Acupuncture’s Five Pillars

January 15th, 2010  |  Published in Women's Health

A study of traditional Chinese medicine must begin with its five basic elements. The elements are important and controlling parts of the universe. The list includes water, fire, earth, wood and metal. These elements influence how the body functions. These are fundamental things an acupuncturist must have in mind to do treatment. These are also basic ideas in the study of Chinese culture in general.

This is sometimes a hard idea for Westerners studying China to grasp. These ideas might seem mythical or mystical to some Westerners. But whether one uses Chinese or Western ideas as starting points, they sometimes lead to the same conclusions. This is true despite their different ways of seeing the connections between medicine and life.

The body and the five elements are connected by ‘qi’ (sometimes spelled ‘chi’), the Chinese idea of energy. Illness is seen as an occasion when the five elements are unbalanced and need to be rebalanced by acupuncture. There must be proper flow of qi in the body.

The Chinese terms “yin” and “yang” are familiar to most Westerners. These terms are a Chinese way of expressing positive and negative. The Chinese assign yin and yang values to almost everything. Yin and yang are opposite, like winter and summer. The positive is yin and the negative is yang The yin encompasses the light in the world, Spring, rebirth and the warm parts of life. The beauty of the world and of nature is yin. Yang includes everything dark in the world. Yang encompasses the ends of things like the hibernation of plants and animals, winter, end of summer and other things going down. Each of the five major elements has its yin and its yang nature. Yin and yang are also important aspects of the body.

Listing parts of the body: dampness is an important yang aspect of the stomach and spleen. The bladder and kidneys are associated with cold. The heart and small intestines are related to fire. Pair the element of metal and the quality of dryness with the large intestines and the lungs. Associate wood with the liver and the gallbladder with wind.

One has to know how these elements are used within the ancient Chinese medical treatment catalog. The art of the acupuncturist is within these ideas when practiced correctly.

More discussion of these issues can be found at Healing Reader.

Noo Yawka has a wide variety of interests — and blogs to follow them. Hope to see you at one of his blogs, such as the one linked in this article, Healing Reader.

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Tags: acupuncture, five, pillars

Can Acupuncture Treat Digestive Disorders

January 14th, 2010  |  Published in Women's Health

With the typical Western diet being largely unhealthy, the incidences of digestive disorders continue to rise each year. Sometimes, traditional medical treatments do not sufficiently treat, or cure, these disorders. In other cases, people are simply looking for alternative treatments that do not involve taking medication. Acupuncture is an alternative treatment that has become increasingly popular for people who are suffering from a variety of conditions.

Acupuncture is a natural treatment process in which fine needles are inserted into designated points on the body. It is an ancient Chinese medical practice that is believed to help align our bodies and bring about homeostasis, or balance. In addition to providing overall balance and a sense of well being, acupuncture helps to stimulate our healing energies to improve organ function.

Traditional Chinese medicine promotes the belief that the spleen is the primary organ involved in gastrointestinal function. The reason for this is that the spleen is responsible for transporting food in the body and helping it to eliminate waste. When the balance between the spleen and the stomach is disrupted, gastrointestinal distress is likely to occur. This type of distress may also occur along with any disruptions to the function of the liver.

Acupuncture helps to bring about balance within the gastrointestinal system because the practice focuses on specific points on the body. By inserting needles just below the surface of the skin at precise locations, gastrointestinal muscle contraction helps to reduce gastric acid secretion, as well as promote relaxation, which collectively act to help alleviate digestive symptoms.

Generally, a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine are used to treat digestive problems, but it is possible to obtain relief from digestive symptoms with acupuncture as a stand-alone treatment. If you do decide to try herbal medicine, make sure that you have a thorough exam and consultation with an acupuncture specialist so that you can discuss your health conditions, current medications, and any supplements that you may be taking. It is very important that you do this because some herbal treatments may interact negatively with over the counter and prescription drugs.

