| Acupuncture consists of the placement of thin filaments
at places on the body that have been identified as acupuncture points.
Acupuncture points are locations where a needle when inserted will cause
an effect on the physiology of the body. The Japanese have shown that acupuncture
points have structures that when disrupted cause a cascade of chemicals
to interact with the nervous system, immune system, and surrounding tissues.
Among these chemicals are endorphans, enkephlans, substance p, histamine,
and cytocines. MRI and related modern brain scans have shown that when
a needle is put into a location in the proper manner, a change occurs in
the brain.
Acupuncture is not limited to human beings. Dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, camels, elephants, and many other animals can be treated using the same system of points and theory. Indeed, using dogs, veterinarians at the University of California at Davis in 1994 showed that acupuncture can successfully treat bacterial dysentery. The effects of the needles cause the colon to change its shape leaving the bacteria no place to attach themselves. In November 1997, National Health Institute released several reports on Acupuncture that demonstrated that acupuncture is at least as effect and something more effective than western medicine in the treatment of many conditions. Continuing research supports this position on both acupuncture and herbs. Other treatment techniques used by Traditional
Oriental Medicine in conjunction with acupuncture are herbal
medicine,
moxabustion,
cupping,
massage,
Gua-sha,
Qi Gong (Chi
Kung) and Tai
Ji Quan (T'ai
Chi Chuan).
|
This page was last updated on May 31, 1999
