Acupuncture

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese art of healing, literally means ‘needle piercing’. It is the practice of inserting very fine needles into the surface of the skin at specific points for healing purposes. The stimulation of acupoints using needles helps to balance the movement of life force or Qi within the body and this results in the restoration of wellness.

History Of Acupuncture

While the West considers Acupuncture alternative medicine, it is in fact the primary healing method in China practiced for over 5000 years. The first written record of Acupuncture was found in the Huang Di Nei Jing or The Yellow Emperor’s classic Of Internal Medicine. 4700 years old, this is the oldest medical textbook in the world.

While the Huang Di Nei Jing is the oldest written account, it is said to have been written based on the oral teachings of Shen Nung, the Father of Chinese Medicine. Shen Nung is credited with documenting theories about circulation, pulse and the heart almost 4000 years before European medicine had any concept of the same.

While the Chinese have always practiced Acupuncture in tandem with Acupressure and Moxibustion, the Western world was made aware of this method of healing only in the early 1970s. New York Times reporter James Reston’s accounts about how Chinese doctors used needles to alleviate his pain after surgery caught the fancy of the entire United States. Subsequently Acupuncture has become a popular method of healing even in the US though it has been classified as Alternative medicine and not mainstream medicine.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture in simple terms is the stimulation of various anatomical points in the body that help to balance the Qi and restore well being to the body. Acupuncture involves using thin, solid metallic needles to pierce the body in strategic acupressure points or acupoints.

Acupuncture works on the basis of various aspects of Chinese philosophy.
 

• Dao is the path or the Chinese way of life. It preaches moderation in all things. Humans are fueled by three treasures: Qi or life force, Shen or the spirit and Jing or the essence. Qi is the force flowing through all things animate and inanimate and establishing their interconnectedness. Shen is like the soul that gives brightness to life. Jing is responsible for growth, development and reproduction. All humans are born with a limited amount of Jing. Abusive lifestyles lead to a reduction in Jing. Jing can be preserved by living closer to Dao. Acupuncture helps preserve Jing.
   

• Yin and Yang are complementary but opposing forces. Yin is the dark, passive, feminine energy and Yang is the light, active, masculine energy. Yin and Yang cannot exist without each other. In other words every coin has two sides. Yin and Yang must interplay with each other and be balanced for things to function effectively. Imbalances cause a problem. Acupuncture helps restore the balance between Yin and Yang.
   

• Jing Luo are invisible channels through which Qi circulates through the body. The acupuncture holes or acupoints are locations where the Qi of the channels rises to the surface of the body. There are 12 main meridians, 6 Yin and 6 Yang and many minor ones. When Qi flows freely through the channels the body is healthy. However, if the Qi is blocked or starts stagnating the physical, emotional and mental well being gets affected negatively.
   

• To restore the balance of the Qi, Acupuncture points are stimulated. If the Qi is too cold, the Acupuncturist will stimulate acupoints to warm it. If is it is too weak he will seek to strengthen it. Thus, Acupuncture aims to restore balance in the body.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture is believed to work through holes that allow entry into the Qi’s channels. The holes are a gateway to increase, decrease, and redirect or refocus Qi and thereby balance the energies. Acupuncture has also been shown to affect the immune system. There are several theories on how Acupuncture works.

• According to the Gate Control Theory of Pain, pain signals need to pass through several gates from the area of injury to the brain. However, the nerves can handle only a limited number of pain signals at any given time. Acupuncture generates signals that travel faster than the pain signals and blocks the ‘traffic’ so to speak. The pain signals thus cannot reach the brain and we don’t feel the pain.
   

• The Electrical Theory of Pain works on the knowledge that the body continually generates tiny electrical charges. This electric field influences growth and maturity. Acupoints are concentrated in regions of low electrical resistance. By stimulating these points the chemical neurotransmitters in the body can be altered and the pain is not felt.

Tools Of Acupuncture

Acupuncture uses thin, solid metallic needles to pierce the surface of the skin and balance the Qi. Acupuncturists have been known to use as many as 9 types of needles.

The needles vary in length, size and shape of the head. Needles are inserted into the skin at an angle anywhere between 15 to 90 degrees relative to the skin surface depending on the ailment to be treated.

Acupuncture does NOT cause pain. It is essential for the patient to feel a sensation called Deqi (pronounced as Da-Chee).

The Acupuncturist may use one or several techniques in combination to effect healing. The needle handling techniques used are Raising and Thrusting, Twirling and Rotating, Combination of Raising and Thrusting AND Twirling and Rotating, Plucking, Scraping and Trembling.

Applications Of Acupuncture

• The most common application of Acupuncture is pain relief. Acupuncture is an extremely popular technique used to block pain signals from reaching the brain. In effect it is an anesthetic. 
   

• In the United States Acupuncture is popularly used to treat chronic pain conditions like arthritis, headaches, athletic injuries and post surgical pain.
   

• It has also been found to be effective in treating abusive disorders like alcoholism, smoking, eating disorders and addiction.
   

• Acupuncture is also effective in treating immune function problems like skin related problems, asthma and other breathing disorders.
   

• Women can find relief from PMS and menopause with Acupuncture.

According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey an estimated 8.2 million adults in the U.S had used Acupuncture for healing. Thus, Acupuncture is gaining acceptance all over.