Acupuncture

The theoretical and philosophical underpinings of Chinese medicine was established a little over 5000 years ago. It is from this system that Acupuncture was evolved and has successfully been used as a complete and unique medicine in the Orient for thousands of years. To date it is rapidly being accepted by mainstream Western medicine as a safe, effective drug free option for many different conditions.

By accessing and manipulating various points on the meridians or pathways which run through the body, acupuncture reminds the body of its own healing or self-regulating capacity. 

 

What is Classical Chinese Acupuncture?

The philosophical principles that gave rise to acupuncture was originally drawn from the Yì Jīng, which is often translated as the Book of Changes. It is an ancient mathematical method for observing the fundamental principles of natural workings. From this the later 'Classics' were written.

Classical acupuncture  draws deeply from the guiding principles laid out in the Classical medical texts of the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) and refined during the Northern Song dynasty (960 – 1279). It continues to be enhanced by the interpretation of the texts by master physicians who are proponents of this method such as the contemporary master Jeffrey Yuen.

Classical Acupuncture has at it's disposal 74 meridians or energy pathways while TCM uses 12 meridians as well as possibly eight others. More versatile channels such as Divergent, Luo and Sinew meridians are not utilized atall in TCM practice.

 

How does acupuncture work?

Through the manipulation of qi (energy winds) that flow through the meridians (energy pathways) of the body and thus to remind the whole person of a state of health, balance. This activates deep relaxation in which the whole person can become well again.

 

What are meridians?

"Meridians are simply roadmaps. They deal with the highways of life, and included in that highway is the way in which we are conducting our lives, in a physiological, as well as pathological fashion.”
                                                                                                             Jeffrey Yuen

Meridians can be viewed as 'roadmaps' of external-internal-constitutional terrains.

The reflect the physiology (natural), the pathology (moral), the evolution (transformational). Everything in the known world systems is subject to change; within this change is movement. So the meridians convey movement - in other words all illness represent a dysfunction in the physiology (movement) of qi.

True health, like qi, is not a place or destination, rather it is a state of constant change...therefore qi always seeks or moves to health/healing.

 

What happens during a treatment session?

During a Classical Acupuncture treatments, attention is paid to needle technique (the manner of insertion and manipulation of each needle), which differ for each type of meridian and the level of effect required.