Let Qi Flow!
- grandviewhealthgro
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
A client once asked me “Does Qi (vital energy) flow influence mental health?”, and from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, the answer is yes. Qi is the foundational concept of TCM. It connects all aspects of life—our cells, our breath, our emotions, even the
universe itself.
Rather than talk theory, I want to share my own experience.
About a decade ago, while raising my young son, I found myself overwhelmed by anger, exhaustion, and disconnection. Conventional medical tests revealed no issues, yet I felt internally unstable.
At the encouragement of a Buddhist monk friend, I attended a five-day inner work program in a meditation center in Korea. There, a teacher told me directly that my energy channels were blocked and warned that without change, my life would unravel. Though difficult to hear, her words motivated me to begin intentional inner work.
The process was not easy. Internally, it was like staring into a mirror I didn’t want to look at. Often, emotional discomfort accompanied with physical discomfort - tension, pain, digestive issues, as my body began releasing what had been long suppressed. I came to recognize that these blockages were linked not only to my own experiences but also to intergenerational patterns.
This path eventually led me to study acupuncture. Through consistent inner work and acupuncture practice, I learned to attune to the difference between stagnant and flowing energy within my body. As the stagnation cleared, my mental and emotional state shifted toward greater clarity, spaciousness, and resilience.
Today, after almost a decade, I can affirm that becoming attuned to my own energy flow with a help of acupuncture has profoundly supported my mental and emotional health.
This personal insight aligns with growing evidence.
A randomized trial of acupuncture in patients with chronic insomnia found significant improvements in anxiety, depression, sleep quality - and measurable shifts in cortisol and serotonin levels, compared with sham treatment.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 randomized clinical trials showed electroacupuncture combined with antidepressants outperformed other interventions in reducing depression symptoms. Acupuncture - with or without medication - proved both effective and safe.
A service-member study showed acupuncture added to usual care improved PTSD, depression, pain, and functioning—much more than usual care alone.
Multiple PTSD studies suggest acupuncture may modulate the Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis and related neurobiological pathways underlying stress response, offering a mechanistic basis for symptom improvement.
Ultimately, maintaining open and balanced energy is not just a personal practice but a universal human need. In a world that is shifting so quickly - economically, socially, and technologically - our nervous systems and emotional resilience are under constant strain. We are being asked to adapt faster than ever before, often with little space to process grief, uncertainty, or fear. When our energy channels are blocked during such times, stress and disconnection can intensify, leaving us feeling overwhelmed or numb just like how I was when I became a mother.
Practices like acupuncture, meditation, and conscious inner work help us regulate amidst this turbulence. They allow Qi to flow where it is needed most - restoring clarity, grounding, and the capacity to respond to change with steadiness instead of reactivity by holding onto the energy. In this way, tending to our energy is not just self-care, but a vital skill for navigating the collective transformations of our era.
If parts of this story resonate with you, or if you feel curious about how acupuncture might support your mental, emotional, and physical well-being, I invite you to explore this support with me at Grandview Health Group.
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