unit 7 Flashcards
Describe the concept of yin and yang
Yin and yang are two life forces that must be kept in harmonious balance for perfect health. All manner of opposites can be classified as being either yin or yang in nature (e.g., male/ female, heaven/earth, fire/water, well/sick). Illness occurs when the balance between yin and yang is disturbed. Whether it is through the use of herbs, physical manipulation, acupuncture, or changes in diet, these two opposing complementary forces are involved.
Describe Qi
According to TCM there is a life force, Qi, that dominates every living organism. Qi circulates in 12 channels, each governed by an organ. These channels, although invisible, are located in the subcutaneous tissues of the body and run along a system of meridians. Most illnesses arise out of a disturbance in the flow of Qi; there is an excess or deficiency of the vital energy in the organ systems and the channels.
How is traditional acupuncture carried out?
A traditional acupuncturist carries out a diagnosis by examining the patient. He will carefully assess such features as physical appearance, the tongue, listening to how the patient talks, smelling the person, taking a medical history, and asking about the diet.
What is the most important part of diagnosis for acupuncturists?
An especially important part of diagnosis is taking the pulse.
What is the focus of acupuncture?
The focus of acupuncture is on the interrelationships involved in a disease or an imbalance, and acupuncture is used to prevent illness and to correct the yin/yang imbalance.
What are acupuncture points?
At certain points where channels/meridians lay near the surface of the skin, small areas can be identified that give access to the channel. These areas are known as acupuncture points (or acupoints).
What does stimulation of acupuncture points produce?
The stimulation of acupoints by needles (acupuncture), pressure (acupressure, see previous unit), or burning herbs (moxibustion) influences the flow of Qi, thus increasing or decreasing the flow and re-establishing the harmonious yin/yang balance.
Describe the ear in relation to traditional acupuncture
The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine refers to six yang meridians, passing through the ear, in which the body is represented as an embryo upside down. Acupuncture identifies over 168 ear points, each of which corresponds to a different part of the body. In China, ear points are often stimulated in combination with body points or are used alone in acupuncture analgesia for surgery.
What is a variation of traditional acupuncture?
Electrical stimulation with needles
Describe moxibustion
Moxibustion is the application of heat, from burning the dried leaves of the herb mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), to the skin.
What is moxibustion used for?
Moxibustion is used to increase the intensity of the stimulus of acupuncture treatments.
How is moxibustion carried out?
Herbs to be burned can be applied directly on the skin, or pressed around the top of the acupuncture needle.
What do moxibustion treatments produce?
Different forms of moxa treatment produce different effects depending on the method of application and the length of treatment time.
What is cupping?
Cupping is the placing of an inverted warmed glass or cup over a selected acupuncture point on the skin.
How is cupping performed?
A tight ball of cotton wool, held in long forceps, dipped in alcohol and ignited, is placed in the cup for a few seconds and the cup is inverted over the selected point. The heated air expands and as it cools within the cup the reduced pressure causes suction on the skin.
Why is cupping used?
TCM applies cupping to drain areas of congestion and rid the body of excess perverse energy.
What conditions does cupping treat?
Cupping is used for conditions such as arthritic pain, headache, and low back pain.
What other treatments does traditional chinese medicine employ?
Herbs, massage, dietary treatments
Describe a sham treatment for acupuncture
Used in sham treatments. The rationale for this is that if acupuncture really works, then sham acupuncture will act as nothing more than a placebo while real acupuncture will generate significant additional benefits.
What types of disorders have acupuncture shown positive results for?
Conditions where pain is a strong feature. Nausea, migraine prophylaxis, obesity
What is the conclusion of acupuncture for treating obesity?
acupuncture is an effective treatment for obesity. However, the amount of evidence is not fully convincing because of the poor methodological quality of trials reviewed. In conclusion, there is an urgent need for well-planned, long-term studies to address the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating obesity.
What conditions has acupuncture not been shown to be beneficial for?
Alcohol dependence (poor methodologies in meta analysis), smoking cessation, drug addictions.
Sham acupuncture has been shown to be as effective as true acupuncture. What is the possible underlying reason for this?
the possibility that for several conditions where acupuncture is of benefit, it is the process of needle insertion that induces the benefit while the location on the body is of no relevance.
Summarize the findings of acupuncture in six points
Many studies have used poor methodology. In the past, claims for the benefit of acupuncture have often rested on case series or trials that did not have a proper control group.
On many occasions RCTs have reported that sham acupuncture is equally as effective as real acupuncture.
The area where acupuncture seems of most value is for the treatment of disorders where pain is a major feature, such as knee pain, tension-type headache, and migraine prophylaxis. However, the positive evidence is much weaker for back pain.
Acupuncture may well be of some value for helping overweight people to lose weight.
Acupuncture is probably of no value for addiction disorders, such as alcohol dependence and smoking.
There is much that is unknown regarding the possible benefits of acupuncture.
What are some side effects of acupuncture?
There is little or no pain associated with proper needle technique, though patients may report feeling a tingling sensation at the point where the needle is inserted. Dizziness and fainting can occur, especially in persons receiving acupuncture for the first time. Therefore, it is recommended that the patient should lie flat, only a few needles be used, and without electrical stimulation.
What are the risks of acupuncture?
Penetration of organs, especially the intestines, bladder, lungs, and peritoneum, has been reported. Collapsed lung (pneumothorax) can occur following treatment of shoulder areas where the acupuncturist has failed to realize that the apex of the left lung in thin females may be within reach of a 5-cm needle. Acupuncture needle fragments have occasionally been detected in the peritoneal cavity and the wall of the urinary bladder.
