Acupuncture

Chinese acupuncture is a healing technique of puncturing the skin with needles at designated points of the body. It originated in China as early as the clan community of primitive society. This is 100, 000 years ago. Historical documents claim that acupuncture might have founded from battlefield injuries. Soldiers would come back from war with arrowheads punctured at particular points. These points appeared to relieve certain symptoms and were then noted. As time went on, the healers saw consistent patterns with some of the points. Therapeutic techniques using stone needles from a man named, Fu Xi, were found from scratched notations on turtle shells and bones. Huang Di was known as the inventor of acupuncture with moxibustion. Moxibustion was the use of incense type burning techniques over particular acupuncture points in conjunction with the needling technique.

In the twenty-first century B.C., classical acupuncture was developed. They primarily used a stone called a bian stone. A bian stone was also called a needle stone or an arrowhead stone. In the Old Stone Age, the ancestors used stone knives to incise abscesses. The bian stone was then developed from experience in the New Stone Age as a special medical tool. As medical tools advanced, bronze medical needles were also used. The bian stone was the main tool used, however, for treating disease. In this period, philosophical thinking formed the concepts of yin-yang and the five elements. Ancient physicians started to document changes of pulse, blood, body fluids, and correlations of sounds, wind, vitality, flavors and the adaptation of the body to the environment.

475-206 B.C. period, the needles were replaced by medical needles. Nine different kinds were created specific of their shapes and usage. Later discoveries, gold and silver needles were used and still are today. In the fifth to fourth century, a famous doctor named, Bian Que, treated patients with needling, moxibustion, herbal decoctions, massage and heat compression. As time went on, more documents were discovered and more literature explained traditional Chinese medicine. The achievements and measurements of the points and meridians became well recorded.

The legacy of traditional Chinese medicine conflicted with Western medicine in the early 1800's. The founding of New China trampled upon acupuncture as valid treatments. It was once called medical torture. In 1914, the government of China continuously tried to ban traditional medicine and attempted to restrict its development. Contrary to the government's control, the common people sought medical care and they continued receiving the traditional ancient treatments. Many acupuncturists, mainly a man named Cheng Dan'n, contributed greatly with explaining the theories to modern science. By 1944, the research work was shared with many Western medical doctors and was then accepted to the world. They found it to be not only simple and economical, but also very effective for many different kinds of diseases. It was declared a true science. According to the book, "Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion", edited by Cheng Xinnong, it stated that, "From the 1970's to now, investigations have been done on the mechanism of acupuncture anesthesia... and analgesia from the viewpoints of operational surgery, anesthesiology, psychology, and more, the phenomena and nature of the meridians" ...are recognized and are evident.
This vast ancient knowledge of Chinese medicine is now well respected throughout our country and the world. Even Oprah Winfrey has accelerated its movement and acceptance! As a wellness doctor and certified in acupuncture since 1999, I have had more patients asking to receive the treatments.

The concept of yin and yang is the first principle to understand. According to the ancient philosophy, there are equal and opposite forces that exist in the universe. These forces must balance for harmony. There is hot and cold, up and down, open or close, big or small. In nature, the seasons, climate, elements, colors, along with function of the human body and its emotions, are all intertwining and in balance. This is an order that God created.

The entire body is influenced by the nature and the environment. There are electrical forces in the body that follow pathways or meridians. These pathways are very similar to radio waves. You can't see them but you know that a reception is tuning in the sound. If reception is blocked then the force is blocked and a clear sound is not being received. These meridians can actually be found with a voltage machine and it can measure how much ohms are reaching the entire pathway. This technology has greatly improved and is now becoming high technological machinery. This is a fascinating approach, yet, the ancient art can be lost. Regardless, the pathways can be found both ways and healing can still occur. Illness is an imbalance of the Yin and Yang of the body. Acupuncture balances this energy. When the energy cannot reach an organ, a disease state begins. This energy is called "Chi". The "Chi" flows through 12 Channels that link to organs. Each channel has paired organs or functions that are a yin/yang balance. These 6 channels along with 2 more pairs are as follows:

These points follow the channels that are very specific to anatomical parts of the body. Other points used are the ear or auricular points. These points relate to the entire body and are used along with the other points on the pathways. A skilled touch and knowledge of the points by specific measurements are stimulated by either an increase or decrease of the energy flow. In acupuncture, the points are noted for particular health needs. There are countless books to refer to for the "recipe" points. Some of the points have clever names other than the Chinese term that describes them. For instance a point at the top of the head #GV20, is "The Hundred Meeting Point". One hundred meridians actually meet at this point. Another point is called, "The Top of the Mountain" which is #LI4 located at the peak of web of the thumb and index finger.

Harmony in the body can be tested by many tools of the trade. Conventional routes use machinery and technology to pinpoint pathology. Eastern medicine observes signs of pre-illness states. These pre-illness states display disturbances in the meridian pathways. To find the correct points the doctor follows the "recipe" (mentioned above), but also analyzes the patient by temperature, pulse and pain sensitivity. The tongue, nails are also observed for weaknesses or excesses. The symptoms and influenced illness are recorded to document where the breakdown of health occurred. The doctor will then stimulate the body by tonifying or sedating the points to influence the organs and other associated pathways. The body is treated as a whole and the points interconnect. These series of acupoints relating to the imbalance or disturbances are then treated from 1-10 (or more) visits. The sessions last form 30-45 minutes. The points may be sensitive when receiving treatment yet is often pain-free.

On the acupuncture chart presented, the meridians and their points are drawn. They travel up or down depending on the yin or yang of the organ. The coupled organ flows in the opposite direction. There are beginning points and main points to use. There are other points that are not relating with the organ meridian but are extraordinary. It is truly an intricate and complicated system.

Health and well being is restored by the combination of the needling technique, dietary/herbal and other lifestyle changes. On the initial visit, a form is given to record what symptoms the patients has that relates to certain systems of the body. The exam includes observation of the tongue and nails and documentation of sensitive points. The patient is gowned and lies on a table in a serene setting. Aromatherapy oils, magnets and sound therapy are applied. I also find that laser therapy is helpful and I sometimes follow the whole meridian with the light. Some patients learn breathing techniques, visualization and learn color therapies. The patient may also receive herbal or dietary corrections. This combination of care is a holistic approach that our office greatly encourages. As I have stated at numerous lectures, health is ALWAYS a structural, chemical and emotional approach and must always be included with all conditions.