Humans tend to trust their sight above all else.
“I’ll believe it when I see it” is a common 
dismissive uttered when something sounds too fantastic to believe.
The issue here is that the human eye is only picking up roughly .1% (that’s 1/10th of one percent) of the light spectrum. This means that 99.9% of the Universe is invisible to the naked eye.
This puts “energy medicine” (a term I personally dislike) into a different perspective.
Since 99.9% of what makes up the human body can not be observed with the naked eye, there is a whole world of interaction that our eyes, on which we all depend so heavily, are missing. Chakras, auras, qi, prana etc…are all very real yet invisible components of our body (though one can be trained to broaden the scope of the eye and take in a fraction more of that 99.9%)
In Chinese Medicine (which is energy medicine as all ancient practices of healing are) there is an outer layer of energy know as wei qi. This is our protective energy. It absorbs and distributes the energy of impacts (if one has strong wei qi) to protect against breaks, sprains and brusing. It also protects against environmental exposure to cold, wind, heat, dampness and dryness; as well as the emotional and psychic projections of those around us.
The wei qi also acts as an antennae of sorts. When the body is in motion the brain is given information about the environment by the wei qi. So if one is “klutzy”, always dropping or tripping or bumping into things it could be that the wei qi is not communicating with the brain as quickly as it needs to. There can also be tears and scars in the wei qi, just like our skin. This can represent a “gap” in the environment to the wei qi and so the brain will not receive any information about that part of the body until the skin and bone comes into contact with the object (ie tables, chairs, kids toys on the floor etc…)
In this same way, the reflex action is very much under the control of the wei qi. It is a fact that when a part of the body goes into motion the muscle begins to contract before the nerve impulse has gotten there. It is not the nerves that instigate muscle contraction but the wei qi.
So, how does one cultivate and strengthen this important body part? Here are a few tips:
#1 Get Naked
In terms of conductivity, our skin does a pretty good job. Clothing, especially synthetics, are not as conductive. This creates static buildup where the material meets the skin. This can be clearly seen from the red marks left from wearing tight pants or from a bra strap, and the subsequent relief from taking them off.
Being naked allows the wei qi to circulate freely over the surface it was designed to protect. Of course, clothing is not always optional so wear natural fabrics such as hemp and wool as much as possible.
#2 Get Physical
All forms of martial arts contribute to a strong wei qi. As does a vigorous yoga practise or weight lifting. a sedentary lifestyle promotes stagnation of this vital, protective energy.
#3 Nutritional Support
Probiotic bacteria support the wei qi and may be seen as physical representation of this energy field. The bacteria coats the skin and intestinal lining and competes for space with viruses, bacteria and parasites. Lactobacilus acidophilus is one of the strongest organisims in your gut and will beat out anything that tries to invade its space. Anti-biotics, chlorine exposure through tap and shower water, and hand sanitizers are deadly to this bacteria and can lead to digestive imbalances; dry, cracked skin, and a compromised immune system.
Other options include the Deep Immune formula from St. Francis or get your hands on some cow or goat colostrum.
In the BodyTalk system we work with the wei qi by first identifying what the wei qi is permeable to (climate, emotions etc…) or if there are any tears or scars that need attention. The liver or gall bladder may also need to be balanced in some way as these two organs and their corresponding meridians are instrumental in the creation and function of wei qi.
Much of what we know to be true is based on concepts we have identified with. Introducing a new concept, such as wei qi, is instrumental in raising awareness and increasing health. Start to take notice of the static between your finger and a surface right before you touch it. This is your wei qi. and its strength and integrity are vital to you having a long and healthy life.
Here’s to yours!
Daniel Gilfix CBP
