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Acupuncture is best known as a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) with the first written record found in The Yellow Emperors
Classic of Internal Medicine dated 4700 years ago. Acupuncture
is a technique which involves the insertion of needles through the skin
at specific points on the body in order to produce a desired healing
effect. TCM is based on observation and experimentation over many years. Ancient
Chinese medical practitioners formulated explanations based on these
observations and their understanding of physiology and anatomy. They theorized that the body has an energy force, called Qi (pronounced 'chee') running through it. The Qi consists of all essential life activities which include the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical aspects of life. A person's health is influenced by the flow of Qi in the body. If the flow of Qi is ineffective, unbalanced, or interrupted, illness may occur. Qi was theorized to travel through the body along specific pathways or meridians. Acupuncture
points are specific locations along the meridians and stimulation of
specific points is thought to restore balance of the flow of Qi. Modern scientific methods continue to produce more insight into the validity and efficacy of acupuncture. New
knowledge of the complex interactions of the nervous system with all
the organ systems and immune responses continue to provide better
explanation of how acupuncture works. While
the Chinese explanation of moving Qi may not match our current
understandings of neurophysiology and biochemistry, their observations
of the effect of small needles at specific points affecting physiology,
neurology, and health are being proven valid. |