Acupuncture treats the human body as a whole that involves several "systems of function" that are in many cases associated with (but not identified on a one-to-one basis with) physical organs. Some systems of function, such as the "triple heater" (San Jiao, also called the "triple burner") have no corresponding physical organ. Disease is understood as a loss of homeostasis among the several systems of function, and treatment of disease is attempted by modifying the activity of one or more systems of function through the activity of needles, ...

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Acupuncture, Acupuncture - Theory, Acupuncture - An example of acupuncture practice, Acupuncture - Benefits proven and purported, Acupuncture - Potential risks, Acupuncture - Controversy as to effectiveness, Acupuncture - Bibliography

Read more here: » Acupuncture: Encyclopedia II - Acupuncture - Theory

See also:

Acupuncture, Acupuncture - Theory, Acupuncture - An example of acupuncture practice, Acupuncture - Benefits proven and purported, Acupuncture - Potential risks, Acupuncture - Controversy as to effectiveness, Acupuncture - Bibliography

Read more here: » Acupuncture: Encyclopedia II - Acupuncture - Benefits proven and purported

A private watchdog group, the National Council Against Health Fraud has stated: Acupuncture is an unproven modality of treatment. Its theory and practice are based on primitive and fanciful concepts of health and disease that bear no relationship to present scientific knowledge. Research during the past 20 years has not demonstrated that acupuncture is effective against any disease. Perceived effects of acupuncture are probably due to a combination of expectation, suggestion, counter-irritation, condit ...

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Acupuncture, Acupuncture - Theory, Acupuncture - An example of acupuncture practice, Acupuncture - Benefits proven and purported, Acupuncture - Potential risks, Acupuncture - Controversy as to effectiveness, Acupuncture - Bibliography

Read more here: » Acupuncture: Encyclopedia II - Acupuncture - Controversy as to effectiveness

Acupuncture (from Lat. acus, "needle" (noun), and pungere, "prick" (verb) or in Standard Mandarin, zhēn jǐu (針灸), is one of the main branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (others being herbal medicine and tui na). It is a therapeutic technique from that framework intended to restore health and well-being. The term acupuncture is often used by Westerners to refer to Chinese medicine generally. The technique involves the insertion of needles into "acupuncture points" on the body by trained practitioners. Th ...

Including:

• Acupuncture - Theory
• Acupuncture - An example of acupuncture practice
• Acupuncture - Benefits proven and purported
• Acupuncture - Potential risks
• Acupuncture - Controversy as to effectiveness
• Acupuncture - Bibliography

Read more here: » Acupuncture: Encyclopedia - Acupuncture

To differentiate between western or eastern concepts of organs the first letter is capitalized (Liver, instead of liver, Spleen instead of spleen). Because Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is holistic, each organ cannot be explained fully unless the TCM relationship/homeostasis with the other organs is understood. TCM also looks at the functions of the organs rather than fixed areas and, therefore, describes different organs that are not actually physical, like the Triple Burner (San Jiao). This also leads to controversy about the validity ...

Including:

• Zang Fu theory - External link

Read more here: » Zang Fu theory: Encyclopedia - Zang Fu theory

Moxibustion (Chinese: 灸; pinyin: jiŭ) is an oriental medicine therapy utilizing moxa, or mugwort herb. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, and Mongolia. Suppliers usually age the mugwort and grind it up to a fluff; practitioners burn the fluff or process it further into a stick that resembles a (non-smokable) cigar. They can use it indirectly, with acupuncture needles, or sometimes burn it on a patient's skin. Moxibustion - Terminology. Th ...

Including:

• Moxibustion - Terminology
• Moxibustion - Theory and practice
• Moxibustion - Parallel uses of mugwort

Read more here: » Moxibustion: Encyclopedia - Moxibustion

The main differences between traditional Chinese and Western medical acupuncture are as follows. The traditional theory of "points" and "meridians" is either ignored altogether or is radically reinterpreted. The concepts of disease are derived from modern Western pathology instead of Chinese medical theory. Medical acupuncture is understood to work via the modern understanding of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. The principal di ...

