Acupuncture is among the oldest medical modalities in the world, forming part of traditional Chinese medicine. The practice works through the application of needles to points on the body. According to TCM, stimulating these points changes the flow of "qi," or vital energy, through the body, restoring harmony and treating disease or disorders, interpreted as energy blockages. Before seeking acupuncture treatment, consult with your primary care provider.
Points and Meridians
The points used in acupuncture line up with channels, called meridians, along which qi flows through the body. These points can be located along the torso, the limbs or even the head. Depending on the source you use, the human body may have anywhere from 14 to 20 meridians maintaining the flow of energy. Along these meridians, a trained acupuncture may select from more than 2,000 acupuncture points. Because acupuncture is based on an interdependence of various body parts, a specific point may not relate to the body part where it is found. For example, stimulating a specific point situated on the wrist may relieve nausea.
Framework
Instead of viewing disease as a specific ailment of a body part or organ, acupuncturists address the needs of the whole human body. Healing is based on the balancing of yin and yang, two complementary forces that are found in all aspects of the universe. In addition to balancing yin and yang, TCM and acupuncture maintain health by balancing cold and heat, excess and deficiency, interior and exterior. Bodily functions are also understood in terms of five elements: fire, earth, metal, water and wood.
Qualities of a Point: TCM Understanding
Acupuncture points typically have multiple names, both in Chinese and based on a set of letters and numbers. For example, a point on the nasal planum, about one-third of the way from the nose to the upper lip, is known as GV 26 or Jen Chung, which translates to Man's Middle. The point is so-named because it sits by the intersection of two meridians, the Governor Vessel channel and the Conception Vessel channel. The Governor Vessel is considered the most yang channel, whereas the Conception Vessel channel is the most yin. Accordingly, the point is used to restore balance between the two extremes, useful in cases of extreme imbalance, such as cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Qualities of a Point: Western Interpretations
Again using the GV 26 point as an example, a western approach to the point's stimulation attributes the effects to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of catecholamine. According to a western understanding, the chemical spike stimulates cerebral blood flow and helps reverse cardiorespiratory collapse. Trials based on western scientific approaches regularly test the efficacy of various acupuncture points, comparing effects with the "sham" needling of adjacent areas. In the case of GV 26, sham needling proved far less effective, according to half a dozen papers published over two decades, including findings published in Neuroscience Letters and the American Journal of Chinese Medicine.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture: An Introduction
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"; Stimulation of the Wrist Acupuncture Point P6 for Preventing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting; A. Lee, et al; 2004
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction
- Colorado State Veterinary Teaching Hospital; The One Acupuncture Point Everyone Should Know -- GV 26; Narda G. Robinson; 2008
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