On this page you'll find a comprehensive
explanation on acupuncture and acupuncture treatments
WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE
Everybody knows that acupuncture is an Eastern method that uses, amongst other things, needles for curing diseases. The name derives from Latin and means 'puncturing (pungere / punctura) with needles (acu)'. For centuries now acupuncture has been the most important part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (T.C.M.) as used in the Far East, China, Japan and Korea. The reason is that eastern thinking traditions, philosophy and acupuncture have evolved together. In the western world, where acupuncture is of growing importance in medicine, the concept that mind, body and environment interact very closely is now widely accepted.
Acupuncture is based on the concept of energy. Energy in nature regulates (plant)growth, climates, seasons, day and night etc. In man it takes care of all the processes that make people living creatures: Seeing, hearing, thinking, feeling, digestion of food, breathing, sleeping, emotions, reproduction... etc. to make a long story short; everything.
In a natural, healthy situation, all forms of energy between an organism and its environment are in balance with each other. Disease, however is, to put it simply, a disorder of the natural balance. In cases in which the body is not capable of restoring the balance again by itself, acupuncture can offer help.
YIN AND YANG / THE 5 ELEMENTS
To explain the movement of energy in man and nature, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the Yin and Yang concept and the theory of the 5 elements. Yin and Yang are counter poles; they are each others opposites in which life is searching for harmony and balance.Yin represents everything that's descending, going inside, is dark and cool; it takes care of rest, nourishment, night, winter, water etc.
Yang ascends, goes from the inside towards the outside. It's warm, light, active, protecting, day, summer, fire etc. Yin and Yang are neither good nor bad; they are 2 opposites that are supplemental, transit into and are dependent on each other... After a while Yin becomes Yang and Yang becomes Yin, like day becomes night, summer becomes winter and action becomes rest.
Health in this philosophy means a balance between Yin and Yang. Illness means that one of the two is too strong or too weak. For example: it's possible to have a 'Yang disease' like fever, inflammation, red rash or a 'Yin disease' like arthrosis or oedema. With acupuncture the weak pole can be strengthened and the strong pole can be inhibited.
Another starting-point of acupuncture is the theory of the 5 elements. In this way of thinking everything, including energy, passes cyclic. In nature this can be seen for example in the seasons, in the body in the interaction between the main organs.
In variance to the Western way of thinking the acupuncturistic point of view is that every organ has many more functions. For example the Lungs, apart from breathing, also take care of the throat, nose, mucous membranes, body hair, skin, the emotion of sorrow and clear judgement. Another example: the Heart provides energy for circulation of blood but also for sleeping, dreaming, ones radiance, perspiration, tongue and speech. Stuttering from this point of view can be seen as a disturbance of the Heart energy.
When there is a weakness or blockage in the flow of energy of one of the 10 organs, this will influence not only this one organ, but also has impact on the energy of other organs. In the long run a web of complaints may arise from this disbalance that may look vague and unconnected to each other but for an acupuncturist they can be related and tracked down to one main source.
THE CHANNELS (MERIDIANS)
On these channels lie the so called acupuncture points which the acupuncturist can use to influence the flow of energy in the channels. This can be done by needles but also by other therapeutic means like heat and so on. By putting a needle into an acupuncture point, the acupuncturist can strengthen or diminish specific organ energy to regain harmony in organ functions and cure diseases.
WHAT DOES A TREATMENT LOOK LIKE
During the first session a complete acupuncture examination takes place. This can sometimes take as long as 1-2 hours. The acupuncturist will ask many different questions about various bodily functions and all aspects of your health. Several points on the body will furthermore be palpated and your tongue will be examined. Also the acupuncturist will closely monitor your pulse. Then the acupuncturist will make a diagnosis and will start the subsequent treatment.
Needles will not always be used. It's also possible to use warmth, massage, herbs, nutrition scheme's, manipulations etc.. Currently specific current or laser can also be used for acupuncture treatment. Subsequent treatment sessions will start with a short questioning so the acupuncturist can interact with the state of the complaints at the very moment of the treatment. This way there is no standard treatment for a complaint.
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE AN ACUPUNCTURIST
There are not many cases in which you couldn't go to an acupuncturist for treatment. Common diseases eligible for acupuncture treatment are:
- Headache, migraine, menopause related complaints
- Skin diseases, acne, psoriasis, eczema, itching, rash etc.
- Sleeping problems, dreaming, bed wetting
- Digestion problems, constipation, stomach pains, diarrhea
- Menstruation related complaints
- Arthritis, muscle pain, low back pain, epicondylitis
- Facial pains, herpes zoster
- Stress related complaints, fears, nervosity
- Allergic complaints, hay fever
- Asthma, bronchitis, chronic common cold, sinusitis
- But also complaints with "indefinite cause".
- It's also possible to treat addictions like smoking, eating, drugs etc.
Acupuncture is no wonder-treatment and you don't "have to believe in it" before it cures. It's an effective medical science that can support and replenish western medicine. It has, when used in a proper way, no bad side-effects.
However we advise everyone first to visit their qualified physician with their health problems before consulting an acupuncturist. Furthermore it's very important before you start treatment by an acupuncturist, that you verify if he or she is properly trained and a member of a professional association.