Ear (auricular) acupuncture and AcuDetox is based on ancient traditional Chinese medicine. A holistic system of medicine that has been part of the Chinese culture for some 3,000 years. Chinese medicine aims to optimise human life through allowing the body to heal itself. Treatments includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and dietary therapy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine treatments are increasingly being proven by science and western medicine as being both correct and effective.
The history, philosophies and principles of traditional Chinese medicine understand that the body works as an integrated system. It recognizes that the accumulation and balance of Yin and Yang, and the flow of Qi within an individual determines their health or dis-ease.
Disturbances in this balance results in change, often seen as symptoms or signs of dis-ease or illness. Acupuncture treatments are intended to assist restore this balance by influencing the vital energy, the Qi.
How does Qi work?
Qi flows through channels throughout the body and in the spaces between muscles and the skin maintaining balance within the body by:
- warming, moistening and nourishing
- promoting normal function of the organs
- providing energy for different processes
- regulating the body
- protecting the body, and
- ensuring that organs remain in their proper positions.
Qi is a homeostatic mechanism by which the body can heal itself and establish a state of wellness.
The ‘Nei Jing’ asserts that the nature of any entity, living or not, is determined by the intrinsic balance between opposing states, Yin and Yang. If Qi encounters a Yin Yang imbalance, Qi restores balance and harmony by transforming one to the other.
Resulting in dis-ease or illness, this healing transformation does not take place if there is a blockage that impedes the flow of Qi, or a factor is present that is interfering with the Qi, or if there is a deficiency of Qi.
Psychiatric disorders frequently relate to energetic disharmonies involving the 5’Spirits’, being:
- the Hun (the noncorporeal spirit)
- the Po (the corporeal spirit)
- the Zhi (the will)
- the Yi (the intellect) and
- the Shen (the mind and the connecting spirit).
Acupuncture techniques assist Qi release the cause of dis-ease and illness by:
- opening blocked channels
- expelling pathogenic factors that are interfering with normal processes
- boosting Qi in cases of deficiency
Western Medicine
Western medicine focuses on human body pathology. That is alterations in anatomy or physiology that give rise to illness and disease states. Diagnoses usually include tests of blood, urine, stools, biopsies, scans, x-rays and physical examinations.
Treatments generally include the use of drugs or surgery to treat the symptoms, and cure the problem. It is well known that the pharmaceutical industry has played a big role in driving the prescribing and use of drugs. Today we find ourselves very dependent on taking and living on prescription and over the counter drugs for every possible condition.
We are a nation taking pain-killers, sleeping tablets, anti-inflammatories, anti-anxiety, anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, anti-diarrhea, laxatives, decongestants, anti-histamines, ritalin, respidol, stimulants, relaxants etc.
These remedies ignore the cause of illness or disease; and only suppress the symptoms. Often resulting in precarious side-effects and interactions.
Patients often become dependent or addicted to these drugs (regarded as chemical toxins in Chinese medicine). The long term use of pharmaceuticals is not particularly beneficial or effective for us. Most drugs are metabolised by the liver, the function of which can become seriously challenged over time.
More people are looking at alternative or complementary medicine for healing. These treatments include AcuDetox acupuncture, homeopathy and reiki, to name but a few.
AcuDetox, when used alone or in conjunction with other modalities or counseling can be very effective in treating a number of conditions.