Qi

Acupuncture works by moving the natural energy of your body through twelve channels that connect your internal organs with your body's surface. In ancient China this energy was called “Qi” (pronounced ‘chee’)and was ascribed many spiritual, emotional and physical powers. If Qi is abundant and flowing smoothly, then an individual enjoys good health. Pain and other physical and emotional disharmonies are the result of Qi being deficient or not flowing smoothly.

Simplicity

By inserting sterile, disposable, hair-thin needles into specific points on the body, an acupuncturist regulates Qi and restores good health. Although the insertions are simple (and painless!) the procedure for choosing the points is not. Your acupuncturist formulates a Chinese-style diagnosis and treatment plan using information gathered during an extensive interview and drawing on over three years of clinical and academic training.

Black Box

The ancient Chinese were remarkably adept at figuring out what was going on inside the “black box” of their patients’ bodies. As their heirs our most important diagnostic tools are deep listening and careful observation. Today’s acupuncture diagnosis is based on what, during an extensive interview, you tell your acupuncturist about your health; the color, shape and coating of your tongue, the quality, shape, size and speed of your pulse, what the acupuncturist sees when she looks at you and what she feels when she palpates your abdomen.

The Weather

A traditional Chinese diagnosis is very different from a western diagnosis. To the untrained ear it may sound more like a weather report than a medical condition. For instance your condition may be called “damp” or “stagnant.” This is because the ancient Chinese believed that the rules that govern the natural world also govern our bodies. Thus, they described bodily processes in environmental terms. The relationship between your body and the environment is one reason your acupuncturist may prescribe a seasonal tune-up.

Moxa

Moxa is one of several adjunct modalities that help make an acupuncture treatment more effective. Moxa wool, made of dried Mugwort leaves (Artemisia Vulgaris) is burned either above the skin, on the head of the needle, or directly on the skin over a layer of ointment. When burned, moxa produces an intense dry heat that moves your Qi and warms your body. Moxa is especially useful if you always feel cold or if your condition worsens in cold weather.

Waking Up

There are over 400 known acupuncture points, each with its own unique effect on Qi and overall health. The most frequently used points are located below the knees and elbows. When the needles are inserted most patients feel a very small pinch, less than a mosquito bite, followed by a sensation of warmth or heaviness. That sensation is the Qi waking up and traveling through the channels to the affected area. Once the needles are inserted they remain in place for 10 to 30 minutes. During this time most patients are pleased to find that they become deeply relaxed.

Modernity

Compelled by the positive results experienced by thousands of patients, modern science is coming closer to defining Qi. Ask your acupuncturist for copies of articles describing how magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) has traced the effects of Qi. Or better yet, come in and experience it yourself.