Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come.

- Chinese proverb

Introduction

What is Acupuncture or Acupressure?

by Stella Rodgers CSNU DCHAc CMIR

Simply put it is the ancient art of re-aligning the body to help it repair itself - using points on the body where energies meet - with needles or without using the traditional stimulating methods of 'Tui Na' and or electro acupuncture for acute problems.

It can be used to treat muscular pains in local areas - too much gardening for example - or sports injuries like a badly sprained knee or elbow, or internal organ problems.

More than a thousand doctors practice a form of acupuncture in the UK. Elsewhere in Europe, doctors who practice acupuncture are in even greater numbers that in the UK, with France numbering more than 5000 and Germany numbering over 4000.

Acupuncture is becoming a modern medicine science, with the advances of electro-acupuncture, laser acupuncture and TENS Pain Management. Acupuncture is also fast becoming accepted as a mainstream form of treatment.

I'm pleased to help with any other information through the Email which is on the Main Menu - at the top left of the page.

Healing and Medicine ~ Eastern and Western Approaches

Eastern and western medicine have come together a bit more in recent years, the west is beginning to understand what the ancients have always known - that the body, emotions, mind, and spirit are all inseparable, in fact … the holistic approach is going to be fashionable!

Hooray!

Please excuse me if I sound frivolous, but it’s my experience that nobody can separate the physical from the emotional, so to me it seems obvious, I have tried it and it doesn't work!

Of course I haven't always known this, I had to experience it for myself.

When going through a divorce I kept telling myself that I was all right, so I didn’t have a ‘mental breakdown’ no, I had a physical one…yes this is possible. I had such sorrow that I lost two stones in a very short time.

If we ignore the needs of one part of ourselves another will protest, simple.

Physical abuse if ignored by the victim often results in a mental breakdown; my experience was in another way. In other words I kept my head but my body gave out. It was not ‘till I had only a few weeks to live that I listened to the specialist, this is how powerful the mind can be when we are determined to ignore all else.

If we look at the organs of the body as houses for different emotions a picture emerges. In Chinese medicine this is how it is viewed.

Family relationships are also used to illustrate the organs and positions on the Chinese medicine charts; I’ve added the partner organs to the list below to illustrate this.

Liver = Anger - “What a gall that person has!” - ‘Partner’ Gall Bladder

Heart = Hysteria - Dad worked himself up into a heart attack - ‘Partner' Small Intestines - a heart attack can be mistaken for indigestion.

Spleen = Worry - Ulcers commonly caused by over work - ‘Partner’ Stomach

Lungs = Sorrow - Pining away for a loved one is very common - ‘Partner’ Large Intestines, malfunction results in starvation when the organs cannot absorb the nutrients.

Kidneys = Fear - Children’s nightmares - peeing with fright - ‘Partner’ Bladder

So, what do you think? Is it possible to die of a ‘broken heart’?

Of course it is!

I was within a short time of doing just that, my body was telling me to change the situation so it could heal itself.

The worry, fear, and sorrow all stopped the digestion and so the tissues started to die.

What is the cure?

Look to our whole situation when you become physically unwell.

Look to our emotions when you feel lacking in energy. Are you draining the batteries?

Look to our mental attitude when you have allowed the whole world to revolve around your own needs first.

Look to our spiritual growth when you feel stuck in a rut. See what you have learned - Needing to progress?

God bless our ‘built in’ programme of rehabilitation!

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The following sections have been put together from the main menu.

Acupuncture and Auricular Therapy

As a spiritualist I find that as in most things when our spirit draws us to find new things in our lives it is always a path that is interesting.

I, like so many people, came to spiritual healing as a patient, and out of curiosity went on to find out how this worked, I wanted to know what had happened to me when I was healed, and it was just the same with Acupuncture, I was curious!

Acupuncture is recorded as at least four thousand years old, and is respected as an ancient craft that evolved through time into a 'unique system'.

Does it work?

The answer is 'Yes it does'.

I speak as a patient, who for many years has had great relief from pain, and also I speak as a witness to my husband’s and my many patients’ progress also.

You might ask me why did I need acupuncture when spiritual healing was so freely available? [See article "The Healing Husband" under True Stories.]

