And this is ridiculous. And since the only defense of Qi and things related to it is personal attacks, attempts to discredit the skeptics, and anecdotes of various sorts, I will be more blunt now.
The fact of the matter is, standard research methodology, while accomplishing many wonderful things, is simply not suited to studying everything. I can usually explain this to people who have actually studied it and done research themselves; people who just want to argue on the internet, not so much. I’m actually working on a long series of articles now on all the ways in which it fails as a tool in studying tcm; if anyone’s interested they can email me and I’ll send you links when they come out. The short version is, they do not replicate actual clinical practice and diagnosis.
So:
0. It is not scientific and science is not well suited for studying it.
1. You can explain it to those who want to believe. Faith in the methods is necessary for you to engage.
2. The link provided by someone earlier in explanation gave the findings of some neuroscientists, but you do not think they are admissible because they did not take place in the non-controlled settings in which such treatments are usually given. And of course, what do neuroscientists know?
The attempts to discredit and smear skeptics, even those attempted to discuss the topic, rather than the people involved, are intolerable.
Statements were made about my person, statements which were unwarranted and false. So, I will make statements which are true, and as I was asked to prove that Qi does not exist, the burden of proof is on the people involved to disprove what I am about to write:
Jason, you have a Master's Degree and you are in private practice and have a license by the state. You have invested a lot of time and money and effort into getting yourself credentials on this matter. You have an extreme financial interest in it. Since I am not a believer, and you are attempting to present yourself as a medical solution (rather than religious), and your only defense of your craft, despite your seemingly expertise in it, is to deny science, admit it does not work sometimes, and attack skeptics, shows that your craft relies on belief and lack of questioning. So, in scientific and medical terms, if it quacks like a duck...
Nick Domich, the suggestion to shift the burden of proof to me is laughable. And I know a lot about it. My lack of faith in it may seem like ignorance. Those videos demonstrate nothing. I love how people present training and conditioning over time to be a sign of some mystical force. All instances of projecting Qi are false. You can find videos on Youtube of reports of "masters" who purport to be able to project their Qi, but it only works against their own students/disciples. It is fraud, and trickery.
And lastly, I know that the mysterious East has its appeal to many. Many people dress up and play Asian, and
bow to their sensei, and believe in the most amazing stories, and thus, the folk traditions have been kept alive through this interest.
However, nobody takes an interest in Traditional Western Medicine, based on well developed and well known theories over thousands of years (I am keeping this brief, but it is quite fascinating to study). Nobody esteems the traditional remedies, such as bloodletting, based on the most long held beliefs (Humorism). Occasionally, one sees references to the temperaments, based on Humorism and some people do seem to think that holds water, but that is not that pervasive.
Well, this was all forsaken because something better, something scientific was developed and is developing. The West has addressed many problems. Diarrhea is a major killer around the world, but not in the developed countries. Why? Modern medicine. Deadly and crippling childhood diseases are all but eradicated in developed countries. Why? Modern medicine and a scientific and testable view of disease. Acupuncture is cheaper than surgery. Why? Because surgery is eminently more useful.
While unnecessary surgery is probably worse than fruitless acupuncture, the two don't compare. If one is facing surgery, then one may want to try everything to avoid it if possible. Say a prayer, take a supplement, try a diet, try acupuncture, try happy thoughts. If the condition goes away, that is very good. But do not rely on it. Examine your options, get a second or third opinion, and do what is medically sound.
Also, people are free to do whatever they want, but I think there is an expectation that people do not disparage others for failing to hold the same beliefs. This forum is not for the advancement of ancient folk wisdom at the expense of natural sciences. People with less understanding and knowledge rarely draw good conclusions, and I think Traditional Chinese Medicine, the product of thousands of years of ignorance and false understandings, is indefensible as a medical treatment, even if occasionally they did something effective.
And again, I do not push my religion on others, and do not even give specifics about it other than I am religious, and is doubly offensive to be disparaged and accused of things for failing to hold other religious beliefs.