1. The Qi Treasure of Essence, Jing

Jing 精

Essence

Jing (精) means  essence, and is said to be the energy base for the physical body. It is genetic, inasmuch as it appears to be a unique primordial energy that is passed by the parents to an individual at conception (sometimes called yuan qi) and has no “material form,” and is said to be involved in the growth and development processes of body nutritio, and substance.

It specifically, when joined as the "three treasures", refers to kidney participation in the energy system.

It is when we begin to relate energy to specific organs that doubt begins to enter and we must not simply "throw out the baby with the bathwater".

Jing energy, when termed as essence, is said to the most dense energy within the body. That is to say, that one of the properties of the energy is that of being closely crowded together.

Is there a direct relation between the "nan jing" and "na jing" of masculine and feminine principles, which we said was related to the sensory system, and this Jing "essence" energy of the kidney?

Well, we know that a substance called Erythropoietin is produced primarily in the kidneys rather than was once suspected in the bone marrow. The kidney then functions as a "critmeter", in that it senses oxygen tension and extracellular volume. By regulating red cell mass through erythropoietin and also the plasma volume through excretion of salt and water, the kidney then sets the hematocrit value at a correct level.  This value maximizes oxygen delivery to peripheral tissues, which supports the following:

Free nerve-endings, which occur chiefly in the epidermis and in the epithelium which covers certain mucous membranes. They are also in the stratified squamous epithelium of the cornea, and  in the root-sheaths and papillæ of the hairs, and around the bodies of the sudoriferous glands.

End-bulbs of Krause. They are  found in the conjunctiva of the eye, in the mucous membrane of the lips and tongue, and in the epineurium of nerve trunks. They are also found in the penis and the clitoris. They even occur in the fingers.

Pacinian corpuscles are found in the subcutaneous tissue on the nerves of the palm of the hand and sole of the foot. They are in the genital organs of both sexes. They also occur in connection with the nerves of the joints.

The corpuscles of Golgi and Mazzoni are found in the subcutaneous tissue of the pulp of the fingers.

Tactile corpuscles of Wagner and Meissner. These tactile corpuscles occur in the papillæ of the corium of the hand and foot, the front of the forearm, the skin of the lips, the mucous membrane of the tip of the tongue, the palpebral conjunctiva, and the skin of the mammary papilla.

Corpuscles of Ruffini. Ruffini corpusles are described a special variety of nerve-ending in the subcutaneous tissue of the human finger, principally situated at the junction of the corium with the subcutaneous tissue.

Organs of Golgi (Neurotendinous spindles). They are chiefly found near the junctions of tendons and muscles.

Neuromuscular spindles. They  are present in the majority of voluntary muscles, and consist of small bundles of peculiar muscular fibers (intrafusal fibers),  within which nerve fibers, experimentally shown to be sensory in origin, terminate.

This list, which is not complete, will give the reader some sense of  what the Kidney's important  involvement is within the sensory system.

While a connection between the feminine principle and the Liver cannot be demostrated it is clear that the labeling of the Qi energy as "essence" , that is relevant to the senses, is well founded because all these sensors named above are part of the sensory system that the liver helps keep in action.

The kidney in addition has an important role in the energy, relevant to growth processes, which circulate through the eight extraordinary vessels and it is important in the clarity of the mind, being associated with the body’s ability to adapt to change.

Jing ,精, then is a vital force essential to life. While jing is strong, the body remains young and vital. As the body ages, the jing that it possessed at birth is gradually burned up.

The loss of jing is hastened by stress and overwork; emotional excesses; abuse of drugs, tobacco and alcohol; illness, injury and poor nutrition; and sexual intemperance.

Loss of jing results in physical and mental degeneration, connective tissues weaken, and the senses lose their acuity. When jing is depleted, the body dies.

It is interesting that the senses lose their acuity, for it is the Feminine Principle Essence of the Right Hemisphere that is directly associated with the senses and signals correct and natural function.

For those who resist too great a connection with Chinese concepts of the organs and Jing, once again an investigation shows that hepatic systemic dysfunction (particularly of the liver or kidneys) is sometimes involved in sensory system problems. Torpid liver, low (cold) or high hepatic circulation, or kidney disease can contribute to impaired vision, hearing, taste or smell. Sometimes systemic toxicity is the link between hepatic system problems and sensory system dysfunction.

Jing can be strengthened through proper nutrition, adequate rest, correctly guided meditation and the practice of Qigong, Taichi in its many forms and Baguazhang. However, they must be understood in the framework of a complete understanding of Dao.