Many of you know that I once worked as a civil engineer. It was fascinating work — until I became UN-civil (ba-dum-tsss). In some ways, my work hasn’t changed all that much. Analyzing data and developing solutions to complex problems are still part of my day-to-day. One could say I’m now an engineer of qi.
Which is funny, because when I first encountered Chinese Medicine, much of the literature described acupuncture as qi moving through meridians like water flowing through pipes. Over time, my analogies began to include the image of electricity flowing through wires.
Last week, opens in a new windowthe New York Times published an interactive piece that had people buzzing. It was visually compelling and offered new insights to explain how qi flows through those meridians — including a newly understood circulatory system in the body – the interstitium.
Of course, translating traditional medicine through a western scientific lens always carries the risk of being reductive: ie Is acupuncture like civil engineering or electrical engineering? But for those of us raised in western culture, that framing and these analogies can be helpful entry points for better understanding the care being received. And I love that researchers are dedicating time and are being given the resources to investigate it.
The evidence for acupuncture’s efficacy continues to grow, particularly for pain. But here’s something that often surprises people: it’s equally powerful for emotional health. Whether you’re feeling UN-civil about work stress (like I once did) or navigating the mood fluctuations of perimenopause, Chinese Medicine and acupuncture have real solutions that get at the root.
Curious how acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help rebalance your mood? I’d love to chat about it. I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to get your questions answered opens in a new window:: opens in a new windowHERE::
