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Acupuncture is a major branch
of traditional Chinese medicine, a healing system that dates
back to about 1000 BC. Acupuncture is based upon the principle that
optimum health is achieved and maintained by balancing the flow of
life energy through the body.
This life energy flow, which is
known as ch'i or qi, is seen to be made up of two
polarities: the yin, which is passive, internal, contracting and
cold, and the yang, which is active, external, expanding and warm.
For good health to be maintained, the theory is that yin and yang
need to be in constant interplay -flowing, balancing and moving
between each other.
If either yin or yang energy
becomes excessive in the body, it automatically creates a deficiency
state in the other which, if not corrected, will lead to ill health.
For example, an infectious disease where there is fever is seen as
an excess of yang condition while chronic fatigue syndrome, where
there is pallor, is seen as an excess of yin condition.
The theory is that ch'i travels through the body along twelve
pathways known as meridians, each corresponding as to a particular
body organ or system. Acupuncture works through points, or gates,
located along the meridians.
Diagnosis
Traditional acupuncturists diagnose a patient's condition through
observing their voice, tongue, eyes, complexion, hair texture, body
language and physical symptoms. Lifestyle, sleep patterns and food
preferences are also taken into account. The acupuncturist puts
light pressure with the fingers on the patient's twelve pulses, six
in each wrist, to measure the flow of ch'i through the organs.
Diagnosis aims to understand the imbalances in the body which
underlie the illness. This understanding forms the basis of an
individualized treatment for the patient which goes beyond mere
symptom relief.
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