History of Acupuncture

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CT SCANS CONFIRM ACUPUNCTURE POINTS

full-bodyA recent study shows that differences exist between the anatomical structure of acupuncture and non-acupuncture points, according to research published in the Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena.

Researchers used in-line phase contrast CT imaging with synchrotron radiation on known acupuncture points and non-acupuncture points. The scans showed that ST36 and ST37 acupuncture points contain fine, high-density structures and an increased number of large blood vessels. Non-acupuncture points did not exhibit these properties.

According to Chinese medicine, life force energy is carried through the body through a complex system of blood vessels called meridians. If the movement of blood is restricted, it causes disharmony in the way organs function. However, manipulating the body through acupuncture points helps blood flow freely again.

The authors said the study results provide scientific proof of the existence of acupuncture points, which appear to be connected to locations in the body that correspond with areas with higher concentrations of blood.

For more information
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0368204813002405 /

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ELBOW PAIN WITH ACUPUNCTURE

UnknownWhen doctors at the Mayo Clinic used acupuncture to treat 22 people with chronic tennis elbow, 80% got complete and lasting relief. Another 10% experienced a marked improvement.

“We were treating the worst of the worst—patients who had been seriously disabled by their tennis elbow pain for an average of 14 months before starting acupuncture treatment,” says Peter T. Dorsher, MD, a consultant in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the clinic. Continue reading →

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TREAT INSOMNIA WITH ACUPUNCTURE

images-3Some reports suggest that certain acupuncture procedures have a nearly 90% success rate for the treatment of insomnia. Through a complex series of signals to the brain, acupuncture increases the amount of certain substances in the brain, such as serotonin, which promote relaxation and sleep. Continue reading →

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Military Pokes Holes In Acupuncture Skeptics’ Theory

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BLAKE FARMER at WPLN
In a fluorescent-lit exam room, Col. Rochelle Wasserman sticks ballpoint-size pins in the ears of Sgt. Rick Remalia.

Remalia broke his back, hip and pelvis during a rollover caused by a pair of rocket-propelled grenades in Afghanistan. He still walks with a cane and suffers from mild traumatic brain injury. Pain is an everyday occurrence, which is where the needles come in.

“I’ve had a lot of treatment, and this is the first treatment that I’ve had where I’ve been like, OK, wow, I’ve actually seen a really big difference,” he says. Continue reading →

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ACUPUNCTURE’S MOLECULAR EFFECTS PINNED DOWN

Acupuncture’s Molecular Effects Pinned Down New Insights Spur Effort to Boost Treatment’s Impact Significantly

Scientists have taken another important step toward understanding just how sticking needles into the body can ease pain.

In a paper published online May 30 in Nature Neuroscience, a team at the University of Rochester Medical Center identifies the molecule adenosine as a central player in parlaying some of the effects of acupuncture in the body. Building on that knowledge, scientists were able to triple the beneficial effects of acupuncture in mice by adding a medication approved to treat leukemia in people. Continue reading →

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Acupressure Facial Rejuvenation

Feel & look better by increasing the circulation and relaxation of the facial muscles, while restoring the skin suppleness and elasticity of the face.

Facial acupressure stimulates facial points and muscles with gentle pressure. Lightly press down or use a circular motion with the tip of your thumb or finger. Repeat each acupressure point 5 times twice daily.

Continue reading →

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Chinese Tradition Meets Science-Based Western Medicine

Acupuncture has been practiced in China unchanged for approximately 3000 years. It is considered part of a larger system of medicine called Traditional Chinese Medicine that includes the use of herbs, moxabustion (heating of the needles), massage, diet, and Qi Gong (gentle exercise concentrating on breathing and balance) to correct imbalances within the body.

Acupuncture is defined as the insertion of very fine stainless steel needles into the body at points along a series of meridians. These meridians can be thought of as “rivers of energy” which connect all parts of the body in a network that runs from our head to our feet and hands. This network can best be compared physiologically to our nervous system. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, disease is defined as the disruption of life energy (called Qi) in these meridians. The Qi can either be deficient or in excess within the meridians or organs of our body. This concept is really no different than the Western diagnosis of an organ overworking (such as the thyroid over producing hormones) in a hyper state, or under working in a hypo condition. Continue reading →