Whats the Qi got to do with it?
In Chinese medicine the body is described as an energetic system. This energetic system is used to gain treatment results and this energy is called Qi or vital life force energy. Qi flows through the body along meridians or pathways. By stimulating acupuncture points along these pathways an acupuncturist is able to treat identified imbalances in the body. This stimulation of acupuncture points is used to encourage the body to shift out of or let go of an unhealthy pattern of being by redirecting the energy or qi. We can think of this energetic system of qi as similar to electricity. In fact, we learn in biology classes that every cell in our body carries an electrical charge. Western science has determined that acupuncture works by interacting with the nervous system. The nervous system itself is also quite electrical in nature if you examine it at its most basic level.
