Running Piglet Qi

The baby animals of Spring time bring to mind the Traditional Chinese Medicine concept of “running piglet Qi”.

This concept is used to describe the movement of Qi, your energy and life-force, running amuck in the body. This is a sensation of energy traveling from the lower abdomen up the midline of the torso to the chest, and is likened to a squealing piglet let loose - in Western Medical terms this may look like an anxiety attack or panic.

When in the midst of an anxiety attack, anxious thoughts tend to be irrational. Rational thinking often does nothing to help. Instead, the visualisation of calming your inner piglet can provide faster relief from this feeling of losing control. Take a deep breath, and imagine gently calming the piglet and bringing them from your chest back to their resting place below the bellybutton. Remind the body it is a safe space to exist in.

If you suffer from anxiety and panic, Acupuncture is recommended to direct the Qi from chaos into a smooth flow of energy.