I can only think that the Masters are right when they say that when this happens it's the spirit within that needs something more, and also the 'learning a lesson' part is often taught this way through the medium of pain - I don't know about you, but nothing drives me to greater action than a sharp pain! And anyway, nobody expects that spiritual healing is the only way for the spirit doctors to help us!

Here you see the basics of this beautiful therapy treatment - and I hope it will give a new understanding to all who read it, after all that’s what we're about - isn't it?

The continuous progression on all our paths of understanding!

What are the components of Chinese Medicine?

What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an aspect of traditional Chinese medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years. It became popular in the West in the early Seventies, and is now one of the most widely recognised complementary therapies. It is an integral part of the rapid growth of complementary therapy in the UK and abroad.

Acupuncture is an holistic approach to full body health based on over 2000 years of developments and refinements in the Far East. The skill of the acupuncturist lies in their ability to make a traditional diagnosis from what is often a complex pattern of disharmony. The exact pattern and degree of disharmony is individual to each patient, and acupuncture aims to treat patients with a personalised treatment plan.

How does acupuncture work?
Fine needles are inserted at points around the body to stimulate or suppress the flow of "Chi" - the enigmatic life-force sometimes described as "electro-chemical" or "electro-magnetic" energy. There are about 500 acupoints along 12 energy meridians. 100 of these acupoints are most commonly used.

Acupuncture aims to restore the balance of chi energy - a state of equilibrium when Yin and Yang are in harmony. Acupuncture may help to relieve pain (from injuries to a muscle, or a migraine, for example) and suppress cravings (food, alcohol, cigarettes etc). It is also widely used for stress relief.

Although the needles used in acupuncture don’t hurt, some people are nevertheless put off by their use. Other therapies are available such as acupressure, Tui-Na, auricular therapy etc.

Traditional Chinese Medicine - TCM - is based on the theory that all disorders and illnesses arise from an imbalance. This imbalance can be caused by problems arising from internal organs or the stagnation of energy circulating in the body. The name for the energy lines throughout all our bodies are Meridians. When the meridians or energy channels become blocked, the resulting imbalance of the body can cause pain or illness.

A trained TCM doctor will be able to clear the energy block through acupuncture, and so restore the body's balance. The physician will also seek to strengthen the organs that were giving problems through Chinese Herbal Therapy. Some people have acupuncture as a preventative measure to strengthen their constitution, or because they feel unwell without being "ill" in the Western sense.

What is the main difference between Chinese medicine and Western medicine?
Traditional Chinese medicine treats the cause of the disorder, and Western medicine concentrate more on the symptom of the disorder. For example, two people may have the same symptoms of eczema, but the cause of the complaint may be completely different: one patient may have an imbalance of his or her liver, the other an imbalance of his or her spleen. Whereas a Western doctor may prescribe the same medicine for the ailment, the TCM doctor will treat the underlying cause of eczema and in this case, one patient will be treated for a liver imbalance and the other for a spleen imbalance.

How does a Chinese doctor make a diagnosis?
An Acupuncture doctor will ask you to stick out your tongue whilst probably taking your pulse and from this he or she will be able to make a diagnosis. The condition of your tongue, its overall colour and the coating will tell the doctor about the condition of your internal organs. Each of us has many different pulse rates to which Chinese doctors have been trained to be sensitive. From these pulse rates the doctor will again be able to tell the state of your internal organs.

Is acupuncture painful?

Acupuncture needles bear little resemblance to needles used in blood tests and injections. They are much finer, and are solid rather than hollow. Most people find acupuncture and electro-acupuncture a pleasant and deeply relaxing experience. There should be no pain during the insertion of needles if the doctor is fully trained and experienced. Below you see how small the needles actually are.

Needles are inserted either for a second or two, or left in place for up to 20 minutes, depending on the effect required, and electro therapy can take from 20 to 40 minutes. After acupuncture, you will feel relaxed or even slightly sleepy, so please take care not to tackle anything strenuous for a few hours following your treatment.

The benefits of acupuncture frequently include more than just relief from a particular condition: many people find that it can also lead to increased energy levels, better appetite and sleep, as well as an enhanced sense of overall well being. Infertility and 'morning sickness' are commonly treated also.

