Acupuncture
Posted on 11/17/2008 05:31 pm by JeanPaulTRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic and humanistic system that views health as a harmonious relationship between man’s internal condition and his external environment. The basis of this relationship is energy or what the Chinese call Qi (“Chi”) – which courses through a specified network of channels and collaterals throughout the body. Each channel (meridian) corresponds to one of the vital organs such as the liver, heart, stomach, lungs and so on; each has a pulse associated with it which informs the acupuncturist of the condition of the energy within that meridian.
The twelve pulses are located on the radial arteries of the wrists. This vital energy exists in the body at birth, and leaves at death. During a lifetime it flows in a specific and continuouspattern according to two opposing forces – the Yin, negative and passive, and Yang, positive and active. In health, the two opposing forces are in balance. Deficiency or excess in the circulation of the energy causes an imbalance of the two forces and thus results in disease. In Chinese medicine, it is held that any illness or symptom, whether it be aknee pain, headache, indigestion or a severe depression, is associated with an imbalance in the person’s energy. All methods of Traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and moxibustion are designed to enhance and maintain the uninhibited flow of this energy relationship.
TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION
Stated most simply, acupuncture is an empirical form of therapy developed over several thousand years of experience by the Chinese, that consists of stimulating designated points, by insertion of very fine needles along the course of a specified Channel. It is a system of medicine which is used in the restoration and maintenance of health, as well as the prevention of illness. It has been practiced in China for over 5000 years. With acupuncture, energy can be summoned to the places that need it and dispersed from the areas where it is congested and causing a blockage. Acupuncture plays an important role in the development of preventive medicine. Often, conditions unresponsive to conventional therapy show significant response to acupuncture treatment. Moxibustion treats and prevents conditions of ill health by applying heat to points on certain locations of the human body. The material used is mainly Aretmisia Vulgaris (English: Mugwort). It has the properties of warming and removing obstruction of the channels and thus promoting normal functioning. The moxa may be applied directly on the skin over the acupuncture point, held a distance from the skin or placed on the shaft of an acupuncture needle inserted in the acupuncture point, thus conducting heat into the body.
DURATION AND FREQUENCY OF TREATMENT
The duration and frequency of treatment depends on a variety of factors which include the severity of the complaint, how long the person has suffered from it, the extent to which lifestyle contributes to it, and what drugs are being taken for it. Some people only need a few treatments while others may need prolonged attention. The initial treatments will be once or twice a week and their frequency will be decreased as the person progresses, to once a fortnight, once a month etc., until there is only a need for a regular checkup at the change of each season.
RESPONSES TO TREATMENT
Often the first changes that occur do not improve the main complaint but rather the overall state of health. The person may notice that he or she sleeps better, feels more relaxed, feels more at ease within his or her self, or enjoys an improved body temperature. These are all positive signs of a better energy balance which if continued and supported will lead to an alleviation of the main symptoms. Every aspect of the person is affected by the acupuncture treatment and changes may take place mentally, physically, or emotionally as the balance is restored. Reactions to treatment vary from individual to individual.