| Acupuncture has always been part of ancient | | | | medicine. The fundamental principle is that an |
| Chinese medicine. The principles of acupuncture | | | | illness can be due to a physical cause or emotional |
| are very similar to acupressure. | | | | stress. |
| Fine needles are inserted to stimulate specific | | | | This belief leads to the thought physical illness can |
| points in the skin called meridians which are | | | | only be healed if inner stress is removed. |
| considered to be energy paths to treat illness and | | | | The process used in Five elements is long, |
| ensure general good health. | | | | because it does not merely cure the symptoms |
| When someone becomes sick or is injured, the | | | | but the reason behind the illness as well. Because |
| chi (pronounced either 'chee' or 'kie', like pie) gets | | | | of this, the process takes a longer period of time |
| blocked and positive energy is prevented for | | | | to reach full recovery. |
| getting through. | | | | According to the Yin/Yang theory the overall |
| On the body's exterior surface, there are 365 | | | | balance of the Yin and Yang has to be maintained |
| different points of acupuncture spread all over, | | | | for good health. In this type of acupuncture |
| and all these points follow 14 main meridian paths. | | | | different points are pierced with the needles all |
| When specially designed needles or acupressure | | | | along the meridians in order to help cure and |
| are placed at certain locations on the meridians | | | | affect different illnesses in your body. |
| the blocks are released thus enabling the chi to | | | | Western acupuncture focuses on short-term, |
| circulate freely. | | | | immediate cure of illnesses, and combines both |
| The concept is similar to clearing blocks that are | | | | Western and Eastern medical techniques. There |
| stopping a river from flowing freely. | | | | are two sub-categories of this method. |
| Acupuncture normalizes the flow of 'chi' so that it | | | | The first is the anesthetic acupuncture, and is |
| flows freely and steadily, not too fast and not | | | | used is surgical and dental procedures. Again it is |
| too slow. | | | | used as an analgesic for temporary but immediate |
| This type of healing has been done in China for | | | | effect. |
| the past 4,000 years, and was discovered when | | | | The second category is acupuncture used to |
| these needles were found in archaeological digs of | | | | treat long-term illnesses. |
| the late Shang Dynasty (c.1000 BC). | | | | This category is very effective for treating |
| The three kinds of acupuncture are traditional Yin | | | | allergies, depression, arthritis, asthma, gynecological |
| Yang Theory, Five Elements, and the Western or | | | | disorders, infertility, high blood pressure and |
| medical acupuncture. | | | | migraines, as shown by respectable and reputable |
| The methods used in the different types of this | | | | medical researches. |
| medicine, both to diagnose as well as to treat, are | | | | Acupuncture is one of the most effective |
| the same, but the approach towards determining | | | | methods to treat chronic illnesses that haven?t |
| the origin of the illness and the treatment vary | | | | had satisfactory results from traditional treatment |
| somewhat between styles. | | | | or when the illness is caused by problems |
| The first type, the five-element acupuncture, is | | | | associated with lifestyle. |
| based on the five-element cycle known in Chinese | | | | |