It is strongly advised that you make sure that the doctor who treats you is fully qualified, the training is 2-3 years for the much coveted Diploma, which is needed to join the CMIR [Chinese Medical Institute Register.]

How can acupuncture help me?
Below are some of the problems and diseases commonly treated by acupuncture:

What will happen on my first visit?
Your first consultation may be longer than subsequent sessions. The acupuncturist needs to assess your general state of health in order to identify the underlying pattern of disharmony and give you the most effective treatment. You will be asked about your current symptoms and what treatment you have received so far. You will also be asked about your medical history and that of your close family.

The practitioner will also ask you about your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and your general emotional state. To discover how the energies are flowing in your body, the acupuncturist is likely to feel your pulse, noting the quality, rhythm and strength. The structure, colour and coating of your tongue also gives a good guide to physical health.

Once enough information has been gathered to determine the likely causes of your problems, the acupuncturist can select the appropriate treatment. The aim is to discover which energy channels need adjusting for your specific complaint to improve, and which require treatment to boost your overall energy and vitality.

Are there any alternatives to acupuncture?
For people who are not comfortable with the idea of having needles inserted into the body, there are various alternative techniques based on the principles of acupuncture. These chiefly include:

Auricular Therapy

Acupuncture without the needles sounds like an oxymoron but the use of seeds or metallic balls has the stimulating effect very close to that of needles. The ear has such a small layer of underlying tissue beneath the skin, and because of this a hard object like a seed or metallic ball held close to the surface with the smallest possible surgical plaster works very well.

Also this method of treatment is left on the ear for the patient to take home, and so will also be present throughout the week between treatments to enable the patient to continue the stimulation and so, as it were, treat himself!

Does acupuncture conflict with conventional Western medicine?
It can be used alongside conventional medicine in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease. As with any treatment, it may be important to mention certain details about your current state of health, as this will assist the practitioner in his full diagnosis of your condition. Most European Doctors recommended acupuncture as a complement to any western medicine.

Can I prepare in any way for treatment?
Try not to have a big meal within an hour of your appointment as the process of digestion will alter the pattern of your pulse. Also avoid alcohol and food and drinks, [which alter the colour of your tongue just before you have your treatment.]

What about needle sterilisation?
All members of the CMIR (Chinese Medical Institute Register) must observe a code of practice, which lays down stringent standards of hygiene and sterilisation of needles and other equipment, and modern practitioners use disposable needles. These procedures have been approved by the Department of Health, and provides protection against the transmission of infectious diseases.

What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Chinese Herbal Medicine has evolved over 4000 years as a powerful and accurate tool regulating the internal organs and immune system. It assists greatly in helping many skin conditions. All the ingredients used by proper Chinese herbalists are natural, and unlike most Western drugs, have no side-effects.

Over 1000 herbs are used in Chinese medicine and the ingredients all come from the natural flora and fauna of China. A properly trained TCM doctor will be able to prescribe a mixture of different herbs to treat an individual's illness. No two patient prescriptions will be the exactly same, as an herbal prescription is tailored to treat the specific ailment of the individual, unlike Western prescriptions which are standardised by the pharmaceutical companies.

Is my diet important?
Yes, a healthy lifestyle in general is important. Diet, exercise, fresh air, deep breathing, enough sleep, and relaxation all contribute to good physical and mental health.

How does one take Chinese Medicine?
Traditionally, Chinese herbs are boiled in a soup or as tea to extract the essence of the herbs, which is then drunk by the patient.

Is Chinese medicine unpleasant in taste?
Most people find that tea is at least a little bitter and sometimes unpleasant to taste. Honey can be added as a sweetener, but it is generally accepted that the effects of the medicine far outweigh the sometimes a bitter taste. However, the herbal capsule makes Chinese Herbal Therapy more accessible and convenient for busy modern lifestyles.

How long will I need treatment?
Chronic cases can take many years to develop, and it is therefore likely that they will also take quite sometime to respond to treatment and start improving. It is important to allow the treatment time to take effect rather than to expect an instant "miracle cure". The total number of treatments will vary from patient to patient, and your practitioner will discuss your own specific case with you. The longer a problem has had to 'solidify' in a physical system the longer it may take to overcome it.

