Editing Traditional Chinese medicine (section)

===''Qi''===
{{Main|Qi}}

''Qi'' is a [[Polysemy|polysemous]] word that traditional Chinese medicine distinguishes as being able to transform into many different qualities of ''qi'' ({{lang-zh|s=气 |t=氣 |p=qì |labels=no}}).<ref name="Aung & Chen" /> In a general sense, ''qi'' is something that is defined by five "cardinal functions":<ref name="Aung & Chen">{{harvp|Aung|Chen|2007|pp=11–12}}. "{{lang|zh|氣的生理功能...(一)推動作用...(二)溫煦作用...(三)防御作用...(四)固攝作用...(五)氣化作用}}" &#91;Physiological functions of qi: 1.) Function of actuation ... 2.) Function of warming ... 3.) Function of defense ... 4.) Function of containment ... 5.) Function of transformation ...&#93;</ref>
# Actuation ({{lang-zh|t=推動 |s=推动 |p=tuīdòng |labels=no}}) – of all physical processes in the body, especially the circulation of all body fluids such as blood in their vessels. This includes actuation of the functions of the zang-fu organs and meridians.
# Warming ({{lang-zh|t=溫煦 |s=温煦 |p=wēnxù |labels=no}}) – the body, especially the limbs.
# Defense ({{lang-zh|c=防御 |p=fángyù |labels=no}}) – against [[#Six Excesses|Exogenous Pathogenic Factors]]
# Containment ({{lang-zh|t=固攝 |s=固摄 |p=gùshè |labels=no}}) – of body fluids, i.e., keeping blood, sweat, urine, semen, etc. from leakage or excessive emission.
# Inter-transformationel ({{lang-zh|t=氣化 |s=气化 |p=qìhuà |labels=no}}) – of food, drink, and breath into ''qi'', [[#Xie|xue]] (blood), and [[#Bodily fluids (Jinye)|jinye]] ("fluids"), and/or transformation of all of the latter into each other.
A lack of ''qi'' will be characterized especially by pale complexion, lassitude of spirit, lack of strength, spontaneous sweating, laziness to speak, non-digestion of food, shortness of breath (especially on exertion), and a pale and enlarged tongue.<ref name="Wiseman 1996" />

''Qi'' is believed to be partially generated from food and drink, and partially from air (by breathing). Another considerable part of it is inherited from the parents and will be consumed in the course of life.

TCM uses special terms for ''qi'' running inside of the blood vessels and for qi that is distributed in the skin, muscles, and tissues between them. The former is called ''yingqi'' ({{lang-zh|s=营气 |t=營氣 |p=yíngqì |labels=no}}); its function is to complement xuè and its nature has a strong yin aspect (although ''qi'' in general is considered to be yang).<ref name="Elizabeth Reninger">{{cite web |url=http://taoism.about.com/od/qi/a/Qi_Forms.htm |title=Qi (Chi): Various Forms Used in Qigong & Chinese Medicine – How Are The Major Forms Of Qi Created Within The Body? | vauthors = Reninger E |work=About.com Religion & Spirituality |access-date=6 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075119/http://taoism.about.com/od/qi/a/Qi_Forms.htm |archive-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The latter is called ''weiqi'' ({{lang-zh|t=衛氣 |s=卫气 |p=weìqì |labels=no}}); its main function is defence and it has pronounced yang nature.<ref name="Elizabeth Reninger" />

''Qi'' is said to circulate in the meridians. Just as the ''qi'' held by each of the zang-fu organs, this is considered to be part of the 'principal' ''qi'' of the body.{{efn|{{lang-zh|t=元氣 |s=元气 |p=yuánqì |labels=no}}, also known as "true" ''qi'' ({{lang-zh|t=真氣 |s=真气 |p=zhēnqì |labels=no}}) or "original" ''qi'' ({{lang-zh|t=原氣 |s=原气 |p=yuánqì |labels=no}}).}}