This acupuncturist’s warm and welcoming hello instantly put Sam at ease. He described what he needed to do in a language that nine- year-old could comprehend. “Acupuncture feels like a mosquito bite,” it stings but then it goes away.”
Sam had twelve needles in all, with three being directly around the nose and sinus cavity. He handled it like a true man, flinching perhaps from a bit of fear but no real pain. Almost immediately he could breathe clearly. As he took in some long deep breaths from both nostrils a huge smile broadened across his face, ‘it feels so good to breath’.
A Description of Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been described to me in this way. Chinese philosophy believes the body is a “mini universe.” As such, there are two opposite antagonistic forces existing in nature, yin and yang. Yang represents the sun and heat, the sunny side of the hill. Yin represents dark and cold, the shady side of the hill. The two forces are interdependent; each cannot exist without the other. When yin and yang are interacting appropriately, we have a healthy “mini universe”. There are five elements that draw their analogy from nature, classifying the organs and tissues. These five elements need to be working in harmony with respect to seasonal changes in order for yin and yang to be in balance.
A combination of several factors contributes to the imbalance of our mini universe, making us more vulnerable to disease and illness. Typically, the human body needs seventy percent of the food we consume. Our eating in surplus causes our body to work overtime, filtering the toxins and heat produced from the excess food and drink. Add in a fast-paced lifestyle providing numerous distractions as well as seasonal changes and the sum of it all adds up to imbalance.
Acupuncture can regulate the equilibrium by helping the body to work harmoniously. “Qi” (pronounced “chee”) is vital energy. The Chinese believe there are passages of Qi running along meridian or channel lines of the body that are essential for the proper functioning of organs and tissues in creating good health. Qi seems like a mysterious, invisible thing; however, a student of meditation can experience this sensation. When Qi is blocked, a vicious cycle begins, creating an ideal opportunity for any illness to appear. Stimulating the body with needles restores Qi and therefore “microcirculation” becomes effective producing results immediately.
