Building Energy: A Brief East/West History & Practical Tips
Nancy Post, Ph.D., M.A.c.
Energy. Athletes are martial artists of its use and replenishment. During competition, we explode with energy—running, jumping, hitting, pivoting, lunging. But after a long rally, we slow down deliberately, walking back to the baseline, centering ourselves, being present—ready for the next point. In these moments, we are not just recovering; we are actively replenishing.
Using and replenishing energy is a dynamic, moment-by-moment process. During breaks, we hydrate with electrolytes, salt, glucose, and minerals. We eat selectively—choosing snacks that help us recover. Between matches, we train, practice, and sleep well to restore not only our bodies but also our minds and spirits.
These habits are the building blocks of performance—and the answer to a question I’ve asked for 50 years:
What are the best ways to build and replenish energy?
I’ve spent my career seeking answers.
The Western Approach: Measurable, Quantifiable Energy
In the past 25 years, the science of athletic performance has progressed at an extraordinary pace. Today, we can measure almost everything: carbs, proteins, and sugar intake; vitamin and mineral levels; enzyme functions; even brain elasticity and energy use (the subject of my next article). Western science has helped us pinpoint the chemicals we need to feel better, perform better, and even live longer.
Athletic performance-enhancing substances are just one facet of this progress—but they’re also a clue that we're still chasing energy in ways both natural and synthetic.
The Eastern Approach: A Deeper Tradition of Energy
But there’s an older, often overlooked body of knowledge: the science of Acupuncture and East Asian medicine.
I began my training in acupuncture in England, a country with long-standing exposure to Chinese medical traditions due to its colonial history. Acupuncture gained public attention in the U.S. in 1972, when New York Times journalist James Reston accompanied President Nixon on an historic trip to China. During the trip, Reston underwent an emergency appendectomy—performed under acupuncture-assisted anesthesia.
His front-page story featured a smiling photo taken during surgery—and reported zero groggy side effects from conventional anesthesia. It was a pivotal moment for public interest in Eastern medicine.
Today, Doctors of Oriental Medicine (DOM) are licensed in many U.S. states. These practitioners complete rigorous five - seven-year doctoral programs covering advanced diagnostics, herbal pharmacology, acupuncture, and bodywork. East Asian medicine categorizes dozens of energy types—derived from food, weather, genetics, lifestyle, and even toxic exposures. Treatments may include acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas, dietary therapy, bodywork, and lifestyle recommendations.
In states like New Mexico, DOM are licensed as primary care providers—just as they have been for billions of people in East Asia for millennia.
A 2,500-Year-Old Medical Tradition
The foundations of this medicine date back at least to the third century B.C., as recorded in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. Treatments and formulas have evolved over centuries of refinement and patient outcomes, with many herbal combinations used clinically for over 100 years.
Today, Chinese herbs sold in the U.S. meet Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)—a global standard for safety and purity, originally developed in Australia.
DOM are trained in four core areas:
Acupuncture
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Biomedicine
Bodywork Therapies
Acupuncture is the most commonly used (and often insurance-reimbursed) potion of the full set of skills. Currently, there are more than 20,390 nationally certified acupuncturists in the United States. To find a qualified practitioner near you, visit the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) at www.nccaom.org. Click on “Find a Practitioner” and enter your ZIP code to see certified professionals in your area.
Why Acupuncture?
People often ask: "What can acupuncture treat?"
The World Health Organization lists more than 100 conditions for which acupuncture has proven benefits, including:
Stroke recovery
Headaches and migraines
Osteoarthritis
Knee and joint pain
Neck and back pain
Fibromyalgia
Female infertility
Obesity
Insomnia
PMS and menopause
Recurring urinary tract infections
Chemotherapy side effects
Bell’s palsy
Alcohol and drug detoxification
Many professional athletes rely on acupuncture for tissue repair, pain relief, and anti-inflammatory support. NBA superstar LeBron James is a well-known advocate. The Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl champions, have a team acupuncturist—just like many elite sports organizations across the country.
My Story: Healing on the Court
I discovered acupuncture through personal experience. While playing varsity tennis for the University of Pennsylvania, I badly rolled my ankle during a match against Cornell. By the time we got back to Philadelphia, my entire lower leg had swollen. Sports medicine doctors at the university hospital told me my tennis career was over—that such severe soft tissue damage would never fully heal.
Despondent, I went to the medical library and found reports of Vietnam veterans using acupuncture in Asia for similar injuries. This led me to the Maryland University of Integrative Health, where I received my first treatments.
Six weeks later, I was walking pain-free—and went on to play the full spring season. Eventually, I helped legalize acupuncture in Pennsylvania and have continued playing tennis for more than 50 years.
In Closing: A Resource for Every Athlete
To my fellow athletes—and anyone seeking better health, if you haven’t yet explored this powerful, time-tested form of medicine, know that it’s here for you.
Acupuncture and East Asian medicine are accessible, licensed, and backed by centuries of clinical use and modern certification. Whether you're recovering from injury, seeking peak performance, or simply looking to restore your balance, you now have a powerful resource at your disposal.