Acupuncture
-Broad application beyond pain relief
In the hands of a well-trained and experienced practitioner, acupuncture has much broader applications beyond pain relief. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wide range of common illnesses including:
Upper Respiratory Tract
- Acute sinusitis
- Acute rhinitis
- Common cold and flu
- Acute tonsillitis
Respiratory System
- Acute bronchitis
- Bronchial asthma (Most effective in children and uncomplicated conditions.)
Eye Disorders
- Acute conjunctivitis
- Central retinitis myopia (in children) • Cataracts (without complications)
Mouth Disorders
- Toothache
- Post extraction pain
- Gingivitis
- Acute and chronic pharyngitis
Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Spasms of esophagus
- Hiccough
- Gastrostomies
- Acute and chronic gastritis
- Gastric hyperacidity
- Chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief)
- Acute duodenal ulcer (without complications)
- Acute and chronic colitis
- Acute bacillary dysentery
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Paralytic Ileus
Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Headache and migraine
- Trigeminal neuralgias
- Facial palsy (early stage, i.e., within 3-6 months)
- Pareses following a stroke
- Peripheral neuropathies
- Sequelae of poliomyelitis (early stage, i.e., within 6 months)
- Meniere’s disease
- Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
- Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)
- Intercostal neuralgia
- Cervicobrachial syndrome
- Frozen shoulder
- Tennis elbow
- Sciatica
- Low back pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Back and knee pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue
- Sports injuries and pains
Reproductive & Gynecological Conditions
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps)
- Spotting and excessive bleeding
- Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual period)
- Impotence
- Infertility
- Incontinence
- Prostates
Mental Emotional Problems
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
The World Health Organization Interregional Seminar compiled the above list of illnesses that may benefit from acupuncture treatment. The list is only a partial list and is based on clinical experience, and not necessarily on controlled clinical research. The inclusion of specific diseases is not meant to indicate the extent of acupuncture’s efficacy in treatment, since all conditions may vary in severity and response. Source: World Health Organization. Viewpoint on Acupuncture. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1979.
Ba Guan (Cupping)
Cupping is the application of a cup to the skin. The pressure in the cup is removed or vacuumed out by using change in heat or by suctioning out air, so that the skin and superficial muscle layer are drawn into and held in the cup. Cupping can be used for various parts of the body: neck, shoulders, back, sacral area, hip, abdomen, thigh, upper arms, calves, and in some cases forehead or the soles of the feet, depending on the condition and the size of cups. After cupping, there will be stagnation or bruising ranging from red to purple, which will disappear days later. There are various types of cups, including rubber cups, bamboo cups, cupping glasses or plastic cups. All are equipped with a way to create a vacuum, whether through the use of fire/flame, pumps or manual suction.
Methods of cupping:
- Cup retention is when cups are applied to a specific location and left for 5 to 15 minutes
- Flash Cupping is when cups are applied and taken off repeatedly
- Sliding/Gliding Cupping is when the skin is covered with an oil or lubricant, then a cup is applied and moved around the affected area without breaking the seal
Benefits of cupping:
- Promotes deep relaxation of muscles and fascia
- Stimulates nervous systems relaxation response
- Regulates digestion
- Regulates blood vessels
- Encourages proper circulation, oxygenation, and detoxification of blood
- Detoxifies metabolic waste in muscle tissue, fascia and skin by bringing toxins up and into the circulatory system to be cleansed and properly eliminated
Contra-Indications of cupping:
- Severe infection accompanied by high fever
- Abdomen and low back of pregnant women
- Nearby skin adhesions, allergic skin condition, dermatitis, ulcerated sores and edema
- Large blood vessels or varicose veins
- Patients who are susceptible to spontaneous bleeding