Acupuncture: Ancient Wisdom….Modern applications
The Chinese characters for acupuncture point allude to a “cave we enter to meditate”. Although I can not anticipate what you will find in your cave, I can invite you, through the practice of acupuncture, to enter a state of consciousness that will allow you to connect with the healer in you.
The Chinese gave each acupuncture point a number of names that will assist us in understanding the kind of pathways your energy needs to flow into to restore balance.
A bit of history…
Chinese Medicine has been practiced as a health care modality for over 3,000 years. Acupuncture and Moxibustion are one of the four pillars that Oriental Medicine uses to treat physical and emotional imbalances; the other three being: Herbal Medicine, Qi Gong and Nutrition.
The ancient Chinese physicians believed strongly that “a superior healer is one who treats a disease before it shows symptoms, while an inferior one treats a disease only after it has manifested pain or discomfort,” (Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor, 100 B.C.). They proposed that prevention should be our primary focus for health rather than the treatment of a disease. Acupuncture was first developed and used as a preventative form of treatment.
In modern times we use acupuncture to treat a variety of physical and emotional imbalances ranging form endocrine, circulatory and systemic conditions.
How does Acupuncture work?
Imagine a river…..Whenever a river flows, it carries water that provides nourishment and sustenance for life in our planet.
Similarly, acupuncture meridians are the rivers where Qi (vital force) flows inside of us. Follow this link for a very insightful experience of Chi from one of my patients.
Different stresses affect meridians and organs in different ways, disrupting or blocking Qi flow. If a garden hose is blocked, it can’t provide an adequate supply of water to a plant. Eventually the plant will be unable to thrive, grow and blossom. Likewise, a blockage in our body meridians will restrict the supply of nourishment to support our cells, tissues, muscles, organs and glands.
This blockage can manifest into various signs and symptoms like headaches, allergies, gut sensitivities, constipation and joint pain, to name but a few. Over time, the body as a whole becomes weakened, and its self-healing abilities compromised. Eventually, it becomes susceptible to pain, disease and ill health.
When I invite a sterile hair-like tiny needle into your body, Qi (chee) flows through that acupuncture meridian as an invisible current, energizing, nourishing and supporting every cell, tissue, muscle, organ and gland. That is why we say that “Acupuncture helps your own Qi restore its healthy balance”. When Qi flows freely, your body’s natural self-healing abilities are activated, allowing internal stability and harmony to occur. This way, your body will have again a chance to flourish and true health and well-being can be restored.
Acupuncture Styles
Chinese Medicine has evolved over thousands of years and over a vast geographical area (all of the nations of East Asia and beyond). It has been subjected to many different cultural and political influences. The end result is a system that lives today in numerous interpretations and regional variations that we call acupuncture styles.
As a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1, I tend to draw inspiration and knowledge from these two styles:
- Japanese style Acupuncture in which we follow a palpation sequence designed to provide instant feedback from you for us both to understand how well the treatment is working. It is this partnership that allows me to establish a diagnosis based on what your body informs me through touch.
- Alchemical Acupuncture as transmitted by Taoist Teacher Dr Jeffrey Yuen. In my experience, the connections that patients establish during the acupuncture session both on the physical and soul levels, allow them to connect and interact with the wisdom of their inner Universe. This new awareness becomes a bridge for them to restore their bodies’ natural rhythm by shinning the light of insight and understanding into the nature of the present imbalance and its (sometimes) hidden potential for inner growth.
Looking forward to partnering up in Health!
Yamin Chehin L.Ac
Healing Cycles 