Quality Living: The Ultimate Acupuncture Guide

by Shailesh Kumar

Acupuncture is not as widely known as some would like to think. It creates a spiritual and physical well being for those who do know about it, and receive those treatments. This is something that provides the patient with a way to treat their diseases, conditions, or ailments through a natural means. There is a long history to acupuncture, and a lot of research has been done on the benefits of it. It might not be a solution for everyone, but it is worth taking a deeper look into.

History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient form of healing, and comes from back dated medical records in China. It starts in the Taoist tradition over 8,000 years ago. They were strong believers in meditation and natural healing processes. They observed nature and the energies that each person possesses. One of the more popular men during this time was Fu Hsi. He lived by the Yellow River in China around 8,000 years ago. He represented two major forces using one broken line, and one line. They were reception and creation, and how when they come together they form life which was termed yin yang. This is the backbone and ideal of Chinese medicine. His continued to explain that when yin and yang fused, they create a third aspect which led to the Book of Change of I-Ching.

Around 10,000 years ago, knives made of stone were used for medical procedures. Around 5,000 years ago, these stones were refined and used as instruments of healing practices. They were named bian stone- use of a sharp edged stone to treat diseases. Many of these bian stones were unearthed from the ruins in China that dated back more than 4,000 years ago. During the year of Huang Di the Yellow Emperor 2697 to 2597, acupuncture made a major milestone. He had conversations with medical doctors in China during this time, and actually produced a book on internal medicine around 305-203 B.C. This is the earliest known book on Chinese medicine practices. The book focuses on human anatomy and healing processes. It goes into detail on the zang fu organs, nine different types of needles used in acupuncture, and techniques and functions that the needles can be used for during acupuncture.

Around 1000 BC, the Shang Dynasty had evidence of using acupuncture in their medical practices when bronze colored needles were unearthed from their ruins. There were four gold needles and five silver needles that were used and replaced the old bian stone form of needles. The Miraculous Pivot names the nine types of needles which date back to 113 BC on an ancient tomb found. Using the medical records of that time, many procedures involved acupuncture. There was yet another milestone with acupuncture that came with this period. The Nan Jing or Book of Difficult Questions came to be. It discusses the five element theory, eight extra meridians, hara diagnosis, as well as other important information regarding acupuncture.

260-265 AD, all ancient literature was organized into Huang Fu Mi’s classic text titled Systematic Classics of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. It describes 349 acupuncture points in detail, the theory of zang fu, Qi and blood, collaterals and channels, and clinical applications of acupuncture. This is one of the most influential books in the history of Chinese medicine. During 265 to 581 AD, acupuncture was very popular and the Xu Xi family was known for generations as the experts in the art of acupuncture. Acupuncture was developed more in the Sui Dynasty in 581 to 618 and the Tang Dynasty in 618 to 907. The Tang government in 627 to 649 A.D. requested the physician Zhen Quan to revise the acupuncture texts and charts out there. Sun Simio, another great physician of the time wrote Prescription with a Thousand Gold for Emergencies. It includes text from various Scholars around the world on Acupuncture.

Acupuncture, during this time, became a branch of medicine and certain physicians were deemed as Acupuncturists. Acupuncture schools began to appear to teach more people about the healing art. It then became part of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Another book was produced during the Song Dynasty in 960 to 1279 by the physician Wang Weiyi. It was titled the Illustrated Manual on Points for Acupuncture and Moxibustion. It described 657 points in detail, and used bronze statues with markers for teaching.

The Ming Dynasty in 1568 to 1644 brought enlightenment to the advancement of acupuncture such as the revision of all texts, refinement of techniques, development of Moxa sticks, development of using extra points outside of the main meridians of acupuncture, Yang Jizhou wrote the Principles of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in 1601. It was the foundation of teachings on acupuncture during this time. G. Soulie de Morant then learned from these teachings, and brought this new medical practice to Europe for the first time.

