How does Acupuncture treat illnesses?
By admin • Sep 6th, 2007 • Category: AcupunctureAccording to TCM theory, acupuncture helps in three ways. It clears channels, increases immunity and regulates imbalance.
Acupuncture Clears Channels (疏通经络) To Reduce Pain
“不通则痛” means that pain comes from obstruction.
“通则不痛” means that a clear channel (no more obstruction) results in no pain.
So pain in TCM is the result of our meridians being obstructed, resulting in qi and blood not flowing smoothly or worse still, getting stuck and stagnated.
Clearing the channels can also be described as regulating the meridian flow (调理经气). When you clear the channel, you allow qi to go about their normal business. Another term, 调理气血, also means the same thing, since qi and blood possess a mutual relationship.
Acupuncture Increase Immunity (扶正祛邪)
The classics have two sayings about what we now call the immune system: “正气存内，邪不可干” & “邪之所凑，其气必虚”. The first says as long as your qi is present within, the outside pathogen cannot disturb you. The second says that if the ourside pathogen has entered, it must be because your qi is deficient.
Acupuncture Regulates Imbalance (调和阴阳)
Take away the yin-yang and it means that acupuncture helps you regulate your bodily processes. This probably happens in four areas:
- central nervous system
- autonomic nervous system
- metabolic processes
- endocrine system