The healing
modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are many, but the most
well known fall into four categories, the first of which is acupuncture.
Acupuncture is the use of thread fine surgical steel needles at specific
points on your body to remove blockages in the energetic system that
regulates your health. These acupoints are sites along the meridians
that have a regulatory mechanism on the Qi of the whole meridian.
Acupuncture is virtually painless and perfectly safe when performed by
an expert under strict clinical conditions. Acupuncture works as a
regulatory modality and is a powerful tool that can bring every form of
disharmony and disease back into equilibrium.
Acupuncture is endorsed by the World Health Organization, the National
Institute of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. More important
than those endorsements is the fact that millions of people have
consistently used acupuncture for thousands of years. Their meticulous
records present us with a body of clinical knowledge that is unmatched
by any other medicine. The research on acupuncture continues today and
incorporates strict scientific methods that continue to prove the worth
of this powerful modality.
Other modalities that fall under the general heading of acupuncture are
moxabustion and cupping.
Moxabustion is the use of an herb called Aie Ye (artemisia vulgarus or
mugwort), to warm and heat the meridians of the body. Disease often
arises from cold which stagnates the Qi in the meridians and Aie Ye is
rolled into a cylinder that resembles a cigar, ignited so that it
smolders and held very close to the skin at specific acupoints to warm
the Qi in the meridians. This type of therapy is particularly useful on
arthritic conditions and sports injuries.
Cupping is the use of glass jars or cups that have the air drawn out of
them in order to create a vacuum. The suction pulls the superficial
layers of skin and fascia apart or pulls adhesions between muscle tissue
apart. This allows the synovial fluid to seep back between the tissues
and relieves pain from adhesion that is associated with sprains and
strains of muscle tissue.
Acupuncture, moxabustion and cupping can be used together or separately
to regulate your bioenergy and brig you back to a more perfect state of
balance and health. |