Acupuncture was suppressed during the Qing Dynasty in 1644 to 1840 due to the herbal medicines being used at the time. When western medicine became more advanced, herbal remedies and acupuncture were placed aside after the Revolution in 1911. Acupuncture became more widely used in the Long March in 1934 to 1935. This helped maintain the health and life of the army during this time despite the harsh conditions they were under. Chairman Mao officially united western medicine with traditional Chinese medicine after this point. During this year, Comrade Zhu De came out with a new acupuncture book: New Acupuncture.

The late 1950’s into the 1960’s acupuncture was still be researched. They wanted to know the effects it had on diseases and conditions, and whether or not these points on the body relieved these ailments. They also wanted to know the affects it had on internal organs. In the 1970’s to the present times, acupuncture is still a large part of the medical system. China still looks at the effects it has, and does all of the research they need too in order to improve it. Acupuncture has more or less become modernized from where it once was, but will not lose its roots.

The Ins and Outs of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is not known to everyone, and it is a treatment that was invented and created in China. It involves the belief that a life force or energy named Qi flows through meridians or pathways throughout the body. Each of these meridians corresponds to one specific organ or organ group that oversees specific functions of the body. Achieving the right amount of Qi creates better health believed by some. Yin and Yang are opposites, and Qi maintains a dynamic balance between the two. Everything in nature has yin and yang within them according to the beliefs of Chinese medicine. Having an imbalance of Qi in your system can cause disease to happen. To restore the balance in your Qi, an acupuncturist places the needles at various points along the body in the meridians. These points are where the energy pathway is close to the surface of the body and can easily be punctured. There are a number of acupuncture points on the body from the head to the feet, arms, and legs of the body.

There is no clear explanation on how acupuncture actually works. Some researchers believe that the effects of the needle have effects on the brain and body during the process. Researchers have a theory that stimulated nerve fibers send signals to the patient’s spinal cord and brain during acupuncture, this then activates the body’s central nervous system. The spinal cord and brain can then release hormones that are responsible for making our bodies feel less pain, and improves our overall health and well being. Acupuncture does increase our pain threshold, and can produce long term relief of pain. Acupuncture is also believed to increase blood circulation and body temperature in the individual, it affects the white blood cell activity that is responsible for immune function, reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and regulates the bloods sugar levels.

What is the process of acupuncture like? You will have your tongue, skin, posture, and pulse checked for overall health. You then lie down on a padded examination table, and have the needles inserted gently. You may feel the needles, or a slight pinch of pain that will disappear once the needle is inserted all the way. When all of the needles are inserted, you then relax with them in place for 15 to 60 minutes. You are allowed to relax and fall asleep during this time. Once the session is over, the needles are then removed. Sometimes the needles are heated for certain conditions. This technique is called moxibustion. The acupuncturist lights a bunch of dried herb moxa or mugwort and holds this above the needles. The herb burns slowly and gives off an incense smell will never touch the body. There is also electrical acupuncture that hooks electrical wires into the acupuncture needles and runs a current inside them that is weak while they are inserted. You most likely will feel a mild tingling or even nothing at all. Some acupuncturists prescribe herbs along with the acupuncture.

There is more than one way to get acupuncture:

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine is a popular acupuncture technique that is the most commonly practiced. It bases a diagnosis off of eight different principles of complementary opposites.
  • French Energetic Acupuncture is mostly used by MD acupuncturists and it emphasizes particular yin yang pairs of primary meridians and meridian patterns.
  • Myofascially Acupuncture is practiced by physical therapists and they feel the meridians to find the tender points when applying needles. These tender points indicate areas that hold an abnormal flow of energy.
  • Japanese Styles of Acupuncture are referred to as meridian therapy usually. It emphasizes the needling technique and feeling meridians in diagnosing.
  • Korean Hand Acupuncture is based on a principle that the hands and feet have concentrations of Qi, and then the acupuncture needles to these specific areas that is effective for the patient’s entire body.
  • Auricular Acupuncture is a technique that is widely used in the treating of addiction disorders. The idea is that the ear is a reflection of the body, and applying acupuncture needles to various points in the ear affects the corresponding organs.

