Acupuncture Channels

There are 12 primary channels run vertically, bilaterally and symmetrically.

Every channel corresponds to and connects internally with one of the 12 Zang Fu.

There are 6 yin and 6 yang channels; 

- 3 yin and 3 yang channels on each arm,

- 3 yin and 3 yang on each leg.

The 3 yin channels of the hand  are Lung, Pericardium, and Heart - begin on the chest and travel along the inner surface of the arm to the hand.

The 3 yang channels of the hand are Large Intestine, San Jiao and Small Intestine - begin on the hand and travel along the outer surface of the arm to the head.

The 3 yang channels of the foot are Stomach, Gallbladder, and Bladder- begin on the face, in the region of the eye, and travel down the body and along the outer surface of the leg to the foot.

The 3 yin channels of the foot are Spleen, Liver and Kidney- begin of the foot and travel along the inner surface (mostly posterior and medial portion) of the leg to the chest or flank.

The flow of qi through each of the 12 channels comprises of an internal and external pathway.

The external pathway is what is normally shown on an acupuncture chart and it is relatively superficial.

All the acupuncture points of a channel lie on its external pathway.

The internal pathways are the deep course of the channel where it enters the body cavities and related Zang-Fu organs.

The superficial pathways of the 12 channels describe 3 complete circuits of the body.

The flow of energy through the meridians is as follows:

Lung channel of hand taiyin to Large Intestine channel of hand yangming to Stomach channel of foot yangming to Spleen channel of foot taiyin to Heart channel of hand shaoyin to Small Intestine channel of hand taiyang to Bladder channel of foot taiyang to Kidney channel of foot shaoyin to Pericardium channel of hand jueyin to San Jiao channel of hand shaoyang to Gallbladder channel of foot shaoyang to Liver channel of foot jueyin then back to the Lung channel of hand taiyin

Acupuncture-A Brief History

The beginnings of traditional Chinese medicine are obscure. It is believed however to have developed like the Indian. Ayurveda system from folk medicine and as in Ayurveda there is no lack of mythical explanations. The three legendary Emperors Shen Nung, Huang Di and Fu Hsi are traditionally believed to have been the originators of Chinese medicine. The classical book on traditional Chinese Medicine is the Huang Di Nei Jing, meaning "The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine and this work is ascribed to Huang Di (the Yellow Emperor) who is believed to have lived about 2697 - 2596 B.C. It is more likely however that is a collective work written about the third century B.C and antedated to enhance its value and to give it a stamp of authority. It is presented as a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and his prime minister-physician, Chi Po. The book is in two sections, first Su Wen, contains the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and the second Ling Shu describes the various therapeutic processes.

There are four basic therapeutic methods in traditional Chinese medicine.
1. Herbal Therapy
2. Moxibustion i.e heating or burning certain areas of the body with the powdered leaves of the moxa plant (Latin: arternesia vulgaris)
3. Acupuncture. (Latin: Acus-needle, puncture-to penetrate) Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhen-Jue) are the most ancient and characteristic therapeutic techniques of Chinese Medicine.
4. Surgery. This method of treatment was used only as a last resort, as according to the Confucian doctrine the human body was considered to be sacred. Surgery however was used extensively in treating war injuries and in a more traditional procedure to produce eunuch for the imperial court.

Acupuncture-How Does It Work?

Feeling stressed is very common but sometimes we are not consciously aware that we are stressed. However, if we listen to our bodies it is giving us very clear signals that it is under too much stress.
* Feeling angry, irritable, or easily frustrated
* Feeling overwhelmed
* Change in eating habits
* Problems concentrating
* Feeling nervous or anxious
* Trouble sleeping
* Problems with memory
* Feeling burned out
* Having trouble functioning in your job or personal life
If you are experiencing any of the following, it could be a sign that your body is under stress. Stress has been linked to health problems, including heart attacks and strokes. Being over-stressed can also lead to poor work performance, sleep issues, absent-mindedness and decreased interest in life.
In Chinese medicine, stress, anxiety and depression interrupt the smooth flow of Qi or energy throughout the body. According to Chinese medicine, our Qi flows through our body through meridians. Meridians can be thought of as a network of roads, almost like a highway system. Stress, anger or any intense emotions acts like a traffic jam, blocking the free flow of Qi or energy in the body. When our Qi is blocked, it can cause tension in the body because the blood is not able to flow smoothly. For example, many people complain of upper back, shoulder and neck pain when they are experiencing stress. This is because stress is blocking the flow of blood and energy to these areas which often leads to tension headaches in the back of the head.
Like a highway system, when there is construction or an accident, traffic gets back up on other secondary roads that feed into or out of the affected area. This is also true of our body as well. Stress can affect many other parts of the body and aggravate other health conditions. Acupuncture works to unblock areas of congestion so that your energy can flow smoothly and freely. Acupuncture points serve as on and off ramps to the energy highway and can help alleviate not only the symptoms of stress and anxiety but the actual stress and anxiety itself.
From a conventional viewpoint, acupuncture alleviates stress by releasing natural pain killers, endorphins, as well as oxytocin. Oxytocin signals the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest mode). In addition, acupuncture improves the circulation of blood throughout the body, which oxygenates the tissues and cycles out cortisol and other waste chemicals. The calming nature of acupuncture also decreases the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the muscles. Sounds wonderful right? If you are going through a stressful time in your life and are looking for other ways to de-stress, acupuncture is a safe, effective and natural approach that can help you find that balance you so desperately need.

Melanie Campbell, L.Ac, owner of Fine Balance Acupuncture in Columbus OH. http://www.FineBalanceAcupuncture.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_Campbell

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Acupuncture Treatment

What Is Acupuncture Treatment?

Acupuncture Treatment involves the insertion of thin needles at certain points in the a patient's body. Many patients report that the process is slightly uncomfortable at the point in which the actual needles are being inserted but the overall treatment is relatively painless and the end results are often worth persevering with the minor discomfort.
The needles are usually left in place for anywhere from a couple of minutes to up to half an hour. The number of treatments that are required usually depends upon the general health of the patient and the type of problems that they have been experiencing. Treatment frequency is usually planned by the Acupuncturist and the number of Acupuncture treatments that are required varies from just one session to full course of therapy. Some ailments may be cured after just one session.
The following are just some of the ailments that Acupuncture has been used to treat:

• Pain in the area of the knee - whether this is caused by trauma to the knee or is related to osteoarthritis.
• Pain and/or swelling after having an operation.
• Pain in the heel - the medical term for this is plantar fasciitis.
• Anxiety attacks.
• Sleeplessness (Insomnia).
• Many forms of depression.
• Lower back pain.
• Neck pain.
• Pain in the shoulders.
• Chronic widespread pain in response to pressure (Fibromyalgia).

A healthy balanced lifestyle is always recommended as part of any type of treatment. This includes regular exercise, a healthy, balanced diet and a regular routine which involves going to bed at the same time each evening, waking up at the same time each morning and eating regular meals at the same time. The Acupuncturist might also recommend that certain type of herbal tea are drunk to accompany the therapy.
The points at which the needles are inserted are known as acupoints. Anything from six to twelve needles are use depending on the ailment being treated, the type of Acupuncture being carried out and the general health of the patient.
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese treatment and focuses on the flow of Chi. It is interesting how different parts of the body can affect seemingly unrelated parts of the body. Modern acupuncture is a type of treatment that can provide a very positive means of promoting health and wellbeing. It considers pain and illness as signs that the body is not balanced correctly. The objective of Acupuncture treatment is to restore the body to it's natural state of equilibrium.

More info at What Is Acupuncture Treatment Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_J_Greenwood

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