07.02.2014
“An Introduction on Acupuncture”
by: Dr. Devi K, Ph.D
Tambun Acupuncture Academy
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
DATE: 7 February 2014
TIME: 3 – 4 p.m
VENUE: Lecture Room 4 (Level 3), Applied Sciences Building, QIUP
ABSTRACT
Acupuncture is an ancient system of treatment. It is part of the discipline of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This embraces many other forms of healing including Chinese Herbal Medicine. Acupuncture is a complete system of medicine in its own right. It is, however, effective in many conditions, which have often not responded to conventional approaches. The key principle that defines and connects all of Chinese medicine is that of Qi or Vital energy. Qi must be in balance, neither too active nor too dormant, for a person to be healthy. Acupuncture treatments can therefore help the body’s internal organs to correct imbalances in digestion, absorption and energy production and in the circulation of energy through the meridians. Just as there are 365 days in a year there are 365 acupoints in the body. Similarly, a year has 12 months, so there are 12 Meridian Channels in the human body, six Meridian Channels on the right and six on the left. So we have 12 Meridian Channels in the body, together with two other Channels, one in the Front Midline and one at the Back Midline. These are often referred to as The 14 Channels of Acupuncture by Acupuncturist. The origin of acupuncture is shrouded in antiquity. Legend has it- that thousands of years ago a Chinese soldier developed a stiff and painful shoulder (what we would now call a frozen shoulder.) It happened that on the battle-field he was shot at and the arrow which pierced his foot at the Achilles tendon. To his amazement the piercing of his foot cured his frozen shoulder. The unusual and surprising event saw the beginning of what is today recognized as acupuncture treatment like many other non-conventional/traditional medicine treatments there are treatments for almost every disease especially for pain management and stroke. Some ailments respond better to acupuncture than to any other system of medicine. As stated earlier that it can treat almost any “disease”. E.g., Nervous System Disorders, Respiratory Disorders, Cardiovascular Disorders, Gastro-Intestinal System Disorders, Genito Urinary Disorders, Locomotors Disorders, ENT disorders, Psychiatric Disorders, Acute Disorders and Emergencies. Acupuncture treatment involves inserting sterile needles into various points of the body depending on what the ailment is. If it is for pain relief, the points will be mostly Local Points, Ah-Shi Points, tranquilizing and sedative point, analgesic point and maybe even a distal point. PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE involves much more than piercing needles into the human body. It also involves an understanding of the human body as well as Human Anatomy and Physiology as well as practices such as pulse reading, tongue diagnosis, Yin and Yang factors and the Five Elements Theory alongside the application of herbs.
