What is Japanese Acupuncture?
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Japanese and Chinese acupuncture have the same roots. The Japanese used the same classic texts to develop their own respective style. With the exception of family styles both countries have the same points and theories. The difference is, generally speaking, Japanese acupuncture focuses on the objective experience of the patient as well as treating the issue at hand. Typically Japanese needle insertion is much more shallow than Chinese. In order to access the channels to have a similar affect as deep needling Japanese practitioners will "prepare the points", meaning stimulate the channel and the point before needling. This is often comforting and soothing and brings attention and thus Qi to the area.
This is a cultural and functional adaptation. Deep needling can feel invasive. This is disruptive to the natural flow of Qi. The ideal in a Japanese sense is to affect the Qi while maintaining a soothing environment. The image of dipping a single finger into a still pond to create a vast outcropping of ripples is the ultimate goal. Minimal effort and stimulation will create, at the edge of the pond, the maximum output. The effect is a feeling of movement within stillness. |
How does Acupuncture work? |
To start let's state that there is no separation in mind and body. That is a terrible consequence of culture where we value stats and measurable quantities over subjective qualities. The subjective human experience is critically important to one's health. That is all to say that for the purpose of simplicity in writing when I write "body" it includes the mind and spirit as well.
Our bodies are complex interconnected ecological systems that are constantly adapting to our environment. That includes our emotional and physical environment. If someone says something offensive to us we feel it. Just as if someone hits us we are physically injured. The only difference is location. In order to continue daily function our bodies adapt to certain holding patterns. These are physical stagnations in our tissue. What we do with acupuncture is take a metal needle, a fixed immovable object, and insert it into the system/ecology to encourage the body to re-adapt. When needles are inserted directly into stagnation that stagnation can no longer remain in that position because two objects can not occupy the same space at the same time. Our body's innate intelligence then re- configures itself to optimize circulation. When needles are inserted adjacent or distal to the affected areas we are utilizing the interdependence of the system. If your tomatos in your back garden aren't fruiting you look have to consider the state of the rain, sun exposure, are there invasive insects, etc. The symptom in this case is the lack of yummy tomatoes but the cause could be any combination of those interconnected factors. The same is true with the body. |
Does acupuncture h
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Acupuncture is virtually painless. The needles are extremely thin and designed for comfort and ease of insertion to maximize patient comfort. Once the needles are in there are many sensations that can occur. Each treatment can feel different depending on the patient's current state. Sometimes the points ache or feel heavy, other times they may feel a tingling or traveling sensation and sometimes the patient doesn't feel anything except for extreme relaxation.
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Why should I get acupuncture?
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Acupuncture is safe, natural, and effective. Acupuncture uses the body's own capacity for healing to either expel a pathogen or regulate systemic function. Nothing is added to the body.
Herbs too are safe, natural and effective when prescribed by a trained practitioner. The FDA categorizes them as food supplements which is actually a pretty good assessment given the way they work. The body treats formulas like food. If there is something that it doesn't need it doesn't really do much. This means that if the diagnosis isn't quite right then the formula won't have much of an effect positively or negatively. Of course the severity of affect either way also depends of the severity and complexity of the condition being treated. If the diagnosis is accurate then the herbs will be quite remarkable. These days there are so many drugs on the market with side effects out numbering the benefits. Acupuncturists won't give you a list of side effects because everything that happens to you when you take a formula, or drug for that matter, is the effect. Whether the effect is intended or not it's still an effect from the treatment. When you get an herbal prescription you will be told what results to expect within a basic time frame. There may be some adjustments needed to the dosing or the ingredients of the formula given the patient's reactions but a balance should be found relatively quickly. |