Counter-stimulation, Acupuncture & Pain Relief

[See video above] New technologies for Virtual Reality, as evidenced by Snow World, add fuller dimension to the evolving idea of pain relief.
The idea of counter stimulation – where sensory stimulation reduces our perception of pain, either locally or distally – is not new. We do it all the time, clenching our faces in pain [...]

Oh yes, 得气 may be necessary after all…

In an earlier article, I explained why you don’t need to 得气 for acupuncture to be effective.
Having just read an article proposing a theoretical explanation for how acupuncture treats pain, it now makes sense to me WHEN  得气 is necessary – assuming that the theories proposed are true.

得气 is necessary when treatment’s got to do [...]

How does Acupuncture treat illnesses?

According 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 [...]

Using the arrival of qi as a measure of the patient’s health and how fast she’ll recover…

Does that make sense?
《灵枢》says “气至则有效” meaning that only if qi arrives is the acupuncture treatment effective. Because arrival of qi is the basis upon which the acupuncturist can work with the qi, tonifying or reducing it 《针灸大成》says “针若得气速，则病易痊而效易速也；若气来迟，则病难痊而有不治之优。” This means that how quick your qi arrives will determine how quick you’ll recover. So, if several [...]

It does not matter whether or not “qi has arrived” when receiving acupuncture. The results when there isn’t “arrival of qi” are going to be as good as when there is “arrival of qi.”

Hypothesis:
It does not matter whether or not “qi has arrived” when receiving acupuncture. The results when there isn’t “arrival of qi” are going to be as good as when there is “arrival of qi.”
Assumptions:
(a) Acupuncture is an effective treatment modality.
(b) Acupuncture works because it stimulates nerves, which when stimulated will help your body heal itself.
Background [...]

Treatment of herpes zoster by acupuncture

Introduction
Folklore has it that this snake will encircle either your torso or your eyes, and then you’re done with. Now we know it as 带状疱疹，shingles or herpes zoster (different than genital herpes or herpes mouth sores). The virus responsible for this disease – varicella zoster – is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After [...]