What Do Acupuncturist Mean by Qi or Chi?
If you have ever visited an acupuncture clinic, there is a good chance you probably heard some familiar words but deep down you don't quite exactly know what it means. There is a good chance that you heard the word "Qi" before. Maybe you acupuncturist said, "You're qi is blocked, We will need to help your qi move."
and if you are like most people, you probably nodded your head politely. However, secretly asking yourself...
"What does that mean? So what's the issue again?"
You are not alone, most people will then search up "What is Qi?" (Side Note! Qi and Chi are the same thing). The first thing that probably shows up...
:vital energy that is held to animate the body internally and is of central importance in some Eastern systems of medical treatment (such as acupuncture) and of exercise or self-defense (such as tai chi)
After reading this, I bet you are left with more questions than answers. "Is something wrong with my VITAL ENERGY?!" Don't worry is not that extreme.
and honestly even many acupuncturist struggle to explain Qi in a way that feels modern, practical, easy to understand. So lets simplify it! Without all the mystic aspect of it. Qi can mean many aspects, for this blog, we will focus on the medical aspect of it only.
So... What is Qi
Qi or Chi is often translated as "energy". But honestly, even that can feel vague. A simpler way to think about it is...
Qi is your body's ability to function, move, regulate itself
This includes things like
- Circulation
- Digestion
- Movement
- Energy Levels
- Mental Clarity
- and even emotional balance
- and more!
Remember that our body is a whole system filled with other systems. Each system is doing its own part to help the body as a whole. Now you will ask yourself "Where is it?"
It's Everywhere
Qi is not a "physical substance" (Will discuss more about this further down). Its not like our blood or our muscles where we can point at it and say I found my Qi. It is everywhere, each and every one of our bodily systems.
A way to see it is our body systems constantly working together, like our...
- Hormones
- Nervous System
- Digestion
- Temperature Regulation
- Blood Circulation
- Respiratory
- And so much more!
when everything works together smoothly, you generally feel healthy and balanced! This overall movement and coordination of "Qi or Energy" is the "vital energy" as mentioned above.
Why is it Called Qi/Chi?
Keep in mind that Traditional Chinese Medicine was developed thousands of years ago and long before modern terms came about. They did not have terms for hormones, neurotransmitters, oxygen, bacteria, and so forth.
Rather then separating the body into isolated systems, TCM viewed the body as a network of symptoms. They did not know about any of the modern terms we know of today, however, they did know that something was there that helped your body function a specific way. Which is why the term "Qi" became a way to describe; Movement, Function, Activity, Regulation.
Where can I see this?
As mentioned we cannot physical see it. But we all do experience it...
An acupuncturist might say something like "Qi Stagnation". We will talk about Stagnation in a different blog. Simply put, Qi stagnation = Things are not moving smoothly. Qi Stagnation may show up as
- Stress or irritability
- Tight Muscles
- Pain or Tension
- Discomfort
- Emotionally Overwhelmed
Remember the last time when you haven't slept well for several nights? What did you notice? Were you...
- More irritated?
- The previous night's dinner not going down well?
- Harder to get things done?
- Just wanted to stay in bed?
- Not being able to focus? Brain Fog?
Sleeping seems unrelated to your digestion, but your entire body responds differently. Because you didn't get much sleep; you're mood changed, your appetite, your focus. Your body simply doesn't feel like its functioning properly.
We can also call this
Qi becoming weakened or depleted
or
The body does not have the same ability to regulate, recover, and function efficiently
After reading this far, you probably have a better idea what Qi is (hopefully the blog helped). However, there is one more question you might ask yourself...
Is Qi Real?
Now that is the billion dollar question. There is no scientific evidence in conventional sense that it exists, but the symptoms and experiences are absolutely real.
Qi is a traditional concept, and there isn't one direct equivalence in conventional medicine.
Qi is simply a different term or framework that describes how the body functions. It is less about a mysterious force, and more about understanding the patterns in how our body feels and behaves.
As I mentioned before Qi is not a "physical substance". Its not like blood or muscle where we can just point at and say, "I FOUND IT".
But that doesn't mean it isn't real or affecting the body.
A good way to compare is hormones. We know hormones exist, we know each one has a role. We know that they affect our...
- Mood
- Sleep
- Energy
- Metabolism
- and more
Yet we can't physically grab or poke at a hormone with our hands.
Just Because something cannot be physically seen doesn't mean we don't experience its effects!
Final Thoughts
At first, Qi, might sound unfamiliar, complicated, or mystic
but when you break it down, Qi is just a way to describe how our body functions, regulates, and adapts itself.
Traditional Chinese Medicine just uses a different language than conventional medicine, but many of the experiences its describes like stress, tension, fatigue are all most most people feel and understand.
At our clinic, we believe that you shouldn't have to leave wondering what Qi is or rather of fact any terms that makes you look it up online. Our goal is to explain things in way that feels practical, relatable, and most importantly EASY to understand.
Call us to schedule a consultation
(714)396-3475
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