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Originally Posted by LiberLibri
On one hand, Chinese concept of qi seems to have focused upon the internal substance of the body; they imagined qi and blood circulating within the flesh.
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Since you've mentioned it, yes it's true,
qi does play a role in
traditional Chinese medicine. Although, in this case, it's more closely aligned with the flow of
yin-yang energies in the human body rather than just
qi per se. The idea of "energy flow" has popular currency among many Chinese. For example, mothers fussing over their children's health talk about "heaty" coughs (sore throat, raspy coughing, no phlegm) vs "cold" coughs (throaty coughing, lots of phlegm). If you get a fever or painful ulcers, there's too much "heat" (yang) in your body. Conversely, you catch a flu because there's too much "cold" (yin).
The idea also extends to the kinds of food to eat. Oily, fried food is considered "heaty", and a definite no-no if you're feeling feverish. Conversely, hearty pork broths or clear chicken soups are good for curing colds, or for building strength generally. Vegetables are generally considered to have "cooling" effects — the more bitter the vegetable, the greater the "cooling" effect (especially
bittergourd, the bane of many a Chinese kid, haha).
You may scoff that these "superstitions", but I find that they make a lot of common sense. What's more, they
do work. They may not have scientific backing, but I wouldn't outright dismiss folk wisdom gathered through centuries of empirical observation. They're worth trying out, so long as you remember to consult a doctor for serious illnesses.