EAST-WEST HEALTHCARE - About Acupuncture

Chinese Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an important component procedure in Traditional Chinese Medicine which prevents and treats disease by stimulating certain points on the body with needles or other instruments. Of marked efficacy and requiring but simple equipment, it has been widely popular in China and elsewhere for thousands of years.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is totally different from that of modern western medicine. TCM, is a summary of the experience of the Chinese people's struggle against disease for thousands of years. It has been tested and proved by billions of patients. Vast knowledge and experience has been accumulated in prevention and control of disease and related problems. It is invaluable for its rich practical knowledge and experience and as a unique, integrated, theoretical health care system established since ancient times.

Like other branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture has been developed on the basis of traditional Chinese medical principles.

This system has been established since ancient times. In the last few decades, a resurgence of this Chinese health care art has come through the "Bamboo Curtain". Acupuncture has generated great interest and is highly regarded by the international community. The United Nations' World Health Organization recommends it, to the world, as a primary health care system.

TCM, Chinese science and culture, is totally different from that of modern western medicine. Each organ and tissue has its own function but yet is a part of whole body's unique activity. The TCM approach relies upon the body's own functional integration and the relationship between the body and the natural world. The TCM meridians, channels, and collaterals connect all the different organs and tissues. The body's vital energy (Qi) and blood are circulated inside these meridians, channels, and collaterals. Through meridians, the pathways, the qi and blood are transported to nourish organs and tissues. Normal functioning of various organs is thus ensured and a relative equilibrium maintained, therefore, a person's healthy body maintained. The health of the human body is also affected by the world around us and survival relies on and is greatly influenced by nature and the environment. The lack of adaptation of the body will result in signals of uncomfortable feelings that can progress to diseases or in the extreme, the loss of the body's ability to survive.

A well-trained Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor will use their knowledge and experience to give each patient a complete TCM evaluation and provide appropriate individualized help. The evaluation will be based entirely on TCM theory and diagnostic methods. Although the health care perspective is different, the basic approach to the patient is recognizable. This theory will help to distinguish the cause for an individual body's imbalance. The TCM methods used to get rid of the cause of problems are primarily Chinese herbs, Acupuncture and Chinese Tui Na.

The Acupuncture theory is an indispensable part of TCM in the prevention and control of symptoms and diseases.

Classic Acupuncture is the insertion of hair-thin needles on the specific points of meridians according to the TCM theory. Meridians are the pathways that link the whole body from head to toes; from internal organs to external muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc. By point stimulation, obstructed meridians are unblocked, the flowing of vital energy (Qi), blood and other nutrients are promoted, and internal organs are regulated. Thus, the Body's balance will be restored / achieved. The symptoms and / or uncomfortable feelings will be reduced or disappeared.

The World Health Organization drew up a provisional list of diseases, based on clinical experience, that lend itself to acupuncture treatment. Among those listed were various eye, mouth, respiratory, gastro-intestinal, neurological and musculo-skeletal disorder, etc.