And that’s what’s truly frightening.
It’s not a sharp pain.
It’s not a sudden diagnosis.
It’s like a tiny crack in the pipes hidden behind your walls — dripping bit by bit, day after day, silently wearing you down.
Until one day, you suddenly realize: your energy is gone, your mind scattered, your thoughts cloudy and you are emotional and easily agitated or overreact to everything. It’s like someone has quietly stolen the vitality from your life.
These “leaks” come in three forms:
Qi Leak: Your vital energy drains away. You feel exhausted and sluggish all the time, like a deflated tire that can’t hold air no matter how much you pump it.
Essence (Jing) Leak: Your muscles and bones deteriorate prematurely. You have back pain, stiff joints, and feel like an elderly person despite your age — your body no longer feels like your own.
Spirit (Shen) Leak: Your memory fades, attention scatters, and your mind becomes foggy and slow. It’s harder and harder to focus. Your thoughts drift like you’re walking through a mist. This is the most common and most overlooked leak in modern life.
You may not even realize these symptoms are caused by leaking. Sometimes you may still look pretty good exteriorly from the naked eye but damage to the engine is taking place often irreversibly.
For example, leakage of Qi as it relates to the Middle Jiao, or middle burner, involves how the Spleen is managing blood. In Chinese Medicine, the Spleen’s Qi is responsible for containing the blood in the vessels. A person who bruises or hemorrhages easily likely has a weakness of the Spleen Qi.
You just assume it’s “stress from work,” “lack of sleep,” or “weather changes”…
You Think You’re Just Tired — But It’s Your Spirit Leaking
In the modern world, spirit (shen) is the most vulnerable to leakage.
Brain fog, forgetfulness, mood swings, lack of focus… these aren’t just issues for the elderly. They’re symptoms of sitting too long, overusing your brain, and having poor posture — all of which prevent qi from rising to your brain.
It’s like charging your phone every day, but only up to 80% — while constantly using energy-intensive apps. Over time, the battery wears out early. Yes, even doctors who chase money or work without rest meet the Grim Reaper early or get ill. "Superman" doctor loses battle with leukaemia in Malaysia: 'He was our pillar of support' | STOMP
Renowned liver transplant surgeon Dr Yoong Boon Koon passes away at 54 - News
It is most important to know where, how, when, and why our Jing leaks. Only then can we begin to prevent it.
To protect our Jing, we must first recognize that the main causes of its loss are not external, but internal. The way we live, the habits we cultivate, and the thoughts we entertain (overthinking) all contribute to the depletion of our essence. Therefore, the responsibility is on us to make the necessary changes.
The mind is one of the most powerful tools for preserving Jing. When the mind is scattered, it creates disturbances in our Qi and depletes our essence. Meditation (Neigong & Qigong) and solitude helps to calm the mind, replenish the spirit, and prevent the excessive use of Jing through overthinking and mental agitation.
Neigong (internal work) focuses on refining the body’s energy channels and improving the circulation of Qi, while Qigong (external work) helps to build strength, flexibility, and stamina. Both play vital roles in reinforcing the body’s ability to retain and store Jing. Such exercises include Hua Tuo's Five-Animal Play Wǔ Qín Xì(五禽戲), Eight Pieces of Brocade- Ba Duan Jin (八段錦), 18 Lohan Hands Shiba Luohan Shou (十八羅漢手) and ultimately the Small Universe - Xiao Zhou Tian (小周天), Muscle Tendon Change Classic -Yi Jin Jing (易筋經) and the Big Universe Da Zhou Tian (大周天) to end dualism by expanding into the cosmos.
In modern life, many people deplete their Jing through overwork, poor sleep, stress, and overindulgence (or severe calories restriction) in food, heavy alcohol intake and smoking or drugs. This creates a vicious cycle where the body and mind become weakened, and Jing leaks out faster than it can be restored. It is essential to adjust your lifestyle so that you can support your Jing. This may involve eliminating unnecessary stress, setting boundaries, and prioritizing rest and recovery.
Jing Loss and the Dangers of Stress: A Taoist Perspective
In the Lingshu section of the Yellow Emperor's Classic, it is written:
"Xue and Mai, Ying and Qi, Jing and Shen are stored by the Five Zang. If a situation becomes such that by a succession of overflowings (leaking) and invasion they leave the Zang, then Jing is lost, and Hun and Po are carried away in an uncontrollable agitation."
This ancient wisdom reveals the profound relationship between the Five Zang, the vital substances — Jing, Qi, Ying, Xue, and Shen — and the importance of maintaining their balance. When these vital substances overflow, leak, or are invaded, they leave their proper storage in the Zang organs, and Jing is especially vulnerable. Without Jing, the Hun (the ethereal soul) and Po (the corporeal soul) become unsettled, leading to chaos in both the body and mind.
Conclusion
Leaking Qi and depleted Jing is common and can negatively impact health, but it is typically resolved with proper diagnosis & treatment as well as lifestyle (mental) & dietary changes. Preventing Qi leakage and depletion of Jing is crucial for maintaining energy levels and preserving Essence (Jing), which helps slow aging and promotes long-term health and longevity.
When Chi and Jing is restored, one becomes luckier in life and the Shen is seen in the eyes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), "shen" (or "shen qi") is the spirit, consciousness, and vitality of a person that is said to manifest in the eyes. When a person's shen is bright and lively, it is seen in sparkling, clear eyes, indicating good mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
PS- Acupuncture is one of the methods used to unblocked blocked meridians to restore qi flow and to rebalance qi in the body. However, without adequate mental rest and without plugging the leaking qi and restoring the depleted jing- good health and vitality remains at large.
