Acupuncture, “A look inside at internal health”

Acupuncture is a system of analysis & treatment that focuses on the energy patterns in the body.  These energy patterns are otherwise known as meridians.  This system has been used for thousands of years in the Orient as a way to look inside at the internal health of the body’s interrelated components.   The goal of an oriental doctor back in the infancy of acupuncture and beyond would be to keep the energy patterns balanced at all times.  This balanced state of energy would be viewed as optimal health for the patient.

“Acupuncture” is the most familiar name given to this healing discipline; however, the term puncture concludes that a puncture of the skin is needed for treatment via a needle.  With advancements in technology in the western world versus the original eastern approaches to treatment, the balancing of the acupuncture meridians can now be accomplished through many avenues including massage or tapping, low level laser treatment and electrical stimulation.

In oriental medicine the energy that flows throughout the body is called “Chi”(pronounced “Chee”).  This force or energy travels throughout the body along the meridians.  Meridians are like highways and the cars are the energy traveling upon them. 

There are twelve primary meridians on each side of the body.  The energy travels through each meridian every two hours until it reaches the same meridian where it first began.  Thus, it takes 24 hours for the energy to travel throughout all twelve meridians, one full day.  The meridians in actuality represent the organ systems of the body.  These 12 systems can be broken down into a chart that actually looks like a clock; it’s called the “24 hour cycle of life”.  Energy or Chi is at its highest point in each meridian every two hours and at its lowest energy 12 hours opposite this point.  An example would be the heart and gallbladder; they are on opposite sides of the clock or cycle.  The heart is at its highest energy at 12 o’clock noon and at its lowest energy at 12 o’clock midnight.  One could make an assumption that the loved one’s of patients in the intensive care units in hospitals are told “if they make it through the night they have a good chance for survival”, this statement being in relation to the heart being at its lowest energy point for the day.

Chiropractic and acupuncture have many similarities and cross over in the evaluation and treatment procedures that they institute on a daily basis.  In our office an acupuncture meridian evaluation would be called upon if the presenting condition of a patient had significant signs and or symptoms that could be indicative of a block in the flow of the energy within the 12 meridians. 

An example patient may be one with chronic and persistent headaches.

In this example typically one may find an imbalance in the liver meridian.  The liver is used in this example because this organ is the main filtering system of the body much like the filter in your car.  If the filter gets clogged up with adverse irritants from the environment or diet then there will be a back up of these elements, which commonly contributes to headaches. 

The reason for the imbalance and weakness associated with the liver meridian could be due to many things, including:  a nutritional insufficiency, which slows or impairs the function of the liver.  This can be addressed with specific dietary and supplemental changes.  

There may be a block in the meridian preventing the proper flow of energy.  A blocked meridian could be due to many things including: impaired blood flow to a specific area of the body, inflammation & edema.  Unblocking meridian points can improve the flow of energy.  Specific points located on the extremities and the head can be utilized as treatment points to bring about balance to the meridian systems.

A misalignment in the spine would affect the nerve supply to the liver.  In acupuncture the points that parallel the spine on each side are called associated points.  Treating the associated points would be the third treatment procedure necessary to bring about balance to this particular system or meridian of the body.  These associated points are a common link between both chiropractic and acupuncture.  Each profession treats thesepoints in differing ways.  One treats them by needle and the other treats them via the spinal adjustment. All chiropractors knowingly and unknowingly use acupuncture in their treatments from this perspective.

Treatment to any and all of these items above would be essential in order to obtain and maintain optimal health in this case scenario.

Meridian therapy is by no means a cure all.  It is however a tool that looks at the total energy patterns and control mechanisms of the body.  This type of information can be truly valuable especially in tough cases that aren’t always so straight-forward.