Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese healing art that has been practiced for more than three thousands of years . Not only its technology of the tools has been enhanced to today fine smooth needle that ranged from 0.01mm to 0.35mm of diameter, the acupuncture skills has also been practiced and revised following the clinical observation and application for three thousand years. Traditional Chinese Medicine treating the patient as a whole , the treatment approach is individualized and tailored according to patient body constitution and presented sign and symptoms. The acupuncture point selected are derived from the treatment principle that target the pattern diagnosis. The pattern diagnosis is determined following a series of clinical examination method by collect and recognize clinically significant sign an symptoms such as the Spirit "Shen" appearance , tongue appearance, voice, quality of the pulse ,ten question review the body system as a whole.
Treatment strategies using acupuncture may include tonifying , sedating or harmonizing the specific acupuncture point. The direction of the needle insertion (following or against the flow of the channel), depth of the needle insertion, intention of the practitioner and different manipulation technique will determine the effect of that specific acupuncture insertion . The combination of the acupuncture point prescription could also create a different result based on the intended treatment principles. It is to mention that acupuncture is a healing art that more than just dry needling to stimulate the microinjury and stimulate the repairing and healing process. It is working on the life force of " Qi" that run through within the channel system, cardiovascular system , lymphatic system and also the "wei" level which including the surface of the body . The Qi that run through the surface of the body often experienced strongly by the Qi Gong practitioner who can felt the warmth of the hand or body during or after a session of Qi Gong practice .
Acupuncture in short is defined as a treatment modality that involved insertion of the needle to the specific acupuncture point that run along the meridian channel and achieve therapeutic effect. Most commonly used acupuncture strategy Is insertion of needle on the body using meridian channel system . Dry needle is another technique that often performed by the physiotherapist or medical physician to the injured muscle or A Shi point and stimulate the healing . Other micro acupuncture system is sometimes performed by the experienced acupuncturist who had experienced better clinical result with specific condition . More information can be found in the blog on microsystem acupuncture.
Despite the low clinical evidence and the arguably placebo effect of acupuncture, many patients with psychological disorder, muscular disorder and digestive disorder often find relief from Acupuncture. Since the treatment approach is individualized and targeted, it is challenging to select the patient group with similar pattern diagnosis and benefit from the same treatment principles. This explained why most of the clinical study in acupuncture has small sample size. Second to the limited clinical data of acupuncture use as mainstream treatment choice, there is constant quest of the use of acupuncture in patient with psycho-emotional issue, infertility, insomnia, pain, digestive disorder and muscular disorder condition. Seemingly, the holistic approach of acupuncture has a role to play in helping the patient manage the physical, mental and emotional health as a whole.