(Traditional Chinese &
Western Medical)
Traditional Chinese
Acupuncture is a one of the major aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is one of
the great truly holistic approaches, the basis, of which many of the
holistic therapies we know today are based on, such as,
reflexology, shiatsu, acupressure, applied kinesiology, reiki, etc. It is
about encouraging the health of the person from within, rather than
treating the symptoms.
This it does by balancing the
energies & communicating systems within the body to assist it's own
self-healing systems. Based on the principle that we are more than the
just the physical body that we see, and that we have an etheric or
energetic blueprint or subtle body that supports & manifests the
physical body. From this you could say that the balance of energy within
the subtle body is paramount to health of the physical & mental health
of that person.
It is said that in China - The
doctor is paid to keep you healthy, because when you are sick, you cannot
afford to pay.
This may seem alien to our
culture, but it's difficult not to see the common sense in this. Often, I
am asked, if I believe acupuncture works?
My reply - I know
acupuncture works, but there is a small minority, for which it doesn't
seem to make any difference.
or
From a scientific point of
view the fact that acupuncture works for most of us is not in doubt, but
there are some aspects of it that western scientists don't yet understand.
I figure if it helps, then I'm happy
to wait for some of the why's & wherefores and I suspect the critics
may have to broaden their view before they can gain a greater
understanding. Also, I should point out that it does not contradict the
very forefront of scientific thought, such as - quantum physics &
theory.
There is actually a huge
amount of research studies, that seems to be consistently ignored by
western medicine that suggests that it does work for a wide range if
problems. As
a result of one Chinese study being discredited - western medicine has
chosen to tar all Chinese research with the same brush.
A cynic may say - That's
because you don't make mega bucks from something you cannot copyright or
patent - like a drug for example.
To add to this - most of the
studies done in the West have been on Western Acupuncture ( WA - see
below), which is a different kettle of fish all together. This is based on
'accepted scientific findings' and/or uses prescribed formulas for
specific conditions, regardless of the nature & characteristics of the
person. This is a poor attempt to crowbar a holistic approach to health
into a mainstream scientific research model - Oops, it doesn't seem to
fit!
To illustrate the difference
between mainstream science & quantum science - imagine for a moment
how Sir Isaac Newton saw the universe, then imagine how Albert Einstein
saw the universe & then some. Okay, perhaps that's a stretch too far.
Try this one:-
-
You break everything down
and examine all the tiny bits & consider that they must follow
strict governing rules. Except some bits seem to behave differently
and you don't seem to be able to put it all back together again &
make it work.
-
Or you take a step back
& see everything as an integrated whole, with the individual parts
communicating intelligently & affecting every other part to a
greater or lesser degree.
You will find that the latter
statement, not only fits with quantum science, but also the majority of
indigenous cultural belief systems from all around the globe. The conspicuous
exception being the modern western scientific view.
I suppose what I'm really
trying to say is:-
When 'medical science' meets a living person -
there's plenty of scope for it all to goes pear shaped!
Returning to Acupuncture
Whilst the Chinese have made
acupuncture there own over that last 2 thousand years, through
observation, practice & literature the reality is that it has been
practiced in the far east by several nations, including Thailand, Tibet
& Japan. Some other points of interest are that the earliest records
of veterinary medicine are on acupuncture. And to really upset the apple
cart the oldest known records on the subject actually hail from India. The
earliest mention of using needles for healing appear in the Suchi Veda,
dating back 3 thousand years & predating any Chinese records on the
subject. This suggests that acupuncture was part of the ancient Indian
system of Ayurveda, from which we also have the gifts of Yoga & Meditation.
It is said of China,
that whilst they have modern medical hospitals, they are relatively quiet
& under utilised and at the old, under funded traditional hospitals
they have people queuing in the corridors.
I don't know, as I've never
been to China, but I do know that it works for me, despite my Western
education, training & knowledge. Also, one has to consider that it has been used
for over 3 thousand years, compared to the less than a hundred years of
the modern medical model.
The human being is the most complex thing in the
known universe and I don't believe we can be reduced & analysed down
to purely physical & chemical machines. It's not that I feel this to be a
personal affront, more that, from experience, there actually does seem to
be some sort
of 'glue of life'. The difference between something that is dead or alive,
the inanimate & the animate. And again there is also a large
body of evidence to support this. (Some pointers below if you want to
follow this up).
I don't expect anyone to take
my word for it - The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
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