acupuncture

Acupuncture is a millennia-old form of therapy in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The word acupuncture was composed of the two Latin terms acus = needle and pungere = sting. During treatment, certain points of the body are provided with an acupuncture needle. This needling is said to activate self-healing, have a positive effect on general health and cure various diseases. Acupuncture is not used in traditional Chinese medicine as the sole form of therapy, but usually together with other natural remedies. Judging by grave finds, there was a kind of acupuncture in China as early as 200 BC.

contents

Life energy as a basis
Different types of Qi
Meridians with their acupuncture points
Course of an acupuncture treatment
Effects of acupuncture
areas of application
Contraindications
Special forms of acupuncture

Life energy as a basis

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, where acupuncture is at home, life energy is referred to as the so-called qi (pronounced "chi"). Here Qi is the basis of all life. According to the teachings of TCM, qi occurs in the macrocosm, that is, everywhere in the universe, but also in the microcosm, that is, in every human body, qi flows. According to Chinese doctrine, this type of life force flows through the body in certain paths and also accumulates in all organs. The energy channels are called meridians. Qi is to be understood as a kind of transport medium that protects, has a control function, provides heat and food.

The needles in the acupuncture points are supposed to influence the flow of qi. Image: B. Wylezich / fotolia.com

Different types of Qi

According to TCM, various types of Qi exist. So there is a source Qi that prevails in the prenatal time, in the womb. This vital energy provides warmth and healthy development of the body. In the spleen, according to the teachings of TCM, the so-called food qi is created from food. This is important for the energy of the body and primarily supplies the internal organs and the musculoskeletal system. Another Qi is the respiratory Qi, which the person absorbs through the breath and which is then brought to the lungs and heart in the body. The clear qi is the life energy of nature, which we also absorb with our breathing. The Qi, which then flows in the meridians, the energy channels of the body, is called True Qi. True qi supplies all organs.

From the point of view of Chinese medicine, health means a balanced existence of qi. Disease, on the other hand, is a condition in which the life energy can not flow properly, congestion or blockages occur. A healthy life energy can, in the view of TCM, by heat, cold. Moisture, one-sided nutrition, various mental factors, drugs, alcohol and much more get out of step.

Meridians with their acupuncture points

In TCM, twelve main meridians are distinguished from eight minor meridians. The main meridians are connected with the internal organs and limbs. The secondary meridians are not unique and do not represent a closed cycle.

The main meridians are divided into yin and yang meridians. Yin and Yang, according to the teachings of TCM, represent opposing principles and qualities contained in every living being. Yang, for example, corresponds to the day, the sun and the sky. Yang has male energy, corresponds to the left brain, means fullness and is associated with the organs gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, large intestine and heart. Yin is the female element that corresponds to the Earth and the night, stands for the right half of the brain and affects the organs liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney. Yin meridians are the heart meridian, renal meridian, liver meridian, lung meridian, spleen-pancreas meridian and pericardial meridian. The Yang meridians include the small intestine meridian, bladder meridian, biliary meridian, colon meridian, gastric meridian, and the triple-heater meridian.

About 400 acupuncture points are arranged on the main meridians. In order to find these, therapists focus on exact, topographical assignments. The acupuncture points are classified into alarm points, antique points, approval points, passing points and swelling points. Alarm points, as the name implies, usually respond to pressure with pain. You are in the vicinity of an organ and can interpret early on a morbid event. Antique points are called the start or end points of the meridians. Approval points are on the bubble meridian. These points affect the most diverse organs and tissues. They are also included in the treatment. If, for example, the intestine is affected and therefore points of the small intestine meridian are used for the treatment, additional approval points on the bladder meridian are important.

Course of an acupuncture treatment

First, the prevailing imbalance in the patient's body is determined based on a detailed history. This results in the selected acupuncture points, which are necessary for a successful treatment. These are acupunctured with the help of fine, thin needles. This means that the selected points are pierced with the fine acupuncture needles. Depending on whether it is a filling or emptying condition, the needle is turned to the right or left. This principle is based on traditional knowledge from Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In a single treatment, up to fifteen needles are used. These linger for up to thirty minutes in the skin. The acupuncture is performed while the patient is lying down. A rest period of about fifteen minutes joins the acupuncture. A treatment cycle of five to ten acupuncture sessions is the norm. For extremely sensitive people or even children, the duration of treatment is adjusted accordingly. For the acupuncture treatment sterile disposable needles are used. Occasionally, inserting the needle into the skin can be painful and / or cause a sensation of warmth or heaviness. But then this is also the proof that the right acupuncture point was hit.

Effects of acupuncture

The acupuncture treatment affects the nervous system, both the vegetative and the peripheral. It affects the blood flow in the body, has stimulating or sedating effects on the hormone system. The acupuncture needles hit nerve cells. These are stimulated by the pressure and give impulses to the spinal cord, certain substances are released, which can have, for example, an analgesic or anti-inflammatory effect. It has also been found that acupuncture therapy can affect the production of serotonin and glucocorticoids. Serotonin belongs to the group of neurotransmitters. It regulates the body temperature, sleep and has an influence on the emotional life. Glucocorticoids belong to the steroid hormones and have in addition to a variety of tasks an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect.

In histological examinations it was found that especially at acupuncture points frequent Meißner tactile corpuscles (sensitive receptors in the skin) occur. Acupuncture points have up to 85 percent lower electrical skin resistance than the rest of the skin. Gauges that are used to visit acupuncture points use this feature.

areas of application

Here, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined specific areas of application for acupuncture treatment. These are neurological and orthopedic diseases, diseases of the digestive tract, as well as the mouth and respiration. Acupuncture is also used for gynecological complaints. It is often used in the treatment of pain and can reduce the need for anesthesia during surgery. Even complaints such as tinnitus, headaches and back pain can possibly be treated successfully with acupuncture.

Contraindications

In weak people and children under twelve, acupuncture is generally not applied. Use in a pregnant woman must be considered very critical.

Ear acupuncture is a special, commonly used form of traditional Chinese healing method. (Image: photophonie / fotolia.com)

Special forms of acupuncture

The ear acupuncture represents a well-known special form. Here, needles are used, which are quite flat and are therefore used as permanent needles. This means that they stay in the skin for several days. Other special forms are foot acupuncture, skull acupuncture, oral acupuncture, eye acupuncture and color acupuncture. In some cases, the moxa herb is added to the classic acupuncture. This is applied in small balls to the ends of the needles and ignited. According to the teachings of TCM, moxa herb should have additional effects here. Special forms of massage, such as acupressure or shiatsu, also work with acupuncture points. These are not stung but stimulated with massage techniques. In naturopathy, injections are often given to certain acupuncture points. This is a combination of acupuncture and injection that enhances the effect of both therapies. (Sw)