Therapies

Points selected for acupuncture can be located at the location of where symptoms manifest. Since channels traverse the body and extend to distal regions, it is also common for points located distally to be selected. The stomach channel, for example, starts on the face and ends at the feet. So points on the legs and feet might be selected for a symptom located in the torso region. Added to this, points on a completely unrelated channel altogether might be selected. Additionally, organ channel origin, pathway to their proximity to other meridians can be assessed since one could affect another. So approaches to selecting points may differ from one person to another.

Although not suitable for everyone and in every case, acupuncture has been known to manage various conditions. Those who would respond best to acupuncture are normally stable with conditions that are often chronic in nature.

Other ways acupuncture points can be stimulated are through moxibustion, cupping, electrical stimulation to manual pressure like Tuina, which is a form of therapeutic massage that originated from China. Aside from electrical stimulation and possibly moxibustion, the other additional alternative methods listed can be separate treatments by themselves. Some of them will be explained below.

Moxibustion, or moxa, involves the burning of moxa wool made from a dried herb, Artemisia vulgaris or wormwood. The term moxibustion is derived from the name of this plant which is most frequently used as Artemesia Moxa or A. Mogusa in Japanese. Now used in many Asian countries and introduced to the west, moxa is often rolled into a stick, burnt and placed over and around acupoints. This is commonly called indirect moxa. Premade stick-on mini-moxa is also available. Another method of using moxa is by placing moxa wool directly onto the skin, monitored and removed once it is burnt half way. This creates a warming effect to unblock channels by moving qi and blood. It can also simply be used to warm the body. Moxa on Stomach 36 has traditionally been used to boost the immune system and is a classic example of how moxa has been used. However, when using moxa, smoke is released. The borneol from the plant may cause an allergic reaction so a well ventilated space is always needed and should be avoided if you have a sensitivity to the smell of smoke and borneol or have respiratory problems.

Electroacupuncture is when electrical wires are clipped to acupuncture needles to promote a stronger flow of qi between two points to move phlegm, qi or blood. If you have an implanted electrical device, electroacupuncture near or around the device is avoided. It should also be avoided in those who are pregnant.

Cupping also stimulates acupoints when the skin is lifted and suctioned into a vessel like a cup. Cups used are normally made out of glass or plastic. More recently, international athletes were seen with these cup marks on their body but it can benefit anyone in general. But when should cupping be used? Cupping therapy can be used in a variety of cases. As we know, it's good for various types of pain like neck pain, back pain, muscle stiffness and so on. It can also help manage some respiratory issues and coughs by opening blocked points on channels on the upper back. Cupping can also be used after being under the sun, being out in the wind, cold or rain. Cupping the back shu-transporting points is also common but it is important to avoid cupping over unhealed skin, on those tho are pregnant, weak or feable to those with some types of cancers. There are many types of cupping but the most common type involves cupping over skin that is lightly oiled to prevent blistering. Cups can also be slided over the skin and can mimic gua sha, or scraping, which is also similar in that a light liniment or oil is applied onto the skin before gently scraped to release the skin's exterior.

  Light Therapy

You might have seen a lamp placed over someone getting acupuncture. They might be placed over the abdomen or feet to warm the body when extremeties get cold. It is also used because it is common for the body to become cooler during acupuncture and far infrared lamps can help warm the body in the local area by way of channels. To explain how far infrared lamps warms the body, we can look to three channels that influence blood in TCM. They are the heart, liver and spleen. The liver stores blood, the heart governs or guides blood, while the spleen, based on the qi pathway, plays a big role in blood formation from post heaven qi. When extremities are cold, this is interpreted to mean that liver blood is blocked and can't spread, or we referr to this as liver qi stagnation. This is when far infrared light therapy could help to promote the flow of qi, phlegm and blood through warmth. This can also apply in the case when the spleen is cold and possibly diagnosed as damp cold. The coldness and dampness slows the qi pathway flow. In this case, about 5 to 10 minutes and up to 15 minutes of heat therapy coupled with acupuncture can reintroduce warmth to the spleen channel. These are a couple of examples to explain how light therapy could help warm the body through channels that affect the blood's flow. And definitely communicate with your practitioner about any condition you might have, like diabetic neuropathy, which will affect the level of heat you can feel or not feel.

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