One of the reasons we are so concerned with the strength and health of the digestive system in Chinese Medicine is there are 3 main sources of Qi, or energy, in our bodies. And the Spleen Qi, the digestive energy, is at the centre, both anatomically and energetically. And remember my bit on the benefit of rice? The ancient Chinese pictogram for “Qi” was a representation of mist rising from water or steam rising off rice. The mist and steam illustrated that this force is invisible. The rice is a symbol of the nourishment of Qi for the body.

One of these three Qi producing organs is our Lungs (capitalized to indicate that, while I AM talking about the physical organ in this case I am also talking about the energetic system that it represents). Lung Qi is produced by breathing. We can enhance it by breathing well - deep and long and in the right rhythm. Fresh, clean air. (But even if we don’t have perfect habits or environment, it keeps us alive, minute by minute, pretty darn well). It is critical to our short term survival, and it has virtually NO storage capacity. An average person can hold their breath for between 30 seconds and 2 minutes (the LONGEST on record is an astounding 24 minutes, held by Spanish freediver Aleix Segura Vendrell!). And then that’s it! You’re out!

Another source of energy is our Kidneys, whose Qi is inherited at our conception, and is often referred to as our “long term savings account”. This is the energy that we use for major life processes including reproduction, aging and recovery from serious illness. This is the energy account that we don’t want to “dip into” too early through chronic stress, overwork, lack of sleep, shift work or stimulant drug use. Resting, meditation, and internal martial arts (such as Tai Qi and Qi Gong) can help protect it.

The final one, and the one that we can have the most daily impact on, is our Spleen Qi. This is the Qi that we gain from the digestion of our foods and fluids, and their transformation into energy and blood, which in turn nourish and build our whole body. Ideally, the food that we eat and the way that we eat it provides us with enough energy for all the activities of that day, with extra left over to be stored up overnight for another day - when maybe we do have some extra stress, or poor food intake, or a minor (or not so minor) cold or flu.

And that is why it is so critical to maximize our Spleen Qi this Summer, as we seek to optimize our health. Now more than ever, we want to go into the Fall season with as much stored up energy, health, and vitality as we can.

Qi Times Three

Time to Eat!

Warmth