If you have ever read about acupuncture or Chinese medicine, you have probably come across the word Qi. It is often translated into English as “energy”, but that does not fully explain how the term is understood in Chinese medicine.
Qi can be used to describe the body’s function, movement and regulation, including the way different systems communicate, respond and adapt. For Dr Zhang, this is closely connected to what he observes in clinical practice.
The word “energy” is easy to understand, which is probably why it is used so often. However, it can make Qi sound more limited than it is.
In Chinese medicine, Qi is part of a wider way of understanding how the body is functioning at a given time. It includes movement, regulation and the relationship between different systems. This is why Dr Zhang does not rely on a single English translation when he explains Qi; he finds it more useful to look at how the concept appears in practice.
One of the things Dr Zhang pays close attention to is the pulse. Before treatment, he checks the pulse to gather information about the person’s current state, and he may check it again during or after needling.
By comparing the pulse at different stages of the treatment, he can observe whether anything has changed and how the person is responding as a whole. The pulse is one part of the clinical picture, alongside the wider consultation and what he observes during the treatment.
For Dr Zhang, acupuncture involves more than selecting points and inserting needles. He also pays attention to how the person responds during the treatment, with the pulse giving him one way to follow changes before, during and after needling.
In the language of Chinese medicine, this relates to influencing Qi and observing the response. Rather than looking at one symptom on its own, Dr Zhang considers that response as part of the person’s wider clinical picture.
There is no single English word that covers the full meaning of Qi in Chinese medicine. “Energy” gives a rough idea, but Dr Zhang sees Qi more broadly as a way of understanding how the body functions, moves, regulates and responds.
For him, the concept becomes clearer when it is connected to what he observes during treatment. The pulse gives him one way to compare the person’s state before, during and after needling, and to notice how that response changes over the course of the session.
At Dapeng Clinic in Marylebone, Dr Zhang takes a personalised approach to acupuncture and Chinese medicine. The pulse forms one part of his wider clinical assessment, together with the consultation and what he observes during treatment.
If you would like to learn more about acupuncture, Chinese medicine or Dr Zhang’s approach to treatment, you can explore the other articles and educational videos from Dapeng Clinic.
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