What is Qi?
Frank He, L. Ac., QME
On one hand, as a Chinese medical practitioner with almost 30 years of experience, I have been proud of using acupuncture and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to help people around the world improve their health. On the other hand, I am also frustrated and embarrassed that we have not explained and translated ancient Chinese medicine very well and thus led the western world to feel great skepticism and confusion over Qi for centuries.
As no one seems to be able to explain Qi in a scientific and tangible way, worldwide TCM schools and renown TCM practitioners and scholars continue to throw the term "Qi" at the patients who seek healing from Chinese medicine without explaining its principles. Even institutions such as Mayo Clinic refer to Qi as energy or life force (1). It is time to give more thought to Qi in Chinese medicine and culture. Without culture as background, it is hard to understand what ancient physicians meant when Qi appeared in Chinese medical books.
The original meaning of Qi (氣) can be visualized as "steam (气) rising from rice (米) as it cooks" (2). In my understanding, it also describes the biochemical process when rice is digested and absorbed into the body as a source of energy. Qi is best reflected by vital signs which are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and health care providers include the following (3):
When TCM practitioners say acupuncture works through Qi, we really mean that it can affect vital signs. These life phenomena are ultimately associated with food digestion and energy production. Therefore, if one has digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, it is a sign that they have bad Qi-foul smells from mouth and stool, stagnated Qi-pain and distention in abdomen, and weaker Qi-chronic fatigue. Acupuncture can help reduce pain, manage stress, boost appetite, improve absorption, and regulate bowel movement. This increases the patient's Qi, the Chinese term for life energy. Throughout treatment, the patient's Qi will become stronger and thus the symptoms will improve. For example, the patient may show louder vocal projection, better facial complexion, warmer body temperature, more agile body movements, as well as other signs of good health.
Therefore, it is not that ancient TCM physicians did not understand human physiology, pathology, and etiology what is called " medical science" but that they were trying to use Qi and its status to simplify the complicated medical science so that patients (lay people) would understand. Now it is the time that our contemporary TCM physicians interpret the ancient Chinese term Qi with modern medical science so that TCM would not be viewed as voodoo or quackery. I hope this short message helps those who wonder what Qi really is and why the flow of Qi is so critical to good health, and how acupuncture can positively affect the flow of Qi.
It should be pointed out that Qi has many different meanings when appeared in different contexts. This article only covers a small part of the elephant. Stay tuned.Please feel free to contact me for any questions or further discussion.
As no one seems to be able to explain Qi in a scientific and tangible way, worldwide TCM schools and renown TCM practitioners and scholars continue to throw the term "Qi" at the patients who seek healing from Chinese medicine without explaining its principles. Even institutions such as Mayo Clinic refer to Qi as energy or life force (1). It is time to give more thought to Qi in Chinese medicine and culture. Without culture as background, it is hard to understand what ancient physicians meant when Qi appeared in Chinese medical books.
The original meaning of Qi (氣) can be visualized as "steam (气) rising from rice (米) as it cooks" (2). In my understanding, it also describes the biochemical process when rice is digested and absorbed into the body as a source of energy. Qi is best reflected by vital signs which are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and health care providers include the following (3):
- Body temperature
- Pulse rate
- Respiration rate (rate of breathing)
- Blood pressure
When TCM practitioners say acupuncture works through Qi, we really mean that it can affect vital signs. These life phenomena are ultimately associated with food digestion and energy production. Therefore, if one has digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, it is a sign that they have bad Qi-foul smells from mouth and stool, stagnated Qi-pain and distention in abdomen, and weaker Qi-chronic fatigue. Acupuncture can help reduce pain, manage stress, boost appetite, improve absorption, and regulate bowel movement. This increases the patient's Qi, the Chinese term for life energy. Throughout treatment, the patient's Qi will become stronger and thus the symptoms will improve. For example, the patient may show louder vocal projection, better facial complexion, warmer body temperature, more agile body movements, as well as other signs of good health.
Therefore, it is not that ancient TCM physicians did not understand human physiology, pathology, and etiology what is called " medical science" but that they were trying to use Qi and its status to simplify the complicated medical science so that patients (lay people) would understand. Now it is the time that our contemporary TCM physicians interpret the ancient Chinese term Qi with modern medical science so that TCM would not be viewed as voodoo or quackery. I hope this short message helps those who wonder what Qi really is and why the flow of Qi is so critical to good health, and how acupuncture can positively affect the flow of Qi.
It should be pointed out that Qi has many different meanings when appeared in different contexts. This article only covers a small part of the elephant. Stay tuned.Please feel free to contact me for any questions or further discussion.
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/basics/definition/prc-20020778
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qi
- http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/cardiovascular_diseases/vital_signs_body_temperature_pulse_rate_respiration_rate_blood_pressure_85,P00866/