2025

1. Introduction: The Enigma of the “Arrival of Qi” The practice of acupuncture, a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), rests on a fundamental yet elusive physiological phenomenon: the sensation of De Qi. Historically described in classical texts such as the Biao You Fu as the “arrival of vital energy,” De Qi is not merely… Continue reading The Somatic Gateway: De Qi, Theta Oscillations, and the Hypnagogic Threshold

acupuncture physiology (1)·arteriovenous anastomosis (1)·AVA (1)·CV4 (1)·Five Shu-points (1)·heat dissipation (1)·internal warming (1)·Jing-Well (1)·Shu-Stream (1)

Introduction In contemporary physiology, we know that the hand-and-foot glabrous skin (palms, soles, nail-beds) houses a rich network of arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) — direct connections between small arterioles and venules that allow large volumes of blood to be shunted to the surface and radiated as heat. (PMC) In the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM),… Continue reading Arteriovenous Anastomoses, Extremity Acupoints and Heat Regulation: A Dialogue Between Modern Physiology & Classical TCM

acupuncture (15)·body awareness (1)·chinese medicine (6)·interoception (3)·mindfulness (2)·neuroscience (7)·qi (3)

Do you believe you see the world as it truly is? Do you think you know why you feel happy or angry? For centuries, we’ve operated under the assumption that our senses are clear windows to the world and our emotions are primal, universal reactions. But modern neuroscience is dismantling these fundamental beliefs, revealing a… Continue reading Your Brain is Inventing You: 4 Scientific Truths That Redefine Reality

acupuncture (15)·chinese medicine (6)·interoception (3)·mindfulness (2)·neuroscience (7)·qi (3)

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of Qi (氣) represents far more than a mystical life force. It is a language of continuity—a way to describe how breath, emotion, food, and the natural world move through and connect all living things. Recent neuroscience, meanwhile, is beginning to rediscover this internal awareness under a new… Continue reading Qi and the Science of Interoception: Ancient Pathways to Modern Awareness

acupuncture (15)·interoception (3)·moral psychology (1)·neuroscience (7)·research (5)

A recent study published in The Journal of Neuroscience reveals a compelling link between interoceptive awareness—our ability to perceive internal bodily sensations—and moral decision-making. Researchers found that individuals with heightened interoceptive awareness tend to make moral choices aligning with societal norms, even in complex ethical dilemmas without clear right or wrong answers. https://www.jneurosci.org/content/45/23/e1114242025 This study… Continue reading Interoception and Acupuncture: Bridging Ancient Wisdom with Modern Neuroscience