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What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture is a medical tradition that is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which also includes Chinese Herbal Medicine, as dates back over 2200 years. Acupuncture is based upon the understanding that the body’s subtle energy travels in pathways, called channels or meridians, and is accessible at certain points along these meridians at the surface of the body. Very fine needles are used to stimulate the circulation of energy (in Chinese, qi – pronounced “chee”) at these points.
Acupuncture Meridians
The meridians recognized in Chinese medicine number twenty: twelve organ meridians and eight extraordinary meridians. Each organ meridian is associated both with a particular section of the body, as well as with an internal organ, which is either yin or yang. For instance, the Hand Yangming meridian is the Large Intestine channel. The meridian begins at the index finger and terminates near the nose. Needling it may be useful for constipation as well sinusitis.
Pulse Diagnosis
Acupuncture employs pulse diagnosis to discover which organs are deficient or weak, and which organs are excessive or stagnant with qi. The pulse is like a microcosm of the body. Each meridian/organ is represented, as well as the overall condition of the body. Learning pulse diagnosis is a lengthy and subtle prospect. It is one of the major skills that is acquired during the three or four year training to become a licensed acupuncturist.
To learn a little more about acupuncture, see: Why Acupuncture?, and What to Expect from an Acupuncture Treatment, or come visit me at my clinic.
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Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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