Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting and manipulating needles into various points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes. The philosophy behind the treatment is that energy lines or meridians circulate around the body. These meridians contain our energy flow or “qi”. It is when this qi is impaired through the body that imbalance and illness occurs. With the insertion of fine needles at various points on the meridian, the energy can be moved or redirected to where it is needed most. In this way the body’s balance can be restored and the illness resolved.
In TCM, the body is treated as a whole that is composed of several “systems of function” known as the zang-fu. Most of the main acupuncture points as exist on the twelve main and two of eight extra meridians (also referred to as mai) for a total of fourteen “channels” through which qi and Blood flow. Other points not on the fourteen channels are also needled. Local pain is treated by needling the tender “ashi” points where qi or Blood is believed to have stagnated. The zang-fu of the twelve main channels are Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, Gall Bladder, Liver and the intangible San Jiao.
Acupuncture is a foundational practice healing within Traditional Chinese Medicine along with herbal medicine. To find out more about the conditions that can be treated visit this page which gives a brief overview of the philosophy of TCM.
If you do not feel comfortable with needles other techniques that work on manipulating the same energy pathways are available such as cupping or acupressure.
Acupuncture works well combined with herbal medicine and tui na massage.
Dr Xiao Ling QI 齐小玲医生