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The Healing Concept of AcupunctureMay the Force Be With YouThe philosophy behind this technique is fascinating. Chinese practitioners believe that a force called Qi flows through the body in channels or meridians. Diseases occur when this force is blocked. Japanese, Indian and other ancient therapies have a similar concept.The best way to understand the concept is by comparing it to blood flowing through arteries and veins. For example, if blood cannot reach our hands, the organ will not function. If blood does not flow freely we will suffer from blood pressure, whether low or high. Similarly, an unstable Qi or problems with Qi will lead to many diseases. Traditional Chinese practitioners understand and use this concept. Ying and YangIt is believed that the body consists of two conflicting natural energies, Yin and Yang. Yin, the female form of energy is normally associated with calm and passivity. It is described to be dark, cold and full of moisture. The male counterpart, Yang is aggressive, hot and dry. Excess and imbalances of these two energies result in illness. For example, if a patient complains of fatigue, the condition is believed to be a result of the female force, Yin.Modern TrialsAlthough the concept of Yin and Yang is strange to many, the benefits of acupuncture have been recognized. Many clinical trials have discovered that pain messages can be blocked using acupuncture. The needles act as a gate that blocks or cuts off pain signals traveling along the nerves from reaching the brain, thereby relieving patients of pain from illnesses.Research also shows that modern medical techniques have been able to find acupuncture points. It is agreed that these points have some influence on the state of other parts of the body. However, the existence of meridians has not been confirmed. Some use acupuncture differently. Instead of using needles, these practitioners use their fingers to affect the pressure points along the meridians. This therapy is called acupressure. Also Read:
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