June 21, 2007 by Domenic Thomas, M.S.O.M., L.Ac.
In Chinese medicine the "breath of life" has many and varied subdivisions and functions, comparable to the various metabolic and organ functions in western medicine. Each organ in the body has its own unique qi. Acupuncturists talk of "Spleen qi" or "Lung qi" for example.
The qi also protects the body from the outside world by a layer of qi just under the skin called "wei qi", which corresponds to the western concept of immunity. But the qi of the outside world must come into the body via food and air, or "gu qi" and "qing qi" respectively. We are born with qi we inherit from our parents called "jing qi", which has to last us our whole lives. Much Chinese medicine is concerned with preserving the "jing", as it is a finite resource, and thus precious. When our jing qi runs low our hair turns gray, our bones become brittle and our senses dim.
The "qi" I refer to in acupuncture sessions is the qi that flows through the acupuncture channels. The ancient Chinese talked about "rivers" and "reservoirs" when talking about qi in the body, which is why the word "channel" describes the pathway of qi better than the word "meridian". "Meridian" implies a line drawn upon the body, whereas the qi flows just under the surface, rising and dipping at various depths depending on the local anatomy. The acupuncture points are locations along the channels that have an elevated concentration of qi.
The "qi" sensation that often occurs during needling - the dull ache, feeling of fullness and distension, the occasional zing - is the activation of the qi at a particular point. When that sensation occurs, we speak of "de qi", which is Chinese for "obtaining the qi". Patients often go into a very pleasant state of drowsiness when this "de qi" sensation occurs, and it is in this state that the deepest healing occurs.
For obvious reasons, western medicine has a problem with the concept of "qi". If we can’t measure it with a lab test or capture it with an image, is it real? It’s a bit of a quandary for western medicine because the overwhelming and ever accumulating evidence is that acupuncture works. There are muddled attempts to invoke various "endorphins" or nerve impulses.
Never mind that qi sensations travel along pathways that have nothing to do with physical nerves. But we should let western researchers have their diversion as they seek to force qi into their preconceived notions, much as a child might wonder where the little people in the TV go when the power is shut off. Qi is functional energy. It will not hold still to have its picture taken.
And yet the ancient Chinese gave us a map of this dynamic and powerful phenomenon, and this map still serves us extremely well. Qi is very real. Belief is not required. So during your next acupuncture session, lie back, relax and enjoy the flow of qi through your body as it heals your aches and pains.
