Supplement

To increase or strengthen. Yīn, yáng, qì and blood may all be supplemented; the organs that most commonly receive supplementation are the spleen and kidney. Because supplementation is often associated with qì, the term is frequently seen together with the word boost. Terms of similar meaning, but more specific usage include:

• Support (扶 fú), to supplement right qì (see dispelling evil and supporting right);
• Nourish (养 yǎng) or
• Foster (育 yù), to supplement (heart, stomach, kidney, and liver, in particular their yīn aspect);
• Enrich (滋 zī), to nourish and moisten (yīn, especially kidney or liver yīn);
• Increase (增 zēng), to supplement (fluids to treat patterns including dry stool);
• Engender (生 shēng), to supplement (fluids lost through disease);
• Moisten (润 rùn), to eliminate dryness (especially of the lung or large intestine);
• Boost (益 yì), to supplement (qì, spleen, and occasionally yīn);
• Strengthen (强 qiáng), to supplement (yīn, especially kidney yīn);
• Invigorate (壮 zhuàng), to supplement (yáng, especially kidney yáng);
• Emolliate (柔 róu), to supplement (liver blood);
• Return (回 huí), to supplement (deserting yáng);
• Fortify (健 jiàn), to strengthen (spleen and stomach function);
• Upbear (升 shēng) to restore normal upbearing or upward movement of qì;
• Raise, lift (举 jǔ), to return a prolapsed or sagging organ back to its normal position.

See supplementation.

Etymology

Chin 补 bǔ, patch, repair, fill a gap; the cloth signifier 衣 suggests that to patch was the original meaning of this character.