Theory

The Wisdom of the Ancients

Basic Theory of Acupuncture

In traditional acupuncture, the practitioner has three goals:

1. To treat the patient as a whole organism where physical body and mind together form a unique relationship with the environment.

2. To seek a cause for disease and distress.

3. To assist the patient in becoming renewed, revitalized, and to reach his/her full potential.

To achieve these goals, acupuncture rebalances energy -- Qi -- within the body. Qi affects all aspects of life including one's spirit, emotional, mental and physical well being. Qi exists in all living organisms and how Qi flows through the body as well as through wood, fire, earth, water, metal/air (the five elements of the universe), affects how we humans function in our world. Acupuncture treatment re-establishes the balance of these five elements.

Qi . . . life's energy . . . travels through the body along meridians or channels and it is through these channels, by way of the acupuncturists' tools, that the acupuncturist assists his patients in achieving health. For when the Qi is obstructed due to life's disturbances, including climatic changes, diet, life-style, and stress, blockages are formed consisting of the buildup of lactic acid and carbon monoxide which manifest themselves by stiffness, pain, and disease.

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20th C. STUDIES SCIENTIFICALLY EXPLAIN ACUPUNCTURE'S SUCCESS

During the 70's -- Dr. Avram Goldstein at Stanford University discovered a natural substance in the body he called endorphins, a natural chemical we now know alleviates physical pain.

During the 80's -- In a 10 year study, Dr. Phillip Toyama took bloodsamples from patients before and after they received acupuncture. He was able to show that acupuncture procedures stimulate the production of endorphins and other natural body chemicals which promote healing and block pain.

During the 90's -- Dr. Douglas Lipton in a New York City clinic, examined crack cocaine abusers in a trial study in which acupuncture given on a daily basis diminished drug abuse. Urinalysis results indicated significantly lower cocaine levels. Another study by Dr. Janet Konefal in Miami using similar tests showed a faster rate of "being clean" over time with patients receiving acupuncture treatment than those who did not.

WILL IT HURT? IS IT SAFE? 

Skilled practitioners incorporate contemporary technology while following ancient customs. Acupuncturists use only sterile and disposable stainless steel needles as thin as a hair, as well as heat producing materials such as moxi (an herb), and the Infratonic QGM which electronically simulates a healer's hands. You experience no bleeding and pain is minimal or non-existent. Acupuncture has no side-effects and transmits no disease from patient to patient.

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History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Oriental system of medicine in which needles are used for the cure of disease. It is a completely empirical field of medicine that has been tested with effective results for over 3,000 years. The word ‘acupuncture' comes from two Latin words, ‘acus' and ‘puncture.' Acus means needles and puncture means pricking.

In China, an Emperor's Manual of Internal Medicine appeared in the 5th Century B.C.; in the 6- 7th Century A.D., educational institutions were founded in China and Korea in which special disciplines were established for the training of medical students in acupuncture and in moxibustion.

During the 10th Century A.D., a human figure of bronze marked with acupuncture points was cast for the teaching of acupuncture points. These points are remarkably similar to the nerve points identified in old European texts.

Somewhere between 1644 and 1911, from the Ching dynasty, then acupuncture suffered a setback with feudal emperors, and the introduction of Western medicine in the Orient, acupuncture lost its continuity and was almost forgotten.

Revived in China in 1912, it was dramatically re-introduced to the United States when diplomatic relations with China were resumed in the early 1970's.

In Korea, a very powerful form of the constitutional five (5) elements technique was developed during the Chosun Dynasty over 400 years ago by the priest, Sa-Am.

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How Does Acupuncture Work?   What Diseases are Most Commonly Treated by Acupuncture?

Theoretically, any diseases that is acted upon by the body's functional and vital processes can be helped or cured by acupuncture. One of the great contributions of ancient Oriental medicine was the recognition that physical and mental diseases are linked together. In the United States, proof that body and psyche are really part and parcel of the same physiological system did not come until the early 1950's, with the development of the first tranquilizers.

