What is chi?

[Guest guest]

If chi is " bioelectric energy " and you can improve health by

improving the flow of this energy - great! But what do you do if the

bioelectric energy is screwed up because of infection or poor diet or

you have been poisoned?

It can be terribly confusing to try and find and solve the root

problem.

a

" One concept that is central to Chinese medicine that the scientific

world is still struggling to accept is an internal substance that the

Chinese call " Qi " (pronounced " chee " , sometimes spelled " Chi " ). In

the West we could describe this as bio-electric energy. You can't

look at it under a microscope, you can't detect it with any

scientific instruments, you can't isolate it from a substrate. This

isn't to say that one cannot feel it, or see it, but these are

intuitive human qualities that practitioners of Chinese medicine

develop over years of practice. Many westerners can also perceive

this Qi energy. Martial artists sometimes feel it as heat in the

palms of their hands, or warm liquid moving through the body. It is

the invisible substance in mountain air that clears the mind with

just one deep breath.

Acupuncture seeks to treat health on the level of Qi. There are

pathways in the human body wherein this Qi flows. They are called

meridians, or channels. Needles inserted along these meridians

influence the Qi that flows to internal organs. It can affect both

the structure and function of these organs. Needles can also work on

specific areas of pain that may not be associated with internal

problems, sport injuries, for example. A needle inserted near the

area of a pulled tendon or overstrained muscle will increase the flow

of Qi to that area which removes pain and quickens the healing

process. "

>

> 1. Chi

>

> According to the traditional Chinese medicine, Chi is a vital

energy

> or life force that drives every cell of the body and forms an

energy

> system throughout the entire body. Chi supports, nourishes and

> defends the whole person against mental, physical and emotional

> disease. Although invisible its work can be seen in the body. When

a

> wound is healing " just by itself " it is the work of chi.

> Traditionally, everything was seen as an expression of Chi. Chi is

> the origin, the power of life. When Chi flows freely, the body is

> balanced and healthy. But if the Chi flow becomes blocked,

stagnated

> or weakened, the result could be an illness on a physical, mental

or

> emotional level.