THE FIVE ELEMENTS. Another basis of Chinese theory is that the world and body are made up of five main elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
These elements are all interconnected, and each element either generates or controls another element.
For instance, water controls fire and earth generates metal. Each organ is associated with one of the five elements.
The Chinese system uses elements and organs to describe and treat conditions.
For instance, the kidney is associated with water and the heart is associated with fire, and the two organs are related as water and fire are related.
If the kidney is weak, then there might be a corresponding fire problem in the heart, so treatment might be made by acupuncture or herbs to cool the heart system and/or increase energy in the kidney system.
The Chinese have developed an intricate system of how organs and elements are related to physical and mental symptoms, and the above example is a very simple one.
Although this system sounds suspect to Western scientists, some interesting parallels have been observed. For instance, Western medicine has observed that with severe heart problems, kidney failure often follows, but it still does not know exactly why.
In Chinese medicine, this connection between the two organs has long been established.
MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND ACUPUNCTURE.
In Chinese medicine, disease as seen as imbalances in the organ system or chi meridians, and the goal of any remedy or treatment is to assist the body in reestablishing its innate harmony.
Disease can be caused by internal factors like emotions, external factors like the environment and weather, and other factors like injuries, trauma, diet, and germs.
However, infection is seen not as primarily a problem with germs and viruses, but as a weakness in the energy of the body that is allowing a sickness to occur.
In Chinese medicine, no two illnesses are ever the same, as each body has its own characteristics of symptoms and balance.
Acupuncture is used to open or adjust the flow of chi throughout the organ system, which will strengthen the body and prompt it to heal itself.
A VISIT TO THE ACUPUNCTURIST.
The first thing an acupuncturist will do is get a thorough idea of a patient's medical history and symptoms, both physical and emotional.
This is done with a long questionnaire and interview.
Then the acupuncturist will examine the patient to find further symptoms, looking closely at the tongue, the pulse at various points in the body, the complexion, general behavior, and other signs like coughs or pains.
From this, the practitioner will be able to determine patterns of symptoms which indicate which organs and areas are imbalanced.
Depending on the problem, the acupuncturist will insert needles to manipulate chi on one or more of the twelve organ meridians.
On these twelve meridians, there are nearly 2,000 points that can be used in acupuncture, with around 200 points being most frequently used by traditional acupuncturists. During an individual treatment, one to 20 needles may be used, depending on which meridian points are chosen.
Acupuncture needles are always sterilized and acupuncture is a very safe procedure.
The depth of insertion of needles varies, depending on which chi channels are being treated. Some points barely go beyond superficial layers of skin, while some acupuncture points require a depth of 1-3 in (2.5-7.5 cm) of needle.
The needles generally do not cause pain. Patients sometimes report pinching sensations and often pleasant sensations, as the body experiences healing.
Depending on the problem, the acupuncturist might spin or move the needles, or even pass a slight electrical current through some of them.
Moxibustion may be sometimes used, in which an herbal mixture (moxa or mugwort) is either burned like incense on the acupuncture point or on the end of the needle, which is believed to stimulate chi in a particular way.
Also, acupuncturists sometimes use cupping, during which small suction cups are placed on meridian points to stimulate them.
How long the needles are inserted also varies. Some patients only require a quick in and out insertion to clear problems and provide tonification (strengthening of health), while some other conditions might require needles inserted up to an hour or more.
The average visit to an acupuncturist takes about 30 minutes.
The number of visits to the acupuncturist varies as well, with some conditions improved in one or two sessions and others requiring a series of six or more visits over the course of weeks or months.
