Acupuncture points used for treatment may or may not be in the same body region as the symptom. The traditional Chinese medicinal theory is that the selection of these points is based on the fact that they stimulate the meridian system and bring relief to ailments by rebalancing the yin and yang in our body and regulating the flow of chi.
Body acupuncture points are located by using a unit of measure called the ‘cun’.
This is calculated in accordance with the proportional distances from various landmarks on the body. Acupuncture points, therefore, are determined by these landmark points.
These anatomical landmarks are determined by palpation, by which we mean the ability to diagnose illness by touch. There are some 400 acupuncture points recognized by the World Health Organization on the meridians.
Some basic points are very rarely used. Some are used much more frequently and are more ‘valuable’ than others because they can treat many different conditions. Location of acupuncture points by feeling for tenderness of the skin is a common way. Acupuncture points can also be found by looking for minute changes in temperature on the skin surface and even the ‘stickiness’ of the skin or tissue.
Body acupuncture points are referred to by their traditional Chinese names or through the meridians on which they are found, followed by a number. This indicates the order of the point on the actual meridian.
For example, a common point on the hand is the ‘hegu’. It is also known as LI4 which means that is the fourth point on the long intestine meridian.
torsdag 5 juni 2008
What is Acupuncture Points/Acupoints
Acupuncture points are specific points found on your body which are the focus of acupuncture and other forms of acupuncture which we will look into a little later.
Hundreds of acupuncture points are found on the meridians but there are also many other extra acupuncture points that are not inked to any particular meridian as such.
As we mentioned before in the discussion of the organs, acupuncturists view the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine in functional rather than structural terms. What this means is that concepts are more crucial in patient diagnosis and treatment than describing anatomy.
Actually there is little or no anatomical evidence for the existence of these acupuncture points or even meridians. However there is considerable evidence of the effects of acupuncture on the appropriate acupuncture points. Neuro-imaging research has shown that certain acupuncture points have effects that are not otherwise predictable
Hundreds of acupuncture points are found on the meridians but there are also many other extra acupuncture points that are not inked to any particular meridian as such.
As we mentioned before in the discussion of the organs, acupuncturists view the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine in functional rather than structural terms. What this means is that concepts are more crucial in patient diagnosis and treatment than describing anatomy.
Actually there is little or no anatomical evidence for the existence of these acupuncture points or even meridians. However there is considerable evidence of the effects of acupuncture on the appropriate acupuncture points. Neuro-imaging research has shown that certain acupuncture points have effects that are not otherwise predictable
The Channels or Meridians
Channels or meridians are the pathways for chi and the connection between the vital organs or zang fu. The Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature published by the World Health Organization lists some 20 meridians.
These 20 meridians are further divided into ‘standard meridians’; one meridian each for the twelve major organs. Each meridian is responsible for nourishing that particular organ. There are also 8 ‘extraordinary’ meridians – only two of which have their own set points, the other six connecting various points on the other meridians.
The twelve main meridians are the pathways that connect our inner world with the outer world.
Chi is always flowing through our bodies. Chi enters our body at specific points in a particular meridian and flows out of the opposite end. This energy then enters the next meridian in the sequence. It continues to flow through the entire body, one meridian after the other. This flow cycle takes 24 hours to complete.
Each of the twelve main meridians is active for two particular hours in the day. The does not mean that for the remaining twenty two hours the meridian is not functioning, but simply that the activity of chi in those meridians is reduced.
The twelve standard meridians follow the arms and legs. They provide and regulate chi for the lungs, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, urinary bladder, kidney, pericardium, gall bladder, liver and the triple warmer (the torso). It is important to note that these refer to functions of the mentioned organs rather than the structural organ.
The meridians are also divided according to yin and yang. The yin meridians of the arms include the lung, heart and pericardium. The yang meridians of the arms include both the large and small intestine and the triple warmer. The yin meridians of the leg are the liver, kidney and spleen. The yang meridians of the leg include the gall bladder, the urinary bladder and the stomach.
These 20 meridians are further divided into ‘standard meridians’; one meridian each for the twelve major organs. Each meridian is responsible for nourishing that particular organ. There are also 8 ‘extraordinary’ meridians – only two of which have their own set points, the other six connecting various points on the other meridians.
The twelve main meridians are the pathways that connect our inner world with the outer world.
Chi is always flowing through our bodies. Chi enters our body at specific points in a particular meridian and flows out of the opposite end. This energy then enters the next meridian in the sequence. It continues to flow through the entire body, one meridian after the other. This flow cycle takes 24 hours to complete.
Each of the twelve main meridians is active for two particular hours in the day. The does not mean that for the remaining twenty two hours the meridian is not functioning, but simply that the activity of chi in those meridians is reduced.
The twelve standard meridians follow the arms and legs. They provide and regulate chi for the lungs, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, urinary bladder, kidney, pericardium, gall bladder, liver and the triple warmer (the torso). It is important to note that these refer to functions of the mentioned organs rather than the structural organ.
The meridians are also divided according to yin and yang. The yin meridians of the arms include the lung, heart and pericardium. The yang meridians of the arms include both the large and small intestine and the triple warmer. The yin meridians of the leg are the liver, kidney and spleen. The yang meridians of the leg include the gall bladder, the urinary bladder and the stomach.
Physiology in terms of acupuncture
When describing our physiology in terms of acupuncture, we need to concern ourselves with meridians and acupuncture points or acupoints (as we will call them now). We have already established that meridians are the channels through which chi flows in our body between the main twelve organs. Acupoints are various points along these meridians through which we are able to manipulate the flow of energy.
Acupuncture and Chaos Theory
This theory is based on the idea that sometimes systems may seem random and often even chaotic, whereas in reality they follow a much deeper order that can only be explained by reference to complex formulae.
Chaotic systems can be tamed by recognizing the multiple patterns that cause the appearance of chaos and then adjusting or modifying one or more of those patterns or symptoms with many small inputs. Acupuncture is exactly such a series of small inputs that influences the seemingly chaotic human body.
Chaotic systems can be tamed by recognizing the multiple patterns that cause the appearance of chaos and then adjusting or modifying one or more of those patterns or symptoms with many small inputs. Acupuncture is exactly such a series of small inputs that influences the seemingly chaotic human body.
Acupuncture and Fractal Theory
Fractals are patterns that remain the same at all sizes. In simpler terms, the whole structure of the object is composed of many thousands of miniature versions of the object.
It is believed that the stimulation of acupuncture points affects remote parts of the body due to fractal resonance. For example, the foot is often seen as ‘mini-body’ and treating the foot will therefore yield results for ailments in other parts of the body.
It is believed that the stimulation of acupuncture points affects remote parts of the body due to fractal resonance. For example, the foot is often seen as ‘mini-body’ and treating the foot will therefore yield results for ailments in other parts of the body.
Acupuncture Hologram Theory
Our lives began in the womb as a single cell. Then (according to acupuncture theory) it is safe to say that there is a part in the whole and the whole in the part at the same time. This is what is sometimes known as the hologram theory of acupuncture.
If you were to take apart a holographic image, then a fragment of the image will represent the whole image, although it is obviously considerably less detailed. Therefore, every cell in our body is related to every other cell in the body and every one therefore affects every other one. From this perspective, applying acupuncture to a particular region can affect a seemingly unrelated region.
If you were to take apart a holographic image, then a fragment of the image will represent the whole image, although it is obviously considerably less detailed. Therefore, every cell in our body is related to every other cell in the body and every one therefore affects every other one. From this perspective, applying acupuncture to a particular region can affect a seemingly unrelated region.
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