Thursday, July 7, 2011

Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of therapy that promotes natural healing of the body. The science and art of acupuncture involves insertion of needles into specific points along the meridians of the body. Acupuncture forms a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which originated in China over 5000 years ago. Currently, acupuncture is a safe and effective natural therapy and an increasingly popular form of healthcare that is used by a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds.
The major benefits of Acupuncture are as follows:
  • * Drug-free pain relief
  • * Assists prevention against disease
  • * Treats the cause as well as the symptoms
  • * Holistic approach to illness, linking body, mind and emotions
  • * Effectively treats many common ailments
How does acupuncture work?
Many people who have experienced the therapeutic effects of Acupuncture will vow that it truly does work. The common yet difficult question that follows on from this is, “How does Acupuncture Work?”
It is important to note there are two important explanations to this question, which must be considered. These are the Traditional Chinese Medicine Explanation and the Western Scientific Explanation.





Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points were believed to be holes that allow entry intoacupuncture meridians or channels in which qi and blood flow. There are over 2000 acupuncture points on the human body that connect with the meridians.  By stimulating these Acupuncture Points the body’s vital substances, qi (energy) & blood can be normalised by redirecting, increasing, or decreasing the flow of qi, thus correcting many of the body’s imbalances.
Acupuncture points can usually be felt in the body tissues as areas of depression or hardness and are usually associated with tenderness.  These points are mostly located along the acupuncture meridians and have been mapped out on Acupuncture Charts thousands of years ago by the founders of Acupuncture, the ancient Chinese.



Acupuncture Meridians
Acupuncture Meridians are the pathways along which the qi flows and have been shown through modern technological methods to exist and possess bioelectric function similar to peripheral nerves but along their own separate pathways. There are 12 main meridians and 8 secondary meridians that travel up, down and around our bodies.  The 12 main meridians are referred to as follows:

Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, Triple Heater, Gall Bladder and Liver.
They are named after the organs or systems that according to TCM they are thought to influence. In TCM there is believed to be a cyclical flow of qi from one meridian to the next every two hours.


Acupuncture Benefits


Acupuncture also feels good, elevates a persons mood, releases endorphins (the human body’s natural pain relievers), energizing, calming, and relaxing. Each pressure point and channel is activated for different reasons, and each organ and all physical parts have their own pressure points. For example, acupressure points around the liver are used for treating regressed depression and grief, points around the liver to treat regressed anger, and points around the heart unblock the absence of happiness. Acupuncture alternative medicine has been successfully working to treat health problems for thousands of years, and it has only progressed in recent years to meet a persons entire needs of healing.

No comments:

Post a Comment