| Unlike western medicine, acupuncture has its origins in | | | | According to Chinese philosophy there are five |
| more than merely medical theories. There is much | | | | separate purposes that Qi serves. To begin, there is |
| more to acupuncture than the teachings of science | | | | the defense of the body. The job of Qi here is to |
| professors who explain why acupuncture points work | | | | protect the body from illness. Qi supposed to protect |
| the way they do. There is a whole philosophy to | | | | the body from allowing germs and illness to enter |
| traditional Chinese medicine that goes beyond the | | | | through the body's defensive system. |
| scientific and explains why and how the body | | | | The next function is transformation. Qi is supposed |
| functions the way it does. | | | | to take those things the body consumes and |
| The essence of this explanation centers on what is | | | | transform them into the nutrition that the body |
| called Qi. (Pronounced by westerners as chee) This | | | | requires. In this way it nourishes the body. By the |
| Chinese philosophy teaches that Qi is the body's | | | | process of transformation it makes more Qi and |
| essence. Qi is the body's energy. When this becomes | | | | blood for the body. |
| unbalanced or the flow somehow gets blocked or | | | | The next one is warmth. Qi is thought to be more |
| disturbed, is when a person becomes ill. | | | | yang than yin so it is naturally warm to begin with. |
| When a person becomes ill there various ways to | | | | But if something blocks the natural energy of the |
| correct it. Some of which are Chinese medicine uses | | | | body the warmth will be affected as well. One of the |
| herbal treatments, exercise patterns such as martial | | | | most important jobs of Qi is to keep the body warm. |
| arts training, diet change, and acupuncture | | | | The philosophy of Chinese medicine says that the |
| Following with the philosophy of Qi, is yin and yang. | | | | blood congeals when it gets cold and so the flow is |
| When talking about a person's body yin and yang | | | | no longer good enough. |
| represent blood and Qi. The body takes its energy | | | | Qi must also take care of the body's organs. Keeping |
| from the food, fluids, and the air it breathes. The | | | | them in the proper places and ensuring they function |
| body further gets energy from the environment | | | | properly. It is believed that if this job is not done it |
| through meditation and various forms of exercise. | | | | can cause incontinence or prolepses during pregnancy. |
| If the body's Qi becomes out of balance then it is | | | | The final function is movement. Every part of the |
| unable to properly absorb the things it needs for | | | | body that must move is controlled by Qi. |
| energy. When the body is out of balance it has | | | | Therefore, acupuncture can be used to correct |
| trouble dealing with temperature, fighting disease, and | | | | disturbed or blocked energy flow and help keep the |
| tiredness. | | | | body in balance. |