These are said by the Chinese to be the vital substances within our body and are what let our body heal itself and maintain health when kept in alignment, the Qi is the body’s energy and this must be allowed to run freely throughout the body without blockage.

Qi – this is vital to our well-being and flows freely throughout the body giving us our capacity to move, think and feel. It is what helps to protect us from illness and warms the body, our Qi is made up from two main sources the food we eat and the air that we breathe and it is when our Qi is blocked or depleted that we start to show signs of illness. It is thought that when blockages occur the flow of the Qi is disrupted and so our ability to fight off illness and prevent disease is also blocked.

Fluids of the body – the Chinese call fluids of the body Jin Ye and these are the liquids which protect and lubricate the body with the help of the blood. Moisture is needed to nourish the skin, muscles, joints, the spine, bone marrow and the brain, when we don’t get enough fluids we become dehydrated and when this happens our body shows signs such as dry skin conditions and constipation. If the body has an excess of fluids then this materialises as lethargy and an excess in phlegm.

Blood – this is the bone, skin, nerve, muscle and organ creation material and is said to balance the psyche, the Chinese also call it the Shen which means spirit.

Essence – this is the body’s regenerative and reproductive substance and is also known to the Chinese by the name of Jing, essence is needed in order to regulate growth, reproduction, and development and it promotes and works with Qi in order to enable the body to protect against out side forces.

All of these vital substances in our body circulate throughout the body along what are know as the meridian channels, they form a link between all parts of the body. When these substances are allowed to flow normally and easily throughout the body, they contribute towards a normal healthy state, it is when these substances get congested and cannot grow that illness starts to occur and symptoms show.

They show in many forms with common symptoms being various aches and pains, tension headaches, asthma, indigestion and fatigue. If left untreated then the disruption to the Qi will worsen and so will the signs and symptoms of illness.