BENJAMIN KLIGLER, MD: Acupuncture is an art or a science that was developed in China over the last several thousand years and has now become quite popular in the West, as well, that is based on the use of needles inserted into the body as a means of unblocking or harmonizing the flow of chi, or energy, in the body, which forms the basis for both good health and ill health.
DAVID FOLK THOMAS: William, add to what Dr. Kligler said. What's happening when you're getting needles stuck into you? What's this chi thing all about?
WILLIAM KAPLINIDIS: There are a few different things going on. It is a science and an art. The "chi thing" is energy in your body, or life force, and there are different kinds of chi in the body, but the idea is that the needles are put in specific points to affect different systems in the body. For example, the Chinese look at the body a little bit differently than Western doctors. Where a Western doctor may look at the physiology of how the heart works, the Chinese give different jobs or functions to each of the organs. So there are jobs that they do in relation to each other, so the needles will help give the body signals to help the organs do their jobs better and in more harmony to bring you back to balance.
DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Does everybody have chi, and what form is that? Is it flowing through you?
BENJAMIN KLIGLER, MD: Everybody has it. If you don't have it, you're dead, for starters.
DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Can you measure it? Can you put it under a microscope?
