What is Qi? And What is Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine?

Here are Ten Awesome Facts about the medicine:

1. Acupuncture is a hands-on medicine. Very few western physicians still use palpation (touch) to diagnose or make a decision on how to treat a patient and instead strictly use diagnostic imaging. Chinese medicine develops a unique understanding of a patient’s condition using palpation- direct contact with the tissue, muscle and bodily structure.

2. Chinese medicine (CM) holds a different worldview from Western medicine (WM). Chinese Medicine uses thousands of years of observational research and is a complex and sophisticated medical system consisting of unique patterns, and treatment strategies. The holism of body, mind and spirit is integral to the CM system. 

3. Acupuncture meridians are traditionally thought to represent “channels” through which flows “meridian qi”. The term “Qi” is used to describe the dynamic process such as communication, movement or energy exchange of internal bodily processes.

4. Research findings suggest that the location of acupuncture points, first founded by the ancient chinese, were based on palpation of locations or “holes” where the needles activate mechanical signaling through the connective tissue and nervous system

5. Connective tissue is a body wide network of systems that acts on the internal organs, endocrine and immune system. This makes acupuncture a whole-body medicine, affecting the internal organs, endocrine and immune system.

6. Through observing a patient’s complexion, tongue and pulse, an acupuncture physician can determine the state of their health and relative diagnosis. Observation as well as in depth interviewing informs the treatment protocol.

7. Licensed Acupuncturists are extensively trained in both Chinese medicine and Western Biomedicine. In the United States, L.Ac.’s must undergo 4 years minimum of post graduate studies and over 2000 clinical hours to be licensed. Jenna Vitale of Heart Based Health Acupuncture has completed an additional 2 years, 6 years total of post graduate doctoral studies, and holds the highest degree in the field of Chinese Medicine. 

8. Chinese medicine is an individualized medicine. Each acupuncture treatment is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. If a dozen people came in for the same condition, every one of them would receive a unique set of acupuncture points according to their unique constitution.

9. At the root of Chinese medicine is the belief that the ultimate doctor is one who does not treat symptoms or illness, but treats the person as a whole , seeing their ultimate potential in mind, body and spirit.

10. Chinese medicine consists of not only acupuncture. It includes a complex Chinese Herbal Medicine system, Tuina (medical massage), Chinese nutrition, and Mind/Body movement such as Qi Gong and Tai Chi.