TCM, the kidneys are considered the root of life energy and carriers of Jing, or life essence. Imbalances may be associated with fatigue, cold sensitivity, restlessness, or low drive.", "question": "What role do the kidneys play in TCM?" }, { "answer": "The Five Pillars of TCM include acupuncture, movement practices such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong, nutrition, massage techniques, and herbal medicine.", "question": "What are the Five Pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine?" } ] } }, "faq_detection": { "status": "none", "visible": false, "source": "", "source_label": "", "quality_score": 0, "item_count": 0 }, "related": [ { "title": "How Does a Nutrient Get into the Brain?", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/how-does-a-nutrient-get-into-the-brain/", "type": "post" }, { "title": "If Your Hair Could Talk…", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/if-your-hair-could-talk/", "type": "post" }, { "title": "10 Sweet Reasons Why Low Carb & No Sugar Makes You Stronger", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/__trashed-3/", "type": "post" }, { "title": "What Your Skin Really Wants to Tell You", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/what-your-skin-really-wants-to-tell-you/", "type": "post" }, { "title": "Shake Off the Burden: Detox That Can Do More Than Traditional Methods!", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/shake-off-the-burden-detox-that-can-do-more-than-traditional-methods/", "type": "post" } ] }