Why Acupuncture isn’t really Woo-Woo.
The word “qi” has many connotations. If you begin to understand what is meant by “qi” in medicine, you’ll understand that Acupuncture theory isn’t as abstract as you may currently believe.
Qi is a vast concept referring to everything that exists in the universe and beyond: every single minute atom and all motive force. All of our bodies’ substance, energy, function, electricity, and even our consciousness are all made up of “Qi”.
In medicine, we break it down into smaller comparative terms to define more specific aspects of our being, a basic example being:
- Yang & Qi: These terms essentially describe the functional aspect of our organs and body, or the functional aspect of any organism.
- Blood & Yin: These terms basically describe the physical substance that make up an organism, such as a human being.
In this context, Qi describes the functional aspect of your organs, including processes such as nervous system activity, digestion, and immunity, as well as the energy that circulates throughout your body.
- Ex: Spleen and Stomach qi & yang are Chinese Medicine terms that basically refer to digestive function.
In the same way Biomedicine eventually came to understand that our bodies rely on electric impulses (energy) throughout the body to control function, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the state & flow of Qi (energy) through your body determines your “functionality”, therefore health. Energy is not (exclusively) an abstract concept. It is a broad term that can refer to your body’s processes, electricity, wind, and all movement. Loosely speaking, Traditional Chinese Medicine described a recent (1791) Biomedical discovery (bioelectricity) thousands of years in advance.
Part of how Chinese Medicine Acupuncture works is by rectifying and improving the movement of qi throughout your whole body, including your internal organs. When a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) “tonifies your Spleen qi”, for example, they’re strengthening the function of your digestive organs so you better assimilate nutrients and build blood.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can treat digestive disorders, menstrual disorders, anxiety, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and so much more. The ability for such a non-invasive procedure to have a strong positive impact on systemic health and improve quality of life is what makes it so special. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a well-established and enduring form of healthcare that has existed for thousands of years only because it works.
“Qi” is a very large concept, and this post is just barely scratching the surface!
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