How does acupuncture and acupressure work?!
Question: i dont believe in chinese traditional medicine and stuff, until my parent turn me to this alternative medicine.
and in two years, i've lost my asthma, at that time, i was 13.
but really, how does this stuff work?
Answers: i dont believe in chinese traditional medicine and stuff, until my parent turn me to this alternative medicine.
and in two years, i've lost my asthma, at that time, i was 13.
but really, how does this stuff work?
How does acupressure work?
When I get a headache, my friend presses a spot on my hand. Somehow, this makes my headache go away. How does this work? Your friend is using a very old (about 5,000 years) and widely practiced form of body work called acupressure. Like acupuncture, this practice comes from traditional Chinese medicine. Although acupuncture is more widely known, most sources suggest that acupressure actually predates acupuncture by about 2,500 years.
Acupressure and acupuncture, as well as other therapies such as Shiatsu and reflexology, are based on the concept of a person's energy, or life force. This belief system theorizes that a life force, known as chi or qi (pronounced chee) travels through the body along pathways called meridians. Traditional Chinese medicine dictates that there are 20 meridians. However, in acupressure and acupuncture, most work centers around 14 meridians: the 12 regular meridians (see sidebar) and two extra meridians known as the Conception Vessel and the Governor Vessel.
According to this theory, a block in the flow of chi results in discomfort or even disease. To release the blocked energy, or to promote energy flow to a certain area, the acupressure practitioner presses an acupoint. According to specialists in Traditional Chinese medicine, more than 300 acupoints have been identified along the 14 meridians. Each is assigned a Chinese name and an alphanumeric code, such as Shenmen (HT7).
The Japanese practice of Shiatsu, which literally means "finger pressure," is similar to acupressure. In acupressure and Shiatsu, thumbs are most commonly used to apply pressure, although other fingers, knuckles, palms, elbows and even feet can be used in some of the therapies. The degree of pressure that is applied varies, as does the duration. Anything from moderate to penetrating pressure is employed for several seconds to several minutes, and the treatment can be performed once or repeatedly.
The acupoint that your friend used to make your headache disappear is known as the Hegu (LI4) point. Hegu is the Chinese name and LI4 refers to a specific point on the large-intestine meridian.
Currently, there is no evidence in western medical science to support the theories upon which acupressure and similar therapies are based. However, a number of recent studies have been conducted to investigate the use of acupressure in the temporary relief of nausea and headache pain. Some of these studies suggest that applying pressure to certain points causes the brain to release more endorphins, small proteins that act as a natural painkiller.
The theory of Acupuncture is that Chi (Life Force energy) flows through the body just as bloods and lymph fluid flow through the body. The Chi flows through meridians. Disease and illness occur then the flow of chi is blocked or slows down. There are places in the body where the meridians are close the the skin. These spots are also know as trigger spots. By stimulating the point either by insertion of a needle or rubbing (you can use your finger, a small stone or even the end of a chop stick) the blockage is relieved and the chi them flows freely allowing the body to heal itself.
The medians flow from the dan tien or about three inches below the belly button so a lung median may flow down you arms which is why you can stimulate a point no where near the area you have pain or inflammation and get relief
Asthma comes and goes naturally depending on age, environment and many other factors. It is not possible for you to decide objectively that acupuncture helped your asthma.
For acupuncture to work there has to be an invisible flow of energy through your body called the Qi or Chi, which is stimulated when a needle is stuck into various pressure points. Acupuncturists are unable to demonstrate that this exists, and scientists find it laughable.