Kirlian Reflections of Qi

Paper presented at the LifeElectric 99 Conference, Edmonton, Alberta Canada for researchers and practitioners in Energy, Aura & Kirlian Photography. Hosted by Triune-Being Research Organisation Ltd, Canada. May 1999

Abstract

Neil Blacklock
B.Sc.(Hons), Dip Ac, DHP., TCFE

The study investigated whether it is possible to directly image Qi using the GDV technique. Two spe- cial acupuncture channels (more accurately known as “vessels”) were investigated, namely the Du Mai (Governor Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). The hypothesis was that the Qi of these vessels might be imaged using the GDV technique by mapping them onto the corona of the index fingertip. It was proposed that a holographic image of the whole body might be mapped onto the index fingertip. Thus, the two major vessels that are considered by Traditional Chinese Medicine to run along the mid- line of the front and back of the body (Ren and Du Mai respectively) might then be mapped onto the medial and lateral sides respectively of the fingertip. Fractality Quotients were calculated for the lateral and medial sides of the fingertip corona. Results showed that 70% of subjects (n=10) displayed a re- duction in fractality (increased uniformity, wholeness) in the ‘Target’ vessel when it was opened. 60% of subjects displayed an increase (reduction in uniformity, wholeness) in the fractality quotient in the Target meridian when the ‘Control’ meridian was opened. The study therefore demonstrated it is possi- ble to identify the presence2 of two meridians at the fingertip, that these are the Du Mai and Ren Mai and that they function in an energetically mutually supportive manner.
Introduction

Over the years, two primary areas of difficulty have consistently plagued researchers into Kirlian Photography. It has always been notoriously difficult, firstly, to obtain reliable and standardised results with Kirlian Photography primarily because of the wide variety of equipment being used and, secondly, to define exactly what it is that is imaged. The first of these difficulties has largely been overcome in recent years through the development of computer software to analyse the Kirlian-type fingertip coronas as produced by the GDV technique. Having investigated the second issue, this study proposes that, through the use of acupuncture, it is in fact Qi (or more accu- rately, Jing) which is imaged in Kirlian photographs.
For the purposes of this study it is useful to briefly examine how ancient Chinese phi- losophy viewed Qi and to have an understanding of the more relevant qualities of a special group of channels used in this study known as the ‘Eight Extraordinary Ves- sels’.

Understanding Qi

1 Gas Discharge Visualisation, developed by Dr Korotkov of St Petersburg University, Russia.

2 This ‘presence’ is more a reflection of the Qi of the Du and Ren Mai. These meridians do not actually flow around the fingertip but their functionality is reflected in the Qi of the fingertip. A reflection has the component parts of an Object (person or thing separate from the image), a Medium to carry the image (mirror) and an Image (a duplicated representation of the object). Here the Object are the ’real’ Du and Ren Mai, Medium is the Qi and the Image is the Kirlian corona. This analogy makes it quite feasible therefore for the functionality of the Du and Ren Mai to be imaged (reflected) and accessed at the fingertip.

Qi (pronounced chee) is understood in Traditional Chinese Medicine to be the basis of life and movement (O’Connor, 1981) and has variously been translated as ‘energy’, ‘material force’, ‘vital force’, ‘life force’, ‘moving power’, etc. (Maciocia, 1989). Everything in the universe, organic and inorganic, is composed of and defined by its Qi. Qi has been described as “matter on the verge of becoming energy, or energy at the point of materialising” (Kaptchuk, 1983). Qi functions to animate the body.
Chinese philosophers considered the body itself to be the product of the interaction of the Qi of Heaven and the Qi of Earth. The Simple Questions in Chapter 25 says: “A human being results from the Qi of Heaven and Earth. The union of the Qi of Heaven and Earth is called the human being”. The concept is very similar in nature to modern understanding of the formation of holographic interference patterns as discussed later. Within the body Qi flows through an invisible network of ‘meridians’ or ‘channels’. Disease is reflected in the nature of the Qi flowing in the channels, for example, Chapter 1 of the Simple Questions indicates that where there is no circulation of Qi there is pain. A primary aim of acupuncture, therefore, is to regulate the flow of Qi in the channels and organs (ZangFu) so as to restore balance to the body as a whole.

