Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Acupuncture is a traditional medical technique to unlock the chi (ch’i or qi) by inserting needles into specific points on the body to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang. Chi is an energy that allegedly permeates all things. It is believed that flows through the body along 14 main pathways called meridians. When yin and yang are in harmony, chi flows freely within the body and a person is healthy. When a person is sick or injured, there is an obstruction of chi along one of the meridians. China Medicine has identified 500 suit symbols specific points where needles are to be incerta for specific effects.
Acupuncture has been practiced in China for over 2000 years (although some think that has been around for 4000 years.) Today, the needles are twirled, heated, or even stimulated with weak electrical current, ultrasound, or certain levels of light. But no matter how it is done, scientific research has never been able to demonstrate that unblocking chi by acupuncture or any other means is effective against any disease. Chi is defined as being undetectable by the methods of empirical science.
The defense of acupuncture most commonly offered is that it works, this means that relieves some of the medical burden. More often it simply means that a customer is satisfied, it is that it feels better at the moment.
The most common claim of success in acupuncture is in the area of pain management. Studies have shown that many acupuncture points richly equipped are more nerve endings in the skin areas that surround them. Some researchers suggest that introducing needles into certain points affects the nervous system and stimulates the body’s natural chemical pain killers such as endorphins and enkephalins, and triggers the release of certain neural hormones including serotonin. Another theory suggests that acupuncture blocks the transmission of pain impulses from parts of CERP central nervous system.
Acupuncture is used every day but as an alternative treatment around the world.
