Acupuncture is one of the better known parts of traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used for thousands of years for treating ailments, pain relief and upkeep of general health. It is also one of the more initially frightening treatments – it can be hard to convince someone that looking like a human pin cushion is not painful and could actually make you feel better.
A major premise of Chinese medicine is that qi moves around a series of meridians – channels that connect to organs. Illness occurs when there is an imbalance of damp, cold or heat in the body, often caused by blockages in the flow of the qi. The insertion of fine needles stimulates specific points, redirecting qi, and aids in restoring equilibrium. Some points are targeted to energize, while others induce relaxation.
After checking the tongue and pulse, a TCM practitioner can prescribe the kind of therapy they think you require. To promote calm, for instance, a common method is to insert two needles in the back of the neck. As Dr Guo Shuhuan explains, these points alleviate stress by ridding the body of feng (风) – basically, bad wind that causes imbalances.
Acupuncture is hotly debated in Western medicine. Studies are certainly inconclusive, but its effectiveness has been better demonstrated for certain conditions, especially chronic pain, migraine headaches and even induction of labor.
// Shamian Traditional Chinese Medical Center, 85-87 ShamianBei Lu, Liwan District, Guangzhou 沙面国医馆, 广州市荔湾区沙面北街85-87号 (020-8121 8383)
