Where qi flows, blood and lymph fluid flow and the detoxification process is enhanced. Where stagnant qi exists, blood and lymph flow become stagnant and the detoxification pathways are hindered.

Lung Qi Deficiency simply means the lungs are being weakened by a host of possible causes. Many of these causes would include both external pathogenic wind and toxins entering the interior affecting the lung qi. Inflammation and mucus production are enhanced in the lungs causing a weakening effect and may be hindered in detoxing offending agents. People who have lung qi deficiency may have breathing difficulties, or their symptoms are labeled as asthma or COPD.

Heart Qi Deficiency means there is a weakness or stagnation in the heart or pericardium meridians. The cause may be varied. These causes would include external toxins and pathogenic factors entering the heart and pericardium. This may instigate cardiac dysfunction and an overall weakening effect causing heart qi deficiency. Symptoms might include shortness of breath, heart pain, palpitations, erratic heart rhythm, and blockage.

Kidney Qi Deficiency means the kidney meridian is weak and there might be underlying causative agents and metabolic patterns draining the kidney energy. This would hinder the ability of the kidneys to function and detox properly. The bladder meridian may also be affected, as they are paired meridians. Reproductive system may be affected as well.

Liver Qi Stagnation is where there is a stagnation of energy in the liver and gallbladder meridians, which can cause heat (inflammation) to stagnate. A stagnant liver may cause a backup of toxins due to the liver’s inability to break them down to be expelled by the kidneys and colon. The combination of liver qi stagnation and kidney qi deficiency would impact how toxins are processed by the liver and expelled by the kidneys.

Spleen Qi Deficiency is where the spleen meridian has become deficient. The spleen is associated with the lymph system and both can become overburdened with toxins. Lymph flow tends to stagnate if the spleen is deficient. This is the most common Chinese medicine diagnosis due to all of the environmental factors.