Yet, more than 5000 years ago, from the standpoint of Oriental medicine, there was no difference between a physical and a mental disease. They knew then that a physical disease can have a mental origin, and a mental disorder can have a physical cause. Each may be treated by acupuncture.

Not feeling up to one's top capacity, lack of energy and general discomfort can, if allowed to go on too long, be forewarnings of disease. If immediately treated by acupuncture, the general malaise is corrected, a feeling of well being is restored, and the patient can avoid the consequences of later developing more serious symptoms.

Acupuncture is not the same as hypnosis, as some people believe. It works on animals just as effectively as on human beings.

The list below is only a representative selection of diseases treated by acupuncture that are relatively easier to help. It does not mention the more difficult ones. While not a general panacea, acupuncture comprises a complete system of medicine within that branch of medicine that deals with treatment and cure of disease.
  

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  Is Acupuncture Painful?

As a general rule, it is not painful at all. In some areas, a sensation may be felt, but this is only momentary. In most cases, the needles cannot be felt at all. 

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What is Moxibustion

Mugwort: Possesses a warm and pungent nature and is capable of warming and clearing the channels, which is meridian, and removing pathogenic cold, dampness. Creates a smooth flow of energy, increases blood circulation and strengthens energy, prevents disease and maintains health.

Moxibustion: Heat applied therapy using dry mugworts in conjunction with acupuncture. Especially, effective in cold symptoms, ulceration, menstrual pain, endometriosis, infertility, discharging blood, bronchitis, diarrhea, asthma, hemorrhoid, prostatitis, any weak conditions and many others.

The Effects of Moxibustion

Moxibustion is based on the scientific basis which keep the balance of body and strengthen the resitant power to diseases by chemical operation of special proteins that form from the inside of the body by burning mugwork to points or certain locations on the body.

First, makes quick recovery from diseases by operations of special proteins made from burning mugwort. The special proteins are absorbed in the blood and circulate to the whole body and react to the diseased areas.

Second, makes the motion of cells active and gives vitality to the whole body. Specifically, stimulating the weak cells making those cells strong and reproductive.

Third, helps the circulation of the blood and lymph.

Fourth, changes the component of the blood.

Prevents the acidification of the blood. The blood can do its function normally only when the blood is neutral or of weak alkalinity. If the blood becomes acidic it has a bad effect on the brain system, nervous system, bone marrow, etc... The moxibustion prevents the acidification of the blood and helps the improvement of the physical constitution.

Fifth, changes the secretions of hormones. Hormones are secreted by the endocrine glands. They have a specific effect on an organ or tissued or a general effect on the entire body, as in the case of the thyroid hormone, which affects the rate of metabolism. Various kinds of diseases may result from hypo-secretion, in which an inadequate amount of the hormones are secreted, or hyper-secretion, in which excessive amounts of hormones are produced. For example, diabetes results from the inadequate production of insulin secreted by beta cells of the islets of Langerhands of the pancreas. Moxibustion is effective to increase the resistant power to the diseases and improves health because it can help to control the secretion of hormones.

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Are There Any "Do's and Don'ts"
for Me on the Day of a Treatment?

Yes. To enhance the value of a treatment, the following guidelines are important:

• Do not eat an unusually large meal immediately before or after your treatment.

• Do not over-exercise, engage in sexual activity, or consume alcoholic beverages within one (1) hour before or after the treatment.

• Plan your activities so that after the treatment you can get some rest, or at least not have to be working at top performance. This is especially important for the first few visits.

• Continue to take any prescription medicines as directed by your regular doctor. Substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) especially in the week prior to treatment, will seriously interfere with the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments.

• Remember to keep good mental or written notes of what your response is to the treatment. This is important for your practitioner to know so that the follow-up treatments can be designed to best help you and your problem.

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