Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • San Jiao

    One of the six Fu organs. The San Jiao is a series of pathways in the human body that are used to distribute fluids and Yuan Qi throughout the body. The human body is divided into three areas, or Jiaos. They are the Upper Jiao, the Middle Jiao, and the Lower Jiao. The San Jiao…

  • San

    When seen in the name of a Chinese herbal formula, this word usually means that the formula is prepared as a powder. For example: Yin Qiao San or Dao Chi San.  

  • Ren (meridian)

    One of the Eight Extra Meridians. Ren acts as a “general” of all the Yin meridians, and controls conception and nourishment of the fetus for women. An imaginary line encircling a globular body at right angles to its equator and passing through the poles, or half of such a line.  

  • Qing Qi

    Qi is a central concept to Chinese medicine. Qi in the human body is thought to be formed or derived from three sources: Jing Qi, Gu Qi, and Qing Qi. Qing Qi is the Qi that is extracted from the air by the Lungs.  

  • Qi Hua

    Hua means transformation or generation. Qi Hua means certain changes are ongoing or completed with involvement of Qi activities. Qi Hua also indicates some functions of Zang Fu organs, such as San Jiao Qi Hua or Urinary Bladder Qi Hua.  

  • Qi Gong

    A form of meditation in which practitioners strive to control their own body’s Qi with their minds. The practice of Qi Gong includes breathing exercises, sitting postures, and visualizations. Contrasted with Tai Chi, Qi Gong generally involves much less movement and more mental exercises.  

  • Qi

    Pronounced “chee.” There is no single English word that can adequately convey the meaning of Qi. Qi is both a physical substance and a nonphysical energy. When Qi is spread out, it is energy, and when it congeals, it is substance. Movements and changes of Qi are used to explain all phenomenons in the universe.…

  • Pulse diagnosis

    One method through which a practitioner of TCM gains information about his/her patient. The practitioner feels the radial pulse across the length of three fingertips, on both wrists. Each of the Zang Fu (see below) are correlated with a specific position in the pulse. A pulse is diagnosed by analyzing its depth, speed, rhythm, strength,…

  • Plum-Pit Qi

    A condition in which a person has the sensation of something being stuck in his/her throat that cannot be coughed up or swallowed down, when there is no actual physical obstruction in the throat. This is caused by a stagnation of Liver Qi due to strong emotions that depress the Liver’s function of circulating Qi.…

  • Pi Shui

    Categorized under skin edema occurring more on the superficial level, usually caused by Lung Qi congestion unable to distribute water.  

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