The Eight Extraordinary Vessels

The meridian system is made up of a number of discrete ‘groups’ of channels -the more well known are the ‘twelve regular channels’3, however the two ‘meridians’ used in this study (the Du Mai and Ren Mai) are two of a special group known as the ‘Eight Extraordinary Vessels’. Other than the Du and Ren Mai these vessels do not have their own points but ‘borrow’ acupuncture points from the 12 regular channels. The Eight Extraordinary Vessels have their own special characteristics such as cor- recting structural problems and imbalances, the regulation of growth cycles and, of most relevance to this study, a unique ability to function as energetic reservoirs and to transport a special kind of Qi known as Jing around the body.

Reservoirs

Rather than acting a conduits or channels ‘transporting’ Qi around the body the Ex- traordinary vessels act more as reservoirs (hence the name of ‘vessels’ rather than ‘channels’). While the twelve regular channels act as ‘rivers’ of energy to irrigate the organs and tissues with Qi and Blood, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels function as reservoirs, storing and feeding energy into the twelve organ channels as required, or taking up the overflow when they get overloaded,
“When there are heavy rains, canals and ditches are full to the brim… similarly the Eight Extraordinary vessels are left out of the channel-system so that they can take the overflow from the main channels “.
(Classic of Difficulties, Chapter 27)

Circulation of Jing

The Extraordinary vessels also circulate a kind of energy, or Essence, known as Jing around the body. Jing is a deeper level essence that is related to our constitutional.

The 12 regular charnels correspond to, and are named after the 12 Yin and Yang organs of the body thus: Yin Organs = Lung, Heart, Pericardium, Liver, Kidney and Spleen. Yang Organs = Large Intes- tine, Small Intestine, San Jiao, Gall Bladder, Bladder, Stomach. For more details see Maciocia (Macio- cia, 1989).

Kirlian Reflections of Qi energy. Jing is associated more with slow developmental change and growth in the body from the beginnings of life in the womb and, ultimately, to death. The source of pre- natal Jing is the primal creative force of the universe and at birth this essence is stored in the kidneys.

Clinical experience

During my clinical work as an acupuncturist I often use Kirlian Photography to take photographs of patients’ fingertips both before and after treatment. These photographs almost always invariably show an increase in both brightness and coronal integrity following acupuncture treatment (see Figure 1). Gaps in coronas more often than not reduce significantly in size or disappear altogether.

Over time, there appeared to be a consistent correlation between the location of the gaps and the presenting pathology of the patient. Patients who came with disorders that related to organs sited in the front of the body (thoracic and abdominal regions) tended to show gaps in the medial side of their corona. Similarly, patients with pri- marily musculoskeletal problems, specifically in the back, displayed gaps in the lat- eral side of their index finger tip coronas.

More work was necessary, therefore, to determine what mechanism was at work that enables such a correlation to be made. How is it that an image of the whole body can be mapped onto the corona at the fingertip? The study proposed that it is the holographic4 nature of Qi that allows such a map- ping. Qi (specifically in the Ren and Du Mai) is the connecting medium that allows the fingertip coronas to be used as diagnostic images reflecting the presence of imbalance and disease. No other direct connecting medium (acupuncture channels, nerves, blood vessels, sinews, fascia etc) between ‘source’ and ‘target’ areas can be identified. There is nothing physical, neurological or biochemical that ap- pears to connect, for example, the back and the lateral side of the index finger tip corona.

Kirlian Reflections of Qi

Full text PDF: Blacklock_Kirlian_Reflections_of _Qi

GDV Diagnostics with Dr. Dvoryanchikov