Acupuncture has been successfully used to treat the following types of digestive disorders:

  • Bacterial infections
  • Gastrointestinal infections
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Heartburn
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Inflammatory conditions (such as gastritis)
  • Inflammatory diseases (such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
  • Ulcers

There are a wide variety of other conditions that may be helped through the treatment of acupuncture. If you are suffering from a condition and you are seeking alternative, drug-free treatments, you might want to consider seeking the advice of a trained acupuncturist.

It is important that you thoroughly check the credentials of any acupuncturist that you are thinking about going to for treatment, however. You want to be sure that you enlist the services of a highly trained professional, preferably one who is trained in both Chinese and Western medicine. You can usually find out all of the information you need by conducting a search online. If you can not find out whether a practitioner is duly licensed or not, do not go to that person for treatment.

Marc Courtiol is an health researcher and contributing author of a natural guide to eliminating chronic heartburn and diagnosing the causes of reflux.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/can-acupuncture-treat-digestive-disorders-1717802.html

Tags: acupuncture, digestive, disorders, treat

Using Acupuncture for a natural health cure

December 16th, 2009  |  Published in Sexual Health

Acupuncture is a bit of a mystery, but it is known to be effective in bringing about a balance in mind and body. As such, it can work well to address a range of conditions in certain cases.

At Natural Cures, we are a natural health resource that is as unbiased as possible.

We are here only to give you truthful information about a wide range of natural medicine and natural health therapies. The result of acupuncture can be a natural cure for many people who prefer to combine natural remedies with natural medicine rather than use ‘over the counter products’.

A professional acupuncturist uses needles to stick in to the patient. The physical body has certain pressure points that can help restore balance to a person who is suffering from an illness which effectively has caused the imbalance.

The practitioner will use his knowledge of the physical body by inserting small long tapered needles just under the top layer of skin tissue on pressure points that will enable the body to restore itself back to natural health.

Each person has what is referred to as Qi in their body. Qi can be weak or cold. If the Qi is cold then the pressure points will send out warmth.

If the persons body and Qi is weak then the practitioner will need to make the pressure points stronger.

This is known as the ‘Gateway to Natural Health’. Pain signals need to pass from an injury within the body to the brain. The nerves within the body conduct so much pain that then the body becomes ill and imbalanced.

Acupuncture sends out a signal to travel faster then the pain which blocks everything and that gives the body time to recover its natural health.

The Chinese people are highly regarded all over the world for their natural medicine and their passion for using herbal remedies in the quest for natural health for everyone.

The Article is written by naturalcures.com providing Natural Medicine and Herbal Remedies Services. Visit http://www.naturalcures.com for more information on naturalcures.com Products & Services___________________________ Copyright information This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included. Visit naturalcures.com for more services!

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Tags: acupuncture, cure, health, natural, using

A Primer on Medical Acupuncture

December 8th, 2009  |  Published in Sexual Health

Have you ever had an uncontrollable urge to be pierced by a dozen needles? This is the image most people get when someone mentions the word “acupuncture”. It comes as no surprise that most view this technique with suspicion, even downright horror. The fact is, however, that this relatively painless ancient Chinese technique has helped relieve the symptoms of millions of people. Properly used, it can help in the management of many medical conditions including chronic pain and fatigue.

How does needle puncture work?

Practitioners of Chinese traditional medicine believe in energy flows. This energy, called Qi, circulates around the body using pathways called meridians. Meridians run very close to the surface of the skin in certain areas and can be accessed by needles. Much like plumbing, these pipes can get blocked or go the wrong way, causing health problems. The insertion of needles at these points is aimed to help loosen blocks and normalize flow.

It sounds like a made-up explanation with no basis in reality, but there are numerous scientific studies which support the effects of acupuncture. Although the exact scientific basis is still unknown, recent theories seem to suggest involvement of complicated neurochemical effects in the brain, nerve to spinal cord impulse modulation, and microscopic connective tissue changes.  

What risks and side effects are of concern?

