Restoring Order in Health and Chinese Medicine : Studies of the Development and Use of Qi and the Channels

What is qi, and what are the jingmai? How did the ancients view the practice of acupuncture, and how does that differ from the way acupuncture is understood today?This groundbreaking work explores these questions through historical insight, scholarly research, and practical exercises, bridging ancient perspectives and modern understanding. With an international panel of contributors — including Stephen Birch and Dianne Sommers from the Netherlands, Miguel Angel Cabrer Mir and Manuel Rodriguez Cuadras from Spain, Mark Bovey from the UK, and Chip Chace and Dan Bensky from the USA — Restoring Order brings together some of the most experienced practitioners and scholars in the acupuncture world.The foreword by renowned translator and author Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée underscores the significance of qi and the jingmai for acupuncture, herbal medicine, and beyond.Drawing from decades of clinical practice, scholarship, and historical texts, the authors unravel the history, development, and practical applications of these central concepts.Highlights include detailed discussion of:The role of qi in the body-mind and our actionsThe arrival of qi, or deqiThe development of the practitionerPractical exercises to enhance inner skillsRestoring Order bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary practice, offering an essential resource for students, seasoned professionals, and serious readers of qi-related arts and disciplines. Whether you are exploring qi for the first time or seeking to deepen your understanding, Restoring Order will help you transform your practice and open the door to new levels of insight and skill.“We wish there were more books like this. A book that goes deeply into the very substance of Chinese medicine, remaining not only readable but enjoyable. A dialogue between this classical Chinese medicine and Western medicine can help to build the medicine of the future. This book is one of the foundations of such an appealing and needed project.”— Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée, France“An incredible resource for the investigation of qi and its ramifications right from ancient China through until the present. Serious scholarship that is never dry; each chapter explores a facet of our medicine that can be traced back to the root: qi.”— Steven Clavey, Australia“If you are an acupuncture practitioner or a teacher, this book is a must-read. It will turn acupuncture education upside down — from head-based to heart-mind based.”— John Hicks, United Kingdom Read more