P. Sze 
Traditional Chinese Medicine looks into healing symptoms by looking deep within the body and spirit. One of their main aims is to prevent blockages so that chi can circulate freely throughout the body. This state is called chi tong.
However, many people don’t know whether their chi is blocked. This can cause disease and painful afflictions to occur later down the line. Removing energy blockages is important for your health, which may make you wonder, how do you unblock your chi flow?
There are many ways to achieve chi tong. Keep reading to find out how to do so in this article. We’ll also get into what chi is, as well as signs that could indicate your chi flow is blocked.
What Does Chi Mean?
Several cultures believe in an energy source that relates to our physical and mental selves. In China, this energy is called qi, or chi, but this energy is also known in Indian, Japanese, Hawaiian, and Greek cultures.
Chi is an energy force that supplies nutrients and minerals as it circulates through the system. It does so via meridian lines – energy branches that link together, along with every part of the body.
Meridian lines ensure that all parts of your body communicate with each other, such as connecting your skin to your flesh or making your upper body link with the bottom half.
Your body has twelve important meridian lines on each side. These meridians all individually link to one of your organs. Every organ relies on other systems and meridian lines to carry out physical or energy tasks.
A healthy, pain-free body has chi traveling freely without anything stopping the flow. Disease and illnesses start occurring when chi flow is blocked, so it’s important to get rid of the blockages to become healthy again.
What Is A Chi Blockage?
Every single person can sense their chi, but this may be easier for some than others. With practice, mindfulness, and regular meditation, it can become easier to feel your chi.
As you do so, you’ll start to notice if your flow is blocked or not. It is believed that stress and anxiety affect blood circulation, which in turn, blocks chi flow.
Blocked Chi Symptoms
Blocked chi can show itself in several ways. Chi circulates throughout your system, so blockages can occur anywhere. The most common signs include depression, poor appetite, and general fatigue.
There may be different symptoms depending on where the actual block is. For example, blocks in both the kidney and liver systems show themselves differently.
Hair and memory loss, pain in the knees and back, and difficulty sleeping are all signs of a blockage in the kidneys.
However, chi blocks in the liver can look like rib and muscle pain, toe or fingernail issues, or a bad taste in the mouth.
How To Restore Chi Flow
If your energy flow cannot circulate freely, your body won’t be able to heal, causing pain and inflammation. Many techniques can help unblock chi flow, including acupuncture, special herbs, and professional help.
Acupuncture
When chi flow is affected, energy cannot move along meridian lines, and blood cannot flow easily through the veins. Acupuncture is a method that can help restore chi flow.
Pain occurs when the area in question doesn’t receive enough nutrients. Acupuncture involves puncturing the meridian lines on the affected region with very thin needles.
To avoid any further harm, acupuncture should only be carried out by a certified practitioner. The acupuncturist should ask you where on your body you are experiencing pain. The blockage will likely be in the painful area.
They’ll then use fine needles to pierce the top layer of your skin along your meridian lines. The needles are used in specific areas to ensure that yin and yang forces are balanced.
Research has shown that acupuncture can help several pain issues, like migraines, shoulder pain, and arthritis. Acupuncture needles can be used on over 500 areas of the body. Piercing the skin might make some people feel a little queasy. As long as you go to a certified practitioner who only uses sterilized needles, you should be fine.
A Healthy Diet
The majority of the body’s chi derives from food, so a nutritious diet is very important to ensure proper energy flow. Try avoiding fried foods, dairy, greasy foods, and sugar. These foods can stop your gut from absorbing important nutrients. Cook any dishes through steaming or grilling instead of frying.
Chi blockages are traditionally cured through stews and broths, but certain herbs are also known to restore chi flow. Red ginseng and licorice can help remove blockages within the spleen.
However, energy blocks in the liver need specialized treatments, as the liver connects several important parts of the body. Herbs like turmeric, finger citron fruit, and chai hu can help heal the liver, but these must be taken alongside other methods.
Breathing Work
Individuals who find deep breathing difficult may become anxious easily. This can cause poor chi flow. Focusing on your breathing can be a simple, but effective way of improving chi flow.
You can do your research to find several breathing techniques, but the most simple one is called belly breathing. You can do this upright or while on your back.
Begin by slowly taking in a deep breath through your nose. As you breathe in, focus on your belly. Allow the breath to enter your abdominal area, letting your stomach expand. Hold the breath for a few seconds, then exhale, letting the breath out of your mouth. That’s it!
Keep breathing deeply as you do this exercise. You’ll know if your breaths are too shallow by lightly placing a hand on your stomach as you breathe. Your stomach should gently expand. If your chest rises, you need to breathe deeper.
Professional Healer
Healers are people who are professionally trained in energy and chi flow. We’ve touched on acupuncturists above, but healers can also include qigong (meditation) trainers, tai chi instructors, and masseuses specializing in healing massage techniques.
Both tai chi and qigong are types of martial arts that can help improve balance, anxiety levels, and mental health. As these improve, you may also notice a difference in your chi flow.
These exercises may be traditional, but thanks to their many benefits, they are still practiced around the world. You can opt for classes in your local area, or look for instructional videos online.
The Bottom Line
Blocked chi flow may result in poor health, but there are ways to remove the blockage and restore energy flow within the body. Using the methods above can help energy flow smoothly across your meridian lines again.
Practice mindfulness and meditation regularly to work on your sense of chi, as this can help you avoid chi blockages in the future.