The use of things not completely understood for the treatment of medical conditions is nothing new. Penicillin and aspirin were used for decades solely on the basis of their beneficial effects, without doctors knowing exactly how they worked. Results are what are truly important. However, it is equally important is to ensure that the technique is used safely.

Like other strategies used in treating health conditions, acupuncture may have some side effects. Medications have side effects and allergic reactions, surgeries have risk of infection and complications. For needle puncture, there is a risk of injury, rare infections, minor bleeding, small bruises, and some dizziness.

You can minimize the possible side effects by choosing a licensed acupuncturist. Most countries either have government licensing in place or have professional organizations with very strict rules and regulations.

How do treatments go?

An acupuncturist will do an initial evaluation of your medical history and your body’s current state. Multiple pressure points are palpated, and a regimen of treatment is formulated. Most courses involve a series of 10 to 20 treatment sessions, each lasting 30 to 90 minutes. Needles will be carefully placed at the required points and kept in place for some time. Most patients report a feeling of mild sensation at the site of the puncture, but no real pain.

Right after each acupuncture session, you will feel a bit tired and may need to rest. Some people feel an increase in their energy levels. The response to acupuncture is very individual. In some cases there is immediate relief of symptoms. For some patients, the beneficial effects may only be noticed after undergoing a few sessions. Do not be alarmed and keep your acupuncturist updated on what you are feeling to ensure everything is going as expected.

You need never fear the thought of needles ever again. Acupuncture is a beneficial treatment with a long history of effectiveness. It is used to complement current medical therapy and should not replace currently existing medications or treatments.

The safe application of this once exclusively Chinese therapy can now be experienced by chronic disease sufferers worldwide.

Webpages, Product, Video, News and Tips about Acupuncture – Goshgo

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Tags: acupuncture, medical, on, primer

Try Acupuncture

November 29th, 2009  |  Published in Sexual Health

If you have experimented with the more standard herniated disc treatments, and would like to try something new, it may be well worth considering the traditional Chinese therapy of acupuncture. Acupuncture is perhaps the hottest form of traditional oriental medication, and it has proved to be quite effective for treatment of a herniated disc and the sciatic agony associated. Further to this the acupuncture can also relieve spinal stenosis, back pain, backbone root compression, neck agony, neuropathy and other aggravating and debilitating diseases.

One of Milwaukee top acupuncture specialist in a few cases Chinese herbs and acupuncture have been proven to be more effective, less dodgy and less aggressive compared to more usual kinds of treatment for a herniated disc such as surgery and oral steroids.

Further to this the longer lasting effects of acupuncture are realized thru mixing the treatment with physical treatment and exercises. When acupuncture is delivered properly there can also be further benefits for the patient- such as an improvement in mood and less fatigue.

It is critical for one?s counseled doctor or physician to evaluate the degree of damage concerned in the herniated disc and associated sciatica pain, before considering acupuncture as an fantastic productive treatment for the herniated disc.
It is that burning agony from the lower back down to the feet caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve resulting in most instances in a herniated disc. The normal reaction for sufferers of a herniated disc and sciatic pain is too improve the posture and walk and site more upright.
Acupuncture as a herniated disc treatment when performed as soon as possible has been shown to quickly improve recovery time and ease sciatica discomfort significantly. Studies have indicated that the acupuncture excites the damaged area of the backbone making naturally occurring steroids encouraging it to fix and producing valuably endorphins in the body. This twin effect from the acupuncture is why is can be so effective

the advantages of acupuncture often change from patient to patient and are also very dependent upon the person administering the acupuncture. Always seek you doctor or physician?s advice before getting acupuncture treatment for a herniated disc and sciatica pain. Acupuncture is certainly a far more positive option for treating a herniated disc than surgery and more serious oral steroids.
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It’s so good to finally have the time to keep in touch and learn new things. Watchout for me in 2010! This is going to be my year! Peace. All I do is work and surf the web. Feel free to message me with interesting conversation.

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Tags: acupuncture, try

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