Your Breath is Medicine: Restoring Qi Through the Lungs

When it comes to restoring vitality, most of us think of sleep, supplements, or food. And yes, these are important. But there’s something even more immediate, something you do every moment of every day: Breathe.

From a Chinese medicine lens, breath is not just oxygen. It’s one of the primary ways you cultivate and sustain your life force energy - your Qi.

The Two Sources of Qi in Chinese Medicine

According to classical Chinese medical theory, we’re born with two essential types of Qi: Pre-Heaven Essence (Yuan Qi or Jing) and Post-Heaven Qi.

Let’s unpack that:

1. Pre-Heaven Essence (Jing 精)

Jing is often described as your constitutional strength - the deep reserves of energy passed on from your parents at the time of conception. It’s linked to your DNA, your genetics, and the energetic imprint you inherit.

Think of Jing as your foundational battery pack. It determines your potential for growth, development, fertility, aging, and overall vitality. But here's the catch: once it’s used, it’s not replenishable. Like your body’s savings account, you want to spend it wisely.

This is why lifestyle choices, burnout, and stress patterns matter so much - because if you’re not nourishing your body properly, you begin to dip into these precious reserves.

2. Post-Heaven Qi (Hou Tian Zhi Qi 後天之氣)

Once you’re born, your body no longer receives nourishment through the umbilical cord - it shifts to relying on what’s known as Post-Heaven Qi.

This is the qi generated after birth — and it comes from two things:

The air you breathe🍲 The food you eat

Your Lungs and Spleen become key players here. The Lungs draw in clean qi from the air (known as Da Qi), while the Spleen transforms food and drink into nutritive qi (Gu Qi). Together, they produce what’s called Zong Qi (Gathering Qi), which fuels the body’s functions, movement, and spirit.

So every conscious breath you take…Every nourishing meal you eat…You are literally recharging your qi.

The Lungs: The Bridge Between Heaven and Earth

In Chinese medicine, the Lungs are known as the "tender organ", easily affected by emotions, weather, and your environment. But they are also powerful.

They govern qi, open into the nose, regulate water metabolism, and are said to “govern the 100 vessels.” They’re deeply connected to our emotional world too - especially grief and letting go.

When you’re overwhelmed, anxious, or tired - what do you often forget to do?

Breathe.

It’s no coincidence that shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and sighing are common signs of qi stagnation or depletion. These are signals from your Lungs that your qi isn’t flowing.

Breath as a Daily Ritual to Restore Qi

Modern research is catching up with what ancient medicine already knew: deep, conscious breathing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, regulates the vagus nerve, reduces inflammation, and improves oxygenation throughout the body.

In Chinese medicine, it also helps restore balance, nourish your Zong Qi, and protect your Jing- so you’re not constantly drawing from your deeper reserves.

Try this simple practice:

Qi-Restoring Breath-work (2 minutes)

• Sit or lie comfortably

• Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 counts

• Hold for 2 counts

• Exhale gently through your mouth for 6 counts

• Repeat for 2 minutes, allowing your shoulders to soften and your belly to expand

This is how we nourish Post-Heaven Qi. Not through hustle. Not through intensity. But through presence.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Breath

As a practitioner, I see it all the time — people are burnt out, tired, wired, and wondering why their energy is so low. They’re sipping green juices and taking magnesium, but forgetting the basics:

You are designed to heal. And your breath is one of your greatest tools to do that.

So next time you’re overwhelmed, or seeking clarity, or wanting to ground…Come back to the breath.

You’re not just oxygenating. You’re restoring your qi and honouring the sacred energy your parents passed on to you.

During your Chinese Medicine sessions at meraki, you can expect our doctors to run through some tailored exercises with you to help assist this process and make it easy for you.

Written by Casey Dorman, Owner of Meraki Holistic Health