ACUPUNCTURE

• Acupuncture: The insertion of fine needles into Acupoints on the body.
• Acupressure: Manual pressure applied to Acupoints instead of needles.
• Tai Chi: Exercise as art for the Body, Mind and Soul.
• Gua Sha: Spooning or scraping the skin to bring toxins to the skin surface.
• Chinese Herbal Medicine: Chinese Herbs prescribed to restore balance.
• Cupping: Suction cups applied to the skin to move stagnant Blood, energy or Qi.
• Bleeding: Micro-bleeding particular Acupoints to move deep stagnation .
• Moxibustion: Application of heated mugwort (herb) near skin to warm Meridians.
• I Ching: An ancient Divination Art pioneered by Confucianism.
• Tui Na: “Pinch and pull” is the literal translation; a form of massage therapy.
• Dietary Therapy: A complete system of dietetics and eating for best health.

Notably, Acupuncture is the most famous and renowned discipline of Chinese Medicine.

What Is Acupuncture?

“Meridians are like the energetic circuits that allow vital substances to flow through your miraculous body”. Ilana Sowter

What Is Acupuncture Used For?

• Cold and Flu: Cough, Sore throat, Hayfever & Sinusitis.
• Period Problems: Period Pain, Irregular Bleeding, Menstrual issues & hormonal imbalances.
• IVF & Fertility Support: Dr. Ilana has been doing this for a decade!
• Pregnancy: Acupuncture can support mothers to have a balanced pregnancy.
• Post-Partum: A very important time to have nourishment and support.
• Women’s Health
• Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia & Stress
• All Types of Pain: Acute to Chronic.
• Beauty and Cosmetic; Improving Skin Clarity, Tone and Circulation.
• Wellbeing, Chronic & AutoImmune Support
• Post-Surgery; supporting pain and sequelae.
• Gut, Circulation & Immunity

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Acupuncture has an excellent record of safety with little side effects (Chan et al, 2017). Ensure that your practitioner is an Acupuncturist and has studied the full degree. Unfortunately, some practitioners have done a short course in Acupuncture. They then claim to “do Acupuncture” or “dry needling. Note, this is not the same as having years of study, training and experience of the discipline. In fact, the research shows that major complications with Acupuncture are associated with poorly trained therapists.

Side Effects

The few side effects and complications associated with Acupuncture treatment are;

• a drop of blood at the site
• sharp pain that is usually eased with massage
• bruising (haematoma)

Consequently, major adverse events are rare and associate with poorly trained and unlicensed Acupuncturists. The New Zealand Medical Journal has published this.

Hence, experienced, qualified and licensed Acupuncturists adminster safe Acupuncture treatment.

How Do I know My Acupuncturist Is Good?

• have studied a proper degree or advanced diploma in Acupuncture
• also have any extra studies in related disciplines or Masters level
• are experienced in their treatments
• have joined an Australian Acupuncture association such as AACMA.

How To Study Acupuncture In Melbourne

In Australia, there are there are various courses offered to study Acupuncture. More importantly, I recommend you experience a course of Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal Medicine treatment. There are plenty of good Acupuncturists in Melbourne to try. Then, decide whether it’s for you, before dedicating years of your life to it. Being an Acupuncturist is a rewarding and fascinating career. You must be a good practitioner, be passionate and be willing to work hard as at your small business. Most importantly, you must be able to run your own business and practice the art of Chinese Medicine well. I studied at Endeavour College of Natural Health in Melbourne (Endeavour). Southern School of Natural Therapies (SSNT) is another. I also studied at RMIT which has a world-class clinic in Bundoora.

The Language of Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine lingo is very different to our usual medical language. To illustrate, it refers to terms which used medically such as Liver, Blood and Spleen. Throughout this article I explain what the specific Chinese Medicine terms signify. For example I refer to Organs such as the Liver. I refer to the “Liver Energy“ as an energetic entity. Chinese Medicine depicts each energetic entity has specific functions and associations. The medical term “Liver” is completely different to the Chinese Medicine “Liver Energy“. Thus, I refer to Chinese Medicine “Organ Energies” as “Liver Energy” etc.

Chinese Medicine Theory

Ultimately, the foundations of Chinese Medicine Theory are Yin and Yang.

Yin & Yang

Yin and Yang is the duality of opposites which combine to form one. That is, to make whole. In Chinese, yin means “shady side” and yang translates as “sunny side”. Yin and Yang are forever interchanging to maintain balance. Yin is dark, slow, heavy and deep. Yang is light, fast, bright and superficial.

There are three main Functional Entities in Chinese Medicine Theory.

The Three Functional Entities

1. The Five Vital Substances: Qi (vital force), Xue (blood), Jin Ye (body fluids), Jing (essence) and Shen (spirit).
2. The Zang Fu Organs: that keep the body in functional harmony and control the vital substances. The Zang Fu Organs follow a Wu Xing (Five Element) Cycle. The Zang Fu Organs collectively refer to the Yin & Solid Organs and Yang & Hollow Organs of the body.
3. Jing-Luo: The Five Vital Substances flow through the Jing-Lou (Meridians). They flow to the corresponding Zang Fu Organs.

These Three Functional Entities perform the Five Cardinal Functions. The Five Cardinal Functions maintain the complete health and existence of the body.

The Five Cardinal Functions

• Actuation
• Warmth
• Defense
• Containment
• Transformation.

What are the Zang Fu (Organ Systems) in Chinese Medicine?

