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Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing disciplines, having been practiced for close to five millennia. It is one branch of a fourfold system of oriental medicine which also includes herbs, exercise/meditation and dietary therapy. |
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It is the treatment of choice for at least a quarter of the world's population |
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It is a safe, gentle and drug free therapy that can be used to elicit health and well being as well as for the prevention of disease. |
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Acupuncture treats the individual holistically rather than symptomatically. taking into account the physical, mental, spiritual, social and environment aspects of the person to achieve his highest wellness potential. |
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Acupuncture presumes the existence of a vital energy, Qi (pronounced chee), that circulates in and through all living things. Qi is delivered to the tissues and organs of our body through energy pathways called meridians. When one is in vibrant health Qi circulates freely. |
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An acupuncture physician identifies energy blocks and areas of deficient or excess energy. These blockages, excesses and deficiencies are associated with the symptoms of malaise, pain ill health and disease. |
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Acupuncture treats the individual by moving energy, encouraging the free and balancing flow of Qi through the body's meridians. This in turn unlocks the body's ability to heal itself. Restoring the normal balance and flow of qi in the meridians permits the organs and other bodily systems to work together in balance as nature intended. |
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Zhenjiu is the Chinese word for acupuncture. Literally translated, it is"acumoxa". "Acu" is a combining form indicating a relationship to a needle. It comes from the Latin "acus" meaning needle. Moxa is a curious word which seems to come from both the Old English name for mugwort (mycgwyrt, pronounced mogzwyrt); and the Japanese, "Mogusa", pronounced "Mogza". which means to burn herbs. The herbs burned are generally dried mugwort leaves. This, acupuncture has for the past 2500 years or so been a method to treat illness, using needles and moxa or burning mugwort. |
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A moxa treatment is called moxabustion. Moxabustion it is thought to predate needling which was added as a supplement to moxa after the 2nd century BC. |
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There are two kinds of moxabustion, indirect and direct. Radiant heat is the therapeutic medium in indirect moxa. The heat source is placed about 11/2 inches away from the area to be treated until the area becomes pink and warm. Direct heat is the therapeutic medium in direct moxa. A tiny bit of mugwort is shaped into a thread, half the size of a grain of rice. It is placed on salve directly on the skin. It is lighted and burns for an instant sending a quick pinch of warmth directly into the acupoint |
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Cupping uses flame in glass or bamboo cups to create a vacuum. The cups are placed over specific parts of the body to stimulate acupuncture points; or are moved to help release toxins from the blood and muscles.
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Auricular Acupuncture is the science of treating the entire body through the ear. Ear acupuncture has been practiced for centuries in China. It was imported to
Europe during the 1800’s. It became a mainstream practice there in the 1950’s thanks to Paul Nogier, a French physician. |