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Medical acupuncture, Medical acupuncture - History of medical acupuncture, Medical acupuncture - Differences between traditional and medical acupuncture, Medical acupuncture - Choosing where to needle, Medical acupuncture - Mechanism

Read more here: » Medical acupuncture: Encyclopedia II - Medical acupuncture - Differences between traditional and medical acupuncture

Medical acupuncture was created for Western practitioners such as medical doctors, physiotherapists and osteopaths who wish to practice acupuncture without the lengthy study of traditional Chinese Medicine theory which is usually required for acupuncturists. This Western version of acupuncture is lesser known than the traditional Chinese, but is increasing in popularity as otherwise mainstream medical practitioners in the West are taking more interest in alternative medicine. Medical acupuncture can also been seen as an attempt by orthodox W ...

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Medical acupuncture, Medical acupuncture - History of medical acupuncture, Medical acupuncture - Differences between traditional and medical acupuncture, Medical acupuncture - Choosing where to needle, Medical acupuncture - Mechanism

Read more here: » Medical acupuncture: Encyclopedia II - Medical acupuncture - History of medical acupuncture

Main article: List of alternative, speculative and disputed theories Examples of theories and fields of endeavor which their critics believe are often associated in one way or another with pseudoscience: Acupuncture (the traditional theory behind it) Alchemy (pre- or proto-scientific rather than pseudoscientific) Astrology Sun-Sign Astrology Biblical scientific foresight Chakra theory Characterology Chiropractic Clairvoyance See also:

Pseudoscience, Pseudoscience - Introduction, Pseudoscience - Classifying pseudoscience, Pseudoscience - Pseudoscience contrasted with protoscience, Pseudoscience - The problem of demarcation, Pseudoscience - Fields often associated with pseudoscience, Pseudoscience - Pseudomathematics, Pseudoscience - Criticisms of the concept of pseudoscience, Pseudoscience - People, Pseudoscience - Lists

Read more here: » Pseudoscience: Encyclopedia II - Pseudoscience - Fields often associated with pseudoscience

Practitioners use moxa to warm regions and acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood and qi. Scientific research has shown that mugwort acts as an emmenagogue, meaning that it stimulates blood-flow in the pelvic area and uterus. It is claimed that moxibustion militates against cold and dampness in the body and can supposedly serve to turn breech babies. Medical historians believe that moxibustion pre-dated acupuncture, and needling came to supplement moxa ...

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Moxibustion, Moxibustion - Terminology, Moxibustion - Theory and practice, Moxibustion - Parallel uses of mugwort

Read more here: » Moxibustion: Encyclopedia II - Moxibustion - Theory and practice

Main article: List of alternative, speculative and disputed theories Examples of theories and fields of endeavor that are often associated with pseudoscience: Acupuncture (the traditional theory behind it) Alchemy (pre- or proto-scientific rather than pseudoscientific) Astrology Sun-Sign Astrology Biblical scientific foresight Chakra theory Characterology Clairvoyance Context speaking budgies Creation science and its offsho ...

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Pseudoscience, Pseudoscience - Introduction, Pseudoscience - Classifying pseudoscience, Pseudoscience - Pseudoscience contrasted with protoscience, Pseudoscience - The problem of demarcation, Pseudoscience - Fields often associated with pseudoscience, Pseudoscience - Pseudomathematics, Pseudoscience - Criticisms of the concept of pseudoscience, Pseudoscience - People, Pseudoscience - Lists

Read more here: » Pseudoscience: Encyclopedia II - Pseudoscience - Fields often associated with pseudoscience

There are some questions about TCM which can be investigated scientifically: Does it work? How does it work? Is it safe? Traditional Chinese medicine - The question of efficaciousness. Most scientific research in the West about TCM has focused on acupuncture. The National Institutes of Health Consensus Statement on Acupunctur ...

