Alternative medicine, Chi energy and depression, how can I find more info on this ? read :?
Thursday, April 8th, 2010 at
5:41 am
I was talking to a young man who knows all about body energy and I was asking why when I am depressed, why does my body just want to sleep. He said it was about the energy in my body. I have had acupuncture, but I know very little about Chi, so if I want to read about it so I can help myself with depression, what would I google ? thanks 
Tagged with: alternative • depression • Energy • Find • info • Medicine • More • read • this
Filed under: Acupuncture Depression
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This website has a pretty decent explanation of Chi/Qi/Ki: http://www.yinyanghouse.com/theory/chinese/what_is_qi
You might also want to look into the following book: http://www.amazon.com/Web-That-Has-Weaver-Understanding/dp/0809228408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269965949&sr=8-1
Both explain the philosophy and concepts of how this energy is understood.
/Edit/
I do agree with Rhianna in part. It is important to have your depression monitored by a psychiatrist, or psychologist. However, there are non-pharmaceutical options available for the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Chi energy is equated with the life/vital force. It’s not only fundamental to acupuncture and Chinese medicine, but it’s also a key feature employed in advanced martial arts like kung fu.
That random “young man” doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about, nor do several others who have answered this already.
Various cultures have the concept of “life energy”, but it is an old, pre-scientific concept that has no evidence of existence. It seems to be an “energy” that is undetectable by the most sophisticated scientific instruments. It is also undetectable by believers if methods to prevent cheating or self deception are taken. It is a figment of peoples imagination.
An excellent resource to learn the actual truth about Chinese medicine, acupuncture, chi etc is the blog, Science Based Medicine.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?page_id=791
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EDIT MANTRA
Chi has nothing to do with the known bioelectrical fields in living creatures. These are measurable, quantifiable, fit in with established scientific knowledge and theory, and have a clear effect. None of that is true for chi.
“Chi” energy is a mythical concept with no scientific basis. It has never been proven. Lack of motivation and lethargy are all part and parcel of depression. You need to see your GP about your depression. Counselling is a good start and will help you to understand why you are depressed in the first place.
In Western science, Chi is referred to as bio-electricity or bio-magnetism. This is the way in which the body transmits messages. For example, from the brain to the muscles in your hand telling them to move. The flow of bio-electricity can be measured. For example with an EEG.
When the brain has diminished capacity to transmit electrical messages, it can cause all kinds of problems. Reduced Seretonin in the brain results in brain messages being slowed down or the number of messages being reduced. Low electrical capability (Chi) in the brain results in the brain becoming sluggish and results in dpression. Western antidepressant medication does work through increasing the energy flow (Chi) through the synapses.
The Eastern practice of Chi comes from ancient understanding of bio-electricity. Chi flow practice is designed to make sure that the appropriate amount of energy is available throughout the body. For the brain to work properly, the messages need good supply of chi (bio-electricity). For the organs to work and do their job they need a good supply of chi (bio-electricity). For the muscles to do their job, they need a good supply of chi (bio-electricity). for the brain to communicate with the rest of the body we need a good supply of chi (bio-electricity).
Chi is there for your own good. A good working body allows you to spend time on other things, such as using the brain for enlightenment. Any practice that increases chi flow is thus beneficial at all levels, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Google: Tai Chi, Taiji, ChiKung, Qigong, Reiki for mor information on increasing Chi, bio-electricity and bio-magnetism in the body.