There are a number of reasons that you may get acupuncture, and what it is good for. It is the most effective for pain relief and post surgery or chemotherapy associated nausea and vomiting. Some of the conditions that acupuncture is good for includes: addiction, asthma, carpal tunnel, bronchitis, diarrhea, constipation, fibromyalgia, irregular menstrual cycles, low back pain, menstrual cramps, spastic colon, sinusitis, stroke rehabilitation, tennis elbow, and incontinence. Acupuncture can be combined with prescription drugs and other treatments.

The Many Benefits of Acupuncture

There are many beliefs out there on how acupuncture benefits the body, mind, and soul. Depending on your beliefs, you may find that it is helpful. Research has found that having acupuncture regulates the body’s energies from within to strengthen the body to help fight off illnesses. After some of the acu-points are inserted, the number of white blood cells increases. Researchers have also found that in the treatment involving pain, the body can release pain killer andomorphines that are naturally from the body. It gives the person a calm and sense of well being.

Acupuncture does affect specific parts of the body, and a lot of major bodily functions. Some of these systems include cardio vascular system, digestive and gastro intestinal, urinary, respiratory, immune, nervous and reproductive system, endocrine. One of the biggest facts shown with acupuncture is that having acupuncture can increase the production of leucocytes or white blood cells and they can attack micro organisms. They can increase the number of anti bodies within the body. It can also reduce the inflammation reactions in the body. This is a great treatment for conditions that do not respond well to antibiotics. This also is good for taking down areas of inflammation. Not only that, but research has proved that it is also good for these conditions as well: hay fever, diarrhea, skin conditions, insomnia, asthma, angina, palpitations, tinnitus, and constipation.

Acupuncture also increases the production of the body’s hormone pain killers. This makes acupuncture a very effective method for the relief of pain. It also affects the production of hormones that are given off from other glands in the body such as adrenal and pituitary. This allows acupuncture to help deal with the effects of stress both family and emotional and work pressures. Menstruation and menopause can also be relieved with acupuncture. A lot of other stress related diseases can be helped with the use of acupuncture. Some of these include chronic headaches, migraines, eczema, bed wetting, depressions, excessive drinking, smoking, and ulcers. Acupuncture has a large part of how to control the contraction and relaxation of muscles. A lot of aches and pains have to do with muscle contraction; acupuncture can help relieve these areas of tension. Acupuncture also has a large effect on the neuro muscular system, and this helps stroke patients and paralysis patients regain use of their paralyzed parts.

The World Health Organization states that acupuncture is effective for treating and relieving 28 conditions. Research also believes that it might have an effect on many others. Acupuncture works directly with the body’s energy or Qi, and the body’s illnesses are a result of an unnatural flow of this Qi. Certain acupoints are then treated to try to release the illness from the particular body area. Treatment is usually successful. There have been a number of clinical trials given to prove the effectiveness that acupuncture has on the body. Acupuncture is probably the best known for pain control, although it has a wide range of other uses. Acupuncture can sometimes eliminate the need for drugs that are used to alleviate the symptoms from a condition. It also used for a faster recovery time from surgeries, stress, and injuries on the body. Acupuncture is also known to strengthen the immune system function which fights against common colds and the flu.

Some of the spiritual beliefs of the patients of acupuncture believe that it brings a better self being once it is done. It is also used to increase energy and some say it brings a sense of vitality as well. There are also numerous psychological and emotional disorders that patients claim it has helped. These conditions include phobias, obsessive compulsive behaviors, addictions, and even anxieties. Acupuncture can be used along with prescribed medications and herbal remedies for acute and chronic diseases. Acupuncture can be used as a form of preventive medicine to prevent diseases and conditions from happening. Acupuncture also has very few to none side effects on many patients.



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