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Qi is derived from Yang, and Blood is derived from Yin. At the beginning of human life, possessing Yin and Yang means also possessing Qi and Blood. Qi and Blood are perhaps the root of human life?

Why is Blood called "Ying" (Nutritive Qi)? Ying circulates within the vessels, signifying the meaning of nourishing and flourishing. Why is Qi called "Wei" (Defensive Qi)? Wei circulates outside the vessels, signifying the meaning of guarding and protecting. If so, do Ying and Wei not have a source? It is said: Humans receive grain from the Stomach; the Stomach is the sea of water and grain, irrigating the meridians and long-term nourishing the bones and body. The Zang and Fu organs all derive their Qi from it. Therefore, the clear part becomes Ying, and the turbid part becomes Wei. The Qi of Ying and Wei circulates ceaselessly. In one day and one night, it travels fifty cycles through the vessels, reconverging at the Qi Kou (Cunkou pulse) at dawn. This is what is meant by Yin and Yang interconnecting like a ring without end; these two Qi constantly accompany each other and do not separate. Because Blood-Ying and Qi-Wei flow continuously, how can a person fall ill? Once there is obstruction, all diseases arise from this.

Thus, when Qi malfunctions, it manifests as abnormal emotions or states such as joy, anger, sorrow, grief, fear, fright, cold, heat, and overthinking or fatigue. When it accumulates, it forms masses,痞 (Pi - stuffiness), Jia (soft masses), and Pi (hard masses). Ascending, it causes dizziness; in the middle, it causes the Five Ge (obstructions in the chest/diaphragm); descending, it causes moving Qi around the umbilicus. It may cause panting or belching; accumulation leads to abdominal fullness, and rebellion leads to cold feet. All these conditions are caused by Qi.

When Blood causes pathology, its reckless flowing leads to hematemesis or epistaxis; its depletion leads to deficiency consumptive disease. Accumulation in the upper body causes madness; accumulation in the lower body causes mania. Encountering Cold causes the sinews to lack nourishment and become spasmodic; accompanying Heat causes internal stasis leading to jaundice. In urination, it presents as painful dysuria; in defecation, it presents as intestinal wind (blood in stool). In women, it presents as irregular menstruation, spotting, or metrorrhagia, with particularly diverse pathologies. All these conditions are caused by Blood.

Blood is likened to water, and Qi is likened to wind. Wind blowing on water illustrates the relationship between Qi and Blood. Qi is the commander of Blood. Where Qi moves, Blood moves; where Qi stops, Blood stops. Where Qi is warm, Blood is active. Where Qi is cold, Blood coagulates. If Qi fails to move for even an instant, Blood fails to flow for that same instant. If disease originates in Blood, regulating Qi can still guide the treatment. If disease originates in Qi, what use is merely regulating Blood? In the entire body, regulating Qi is primary, which aligns with the principle of prioritizing Yang before Yin. However, if blood has degenerated into stasis and stagnation within the meridians, the pathways of Qi will inevitably be blocked. In such cases, one must assess the priority and remove the obstruction. As the classics state, one should first remove the blood stasis and then regulate, a variation that must be understood.

Therefore, formulas for regulating Qi can effectively regulate Blood as well. Conversely, formulas for regulating Blood are unsuitable for regulating Qi. For example, Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) and Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) can treat Qi disorders and also Blood disorders. Regarding Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) members like Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Dihu (Rehmanniae Radix), their nature is cloying and sticky, which may impair Stomach Qi. Practitioners must exercise caution.