Put simply, energy (or ‘chi’ as referred to by the Chinese) is that which gives life. In terms of the body, chi is that which differentiates a corpse from a live human being. A strong life force makes a human being healthy, alive, alert and present while a weak force results in sluggishness, fatigue and disease or illness. The idea of life force is or was central to most ancient cultures and the art medicine and healing.
Both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are based on balancing and enhancing chi to bring the body into a state of health. Traditional Chinese Medicine plays an integral role in Kinesiology. The Chinese believe that there are two main kinds of Chi:
(1) Original Chi or Pre-Birth Chi received from ones parents and present in the body from before birth. Original Chi is limited in quantity.
(2) Post-Birth Chi obtained in various ways from nature, from the heavens, from the earth and from our atmosphere. Some of the ways we get this chi is through breathing, drinking water and eating food.
The concept of chi also extends beyond the physical body, to the subtle energies that activate all human functions, including emotions and thought. Chi circulates through the body via channels called meridians. Every meridian passes through an organ, muscle and chakra. The chakras diffuse the universal energy so it can enter our body via the acupoints and be absorbed into the meridian system. The flow of this energy must be balanced to maintain optimum health.
