Chinese Acupuncture And Treatments
What is Chinese acupuncture?
Traditional Chinese acupuncture therapy is said to have originated some 4000 years ago. The term “acupuncture” was coined by a Dutch physician Willem Ten Rhyne, who was on a visit to Nagasaki in Japan, where he observed the needle pricking practice among medicinal practitioners to cure various ailments. Traditionally, in Chinese, the character Chen, which literally means “pricking with a needle,” is used to symbolize acupuncture.
How does it work?
Chinese medicine acupuncture is one of the most effective branches of alternative therapies and has been used in China, and now the world over, for curing some of the most chronic diseases and body conditions. In this form of treatment, needles are inserted at various points that lie on energy meridians of the body. There are 10 meridians and over 400 acupuncture points. The basic principle of acupuncture is to remove the energy or chi blockages along these meridians by inserting and twirling needles on specific points, which correspond to various body parts. When the chi is free flowing, a person is said to be healthy. The pricking is usually done on hands, palms, feet, ears and sometimes the scalp. Many pseudo practitioners often inset needle on the part where the dysfunction lies. This is a dangerous practice and not advocated by traditional practitioners.
Development of Chinese acupuncture.
In its nascent years, acupuncture was done using stone needles. Later on, it was done using gold needles, followed by bronze and then silver needles. Today, needles made of stainless steel are in use and are approved by the FDA. These are flexible needles meant for single use. Acupuncture was initially used to drain abscesses and puncture boils and ulcers. Today, it is used to cure the most ailments.
Modern day Chinese medicine and acupuncture practitioners use a combination of Chinese medicinal herbs along with acupuncture for added benefit. Some Chinese acupuncture centers also use electronic and laser stimulation to revive the flow of chi along the meridians. However, traditional practitioners have steered away from this path. They believe in the effectiveness of simple puncturing and twirling of needles.
What can Chinese acupuncture treat?
In China, doctors opt for acupuncture to induce analgesia during surgery. The use of Chinese acupuncture for various heart ailments is also quite common. However, acupuncture is particularly effective for relieving pain. Puncturing along specific meridians and on specific points reduces the sensation of pain almost in a matter of minutes. People suffering from various conditions such as arthritis, lower back pain, spondylitis, and post operative pain benefit greatly from acupuncture. Symptoms such as vomiting and nausea associated with pregnancy can be minimized or even cured completely with acupuncture. Repetitive strokes can be avoided if acupuncture is administered 3-4 times a week within 40 days of the first stroke. Even chronic conditions like obesity, digestive disorders, liver and kidney malfunctions, and insomnia, to name a few, have found effective cures in acupuncture. Practically, every dysfunction of the body can be treated with this form of ancient Chinese therapy.