Is it true that you use the bones of tigers in medicines?
Traditionally ingredients such things were used in Chinese Herbal Medicine. All modern therapists consider the use of these ingredients unethical and, [even if they were legal,] would not consider exploitation of any endangered species.

Should I continue taking medicine prescribed by my GP?
YES.

Chinese medicine in general does not conflict with Western medicine, and may be used as a complementary therapy. However, please inform both your doctors about any current medications you are taking.

What is the role of Chinese Herbal Medicine with acupuncture?
Chinese herbs are said to regulate the internal organs and the immune system. With or without acupuncture, Chinese herbs can be a powerful therapy.

CASE STUDY

Mr.A.P. Depression

Suffered from depression for all of his adult life. He had tried Western medicine, including two types of antidepressants, which gave terrible side effects. The symptoms of the depression were that he couldn’t sleep, eat, felt lethargic and became impotent. He fell into two bouts of serious depression where he thought about killing himself.

He lost 6 kilos in weight and spent 15 months having only 3 hours sleep per night. He described himself as ‘zombie like’ at work and lost his job because of the depression and the effect it was having on his life and his ability to function normally In his own words, Mr. R O'H described himself as ‘a mess.’

The attitude he received from conventional doctors was: ‘if you can’t co-operate, then go away’.

Within 2-3 days after initial treatment he felt he had more energy and was able to think more clearly than he had done in years. After 3-4 months of treatment he says he has benefited so much more than he ever did with Western medicine.

Mr. R O'H now says that his life has ‘opened up’ he is able to laugh and function normally for the first time in years.

We have all heard of Reflexology for the holistic treatment of the body’s functions by manipulation of the feet, so I would explain Auricular Therapy as performing the same function but having the advantage of the patient himself continuing the treatment, and especially in the case of pain relief, as and when needed.

Ear acupuncture therapy treats and prevents diseases by stimulating certain points on the auricle / ear with tiny metal or natural caraway seeds, these are attached to flesh coloured sticking plaster so small we can hardly see them, see a strip of these here....

Alternatively tiny, very thin sterile disposable acupuncture needles can be used, as you also see in this model of an ear pictured below.

The range of indications in ear acupuncture is broad, the method is relatively simple and economical, and there are few side effects, so it has become increasingly popular, you may remember Princess Diana having this treatment for her problems.

The treatment originates from China, and medical workers there charted more than 200 sites on the auricle, but it has been a French acupuncturist and neurosurgeon, Dr. Paul Nogier who explored the ear, not only according to Chinese medical principles, but also scientifically. He paid serious attention to the correspondences between specific sites on the auricle and other parts of the body.

Now, ear acupuncture is used not only in the treatment of a wide range of common diseases we see all around us, but it is also used in the treatment of difficult long term complicated diseases, and even as a surgical analgesia by the specialist.

It is interesting to notice that the charts and diagrams use the image of a baby in the foetal position upside down – the head being on the lobe and the curve of the spine being the very prominent ridge!

Acupuncture is a non-pharmaceutical treatment with simple application, has a wide range of use, good curative effect, and low cost.

The cultural exchange between China and other countries has promoted a global interest in this subject; one could even say the interest in this oldest holistic medical method has come full circle after so many thousand years, ancient to modern.

Acupuncture is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is recorded as at least four thousand years old. Over the past 2500 years medical scholars in each age have contributed to the development and refinement of this wonderful art in China, and it is respected throughout the world as an ancient art that has evolved through time into a unique system.

1000 yrs BC is the oldest record of acupuncture on bone etchings. The period of establishment in ancient China is - 21st-3rd century BC; Xia, Sheng, Zhou dynasties in the autumn & spring periods. In the ancient literature there are records regarding the use of stone needles (long before iron casting.) The discovery of stone needles and medical tools as funerary objects in Stone Age burial mounds brings right up to date the legends regarding acupuncture from the ‘clan commune period’ of primitive society - the period before the written word - which lasted up until about 4,000 years BC.

