What is Qi?

At the core of acupuncture is an understanding that Qi (pronounced "chee") or life energy flows throughout the body. Qi is life force animating the body as well as protecting it from illness, pain and disease. A persons health is influenced by the quality, quantity and balance of this life force or Qi. Your Qi energy flows through specific pathways called meridians. There are 14 main meridians inside the body.
Each one has been mapped and connected to your various organs and glands. For example, the heart meridian, gallbladder, liver etc. Like a river whose water nourishes the land, plants, animals and people wherever it goes, these pathways which flow inside your body bring life-giving and supporting nourishment to every cell, organ, gland, tissue and muscle in the body.

An obstruction of the flow of Qi in your body is much like a dam for the river. When the Qi becomes backed up in one part of the body, the flow becomes restricted in other parts. This blockage can be detrimental to your health by cutting off vital nourishment to the body, organs and glands. In addition, blockages or excesses of Qi can manifest in many different ways and lead to certain conditions in the body.

How can Qi be disrupted?

Your life force or Qi can be disrupted by physical, mental and emotional stress, lack of exercise, overexertion, seasonal changes, poor diet, accidents or excessive activity. These types of things can contribute and influence the quality, quantity and balance of Qi within your body. Your bodies natural tendency is to achieve balance and typically, in most cases, your body does a good job of allowing this to happen and restoring your health and well-being. However, when a disruption or imbalance occurs over an extended period of time or due to a lack of necessary elements to address the imbalance correctly, the body becomes in a weakened state and pain, illness or disease is more likely to set in. Acupuncture helps facilitate your bodies natural tendency towards health and well-being by getting to the core of the matter in a safe, effective and drug-free manner so that you can get well, be well and stay well.

"Health is a state of optimal physical, mental and emotional well-being, not merely the absence of disease and infirmity."

-Dorlands Medical Dictionary, 26th Edition