- Acupuncture
- Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture is an ancient form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
It dates back 6000 years and it remains as simple today as it was then.
TCM recognizes everything that affects us in our daily lives; food, work,
weather, emotions, etc. All of these factors influence our health.
Acupuncture is an elaborate map of the body. A system of meridians that
act like conduits carrying the Qi and Blood throughout the body to nourish
it. Qi is our vital energy force. It flows smoothly from one meridian
to another, in a pattern. It is this easy and free flow of Qi that protects
our body from disease and keeps our body moving without pain.
Qi is also responsible for carrying our blood throughout our body, nourishing
all internal organs and provide them with the energy they need to function
at their optimum levels.
When the flow of Qi and blood are disrupted, disease, poor health and
pain develop.
There are 300 acupoints on the human body. This is where Qi rises to the surface and becomes accessible. Acupuncturists are able to restore the easy and free low of Qi by utilizing needles that are finer than a human hair. Acupuncture can help the body return to a pain-free and disease-free state.
Acupuncture treats both symptoms as well as the root of an illness. It is very effective in a range of muscular, skeletal and emotional illnesses. There are times when even modern medicine cannot diagnose the causative factor and explain why a person does not feel well. Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on the whole person and maintains the optimum balance of energy in order to create health.
History of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine has originated in eastern regions of Asia and is about 6,000 years old. It is now being practiced in many countries like Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, Japan and China, as well as in many Western oriented countries.
The first Chinese written medical encyclopedia are found to be from Han
dynasty before 3500 B.C. Holy men and tribal shamans living in the mountains
of China practiced what was known as "Way of Long Life." This
art of living included diet, special breathing techniques and kung-fu
exercises.
Chinese Medicine flourished under Tang emperors during A.D 680 to A.D 906. During this period, the first medical school was established. During the Song and Ming dynasties more medical schools were established, leading to the standardization of curriculum as well as qualifying examinations. Also the prescriptions of traditional herbal medicines were collected and written in the form of encyclopedias.
Today, both Western and Chinese forms of medicines are practiced in China and throughout the world.
Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- TCM treats the root of the illness. It also treats the symptoms from their source.
- According to TCM, disease is a result of blockage in flow of vital energy through their respective pathways. Therefore, restoring the flow, clears symptoms as well as the cause of the disease.
- TCM does not include any chemically originated pharmaceutical medicine, which makes it free from any kind of side effects.
- TCM naturally improves general health and helps the patients body overcome disorders and diseases.
- TCM is low in price as compared to Western Medical treatments and the cost of drugs.
- TCM complements Western Medical practices (such as Cancer treatments) Chiropractic and Naturopathic Medicine treatments.
- TCM can be used to suppress side effects caused by Western Medical treatments (i.e. surgery and Chemotherapy).
- TCM is an alternative to treating certain diseases where Western medicines
or where no diagnosis can be determined.