The Han prince's tomb, Liu Sheng, (113 BC) contained gold acupuncture needles. One such legend, that of a doctor 'Bian Que', tells of the physician portrayed mythically as half-man, half-bird, who came upon a supposedly dead prince. Bian Que noted flaring of his ala nasi [a diagnostic indicator] and treated the prince by administering herbs and needling the well established point for ‘wind invasion’ which is Governor Meridian no: 20. Wind Invasion is a term used to describe amongst other diseases, bronchial & respiratory tract infections.

According to the legend the prince made a miraculous recovery. Although I have not seen this particularly mentioned miracle myself ... but I have frequently witnessed the common cold stopped ‘dead’ in its tracks (excuse the pun) using this point of GV 20 with others myself, before it could turn into a more problematic condition, as you can imagine I am very popular at such times in my family!

The Dutch philosopher Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677) gives a description of pain thus; "A localised form of sorrow." The accidentally pulled ligament or broken bone causes more modern expletives these days, but fortunately can still receive this treatment from a gentler time!

Modern medicine is beginning to understand what the ancients knew without having the jargon to describe it – that endorphins released by the stimulation of acupuncture needles can reduce pain, and in extremis this knowledge is also used in modern hospitals to anesthetize areas for surgical use.

Many years ago I had a young friend who told me of her leg being amputated after an accident using this method, together with hypnosis, because of her inability to tolerate the chemicals otherwise needed. I was not incredulous at that time because I had already read at that time an article by a vet from the then Manchester Zoo who went to China in the 1960’s and witnessed operations on animals in this way.

Acupuncture went into a decline during a political period of Chinese isolation, but the revival of TCM in 1949 brought about by Mao Tse-tung after the War of Liberation, meant that the much valued knowledge, once passed abroad, was returned to its homeland by its faithful adherents.

The University of Beijing, which is now very much in the forefront of international training, proudly exhibits its name on TCM Diplomas.

Question: Does it work?

Answer: 'Yes it does'.

I speak personally as a patient long before becoming a practitioner, indeed I am such an advocate and love to study the subject and its history because I felt and saw the amazing results for family members and myself.

Here I am writing about some of the basics of this ancient healing method and other related therapies - and it is my fondest hope it will give a new understanding and confidence through knowledge.

The main points of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine - TCM - is based on the theory that all disorders and illnesses arise from an imbalance. We’ve all heard of Yin and Yang, and perhaps seen the symbol in black and white of the two united teardrops?

These are symbolic ways of indicating the basic philosophy of all life being a harmony of positive and negative. A physical imbalance in Chinese medical terms can be caused by problems arising from outside the body or in inside the body, or through a slowing down through stagnation leading to blockage of the energies circulating in the body.

The name used for these energy lines, which we all have, is ‘meridians’, and when these meridians or energy channels slow down and sometimes even become blocked, the resulting imbalance of the body can cause pain in a local area like the muscular bruising through trauma, or an illness in a major organ, perhaps through bad input, i.e. food - chemicals - emotions, or even just the ageing process.

A trained TCM doctor will seek to clear the energy block through acupuncture or other methods taught as part of the curriculum, [see part two of this essay] and so restore the body's balance. Some people have treatments like acupuncture as a preventative measure to strengthen their constitution, or because they feel unwell without being "ill" in the Western sense. Convalescence from a serious condition, or just a common cold and being ‘run down’, will be greatly aided by a balancing course of treatments, which might start as six weeks.

We must allow that long-term conditions will not have quick solutions.What is the main difference between Chinese medicine and Western medicine? Traditional Chinese medicine treats the cause of the disorder, and Western medicine concentrates more on the symptom of the disorder. For example, two people may have the same symptoms of eczema, but the cause of the complaint may be completely different: one patient may have an imbalance of the liver, the other an imbalance of the spleen.

Whereas a Western doctor may prescribe the same medicine for the ailment, the TCM doctor will treat the underlying cause of eczema, and in this case one patient will be treated for a liver imbalance and the other for a spleen imbalance.

How a diagnosis made in TCM

By indications discovered through observation and questioning, for example looking at the tongue, and taking of the pulses, to mane but two. Neck pulsation of common carotid artery Foot: pulsation of the anterior tibial artery - Wrist: pulsation of the radial artery used most commonly in modern times.

