Non Needle Acupuncture
Auricular Therapy
Ear acupuncture (auricular) treats and prevents diseases by stimulating certain points on the ear with needles. Auricular acupuncture is effective at treating physical as well as emotional disorders. It is based on the therapeutic principle which states that the entire body is represented as a micro-system, here, on the ear. Areas on the body are represented at specific sites on the ear. Needles or small pellets can be used to stimulate the site to restore a balance in the body.
Auricular points are specific stimulating points on the ear. When disorders occur in the internal organs or other parts of the body, various reactions may appear in the corresponding areas of the auricle, such as tenderness, decreased cutaneous electric resistance, morphological changes and discoloration. These sites are also referred to as tender spots, conductive points or reflex spots. Thus, when making a diagnosis, these phenomena can be taken into consideration. Stimulating the sensitive sites serves to prevent and treat disease.
The contraindications of auricular acupuncture are but for only a few circumstances. If frost bite or inflammation is present on the ear, needling is contraindicated for reasons of avoiding diffusion or further inflammation. Auricular acupuncture is also not advisable for women during pregnancy if there is a history of miscarriage. Aged and weak patients with hypertension and arterio-sclerosis should have proper rest before and after needling.
Auricular points are specific stimulating points on the ear. When disorders occur in the internal organs or other parts of the body, various reactions may appear in the corresponding areas of the auricle, such as tenderness, decreased cutaneous electric resistance, morphological changes and discoloration. These sites are also referred to as tender spots, conductive points or reflex spots. Thus, when making a diagnosis, these phenomena can be taken into consideration. Stimulating the sensitive sites serves to prevent and treat disease.
The contraindications of auricular acupuncture are but for only a few circumstances. If frost bite or inflammation is present on the ear, needling is contraindicated for reasons of avoiding diffusion or further inflammation. Auricular acupuncture is also not advisable for women during pregnancy if there is a history of miscarriage. Aged and weak patients with hypertension and arterio-sclerosis should have proper rest before and after needling.
Electro-therapy
Electro-acupuncture is quite similar to traditional acupuncture in that the same points are stimulated during treatment. As with traditional acupuncture, needles are inserted on specific points along the body. The needles are then attached to a device that generates continuous electric pulses using small clips. These devices are used to adjust the frequency and intensity of the impulse being delivered, depending on the condition being treated. Electro-acupuncture uses two needles at time so that the impulses can pass from one needle to the other. Several pairs of needles can be stimulated simultaneously, usually for no more than 30 minutes at a time.
According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, illness is caused when Qi does not flow properly throughout the body. Acupuncturists determine whether Qi is weak, stagnant or otherwise out of balance, which indicates the points to be stimulated. Electro-acupuncture is considered to be especially useful for conditions in which there is an accumulation of Qi, such as in chronic pain syndromes or in cases where the Qi is difficult to stimulate.
Electro-acupuncture is also variously termed EA, electro-acupuncture or incorporated under the generic term electrotherapy.
Microcurrents are gentle pulsating electrical currents that are used for therapeutic treatments. Microcurrents are successfully used for pain control, wound healing and energy balance. It has been discovered that microcurrent stimulation has an additional benefit of reducing wrinkles and regenerating healthy skin tissue.
According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, illness is caused when Qi does not flow properly throughout the body. Acupuncturists determine whether Qi is weak, stagnant or otherwise out of balance, which indicates the points to be stimulated. Electro-acupuncture is considered to be especially useful for conditions in which there is an accumulation of Qi, such as in chronic pain syndromes or in cases where the Qi is difficult to stimulate.
Electro-acupuncture is also variously termed EA, electro-acupuncture or incorporated under the generic term electrotherapy.
Microcurrents are gentle pulsating electrical currents that are used for therapeutic treatments. Microcurrents are successfully used for pain control, wound healing and energy balance. It has been discovered that microcurrent stimulation has an additional benefit of reducing wrinkles and regenerating healthy skin tissue.
