Acupuncture Essay

Acupuncture: The practice is the insertion of fine needles into acupuncture points (a.k.a. acupoints) just beneath the body surface. Needles varies in length between 13 to 130 mm (0.51 to 5.12 in), shorter needles for face and eyes, and longer needles for more fleshy areas; the diameters vary from 0.16 mm (0.006 in) to 0.46 mm (0.018 in), thicker needles for more robust patients. Acupuncture points are very precise locations and lie on channels of energy. The practice of acupuncture is based on the fact that the stimulation of specific areas on the skin affects the function of certain organs of the body and that health results from a balanced flow of Qi (a.k.a. ‘Chi’) which is circulated through the blood stream through 14 energy ducts called meridians. Each one of these meridians (pathways or channels through which Qi flows) is linked to an internal organ system. There are some over 1,000 acupoints within this meridian system that can be stimulated to enhance the flow of Qi. Typically, acupuncture needles are inserted to a depth of about a quarter of an inch into the skin. The therapist gently twists or twirls the needles for up to 10 minutes, leaves them 5 to 20 minutes longer or stimulates them with a weak electrical current or heats them with a burning herb. There is another called – sham needle therapy – in which needles

Cupping therapy is also an ancient Chinese procedure belonging to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in which a local suction is created using cup through either heat (fire) or suction. The targeted skin is gently sucked inside the cup by creating a vacuum in the cup and leaving it for about 10 to 15 minutes. It helps treating pain, muscle knots, swelling and mobilizes blood flow in order to promote healing. Similar to acupuncture, Tui na is another TCM method of attempting to stimulate the flow of qi by various bare-handed techniques that do not involve