Before 'Qi' runs out, it stagnates—How to distinguish between Qi deficiency and Qi stagnation

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Hello everyone. This is Yuyu Kampo.

Yesterday, I talked about how Kampo views the body through the three elements of 'Qi,' 'Blood,' and 'Water,' and that health issues arise in two ways: either something is 'lacking' or it is 'stagnating.'

Today, we will look at the first one, 'Qi.' Among the three, it might be the hardest to imagine. It is invisible and cannot be measured by tests. Even so, it is a concept that Eastern medicine has valued for nearly two thousand years.

Qi is the very force that moves the body

In a word, Qi is the 'invisible force that moves the body.'

The beating of the heart, the digestion of food, the healing of wounds, and the maintenance of body temperature are all considered to be the work of Qi. In terms of a house, it corresponds to electricity. Lights and refrigerators work because electricity is supplied. If it stops, even if the house itself is intact, nothing will function.

In Eastern medicine, Qi is said to have several roles: warming the body, protecting it from external cold, heat, and sources of illness, pushing blood and water throughout the body, and supporting internal organs and blood so they do not fall from their proper places.

The last of these roles is surprisingly little known. Feeling like your stomach has dropped in the evening, or your legs feeling heavy on days when you stand for a long time—these changes are sometimes interpreted as a decline in the supporting power of Qi.

Qi deficiency (Kikyo) and Qi stagnation (Kitai)

Now, there are two types of Qi disorders.

One is 'Qi deficiency (Kikyo),' where the amount itself has decreased. The other is 'Qi stagnation (Kitai),' where the amount is sufficient but the flow has stopped.

Both result in similar complaints of 'not having energy,' but the signals the body is sending are completely different.

Qi deficiency gradually declines

Qi deficiency is a state where the battery is running low.

You wake up in the morning, but fatigue remains. You have no energy in the afternoon. You get out of breath after moving just a little. Your voice becomes quiet, and even talking becomes a chore. Your appetite decreases, and you feel strong drowsiness after eating. You catch colds easily, and they tend to linger.

The characteristic of Qi deficiency is that you feel a little better when you rest. Since it is depleted, it returns if you replenish it. Conversely, the more you push yourself, the deeper it becomes.

Qi stagnation feels tight and blocked

Qi stagnation is a state where the flow has stopped.

You feel like something is stuck in your throat or the pit of your stomach. You can swallow, and medical tests show no abnormalities, yet you feel like something is there. In Eastern medicine, this sensation has long been described as feeling like a plum pit is stuck in the throat.

Your abdomen feels bloated. You burp or sigh frequently. You feel irritable one moment and suddenly depressed the next. The location of your symptoms changes from day to day. And above all, these symptoms become clearly stronger after you have been nervous or have had to be overly attentive to others.

A characteristic of Qi stagnation is that you feel better when you move. If you went for a walk, took a deep breath, or let out a big sigh, and felt a little better afterward, consider that a sign that what was blocked has started to move.

One question to help you distinguish

When you are unsure, try asking yourself this:

'Do I feel better when I rest, or do I feel better when I move?'

If you feel better when resting, it is likely Qi deficiency; if you feel better when moving, it is likely Qi stagnation. Of course, there are exceptions, and it is not rare for both to overlap. Still, this can be a clue to help you determine the direction.

Wisdom of Kampo: To supplement or to clear?

With Qi deficiency and Qi stagnation, the direction of your approach is completely opposite.

A commonly mentioned formula for when you lack Qi is Hochuekkito. The 'chu' in the name refers to the abdominal area, and 'ekki' means to increase Qi. In other words, the very idea of rebuilding abdominal strength to increase Qi is embedded in the name itself.

At the center of this formula is a medicinal herb called Astragalus. It is considered to have the function of supplementing Qi and protecting the body's surface, and it often appears in discussions about fatigue or excessive sweating. Similarly, Ginseng is also a representative herb for supplementing Qi.

On the other hand, the formula that appears for when Qi is stagnating is Hangekobokuto. This is a formula often mentioned when the main concern is a feeling of something stuck in the throat. It is composed of herbs that move blockages, such as Pinellia, Magnolia Bark, and Perilla Leaf.

What is important here is that even if you use a supplementing formula for Qi stagnation, the blockage will not move. Adding more cars to a traffic jam will not improve the flow. Conversely, if you only use clearing formulas for Qi deficiency, you will end up using up the little Qi you have left.

Even if you feel 'lacking in energy,' if you get the direction wrong, it won't work. This is one of the reasons why Kampo looks at your constitution.

Note: Kampo medicines vary from person to person depending on their constitution (sho) and symptoms. To choose the right Kampo medicine for you, please do not rely on self-judgment and be sure to consult a pharmacist or doctor knowledgeable about Kampo. Also, if your symptoms are severe or persist for a long time, please visit a medical institution first.

Today's small health practice: Rest for Qi deficiency, breathing for Qi stagnation

If yesterday's check indicated you were closer to Qi deficiency, first think about what you can cut back on.

There is no shortcut to increasing Qi. The priority is not to decrease it. Stop staying up late for just one night, decline one appointment, or have one less cold drink. Since Qi is thought to be created from what we eat and our breathing, not letting your stomach and intestines get cold is, in itself, a way to protect your Qi.

If you were closer to Qi stagnation, move your body.

Simply exhaling for a long time is fine. Inhale for a count of four, and exhale for a count of eight. Do this three times. If you feel like sighing, let it out without holding back. A sigh is a sign that your Qi is trying to move; it is not bad manners. Fragrant items, such as citrus peels and shiso leaves, have also long been considered to help circulate Qi.

Tomorrow, I will talk about the second of the three, "Blood." There is Blood deficiency (kekkyo), where it is lacking, and Blood stasis (oketsu), where it stagnates. The signals that appear are different from those of Qi.

May your daily life be even a little more energetic and comfortable.

Yuyu Kampo

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