About Us

Characterization of Deqi Sensation and Acupuncture Effect

Acupuncture stimulation elicits deqi, a composite of unique sensations. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), deqi experienced by patients is often described as suan (aching or soreness),ma (numbness or tingling), zhang (fullness, distention, or pressure), and zhong (heaviness) and is felt by the acupuncturists (needle grasping) as tense, tight, and full. It is believed that deqi may be an important variable in the studies of the mechanism and efficacy of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture is a medical intervention in which needles are used to stimulate certain points generally called acupoints on the body. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) indicates that acupuncture stimulation elicits deqi, a composite of unique sensations. It is regarded that the application of acupuncture through stimulating certain acupoints is to activate the qi and blood of meridians and collaterals and to regulate the function of internal organs so as to prevent and treat diseases in TCM theory. Therefore, deqi, which literally means "the arrival of vital energy" is a prerequisite for clinical effects, also an important judgment of the exuberance and decline of meridian qi and the prognosis of disease [1]. In addition, it may be of great importance to understand acupuncture mechanisms [2].

Deqi is commonly translated as "needle sensation," sometimes as "arrival of qi" or "needling response." The current view holds that there is no significant difference between them. However, some have different understandings of these three words. Needling sensation is mainly meant subjective feelings and perceived responses of patients and acupuncturists; arrival of qi is a healing process, which activates the antipathogenic qi to expel the pathogens; the needling response suggests the final aim of acupuncture [3]. Deqi is usually used to describe the subjective sensations felt by the patients during acupuncture treatment, but the view is not shared by all, and some argue that deqi comprises not only the patients' sensations but also the acupuncturists' senses. Furthermore, there are few people suggesting that deqi also includes propagated sensation along meridians and the externally visible physical signs due to acupuncture treatment [4].