The Jing-Luo Meridian System integrates all aspects and functions of the body. And so, it connects the body as one holistic, functional and energetic being. There are 12 paired Organ Systems in Chinese Medicine. Chinese Medicine theorises that Qi exists in the body. Thus, the Organs exist as their own energetic entity. The Jing-Lou (Meridians) link every aspect of the body to the “Organ Energies“. Likewise, Chinese Medicine considers and analyses all aspects of life. It associates how functions relate to a particular organ energy. These associations and classifications are in the diagram below.

Acupuncture Channels and Meridians

Jing-Luo, Meridian and Channel are all closely related and inter-changeable terms.

The first main Meridians to consider are the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. These do not associate with the Organs. They are independent and have specific functions within the body such as

Eight Extraordinary Meridians

• They store the precious substances (Qi and Blood) for the Twelve Main Channels. Due to the fact that they fill and empty as the body requires.
• The Eight Extraordinary Meridians circulate Jing. Jing is essence, a most precious and anti-ageing substance. It is what we inherit from our genetics and what maintains our youth and wellbeing. The Eight Extraordinary Meridians circulate Jing around the body. Hence, these Meridians are closely tied to the Kidney Energy.
• These Meridians circulate the Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). Wei Qi governs the surface of the body to maintain immunity and good health.
• The Eight Extraordinary Meridians provide deeper connections between the Twelve Main Channels. These subtle, deep connections allows the body to function.

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians

• Ren Mai – Conception Channel
• Du Mai – Governing Channel
• Chong Mai – Penetrating Channel
• Dai Mai – Girdle/Belt Channel
• Yin Wei Mai – Yin Linking Channel
• Yang Wei Mai – Yang Linking Channel
• Yin Qiao Mai – Yin Heel Channel
• Yang Qiao Mai – Yang Heel Channel

The Twelve Main Channels

The Twelve Main Channels connect and pair with major Organ energies. So, a Yin & Solid Organ Channel (e.g. Lung) will connect with a Yang & Hollow Organ Channel (e.g. Large Intestine):

• Lung Tai Yin connects with the Large Intestine Yang Ming
• Spleen Tai Yin connects with the Stomach Yang Ming
• Heart Shao Yin connects with Small Intestine Tai Yang
• Kidney Shao Yin connects with Bladder Tai Yang
• Pericardium Jue Yin connects with the San Jiao Shao Yang
• Liver Jue Yin connects with Gall Bladder Shao Yang

Notice other correspondences between these channels

• Lung Tai Yin corresponds to Spleen Tai Yin
• Large Intestine Yang Ming corresponds to Stomach Yang Ming
• Heart Shao Yin corresponds to Kidney Shao Yin
• Bladder Tai Yang corresponds to Small Intestine Tai Yang
• Pericardium Jue Yin corresponds with Liver Jue Yin
• Gall Bladder Shao Yang corresponds to Bladder Shao Yang

What Is Qi?

Understandably, science and Chinese Medicine are forever debating the concept and existence of Qi. Regarding Qi, it is a most simple yet fundamental vital substance. In other words, it is often translated as “life force”. Qi flows through all the Jing-Luo (Meridians) to the entire body. That is to say, the difference between being dead and alive is whether you have Qi or not. Every living thing on earth has Qi, and you can observe the different levels of quality.

The Chinese meaning for Qi is air or gas.

How Can You Quantify The Quality Of Qi?

Imagine a beautiful, plump strawberry with a red, shiny texture that is home-grown in your garden is full of Qi. In contrast, compare it to a sad whitish-green strawberry grown in winter. Because of the fact it travelled thousands of kilometres. Only to sit in supermarket fridge. This latter strawberry would have little Qi in it. Indeed, the former would be full of Qi. This is an example of the variance in Qi and its’ quality.

How Does Qi Flow?

Where Qi flows blood follows.

Qi flows through the Twelve Main Meridians throughout every hour of the day. Thus, there is even a 24-hour Chinese Medicine Theoretical Clock.

How Does Qi Circulate?

Qi flows from the chest area out to the three arm Yin Meridians (Lung, Pericardium, Heart) to the hands. It then transfers to the three paired arm Yang Meridians (Large Intestine, San Jiao, Small Intestine). Then, it flows upward to the head. Then Qi connects with the three corresponding leg Yang Meridians (Stomach, Gall Bladder, Bladder). Finally, it then flows down the body to the feet. In the feet it connects with the corresponding leg Yin Meridians (Spleen, Liver, Kidney). By flowing back up again to the chest it completes the full cycle of Qi.

What Is Illness According To Chinese Medicine Theory?

If Qi stops flowing, the body cannot perform the Five Cardinal Functions. This is how illness occurs. For example, consider stagnation in the Liver Meridian. Headaches, red eyes and sore ribs are Liver Energy Signs given they occur on the Liver Meridian. Qi Stagnation can occur for many reasons. It may be due to lack of Qi or Blood or from an excess condition due to a pathogenic substance

What is Deficiency & Excess?

Chinese Medicine treatment always aims to redirect the body back into balance. So, when there is pain, sickness or disease, the body is in imbalance. This is where assessment, diagnosis and consultation achieves this. The Acupuncturist uses her knowledge and understanding of the body. For instance, she identifies which Organ Energies/Meridians are out of balance and need treatment. This is why it takes years to study Chinese Medicine. To practice Chinese Medicine you must have the education, experience and understanding. This makes an authentic and effective practitioner.

The body is almost always in either excess or deficiency, or a combination of both. Excess appears when there is too much of a pathogenic substance. Examples include dampness, heat, cold, toxin or the stagnation of Qi and Blood. Deficiency occurs when the body does not have enough of an essential substance such as Qi or Blood.

What Are The Vital Substances?