Cupping Therapy
Cupping is an effective and therapeutic technique used alone or in combination with acupuncture. It is a therapy in which a glass jar is attached to the skin surface to cause local congestion by applying heat (usually an ignited alcohol dipped cotton ball) inside the jar thus creating a vacuum. The jar is immediately applied to the skin surface while it still has negative pressure. Plastic jars are also used that use a suction device to attach it to the skin instead of fire. In the ancient times in China, the cupping method was called the “horn method.”
The cupping method has the function of warming and promoting the free flow of Qi (energy) and blood in the meridians dispelling and diminishing obstruction, swelling and pain. It is mainly used for pain of the low back, shoulders, and leg, gastro-intestinal disorders such as stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhea, and lung problems such as cough and asthma. Combined with bloodletting, cupping is suitable to treat acute sprains accompanied by blood stasis. Cupping also releases lactic acid build up in the muscles.
There are 2 types of manipulations in placing the jars. The first is the “fire throwing method” where a piece of ignited paper or an alcohol soaked cotton ball is placed into the cup. The mouth of the cup is then abruptly and firmly placed against the skin on the desired location. This method is applied to the lateral side of the body otherwise the burning paper or cotton ball may fall and hurt the skin. The second manipulation is the “fire twinkling method.” Here, the practitioner clamps a cotton ball soaked with 95% alcohol with forceps, ignites it and puts it into the jar and immediately takes it out while then quickly placing the cup on the selected position. The cup is sucked in place for approximately 5 to 10 minutes depending on the reaction of the patient. The skin becomes congested with a violet colored blood stasis formation. On withdrawing the cup, the cup is held with the right hand and the skin around the edge of the cup is pressed with the left hand to let air.
Generally speaking, cups are used in areas where muscle is abundant and elastic, and free from hair and bone ridges. It is not advisable to apply cupping to a patient with skin ulcers, edema, or on an area overlying large blood vessels. It should also not be applied to patients with high fevers and to the abdominal and sacral regions of pregnant women. After cupping there is a bruise in the local area shaped like the opening of the cup. Generally it will disappear in a couple days.
The cupping method has the function of warming and promoting the free flow of Qi (energy) and blood in the meridians dispelling and diminishing obstruction, swelling and pain. It is mainly used for pain of the low back, shoulders, and leg, gastro-intestinal disorders such as stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhea, and lung problems such as cough and asthma. Combined with bloodletting, cupping is suitable to treat acute sprains accompanied by blood stasis. Cupping also releases lactic acid build up in the muscles.
There are 2 types of manipulations in placing the jars. The first is the “fire throwing method” where a piece of ignited paper or an alcohol soaked cotton ball is placed into the cup. The mouth of the cup is then abruptly and firmly placed against the skin on the desired location. This method is applied to the lateral side of the body otherwise the burning paper or cotton ball may fall and hurt the skin. The second manipulation is the “fire twinkling method.” Here, the practitioner clamps a cotton ball soaked with 95% alcohol with forceps, ignites it and puts it into the jar and immediately takes it out while then quickly placing the cup on the selected position. The cup is sucked in place for approximately 5 to 10 minutes depending on the reaction of the patient. The skin becomes congested with a violet colored blood stasis formation. On withdrawing the cup, the cup is held with the right hand and the skin around the edge of the cup is pressed with the left hand to let air.
Generally speaking, cups are used in areas where muscle is abundant and elastic, and free from hair and bone ridges. It is not advisable to apply cupping to a patient with skin ulcers, edema, or on an area overlying large blood vessels. It should also not be applied to patients with high fevers and to the abdominal and sacral regions of pregnant women. After cupping there is a bruise in the local area shaped like the opening of the cup. Generally it will disappear in a couple days.
Moxibustion Therapy
Moxibustion is the application of heat to the body to relieve arthritic pain, soft tissue trauma, numbness, stiffness and digestive complaints. Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris) is the substance that is burned in the treatment. A "moxa stick" is a long pole of mugwort that had been tightly rolled. One end is lit and then held an inch above the surface of the skin to heat it. The medicinal properties of Artemisia Vulgaris in combination with heat produced from the fire heal damaged tissue and relieve pain.
