Very basic acupuncture article

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Here is a link to a very basic article on acupuncture which goes into

Eastern and Western theories as to why it works. You'll need the Adobe

reader in order to access the article, but you can download this from the

itm site if you don't have it already installed on your computer.

 

>http://www.itmonline.org/pdf/acuintro.pdf

 

The traditional Chinese view of why acupuncture works is that it regulates

the flow of Qi and Blood. The Western viewpoint is that it activates

" signaling systems " . In other words it increases or decreases certain

chemicals in the body or at the site of the needling or in other parts of

the body. These can include endorphins produced in the body (natural pain

relievers and feel-good substances), neurotransmitters, prostaglandins, etc.

 

It's important to realize that these two different views of why acupuncture

works are not mutually exclusive. They are not either one is true and the

other is false or the other is true and the first false. The article points

out that sometimes the TCM approach is the best, and sometimes the Western

approach is the best. The author gives the example of some cases of chronic

pain " might best be analyzed in terms of which meridians are blocked " and

relieving the pain through the appropriate points on the meridian. (BTW,

Yin Deficiency also can cause a person to have a low pain threshold.)

 

On the other hand, some cases of chronic pain may best be analyzed according

to a more Western viewpoint of which muscle groups are affected and the

appropriate trigger points needled (as in Fibromyalgia Syndrome).

 

The author also gives the example of immune system problems. Sometimes the

more traditional approach of analyzing Organ systems according to TCM

principles and treating accordingly is the best approach. In other cases,

the more Western approach of " stimulating points that have been recently

identified as immune regulators " is the best approach. BTW, Gach, in

Acupressure's Potent Points identifies Large Intestine 4 as an antihistamine

point. (Note: LI 4 is contraindicated in pregnant women because it can

bring on labor prematurely.)

 

The article also mentions 14 of the points that tend to get used the most.

This is a good starting point for readers who are interested in learning

more about acupuncture but are overwhelmed with there being so many to

learn. This list is a good, basic starting point.

 

Victoria

 

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