A glance at how Chinese medicine aims to heal the whole body.
Acupuncture is an ancient medical intervention thought to be used for more than 8,000 years, which has proven to ease and prevent a host of health conditions.
What you need to know
Acupuncture involves pricking the skin and body with needles. The application of these needles along the body's energy meridians. Because the needles are so thin, patients typically experience little to no pain. The needles are then carefully activated with light pressure, movement, or stimulation.
Acupuncture specifically, is rooted in the Eastern theories of energy medicine, which promote healing differently than the Western medicine you may be used to. Eastern medicine focuses on energy balance throughout your body as the key determinant of your overall health.
Oftentimes, physical symptoms can be made worse by, or even result from, an imbalance of energy in your body rather than an issue in the particular spot where you are experiencing discomfort. Health is all about balance, and when it is thrown off, you become more susceptible to disease. Energy is the director of your body’s harmony; its movement is crucial to your health.
Think of twelve different extension cords plugged in end to end and intertwined. If you were to unravel them, they would form one big circle. Thus, they are all connected.
Ten of these twelve meridians are associated with a specific organ: the heart, lung, stomach, kidney, large intestine, small intestine, liver, bladder, gallbladder, and spleen are each represented by a meridian. The remaining two are the pericardium meridian, which is linked to emotional and spiritual well-being, and the triple-warmer meridian, which controls metabolism.
Understanding the Meridians
This vital energy as your “qi” or “chi” (pronounced “chee”), which runs through twelve main pathways, or meridians, throughout your body. Think of your circulatory system of blood or oxygen—your energy has a very similar kind of circulation. The meridians that circulate your energy are dotted with points, called “acupoints,” that are the target of acupuncture treatments.
Think of twelve different extension cords plugged in end to end and intertwined. If you were to unravel them, they would form one big circle. Thus, they are all connected.
Ten of these twelve meridians are associated with a specific organ: the heart, lung, stomach, kidney, large intestine, small intestine, liver, bladder, gallbladder, and spleen are each represented by a meridian. The remaining two are the pericardium meridian, which is linked to emotional and spiritual well-being, and the triple-warmer meridian, which controls metabolism.
Remember that these meridians connect with each other end to end, like extension cords, which is critical for the flow of your qi. For example, the bladder meridian runs from your eye, over your head, down the back all the way to your big toe, and at the big toe, it connects to the kidney meridian. The kidney meridian then runs back up the inner legs and up your torso and chest. The pathways continue to connect like this and travel up and down the trunk, legs, arms, and head.
The meridian system also uses the concept of yin and yang to define how qi flows directionally and maintains balance. The yin and yang principle of duality can be seen in everything: you can’t have dark without light, or hot without cold. It is the same with your organs: you have “yin” organs that are solid (heart, liver, spleen, kidney, and lungs) and “yang” organs that are hollow (stomach, bladder, gallbladder, large intestine, and small intestine).
Try this Healing modality if...
You tend to be skeptical and want proof that therapy will work.
Acupuncture is backed by satisfying scientific evidence. Research shows acupuncture benefits range from helping relatively minor health complaints like allergies to more serious issues like cancer. There are hundreds of studies published in well respected medical journals that reported positive results.
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The Heal Center of Atlanta
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