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Traditional Chinese medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine - Uses, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM theory, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM diagnostics, Traditional Chinese medicine - Diagnostic techniques, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM treatment techniques, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM and science, Traditional Chinese medicine - The question of efficaciousness, Traditional Chinese medicine - Purported mechanism of action, Traditional Chinese medicine - Safety of Chinese medicines, Traditional Chinese medicine - The relationship between TCM and Western medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM and Animals

Read more here: » Traditional Chinese medicine: Encyclopedia II - Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM and science

The traditional treatment in Chinese medicine consists of six major methods: Tui na(推拿) Acupuncture(針疚) Moxibustion(艾炙) Cupping(拔罐) Herbology(中药) Exercise like Qigong (氣功), T'ai Chi Ch'uan (太極拳), Kung fu (功夫) and other Chinese martial arts. Die-da or Tieh Ta (跌打): practitioners who specialize in healing trauma injury such as bone fractures, sprains, bruises etc. Some of these specialists may also use or recommend other disciplines of ...

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Traditional Chinese medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine - Uses, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM theory, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM diagnostics, Traditional Chinese medicine - Diagnostic techniques, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM treatment techniques, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM and science, Traditional Chinese medicine - The question of efficaciousness, Traditional Chinese medicine - Purported mechanism of action, Traditional Chinese medicine - Safety of Chinese medicines, Traditional Chinese medicine - The relationship between TCM and Western medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM and Animals

Read more here: » Traditional Chinese medicine: Encyclopedia II - Traditional Chinese medicine - TCM treatment techniques

traditional acupuncture (Traditional Chinese acupuncture): Form of acupuncture based on the meridian theory of, and usually practiced in the context of, TCM.

(See also: Traditional acupuncture, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

body acupuncture: ordinary acupuncture, i.e., any form of acupuncture whose channel theory is that of TCM and whose scope is the entire human body (e.g., not just the ears).

(See also: Body acupuncture, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

French acupuncture: Style of acupuncture originated by George Soulie de Morant and pioneered by his student Dr. Chamfrault, a medical doctor. According to its theory, meridian energetics is a framework for understanding the body and disorders thereof.

(See also: French acupuncture, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

auricular acupuncture (auricular acupuncture therapy): stimulation of acupoints on the auricle (the outer portion of the ear). Practitioners may base their choice of points on clinical experience, modern medicine, the site of the disease, or the TCM theories of Organs and meridians.

(See also: Auricular acupuncture, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

auriculotherapy (auricular acupuncture, auricular therapy, ear acupuncture): Form of homuncular acupuncture developed by Dr. P.F.M. Nogier of France. Its theory depicts the auricle (the outer portion of the ear) as an upside-down fetus with points that correspond to bodily parts. Such points number more than two hundred. Ostensible diagnosis involves examining the ear for tenderness or for variations in electrical conductivity. Treatment consists in the acupuncturing or electrical stimulation of the auricular acupoint that corresponds to the anatomical site of the malady.

(See also: Auriculotherapy, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

acu-point therapy: Mode of counseling psychology based partly on acupuncture theory and promoted by Mitchell J. Rabin, M.A.

(See also: Acu-point therapy, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

ACUPUNCTURE: Acupuncture originated in China over five thousand years ago. It is based on the belief that health is determined by a balanced flow of qi (also referred to as chi), the vital life energy present in all living organisms.

According to acupuncture theory, qi circulates in the body along twelve major pathways, called meridians, each linked to specific internal organs and organ systems. According to William Michael Cargile, B.S., D.C., F.I.A.C.A., Chairman of Research for the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental medicine, there are over a thousand acupoints within the meridian system that can be stimulated to enhance the flow of qi. When special needles are inserted into these acupoints (just under the skin), they help correct and rebalance the flow of energy and consequently relieve pain and/or restore health.

(See also: Acupuncture, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)