Three Treasures Series

Qi, instrument of our health and destiny

Qi can wear many hats, from mundane “air” (you put “Qi” in your flat tires), “function” (the “Qi of the Heart” makes it beat) to”activity”, “strength” or “life” as no qi means death. It also includes modern concepts of “energy” “electricity,” or “electromagnetism”

The main medical role of Qi in our body is “transformation,” metabolic and enzymatic functions being its modern names. Our Lung, Spleen/ pancreas and liver constitute its main “transformers”.

Of the three treasures, Qi represents the most immediate instrument of our destiny and human freedom. It is created everyday from what and how we eat, breathe and think. It is the gift given to us to manage our bodies and lives. Understanding its functions is therefore a precious tool

This presentation will focus on the three Qi centers of Lung, Spleen and Liver divided into theoretical and practical sections:

• Understanding the meaning of Qi and its roles pertaining to Lung, Liver and Spleen
• Tools to assess your own Qi as well as that of other people
• The emotional and spiritual aspects of Qi
• Common symptoms alerting to Qi imbalance such as digestive disorders, lung problems

Three Treasures series

Shen, radiance of our spirit and flame of our soul

Shen is the most subtle of the three treasures. Often translated as spirit, Shen can also mean soul, mind, character, personality, emotion, charisma, talents or radiance. Shen resides in our Heart and its nature is Fire. Heart health and Shen are therefore closely connected. Interestingly enough Oriental medicine assigns to the Heart many of the functions that we assign to the brain. Concentration for example is a function of our Shen. The separation between mind and heart is of our making!

Shen expresses the refinement of a rough diamond into a precious jewel. It shines like a fire in our eyes and, like a fire, its warmth radiates way beyond its point of origin. Taking care of our Shen means an active mind and a warm loving heart.

The presentation is divided into several sections:

• Understanding the meaning of Shen and its relationship to Heart health
• Tools, such as tongue to assess the health of our Heart-Shen
• Shen as our emotional body
• Common symptoms alerting to Shen and Heart imbalance such as palpitations, chest pain, insomnia, difficulty with concentration, ADD, failing memory or emotional imbalance

Three Treasures Series

Jing, source of our longevity and vitality

Oriental medicine lists 3 fundamental treasures essential to human health: Jing, Qi, Shen. “Treasure” means something precious and unique to be cherished and protected, like our. national parks designated “national treasures” to protect them from mindless exploitation. Treasure entails the necessity of conscious care and awareness of irreplaceable value.

Jing is the first of the three treasures, sometimes translated as “kidney essence” but much wider than that. Some other Western terms could include “vital energy,” “DNA,” “constitution,”. “body fluids and lubrication” or “libido.”

The Orient considers that taking care of our Jing is a foremost requirement for longevity and youthful aging, since aging is basically a process of drying up, as attested by wrinkles or stiff joints.

In Parts I, II & III of the Jing series are divided into several sections:

• Understanding the meaning of Jing and Kidney essence 
• Tools, such as facial diagnosis, to assess our own Jing or that of other people.
• The emotional and spiritual aspects of Jing
• Common symptoms alerting to Jing and Kidney imbalance that include lower back pain,, fatigue and “adrenal exhaustion,” low libido or infertility, loss of hearing