A Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner On Qi, Acupuncture & What Your Organs Are Trying To Tell You
finding balance
By Natalie McGowan | 26th June 2026What exactly is Qi? What does Japanese acupuncture actually do? How does it relate to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
Guided by the ancient foundations of Qi, acupuncture and TCM can address a host of issues, from nervous system dysregulation to aches and pains. To unpack this practice, we asked a Japanese acupuncture and TCM practitioner, Kailey Chapman of West End’s Free the Qi, to explain. Here’s what she had to say:
Qi is a foundational concept. For someone who knows nothing about it, how would you describe what Qi is and how it moves through the body?
Qi is one of those things that we can’t really translate into Western terms. The ancient text, the Huangdi Neijing, often describes Qi through its functions rather than trying to define it outright. It is what warms the body, moves blood and fluids, protects against illness, transforms food into nourishment, and allows thought, emotion, and consciousness to arise. In this sense, Qi is less a substance and more a process, something constantly moving and responding.
You were working as a governess in the Kimberley when you met someone who introduced you to acupuncture. Tell us about that experience and what he was able to teach you.
After finishing school, I moved back to the Kimberley to work as a governess while I figured out what direction I wanted to take in life. Living on a remote station, we’d often have travellers stop by out of curiosity to experience station life. One afternoon, a man on a motorbike pulled in looking for somewhere to camp. His name was John Ratcliffe, and he happened to be a Chinese Medicine practitioner. He joined us for dinner that night and started talking about acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. I remember him showing us some simple acupressure techniques and explaining how this style of medicine could support different conditions, particularly neurological issues. My dad has Parkinson’s Disease, so that conversation became very personal very quickly, and John was incredibly generous in sharing advice and connections that might help him.
That brief interaction stayed with me long after he left. It felt as though a seed had been planted; the idea of studying this medicine just kept following me wherever I went. Looking back now, it feels like one of those moments that changes the course of your life.
How does Japanese acupuncture differ from other styles of acupuncture?
Japanese acupuncture is generally considered a gentler and more refined style of needling. In many styles of TCM acupuncture, practitioners often aim to achieve what’s known as a “deqi” sensation, a feeling that can be heavy, dull, or achy. In Japanese acupuncture, that sensation is not always necessary. Treatments are often performed more superficially using much finer needles, which many patients find deeply relaxing and less intimidating.
Another key difference is the diagnostic style. While TCM includes many different systems of assessment and treatment, Japanese acupuncture practitioners often place greater emphasis on abdominal palpation, using touch through the abdomen to gather information about what is happening in the body and to guide treatment.
What concerns and conditions can Japanese acupuncture address, and how does it actually work to resolve them?
Japanese acupuncture is commonly used to support a wide range of presentations, including stress and nervous system dysregulation, musculoskeletal pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, fatigue, digestive complaints, and women’s health concerns. From a physiological perspective, acupuncture involves stimulating sensory nerve pathways, and research suggests this may help influence the nervous system, circulation, pain modulation pathways, and the body’s stress response.
One of the key goals of treatment is often to help the body shift out of a heightened “fight or flight” state and into a calmer, more restorative state where healing and regulation can occur more effectively. From a TCM perspective, acupuncture works by supporting the healthy movement of Qi and blood throughout the body and restoring balance between different organ and channel systems, based on specific acupuncture points and their indications.
I always see acupuncture as part of a broader healthcare approach, and encourage my patients to have a team of practitioners such as a GP, specialist, or other allied health practitioners.
You use abdominal analysis as a starting point in your sessions. When you’re reading someone’s body, what are you looking for?
When I begin a treatment with abdominal palpation, I’m assessing things like tension, temperature, texture, and areas of sensitivity through the abdomen. I’ll usually start with gentle pressure across the abdomen while also listening closely to the patient’s feedback about what feels tender, tight, or uncomfortable. Alongside a broader health discussion and other assessment methods, this helps me build a picture of how they have got to where they are today.
Within traditional East Asian medicine, certain abdominal patterns are interpreted as reflecting areas of imbalance or dysregulation in the body. These patterns may commonly be associated with symptoms such as stress, fatigue, digestive discomfort, tension, or menstrual irregularities. I also pay attention to signs that may suggest someone’s nervous system is under increased stress or that they are feeling physically overwhelmed.
What I value most about abdominal palpation is that it encourages a slower, more hands-on and individualised approach to treatment. It allows me to respond to what the patient is experiencing in that moment and tailor treatment accordingly. We also get to see instant feedback with the abdomen that patients can feel instantly.
What can the abdomen tell you about what’s happening elsewhere in the body and how do the organs connect to broader physical and emotional wellbeing?
In TCM, the organs are viewed somewhat differently from how they are understood in Western medicine. Rather than referring only to the physical organ itself, they also represent functional systems and patterns used within the traditional medicine framework to help guide assessment and treatment.
For example, one of the patterns I see often is what we refer to as “Liver Qi stagnation.” Within this framework, it may be associated with presentations such as stress, tension in the shoulders, digestive discomfort, sleep disturbances at 2am, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed. TCM also traditionally associates different organ systems with emotional states. For example, the Liver system is linked with frustration and irritability, the Spleen with worry and overthinking, the Heart with emotional balance and joy, and so on. These emotions can either be the result of Qi and blood stagnation in the body or they can be the cause.
Chinese medicine also traditionally associates different organ systems with emotional states. For example, the Liver system is linked with frustration and irritability, the Spleen with worry and overthinking, the Lungs with grief and sadness, the Kidneys with fear, and the Heart with emotional balance and joy. These emotions can either be the result of qi and blood stagnation in the body, or they can also be the cause.
Is there a type of concern or patient that Japanese acupuncture is particularly well-suited to help?
Japanese acupuncture is often particularly well-suited to people who are looking for a gentler and more calming treatment experience. Because the techniques typically use finer needles and more subtle stimulation, many patients find it less intimidating than they may expect, especially those who feel nervous about acupuncture or have a heightened sensitivity to treatment.
It can also be a supportive approach for people experiencing high levels of stress, tension or nervous system overwhelm, as treatments are often designed to encourage relaxation and help the body shift into a more regulated state. Many patients describe feeling deeply calm after sessions.
What would you say to someone who is curious about what to expect from their first appointment?
I’d say to come in with an open mind and not overthink it. Most people are surprised by how gentle and relaxing Japanese acupuncture feels. Your first appointment is usually a conversation as much as a treatment, where we talk through your health, lifestyle and what’s been going on for you.
The needles used are incredibly fine, and many patients leave feeling calmer, lighter and deeply relaxed afterwards. Needle-less to say, it’s usually not what people expect.
Imagery: @caspar.jade / @freetheqi_acupunctureclinic
