Qi

Central to Chinese medicine is vital energy or force known as Qi (pronounced "chee" - with the food that we eat and the air that we breathe; is it surprising then that the first pillar of Chinese Medicine is diet?!).  It is that in our bodies which warms, holds, protects, nourishes, moves and transforms.

Blood

Blood - is used as a broad term to describe the physical blood in the body that moistens the muscles, tissues, skin and hair, as well as nourishing the cells and organs.

Yin

describes fluids, cooling, nourishing, wet and cold energetic qualities in the body.

Yang

describes dry, heat, warming and useable energetic qualities in the body.

Essence

fluid substance providing basis for reproduction, growth and pregnancy.

Damp

an excess of fluids in the body.

Heat

caused by excess of Yang.

Cold

caused by an excess of Yin.

Stagnation

accumulation of Qi or Blood preventing free flow - precursor to illness.