If you are new to acupuncture or Chinese medicine, you may have come across terms that are unfamiliar. Concepts like Qi, Yin and Yang, or meridians are central to how Chinese medicine understands the body, but they do not always translate directly into language we use in everyday life. Here is a plain-language guide to some of the key terms you are likely to encounter.l.
Qi (pronounced “chee”) is one of the most fundamental concepts in Chinese medicine. It refers to the vital energy or life force that flows through every living thing. In the context of health, Qi circulates through the body along specific pathways and is responsible for supporting all physical and mental functions.
When Qi flows freely, the body is considered to be in a state of balance and good health. When Qi becomes blocked, deficient, or excessive in certain areas, symptoms and illness can arise. One of the primary goals of acupuncture is to restore the smooth and balanced flow of Qi throughout the body.
Yin and Yang describe the two opposing but complementary forces that Chinese medicine uses to understand the body and its relationship to the world. Yin qualities include coolness, rest, nourishment and the internal. Yang qualities include warmth, activity, function and the external.
Neither force is considered better or worse than the other. Health, in Chinese medicine, depends on their balance. When Yin and Yang fall out of balance, whether one becomes too dominant or one becomes depleted, symptoms can develop. Treatment aims to restore equilibrium between them.
Meridians are the channels or pathways through which Qi flows in the body. Chinese medicine describes a network of 12 primary meridians, each connected to a specific organ system such as the Liver, Kidney, Lung or Heart. These meridians run through the body in defined pathways, and acupuncture points are located along them.
When an acupuncturist inserts needles at specific points along a meridian, the aim is to influence the flow of Qi in that channel and the organ system it connects to. Meridians do not correspond directly to anatomical structures in Western medicine, but they form the map that Chinese medicine uses to understand where and why symptoms occur.
Acupuncture points, sometimes called acupoints, are specific locations on the body where needles are inserted during treatment. There are more than 360 classical acupuncture points, each located at a precise position along a meridian and associated with particular therapeutic effects.
Your practitioner selects points based on your individual presentation, not a fixed formula. Two patients with similar symptoms may receive treatment at different points, because Chinese medicine assesses the underlying pattern rather than the surface symptom alone. Points are often located on the hands, feet, legs, arms, back and abdomen.
In Chinese medicine, the internal organs are referred to collectively as the Zang-Fu. The Zang organs (Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung and Kidney) are considered the primary organs and are responsible for producing and storing vital substances. The Fu organs (Gallbladder, Small Intestine, Stomach, Large Intestine, Bladder and San Jiao) are responsible for receiving, processing and eliminating.
Importantly, the Zang-Fu organ systems in Chinese medicine do not map exactly onto their anatomical counterparts in Western medicine. The Liver, for example, is associated with the smooth flow of Qi and the regulation of emotions in Chinese medicine, in addition to its physical functions. Understanding this distinction helps explain why a Chinese medicine practitioner might discuss your Liver or Kidney health in ways that feel unfamiliar.
Jing, often translated as Essence, is one of the three fundamental substances in Chinese medicine alongside Qi and Shen. Jing is the dense, foundational substance that supports growth, development and reproduction. It is considered the basis of constitutional strength and vitality.
According to Chinese Medicine philosophy there are two types: Prenatal Jing, inherited from your parents and considered finite, and Postnatal Jing, which is replenished through food, rest and a balanced lifestyle. In fertility acupuncture, nourishing and supporting Jing is often a central concern, as it is closely connected to reproductive health and the health of eggs and sperm.
Shen is the third of the three fundamental substances and is most closely associated with the mind, consciousness and emotional wellbeing. In Chinese medicine, Shen is housed in the Heart and reflects the clarity of the mind and the stability of the emotions.
When Shen is settled, a person feels calm, clear-headed and emotionally grounded. When Shen is disturbed, anxiety, insomnia, restlessness and difficulty concentrating can arise. Acupuncture treatment often addresses Shen directly, particularly for patients experiencing stress, sleep difficulties or emotional strain alongside their other health concerns.
Rather than diagnosing by disease name alone, Chinese medicine identifies patterns of imbalance that explain why a person’s symptoms have developed. Two people with the same Western diagnosis may have entirely different Chinese medicine patterns, and their treatment will differ accordingly.
A pattern diagnosis is formed by gathering information across multiple areas: your symptoms, their qualities, your sleep, digestion, energy, emotional state, the appearance of your tongue and the quality of your pulse. This whole-person approach is one of the defining features of Chinese medicine and is why consultations at a Chinese medicine clinic tend to cover a broader range of questions than you might expect.
At AcuHealth Therapies in Templestowe Lower, we are always happy to explain what to expect before you come in. Principal practitioner Dr Sharlane Aldover has more than 15 years of experience in acupuncture and Chinese medicine and sees patients from Templestowe, Doncaster, Heidelberg, Bulleen, Donvale, Balwyn North, Viewbank and across Melbourne.
To book or make an enquiry, call 0403 524 893. We are located at the Templestowe Health Hub, 286 Manningham Road, Templestowe Lower.
To find out more about Sports Acupuncture call us at the clinic on 0403 524 893
