Qi Different kinds of qi have different functions. Generally speaking, they can be summarized as follows: Promoting action: qi is a refined substance full of vitality. It promotes and activates the growth and development of the human body, the physiological activities of the viscera and meridians, the formation and circulation of blood as well as the production, distribution and excretion of the body fluid. Warming action: the Classic on Medical Problems (Nan Jing) says, “qi has a warming action.” The normal temperature of the body is maintained and readjusted by qi. A deficiency of qi can lead to a lower body temperature, intolerance to cold and cold limbs. Defending action: the defending action of qi is marked by the defense of the body surface against the invasion of exogenous pathogenic factors. That is why it is said in the Plain Questions that “only when qi in the body is deficient can pathogenic factors invade the body”. Consolidating action: the consolidating action of qi refers to the idea that qi can prevent the loss of blood and body fluid. For instance, qi controls blood by keeping it circulating in the vessels, and controls sweating, urination and seminal emission. If this consolidating action of qi is impaired, spontaneous sweating, incontinence, premature ejaculation and spermatorrhea may occur. Transforming action: the transforming action of qi refers to the various biochemical changes brought on by the movement of qi. For instance, the production of qi, blood, and body fluid depends on the transformation of food into nutrients; body fluids are converted into sweat and urine by means of anabolism; and the residues of food, after digestion and absorption, are turned into feces. All these processes are concrete manifestations of the transforming action of qi. So, the process of qi transformation is actually the process of the metabolism of substances and energy in the body. The various functions of qi are all performed by its movement. TCM calls the movement of qi as qiji (mechanism of qi). Theoretically, qi moves in four basic ways: ascending, descending, exiting and entering. Ascending refers to movement from below; descending, from above; exiting, from the interior; and entering from the exterior. These movements of qi are vital to life. Once they stop, life comes to an end. 氣 不同的氣，有其不同的功能。概而言之，可歸納如下： 推動(dòng)作用：氣是活力很強(qiáng)的精微物質(zhì)。它可以促進(jìn)和刺激人體的生長(zhǎng)和發(fā)育，內(nèi)臟和經(jīng)絡(luò)的生理活動(dòng)，血液的產(chǎn)生和循環(huán)，以及津液的產(chǎn)生、分布和排泄。 溫煦作用：《難經(jīng)》說(shuō)：“氣主煦之。” 正常的體溫是由氣來(lái)維持和調(diào)節(jié)的。如果氣的溫煦作用減弱，就會(huì)出現(xiàn)體溫下降、畏寒肢冷等虛寒病癥。 防御作用：氣的防御作用主要在于護(hù)衛(wèi)肌表，防御外邪入侵。所以《素問(wèn)》說(shuō)：“邪之所湊，其氣必虛?！?/span> 固攝作用：固攝作用指氣可以阻止血液和津液的流失。比如，氣可以通過(guò)讓血液在血管里循環(huán)來(lái)固攝血液，還可以控制出汗、排尿和遺精。氣的這種固攝作用如果受到損害的話，可能會(huì)發(fā)生自汗、小便失禁、早泄和遺精。 氣化作用：氣化作用指由氣的運(yùn)動(dòng)帶來(lái)的各種生化變化。比如，氣、血、津液的產(chǎn)生依賴于食物到營(yíng)養(yǎng)物的轉(zhuǎn)化；津液可以轉(zhuǎn)化為汗液和尿液；食物殘?jiān)谙?、吸收后轉(zhuǎn)化為糞便。所有這些過(guò)程都是氣化的具體表現(xiàn)。所以氣化過(guò)程實(shí)際上就是體內(nèi)的物質(zhì)代謝及能量代謝。 氣的各種功能，是通過(guò)氣的運(yùn)動(dòng)來(lái)實(shí)現(xiàn)的。中醫(yī)將氣的運(yùn)動(dòng)，稱為“氣機(jī)”。理論上，氣有升、降、出、入四種基本運(yùn)動(dòng)形式。升，是指氣由下而上的運(yùn)動(dòng)；降，乃指氣由上而下的運(yùn)動(dòng)；出，是指氣由體內(nèi)向體外的運(yùn)動(dòng)；入，則指氣由體外向體內(nèi)的運(yùn)動(dòng)。氣的升降出入是人體生命活動(dòng)的一種表現(xiàn)，升降出入一旦停止，人的生命也就中止了。■ 《中醫(yī)英語(yǔ)》
