CHAPTER 3

QI, BLOOD, SPIRIT AND BODY FLUIDS

气、血、神和津液

Upon completion of this chapter, you are required to:

Master the words that form the TCM terms associated with qi, blood, spirit* and body fluids*.
Understand new TCM terms formed by these words.
Be able to make new TCM terms with these words.
Describe the concept of essence, qi, blood, spirit and body fluids in English. And explain their relations in English.

Qi, blood, and body fluids are the fundamental substances which make up the human body and maintain its vital activities. They are the material basis for the physiological functions of viscera and bowels, constituents, sense organs, meridians and collaterals*.

Spirit controls the body. Without spirit, a person is just a dead body and, without body, there is nowhere for the spirit to manifest itself.

The following websites will be helpful for you to learn TCM English after you complete this chapter:

http://www.tcmwiki.com/wiki/qi
http://www.tcmdiscovery.com/tcm_blood.asp (a dead link)
http://www.taoiststudy.com/content/tcm-theory-concept-blood-body-fluid-and-qi (a dead link)