Acupuncture

 

Acupuncture - from Lat. acus, "needle" (noun), and pungere, "prick" (verb) or in Standard Mandarin, zhen jiu is a broad term covering techniques for inserting and manipulating thin needles into "acupunture points" on the body in order to restore health and wellbeing. In the West, it is associated with "Traditional Chinese medicine", or TCM along with herbal medicine and tui na. Other types of acupuncture, notably Japanese, Korean, and classical Chinese acupuncture, are practiced and taught throughout the world. Acupuncture's effects are a matter of active scientific research and debate.


Brief History

Acupuncture originated in China then spread into Asia, spawning a variety of needling techniques, treatment styles, and theoretical frameworks. In China, the practice of acupuncture can perhaps be traced as far back as the 1st Millenium BC, and archeological evidence has been identified with the period of the Han Dynasty (from 202 BC to 220 AD). The earliest Medical Text (of any form of medicine) known to man is the Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine (304 - 203 BC). This text lays down the fundamentals of acupuncture treatment.

Sharp stones (Brian Stones) have been found in archeological sites from around 1000 BC, and suggest that an early form of acupuncture was in use then.

 

Theory of Use

Acupuncture is based on the manipulation of the body's energies that travel throughout the body via meridians and collaterals. This, and the concept that the body and the environment are totally interconnected, set Chinese medicine apart from Western Medicine.

Disharmony or disease comes about when the body's energies (QI) is not able to flow freely throughout the body. This disharmony can arise from an external source, or an internal source. It may deplete the body or it may cause an imbalance between the organs and their systems.

When this happens there is disease, and a practitioner can by judicious placement of needles enable the body to achieve the harmonious flow of Qi, thereby achieving health.

The twelve primary meridians run vertically, bilaterally, and symetrically and every channel corresponds to and connects internally with one of the twelve Zang/Fu ("organs").

 

What will it feel like?

Many patients claim to experience the sensations of stimulus known in Chinese as "deqi" (obtaining the qi). This kind of sensation was historically considered to be evidence of effectively locating the desired point. De Qi can be different for different people. Some will describe it as a "heavy sensation", others will say it feels "like a tightness", others will say it feels "warm", and yet others will describe a feeling in distant parts of the body.

What can Acupuncture be used for?

Acupuncture is best known for the control of pain.
However, acupuncture can treat a wide variety of common and uncommon disorders. The following is a list of disorders that can be treated by acupuncture. This is the World Health Organisation list, but acupuncture treatments are not limited to this list:

    RESPIRATORY:
  • Acute Sinusitis
  • Acute Bronchitis
  • Acute Rhinitis
  • Acute Tonsillitis
  • Bronchial Asthma
  • Common Cold


    • EYE    :
  • Acute Conjunctivitis (pinkeye)
  • Nearsightedness in Children
  • Simple Cataracts


    • MOUTH    :
  • Toothache, post extraction pain
  • Gingivitis (gum disease)
  • Acute and chronic pharyngitis


    • GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS:
  • Hiccups
  • Gastritis
  • Gastric Hyperacidity
  • Ulcers
  • Colitis
  • Diarrhoea


    • NEUROLOGICAL & MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS    :
  • Headache and Migraines
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Paralysis following stroke
  • Meniere's disease
  • Neurological Bladder Dysfunction
  • Nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting)
  • Intercostal neuralgia (pain in the ribs)
  • Cervicobrachial syndrome (pain radiating from neck to arm)
  • Frozen Shoulder or Tennis elbow
  • Low Back Pain
  • Osteoarthritis

In Australia, acupuncture is used frequently for the treatment of chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, headache, athletic injuries, and posttraumatic and post surgical pain. It is also used for treating chronic pain associated with immune function dysfunction such as psoriasis (skin disorders), allergies, and asthma. Acupuncture is also found to be effective for the treatment of mind-body disorders such as anxiety, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, insomnia, PMS, menopausal symptoms, and depression.
Some modern application of acupuncture is in the treatment of disorders such as alcoholism, addiction, smoking, and eating disorders.


Conditions Treated

  • Pain (Acute & Chronic)
  • Gynaecological Disorders
  • Paediatrics
  • Trauma (Injuries)
  • Management of the not so young
  • Fertility Issues (Both Female & Male)
  • Colds/Flu
  • Digestive Disorders
  • Stop Smoking
  • Skin Disorders
  • Fatigue
  • Mood Swings
  • Sleep Issues

 

 

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