For centuries moxibustion and acupuncture have been combined in clinical practice, thus they are usually termed together in Chinese Medicine. When a disease fails to respond to medication and acupuncture, moxibustion is suggested. In addition to the applications mentioned, moxibustion is also highly effective in treating depression, releasing toxins lodged in the muscles, creating energy and moving blocked energy, for trauma and collapse, and as prevention for disease and a promoter of general health.
From ancient times until now rich clinical experience has been gained in moxibustion therapy. At first, only moxa cones were used but now various approaches have been developed clinically such as cones, sticks and with warming needle. Moxa cones may be used directly or indirectly. Direct moxibustion is to place a moxa cone directly on the skin and ignite it, while indirect moxibustion is to place a moxa cone indirectly on the skin insulated with some different medical substances. Ginger, salt and garlic are the most commonly used insulators. Direct moxibustion is subdivided into “scarring” and “non-scarring”. Scarring Moxa may lead to a local burn, blister, and scar after healing. This is indicated for certain chronic diseases such as asthma. With indirect moxa no blister is formed with no festering or scar formation. It is indicated for diseases of a chronic, deficient and cold nature such as asthma, chronic diarrhoea, indigestion, etc.
The heat from moxa sticks is applied above a selected acupuncture point and does not touch the skin. It is easy to control and the therapeutic effect is good so it is often used today as a common form of moxibustion heat therapy. Moxibustion with warming needle is a method of acupuncture combined with moxa and is used for conditions in which both the retaining of the needle and moxibustion are needed. This method functions to warm the channels and meridians and to promote the free flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood treating painful joints, numbness and paralysis.
Contraindications for moxa therapy includes use on patients with a high fever from common cold, patients with a feeble and rapid pulse and not on the abdominal or lumbo-sacral region of pregnant women. Scarring moxa should not be allowed to the face or head, and the area in the vicinity of the large blood vessels.
For centuries moxibustion and acupuncture have been combined in clinical practice, thus they are usually termed together in Chinese Medicine. When a disease fails to respond to medication and acupuncture, moxibustion is suggested. In addition to the applications mentioned, moxibustion is also highly effective in treating depression, releasing toxins lodged in the muscles, creating energy and moving blocked energy, for trauma and collapse, and as prevention for disease and a promoter of general health.
From ancient times until now rich clinical experience has been gained in moxibustion therapy. At first, only moxa cones were used but now various approaches have been developed clinically such as cones, sticks and with warming needle. Moxa cones may be used directly or indirectly. Direct moxibustion is to place a moxa cone directly on the skin and ignite it, while indirect moxibustion is to place a moxa cone indirectly on the skin insulated with some different medical substances. Ginger, salt and garlic are the most commonly used insulators. Direct moxibustion is subdivided into “scarring” and “non-scarring”. Scarring Moxa may lead to a local burn, blister, and scar after healing. This is indicated for certain chronic diseases such as asthma. With indirect moxa no blister is formed with no festering or scar formation. It is indicated for diseases of a chronic, deficient and cold nature such as asthma, chronic diarrhoea, indigestion, etc.
The heat from moxa sticks is applied above a selected acupuncture point and does not touch the skin. It is easy to control and the therapeutic effect is good so it is often used today as a common form of moxibustion heat therapy. Moxibustion with warming needle is a method of acupuncture combined with moxa and is used for conditions in which both the retaining of the needle and moxibustion are needed. This method functions to warm the channels and meridians and to promote the free flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood treating painful joints, numbness and paralysis.
Contraindications for moxa therapy includes use on patients with a high fever from common cold, patients with a feeble and rapid pulse and not on the abdominal or lumbo-sacral region of pregnant women. Scarring moxa should not be allowed to the face or head, and the area in the vicinity of the large blood vessels.