Four movements
How does energy mechanism work in our body?
According to Neijing, everything which has life force has qi mechanism, or energy mechanism. Energy mechanism in our body consists of four movements. These are ascending, descending, exiting and entering. The directions are inward, outward, upward and downward.
Ascending and descending of energy mechanism
Ascending and descending takes place inside the body. What ascends and descends is qi and blood circulating in the body. For homeostasis, ascending and descending should take place in a harmonious manner. If qi and blood are only in ascending state, it could cause some disorders. This happens to people who live a sedentary life style.
Exiting and entering of energy mechanism
Exiting and entering indicates the relationship of our body with the outside environment.
Food and air enter the body. They become nutrients that turn into qi and blood in the body after going through organs. The qi and blood nourish and activate all parts of the body.
The waste is removed from the body in the form of urination and bowel movement. Our body also reacts to the environment according to the temperature in the form of sweating.
Harmony in four movements
When energy mechanism in our body works properly, we stay healthy. All creatures with life force experience four movements. Absence of four movements indicates no life force. Harmony in four movements means the healthy state.
What if energy mechanism does not work properly?
When the four movements do not work properly in our body, we become sick. Lack of balance in the four movements results in many diseases in various parts of our body.
While we eat nutritious food, we should have good bowel movement and urination. We know that malfunction causes various disorders, not to mention psycholigical disorders.
Disharmony in upward and downward movements generates phlegm and water stagnation in the upper abdomen.