Xie Chi Storage

Chinese medicine uses the idea of Xie Chi (Blood Energy) to measure a person’s body energy. However, Xie Chi is an abstract item as there is not a specific item in the human body defined as Xie Chi. Using Chinese medicine definition, Xie Chi includes many substances from the human body. Out of these substances, blood is the major item that signifies the amount of Xie Chi that is present. The volume of blood in the body is proportional to the amount of Xie Chi that is in the body. Since blood is used to carry energy, or Xie Chi, to various body parts, more blood means more Xie Chi can be stored and carried within the blood.

As long as the body can manufacture more blood than it consumes each day, then the total amount of blood that is in the body will increase. Extra blood will enter and be stored in various body organs. From the Chinese medicine point of view, liver has blood storage capability.

When a person’s blood quantity is constantly increasing, his body organs will be filled with blood and his bones will also be filled with medulla. These are signs that the person’s Xie Chi is in high condition.

Conversely, when the quantity of blood that is manufactured each day is less than the body’s daily consumption, the total quantity of blood will decrease. Thus, the blood that is stored in various organs will also decrease in quantity, causing each organ to function less effectively. When the blood storage in your spleen decreases, your body’s diagnostic and repair systems will be less effective, this will weaken your body’s immune system. When blood storage in your liver decreases, the ability for the liver to cleanse blood will decrease, leaving the blood contaminated. When the blood storage in the liver reaches minimum level, some livers will develop liver cirrhosis and atrophy. As the liver loses its function, it loses its ability to remove waste from your blood, which will eventually result in uremia.

We can compare the storage of Xie Chi to the storage of electrical energy in rechargeable batteries for cellular phone. It usually only takes 2 to 3 hours to fully charge a cellular phone battery, yet the battery can keep the cellular phone working for up to 2 to 3 days. The time used charging the battery is only a fraction of the functional time of the cell phone. Xie Chi storage is similar in this aspect. As long as we grasp the essence of Xie Chi storage we can rapidly replenish our Xie Chi.

We must understand the concept that Xie Chi is storable. Using this concept, we can explain how a person can live an unhealthy lifestyle yet his/her body does not break down immediately. The reason is that the person has stored a high quantity of Xie Chi in his/her youthful years and that his/her body can maintain normal function using stored Xie Chi. However, if the person continues to decrease his Xie Chi storage, eventually the person will run out of Xie Chi.

When the body uses backup Xie Chi storage, since the storage quantity is limited, the body will only use the Xie Chi to perform tasks that are essential to the survival of the body system. Other tasks that are not essential will be set aside to be attended to in the future when the body is capable of dealing with these tasks.

Chinese medicine defines regular energy as Xie Chi, and backup storage energy as Gan Huo. When the body uses Gan Huo, the most significant symptom will be insomnia. Since the body is using backup energy, the body’s diagnostic and repair system will not be working at full strength. Therefore the person will not feel discomfort even though his Xie Chi level is below average.

We often recommend our patients that the key to a healthy life style is to keep in mind of our Xie Chi condition. We should recognize our own Xie Chi level and try to increase our Xie Chi storage.