Q: What is Qi?
A: Qi is both a noun and a verb. To understand Qi, know that Oriental Medicine (OM) is based upon a medical paradigm where the body, emotions, mind, and spirit are one unified field. And free flowing Qi is the energy and function that keeps it all healthy and in balance. Qi is the energy of our body, our genetic blueprint, our physiological processing, our metabolism, as well as the way in which our entire being interacts with our environment. We get our prenatal Qi from our parents at the moment of conception and from the foods our mother ate and as well as her her feelings while we were in the womb. We get our post-natal Qi from the food and liquid as well as from the air we breathe, and how we breathe, as well as the motions we make (exercise but also our unconscious motions, such as posture, facial expressions, etc) and the thoughts and feelings we cultivate. Repressed feelings or feeling frustrated, having unfulfilled desires and ambitions can result in Qi stagnation. In OM there is a saying: “If there is free flow, there is no pain; If there is no free flow, there is pain.” Pain that is dull and achy is said to come from Qi stagnation. Low energy and digestive issues can come from Qi deficiency. When we have dizziness and cold feet, we could have excess Qi above with deficient Qi below. When our metabolism gets sluggish - and its hard to lose weight, that’s Qi stagnation and deficiency. Acupuncture helps balance and boost the Qi. When the acupuncture needle goes in, you might feel a little zing, or a slightly feeling of heaviness, that’s called the de Qi sensation. Come get acupuncture today and nourish your Qi!