气 [qì]

氣 (traditional character)

Qi Gong Pose

Meanings: Air, gas, breath, mood, smell, manner, anger, etc.

The more familiar of the two Qis (mmmm, cheese…) is something called “Qi Gong”  气功 – literally “air” + “results/success”，and known as “a system of deep breathing exercises,”[*] it is a form of meditation and has been used by martial artists and common people for hundreds of years. The image to the right shows the flow of Qi through the body, with the 3 “elixir fields.” These are basically places where energy is stored. The arrows show how energy flows point-to-point through the body, although it is not always in this direction.

Dantian Energy Flow

Trivia time! Where is the center of the human body? When I was first asked this question I pointed to my naval/waist area. Where did you point? In fact, according to Qi Gong, the center of your body is at your upper lip. Yep, its in your face! This comes from the idea that energy is draped over your body from the top.

Combining body movements and breathing exercises are key to this practice and can have great health benefits, similar to Tai Ji or “Tie Chee”. Due to better blood circulation, relaxed breathing, and reduced stress, these exercises are used for health maintenance by millions of people around the world. As you can imagine, the field of Qi Gong is extremely deep and could take a lifetime to understand fully.

Internal Heat

The other Qi which is more often used in daily language here in China, but has less literature written about it, is called Re Qi  or “Ruh Chee”  热气 – literally “hot” + “air”, and is similar to the scientific idea of pH-levels. When clarifying this with Chinese friends, they disagree that it is related to the amount of Acid or Base in your body; however, there’s really no other way to understand this better in English.

An expression used to say whether you have “excessive internal heat” in your body is “Shung Hor” [Shang Huo] 上火, literally “increase” + “fire.” Food and drink can increase and decrease the heat in your body, which is a normal topic of discussion at any meal, formal or informal. This happens when you’ve eaten too much strong food, especially salty, fried, or BBQ food. Too much “internal heat” causes pimples or small red dots on the skin.

Wang Lao Ji

The opposite phenomenon is called “Sheea Hor” [Xia Huo] 下火, literally “decrease” + “fire.” Because the internal heat normally increases for most people, we need to actively drink or eat things that can decrease internal heat. Chinese herbal tea, without sugar, is a great option. The most popular sugary one in the Chinese world, called Wang Lao Ji, is actually as famous as Coca-Cola. Foods famous for reducing internal heat include: watermelon, bananas, bitter melon, cucumber, rice, green beans, wheat, toufu, celery, cabbage, and many more!

Now you know a little more about  气!  ^o ^

Please comment below with questions about these concepts!

Ginseng Root

Another popular root that is common in the Chinese diet, and many other Asian diets, is Ginseng. In fact, American Ginseng is one of the most popular in the world. I even see it in small local markets here in Zhuhai. I see it popularly used out here in soups, often with other Chinese herbs, chicken bones, Gou Ji berries, and Zao Zi. This kind of soup can be purchased warm and ready to eat at any Fujian style dumpling shop. (I’ll post a simple recipe for making this at home soon.)

Dried Ginseng Slices

Ginseng is also consumed by steeping some dried slices of it in hot water, like tea. I sometimes do this before going to bed in order to reduce “Qi” in the body. I also suggest this drink as a replacement for evening teas or coffee.

Here is some health-related information from Wikipedia, and sourced therein:
“Both American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) roots are taken orally as adaptogens [a product that increases the body's resistance to stress], aphrodisiacs [you can guess...], nourishing stimulants, and in the treatment of type II diabetes, as well as sexual dysfunction in men.

Other information: The English word ginseng derives from the Chinese term rénshēn (simplified: 人参; traditional: 人蔘), literally “man root” (referring to the root’s characteristic forked shape, resembling the legs of a man).”

Here are some health benefits sourced from Wikipedia:

“Ginger may also decrease pain from arthritis, though studies have been inconsistent, and may have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties that may make it useful for treating heart disease…Ginger compounds are active against a form of diarrhea which is the leading cause of infant death in developing countries…

Ginger has been found effective in multiple studies for treating nausea caused by seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy…. Ginger is a safe remedy for nausea relief during pregnancy…Tea brewed from ginger is a folk remedy for colds,… congestion, and coughs.”