We abuse our bodies through reckless behaviours and activities that do not serve us, we study and work all day, party all night, drink and consume nutritionally depleted foods, we engage in excessive sexual activity, avoid sleep and burn the candle at both ends. We lead lifestyles that tend to compromise our health and leak our Jing energy.
Often in our youth, we believe that we are invincible. One must accumulate an abundance of Jing to recharge the Kidneys and to avoid its reckless dissipation. Jing governs the strength of our structural frame, hair, nails, our healing powers, our sexual functions and reproductive potential, our youthfulness and ability to handle stress, adversity, overwork, illness and the many other challenges that we face in our lives. The Kidneys are our battery pack, and the great reservoir of Jing energy is rooted in the Kidneys and is connected with longevity, vitality, sexual energy and our creative powers.Ĭonfronting lethargy and improving energy levels leads to a long healthy life. It is the vitality that we utilise to bring forth new life and to ensure good health in our older years. When we experience loss of this Jing treasure we feel devitalised and can show signs of premature ageing.
It is our generator or our battery of stored energy. Imagine Jing energy is like your "savings account" of long-term energy. In order to achieve this, we must first build up our foundational energy reserves of Jing. It is important that we understand these underlying health principles and to cultivate, balance and expand the Three Treasures to harmonise all aspects of one’s being.
It is the connection to our higher selves, and to our spirituality, however, we define that for ourselves. Shen is our spirit and the realm of the heart. Qi is the flowing force, or the electric currents, that drive our metabolism of food into energy, and the use of that energy. Jing energy is our material body, cellular density, energy stores, our reproductive potential, our DNA and our seed. In the body, Jing is the most solid substantial energy, Qi is the more kinetic, flowing, and fluid energy and Shen is the more refined or ethereal energy in the body. In Western Science, we know that matter exists in three different forms - as a solid, a liquid, or a gas. The " Three Treasures" are states of energy in our body. What is Jing energy? In Chinese tonic herbalism, Jing is the first treasure and is known as the “superior ultimate” treasure. They are generally translated in English as - Essence (Jing), Vitality (Qi), and Spirit (Shen) and they correspond and nurture three basic levels of life - the reproductive, the metabolic and the spiritual. These treasures are known as Jing, Chi, and Shen. In Taoist tradition, there is said to be "Three Treasures" that effectively constitute the health of one’s life.