Incidentally there are many pulses within the usual ones, for example nine places on each wrist are felt. From these pulse rates the doctor will again be able to tell the state of your many internal organs.

The training also includes understanding and taking note of all the ‘windows’ of the Zang and ‘Fu’ organs, for example the eyes, lips, skin, etc. Also sought are differences of hot / cold, internal / external, excess / deficiency, the aspects of Yin and Yang previously mentioned. The exact pattern and degree of disharmony is individual to each patient, and acupuncture aims to treat patients with a very special personalised treatment plan. What exactly is acupuncture?

In the ancient times pins/ needles were used, made of bone, stone, or sharpened metals very crudely made, some of which can be seen on exhibition in the natural science museum today, but we are pleased to say that modern manufacture means they are now of an extremely fine texture, so mush so they are almost invisible! They are inserted into the skin using a thin clear plastic tube to guide the needle.

Acupuncture became popular in the West in the early Seventies, and is now one of the most widely recognised therapies; it is now an integral part of the rapid growth of ‘complementary’ [notice we don’t say here ‘alternative’] therapy in the UK and abroad, and it is a holistic approach to full body health based on over 4000 years of developments and refinements in the Far East and Europe.

The skill of the acupuncturist lies in their manipulation of the energies and ability to make a true diagnosis from what is often a complex pattern of disharmony.

Does acupuncture conflict with conventional Western medicine?

It is used alongside conventional medicine in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease. As with any treatment, it may be important to mention certain details about your current state of health, as this will assist the practitioner in his full diagnosis of your condition. Most European Doctors recommend acupuncture as a complement to any western medicine.

Your own doctor will most certainly be pleased you are seeking this extra help, and might even offer the service themselves, as in recent years more and more and more GP’s, physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, nurses and health care professionals are adding this most valuable treatment to their skills.

How does acupuncture work?

Fine needles are inserted at points around the body to stimulate or suppress the flow of "Qi" - the enigmatic life force - sometimes described as "electro-chemical" or "electro-magnetic" energy. There are about 500 acupoints along the 12 plus energy meridians. A 100 of these acupoints are most commonly used - also the alteration of energy at the beginning or end of flow line will affect the places between.

Acupuncture aims to restore the balance of Qi energy - a state of equilibrium when Yin and Yang are in harmony. Acupuncture may help to relieve pain (from injuries to a muscle, or a migraine, for example) and suppress cravings (food, alcohol, cigarettes etc). It is also widely used for stress relief.

What about needle sterilisation?

All members of the CMIR (Chinese Medical Institute Register) must observe a code of practice, which lays down stringent standards of hygiene and sterilisation of needles and other equipment, and modern practitioners use disposable needles. These procedures have been approved by the Department of Health, and provide protection against the transmission of infectious diseases.

Is acupuncture painful?

Acupuncture needles bear little resemblance to needles used in blood tests and injections. They are solid rather than hollow and so can be much finer. Most people find acupuncture and electro-acupuncture a pleasant and deeply relaxing experience. There should be no pain during the insertion of needles if the doctor is fully trained and experienced.

When the practitioner carefully inserts the needles, you may feel a slight tingling sensation, heat or coldness. This indicates that the treatment is beginning to have some effect; it is called 'obtaining the Qi'. Some people may feel numbness at the point of entry or an energy transfer along the meridian to another part of the body.

Needles are inserted either for a second or two, or left in place for up to 20 minutes, depending on the effect required, and adding the electro therapy can take from 20 to 40 mins. After acupuncture, you will feel relaxed or even slightly sleepy, so please take care not to tackle anything strenuous for a few hours following your treatment.

I prefer patients to have a driver with them in the case of a troublesome illness.

How can acupuncture help me?

The benefits of acupuncture frequently include more than just relief from a particular condition, many people find that it can also lead to increased energy levels, improve appetite and sleep and gives an enhanced sense of overall well being. It is strongly advised that you make sure that the TCM doctor who treats you is fully qualified. There should be qualifications, Diplomas insurance Certificate on display at the clinic for study by all patients.

Below are some of the problems and diseases commonly treated by acupuncture, not forgetting convalescence and rehabilitation.