The Two Forces Behind Your Health and Well-Being
Here is a simple yet important Chinese Medicine concept.
There are two influential forces that dictate our health and well-being: Zheng Qi and Xie Qi.
Zheng Qi, which is translated as Righteous Qi, is the vital force behind our vibrancy. It helps us overcome illness, regulate our nervous system, and continuously defend us against external threats.
Think of it as part of the body's immune system, always surveilling and working to protect the body from external pathogenic factors (EPFs).
Righteous Qi has two components: Pre-natal Qi and Post-natal Qi.
Pre-natal Qi is the energy we inherit from our parents and the cosmos at the moment of conception — a foundational reserve we are born with.
Post-natal Qi, on the other hand, is cultivated daily; through the food we eat, the air we breathe, and other lifestyle factors.
When Righteous Qi is robust and flowing freely, good health follows.
Xie Qi, or Evil Qi, is the opposing force.
It is comprised of six climatic factors: wind, dampness, cold, heat, fire, and dryness, as well as emotional distress. Emotional distress arises from an imbalance of the seven emotions: joy, grief, pensiveness, fear, anger, sadness, and fright.
Where Righteous Qi sustains and protects, Evil Qi taxes and destabilizes the body, disrupting our balance and creating the conditions for illness.
Righteous Qi and Evil Qi are in constant interaction. When tension escalates, conflict erupts and the body speaks through signs and symptoms. These vary widely: irritability, anxiety, or headaches; fatigue, insomnia, or night sweats; stiff neck, shoulder pain, or low back ache; chills, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, and more.
As a practitioner, my role is to read these signals and determine where the conflict is occurring, where it originated, and where it is heading if left unaddressed.
In the next newsletter, we'll explore Evil Qi in the modern world. The classical six pathogenic factors have been joined by a new generation of threats: mold, microplastics, gas fumes, pesticides, herbicides, food additives, non-native EMFs, and more.
Understanding these forces is the first step toward protecting ourselves and allowing us to work together to create a healthier environment for all living beings, now and for generations to come.
Best Wishes & Vibrant Health,
Anthony Wong
Beacon, New York