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The use of acupuncture and oriental therapies go back to the beginnings of history. Written records of its practice extend at least six thousand years and we can speculate that it has been probably used for a considerable time period prior to that.
To understand and benefit from acupuncture we must first learn its two vital concepts:
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First, there is the concept of Chi. Simply stated, chi is the energy of the body. It contains all the necessary ingredients for healing to occur. When acupuncture is given, your doctor devises strategies based upon restoring the flow of chi into the affected area. This is through the stimulation of the acupuncture points. |
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An acupuncture point can be thought of as a gate or faucet through which the energy flows. The flow of energy through channels in the body has a predictable pattern to it. These channels are called meridians. Thus, we may think of the flow of energy in the body as a sort of super highway system. The chi, or energy, is like a truck racing along the highway to deliver its goods. The meridians are the road network which allow the goods to be delivered at high speeds. The acupuncture points are stop lights and direction signs, pointing the energy to the area where it needs to be delivered. A concept which is helpful to understand is that of balance. The chi, or energy, is divided into two parts: yin and yang. What yin and yang represent are the positive and negative natures of the energy. Ailments and imbalances represent either deficiencies or excess of yin and yang. |
When receiving acupuncture treatment, your doctor seeks to balance the flow of energy so that the chi energy is channeled to the affected area to allow it to recover and achieve lost health. This is done through a variety of methods.
Acupuncture Needles: This involves the insertion of fine needles into selected acupuncture points. These needles are extremely fine, about the width of a hair, and are quite painless. Your doctor decides where to insert the needles based upon your individual needs. Patience is needed because we attempt to balance the body gradually, working with your own powers of recovery. In certain chronic conditions where there has been a lack of energy for a period of time in a particular area of the body, the process is a gradual one. However, once strength begins to return to the body, nature acts swiftly.
Auricular Acupuncture: In many natural-healing traditions, various parts of the body are seen as an image, or microcosm, of the whole body. For example, in reflexology, the foot is viewed as a sort of map of the entire body, and specific areas of the foot can be stimulated in order to bring about a change in the distant portion of the body represented by the stimulated area. In auricular acupuncture, the ear is considered to be the miniature image of the whole body, with specific points on the ear corresponding to the various organs and regions of the whole. Tiny needles, which at times are left in the ear for extended periods, are used to stimulate these points to bring about a healing change in the desired area. This method has been shown to be particularly effective in the treatment of addictions.
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