Why PhilDeQi?

So why is my website called PhilDeQi.com? It certainly isn’t that easy to spell. Perhaps there is some special meaning.

There is, and it involves a bit of word play; but a non-acupuncturist might not appreciate it without some explanation.

For acupuncturists, De Qi (pronounced “De -Chee”) refers to the sensation that a patient experiences from the proper placement of hair-thin needles in an acupuncture point.

	De translates from Chinese as “to obtain” or “acquire,” and the symbol pictures a person (left) stepping forward to receive. There is an implied sense of satisfying achievement.
	Qi (click here for pronunciation ) commonly translates as “air” or “vapor” but the word has a much broader, more complex meaning. The symbol shows a rice grain (below left) cooking in a pot, and it conveys a sense of activity, the essence of a thing, and the life giving energy of the rice.

The body responds powerfully when specific points on the acupuncture meridians are needled to balance the individual’s Qi. Studies show that these sensations significantly increase the effectiveness of treatments. The associated feelings are quite variable, but are most often felt as an achy, heavy or moving sensation. The experience may be somewhat intense, but should not be “ouchy,” and is quite unlike the familiar hypodermic injection. I take great care to observe my patient’s reactions, and always respect each individual’s comfort zone. So when I’m working with a patient, I definitely want them to “feel De Qi.”

A word about word play; in China, the spoken language has a limited range of sounds, which frequently results in different words having the same pronunciation. English speakers usually take these homophones for granted, and we generally look down on the lowly pun. The Chinese however, often find these coincidences significant, and may transmit meaning between similar sounding words.

A famous example is that because “bat” and “lucky” have the same pronunciation, bats have become symbolic of good fortune. Stylized bats commonly appear as a decorative emblem in China and everyone immediately understands the meaning.

Acupuncture: It’s all about the Qi.

Honestly, we don’t really know what Qi is; no objective Western science test has yet resulted in that that Eureka moment, but we can see the evidence of Qi all about us. I think of Qi this way: All material existence, the physical matter of the universe (mass), corresponds to “Earth” and Yin. Everything else, the active, functional, life giving aspects of the cosmos (energy) are Qi, and correspond to “Heaven” and Yang. Don’t worry for now about the fact that quantum physics negates the boundary between mass and energy.

Essentially, Qi’s role in acupuncture is to influence the body’s innate abilities in ways intended to improve mental and physical well being. Exactly how this works has the scientific community searching for a concise explanation. We do know that powerful and complex responses occur throughout the body during acupuncture, and clinical studies demonstrate unequivocally that many conditions benefit from acupuncture treatment.

Chinese medicine strives to understand the individual as a synthesis of material and immaterial factors, interacting in ways both familiar and foreign to conventional medical knowledge. While acupuncture principles are not completely based on traditional Western scientific method, with its heavy dictates for two-sided controls and empirical evidence based on detection of data through Western devices, they are indeed derived from careful observation which obeys an understood set of natural laws that raveal an intricate internal logic.

The universe is seen as a resonant system. Human wellness, the success of societies, and the flourishing of natural systems mirror each other and are interdependent on appropriate behavior, balanced relationships, and adherence to nature’s dictates.

As an acupuncturist, I find myself “allowed” to contemplate the depth and mystery of the Chinese medical worldview. Of course, this would be a meaningless exercise were it not for the fact that, whatever explanation one chooses, acupuncture works. The more I learn, the more I respect and appreciate the insights into our existence that underlie these practices. Consider this: A practice was developed in China some three thousand years ago, based on the theory that the body was governed by mysterious energy flowing through undetectable pathways, and that health could be improved by stimulating specific locations on these channels to balance the flow of energy. The realization that this practice is still highly effective, thriving globally, and puzzling modern science begs the question of what depth of knowledge was being tapped into. Many questions remain unanswered, but the facts are truly impressive. What were they on to? Perhaps it was quantum physics.

The copyright- free basis of the logo that I use, from W.M. Hawley, Dover Publications, is derived from a traditional Chinese folk design. It pictures a stylized version of the word “longlife” or “longevity” surrounded by five bats. Now you see it. The bats signify five traditional blessings of health, prosperity, long life, the love of virtue and a peaceful end to one's life. All that, and I love my job too; now that is lucky!