Ancient Acupuncture for Self Healing Energy and Spiritual Enlightenment.
A Sketch of Acupuncture History.
The practice of ancient acupuncture has gone through many changes and innovations in 5000 years. In prehistoric times stone probes (excavated from burial sites) were applied to painful areas and later also to the acupuncture body points to treat inner organs and tissues. It is likely that this form of acupressure was the beginning of the ancient acupuncture art.
Needle(>acus L) punctures on specific channel points and as a local pain relief were recorded in Annals of Medicine even before the compendious Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine (Huang Di Neijing), which dates to approximately 200 B.C. This classic work establishes the basic theory, philosophy as well as the practical application and benefit of acupuncture.
Acupuncture Map within the Human Body.
The interrelationships of the organs and tissues is a central concept in ancient acupuncture. The Chi channels are essential for the unified functioning of the body - the Chinese name Jing Luo means going through, the way long main threads run within a fabric.
The channels correspond to anatomical structures, blood vessels and neural pathways which we know from modern physiology. According to the western science the effects of acupuncture treatment are attributed to the brain's endorphin secretion, which leads to a sense of relaxation and alleviation of pain.
From its results we can see that acupuncture does work, but how it does so is a mystery. With our intricate knowledge of anatomy and biochemistry of the body we still do not know what actually makes an acupuncture treatment 'tick'.
Universal Life Force Energy.
While we are unable to explain the processes as the 'acupuncture facts', the eastern and western ways of thinking need not cancel one another.
The western term Life Force Energy, present in all living things and working harmoniously when not disturbed by human intellectual interference, approximates the meaning for the word Chi used in ancient acupuncture.
The autonomic nervous system works in a super intelligent way, therefore a specially coded guidance for the Life Force Energy must exist within each of us.
Chi in its essence - regardless of outward manifestations - is always one with the original Will to form and maintain harmonious balance of the Tao. For this reason it's beneficial for us to work consciously with Chi as our self healing energy.
What we call the functioning of the autonomous nervous system the Chinese sages called the activity of Wu Chi. This Source Intelligence - with it's infinite possibilities - adapts to the internal body environment, free will (therefore emotions, thoughts, intentions) and the surrounding nature.
As the substratum of life within the human body this original Vital Essence is called Jing Chi. (The sections on Transformation of Energy, Chi Systems and Chi Guide can clarity this).
Chi Channels.
In the practice of ancient acupuncture the Chi channels (Jing Luo) are recognized to embody a physical reality. Through them every function relates to the whole organism and depends on the clear flow of vital essences.
These fundamental substances (Jing Chi and Shen) move along the channels to vitalize and activate the blood and body-fluids for the organs, tissues, the brain and in fact everything within the body. Chi forms, regulates, nourishes and maintains life while balancing its opposing forces of the receptive Yin and the active Yang.
Chi of many grades flows through the pathways, and it is through them that patterns of disharmony may also spread.
If the original Chi is adversely affected by inner or outer influences and therefore blocked, diverted or upset, Yin and Yang are out of balance, which can cause dis-ease.
This imbalance is at the root of all illnesses according to the ancient acupuncture theory.
The channels and their collaterals crisscross on both sides of the body to influence the organs and all vital functions, and the most commonly used points are on the twelve channels relating to their respective organ functions.
The main trunks of three Yin channels; Heart, Pericardium and Lung begin in their respective organs, run along the inside of the arms and end in the fingers. Their paired Yang organs; Small Intestine, Triple Warmer and Large Intestine begin in the fingers and run along the outside of the arms to the face.
The lower Yin channels; Kidney, Liver and Spleen begin in the feet and run inside of the legs and in the abdomen ending in the chest. Their paired Yang channels Urinary Bladder, Gall Bladder and Stomach begin in the face and end in the feet.
The organ and other functions within the body can be improved with the use of acupuncture. There are three hundred and sixty major points within the channels, as well 'ahchi' and other extra points.
By watching the following short video based on ancient acupuncture you'll see an area of the 'window of the sky points' within the upper body where you can stimulate the flow of energy for flu prevention.
The points on the Governing channel (Yang) running up the spine at the back (with a direct connection to the brain) and the Conception channel (Yin) in the front are also used frequently while the points of other Extra Channels, Twelve Muscle Channels, Twelve Divergent Channels and Fifteen Connecting Channels are not used as often.
Some numbers (for instance 12 channels and 365 points) relate to the ancient acupuncture's association with astronomy and cosmos in general.
The number of points on each channel vary from nine (Heart and Pericardium) to 67 (Urinary Bladder). The extra-ordinary points are not necessarily on a named channel, and 'ahshi' points are where-ever pain is experienced. A great deal of flexibility is provided in choosing the areas of treatment.
Organ disorders manifest on the channel of the organ first. For instance the inner liver channel goes to the eyes, therefore in certain oncoming liver disharmonies a redness, soreness or dryness of the eyes may be a key sign. A person suffering from migraine, considered a Liver/Gallbladder disease, experiences intolerance to light even before the headache.
Liver 'stores' blood and is responsible for the smooth flow of Chi, therefore it is associated with many other blood disorders such as menstrual and menopausal syndromes, and emotional disturbances such as depression and anger. And in cases of cancer, which is considered a blood stagnation in its beginning stages, points on the liver channel are chosen as the primary ones.
Areas of Treatment.
Ancient acupuncture prescriptions for the points found effective in various illnesses have been preserved through the centuries and the location where the needle is placed is often in a small notch below the skin.
Most western schools use detailed charts based on ancient acupuncture in teaching point location.
Here is an interactive Acupuncture point map that is being developed by an educational site called www.rootdown.us. Have a look at the partially ready chart. Later, when we focus on specific conditions you can learn to use it in order to treat yourself with acupressure or nano acupuncture-without-needles.
Patterns of Disharmony.
In contrast to the traditional teaching many acupuncturists have discovered that effective sites are larger areas on the skin than merely the precise points. In my own experience I have found that to be true. It also fits in with the most recent method to 'obtain Chi' with a non-invasive way.
Health Recovery Chips, each one an inch in diameter, are placed on prescribed areas of the body for forty minutes or so, often with amazing results. Based on nano technology, this acupuncture-without-needles method is a welcome addition to the traditional practice. A dozen hospitals in China are already using this method for a variety of ailments.
The easy-to-use nano chips are ideal for those who are afraid of needles as well as those who are interested in acupuncture for Chi and for higher self healing. Having recommended them to a few of my patients each person has found them beneficial and therefore continues to use them for self healing energy and rejuvenation. For further information please click on the banner.
Acupuncture - with or without needles - is usually administered in series of ten to twelve treatments. For many people they bring a sense of balance while alleviating pain, improving organ functions or correcting any other disharmony.
In my experience of nearly twenty years of practice, acupuncture treatments have been effective in most cases and have helped align the individual with his/her original, clear and nurturing self healing energy.
