How Does Qi Move In Taoism

In Taoism, life is seen as being composed of Qi’s four major actions: ascending, descending, entering and exiting. When Qi is flowing smoothly, and there is balance between its ascending/descending and entering/exiting functions, then we are healthy.

Inner Alchemy reveals the human body to be the meeting-place of Heaven and Earth. This is actualized by working with Heaven Qi and Earth Qi - drawing Heaven Qi down from above, and Earth Qi up from below. Even when we’re not consciously doing qigong practices, with every breath we take, we absorb Heaven Qi, and through the food we eat, we absorb Earth Qi.

The Pushing & Warming Functions Of Qi:
According to Chinese Medicine, Qi has five major functions in the human body: pushing, warming, defending, controlling, and transforming. Included in its pushing function are activities such as the movement of blood through the vessels and Qi through the meridians. The warming function of Qi is the result of its movement, and includes the warming of the Zang-Fu Organs, the channels, the skin, muscles and tendons.

The Defending, Controlling & Transforming Functions Of Qi:
The primary defending action of Qi is prevention from the invasion of external pathogenic factors. The controlling function of Qi is what keeps blood in the vessels, and is in charge also of creating the appropriate amount of secretions such as sweat, urine, gastric juice and sexual fluids. The transforming function of Qi has to do with the body’s larger metabolic processes, for instance the transformation of food into nutrients and wastes.