One definition of Chi or Qi (they are one and the same) in the online dictionary is: "The vital force believed in Taoism and other Chinese thought to be inherent in all things. The unimpeded circulation of chi and a balance of its negative and positive forms in the body are held to be essential to good health in traditional Chinese medicine."

Chinese herbalists ?measure' Chi in a patient by considering the conditions of:

Yin            Yang

Hot            Cold

Internal      External

Empty        Full

Chinese herbalists consider all conditions of their patients not just the physical condition but the condition of the mind and the emotions as well. When determining the strength of Chi in their patients they use what are called the six excesses of:

1.      Wind

2.      Dryness

3.      Cold

4.      Moisture

5.      Fire

6.      Heat

as well as excesses of the seven emotions:

1.      Joy

2.      Anger

3.      Anxiety

4.      Brooding

5.      Sorrow

6.      Fear

7.      Fright

Illness is not thought to ever be caused by only one thing in Chinese herbal medical diagnosis. Just because pain is in the stomach doesn't mean that the illness is only in the stomach. Neither does it mean that the illness is only physical, it may well be caused by or irritated by one of the seven emotional excesses.

The strength of Chi and the balance of Yin and Yang are all considered when a patient's illness is being diagnosed and herbal remedies will be prescribed that address all of the potential causes.