Acupuncture

Acupuncture

acupuncture photo, Acupuncture needles in woman's back

Acupuncture is a component of the health care system of China that can be traced back at least 2,500 years. The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture may, it has been theorized, correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.

The practice of acupuncture to treat identifiable path physiological (disease) conditions in American medicine was rare until the visit of President Richard M. Nixon to China in 1972. Since that time, there has been an explosion of interest in the United States and Europe in the application of the technique of acupuncture to Western medicine.

Acupuncture is a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques. There are a variety of approaches to diagnosis and treatment in American acupuncture that incorporates medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The most thoroughly studied mechanism of stimulation of acupuncture points employs penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.

Introducing of Acupressure, Part-2

 Introducing of Acupressure

What is the  difference between Acupressure and Reflexology?
The difference between acupressure and reflexology is that, in acupressure, diagnosis is not possible. On the other hand, in reflexology, diagnosis  straightforward even at a very early stage of the disease and misdiagnosis is unheard of. Also, in reflexology,  preventative therapy of disease can be done with the daily pressing of one’s points, which is impossible to do in acupuncture.

difference between Acupressure and Acupuncture

Source : A Self Treatment Manual by Sagar Sagir.

Acupressure : Origin and Basis

Origin and Basis of  
Acupressure

What is the  origin and background of Reflexology?

There is no documented evidence as to where reflexology origined but we do have historical documents alluding to miraculous cures.

It seems to have been discovered 5,000 years ago in ancient India. It was practiced by Indian sages and holy man on sick people. This is why the belief has came about that it is a divine method of cure.

There is also information about other ancients practicing this method in China, Egypt and South America.

Dr William Fitzgerald, who was born in 1872, was responsible for reintroducing reflexology to the modern world. He graduated in medicine in 1895 from the University of Vienna.

When he practiced medicine in hospitals in Vienna, Paris and London, he used this method and achieved great results.

After much research, Dr. Fitzgerald and his assistant Dr Edwin Bowers MD wrote a book based on reflexology called Zone Therapy. Eunice Ingham (1889-1974) researched reflexology and published it.

She wrote two books; `Stories the Feet Can Tell’ in 1938 and `Stories the Feet Have Told’ in 1951. She developed charts and theories that from the basis of in modern Western reflexology.

In Britain the first person to introduce reflexology was Doreen Bailey who was a student of Eunice Ingham in the early 1960’s.

What is the basis of this method?

Acupressure, acupuncture and reflexology have the same basis for cure. In the human body there is a flow of bio-electricity even from the time it is a foetus. This bio-electricity is known as life’s Vital Force and only ceases to flow with death. This bio-electricity runs through our body like a current. It starts from the fingers of the right hand and runs through the body until it reaches the right foot and works in the same way on the left side of the body.

The channels this bio-electricity flows through are known as `meridian lines’ and acupressure and reflexology are both based on these energy channels. When these become blocked or don’t flow normally, disease and illnesses usually results.

Source : A Self Treatment Manual by Sagar Sagir.

Introducing of Acupressure, Part-1

 Introducing of Acupressure

What is acupressure?
Acupressure is a natural method of healing, achieved by  pressing various specific points in our body. It requires no medicines and has no bad side effects. The word acupressure comes from the word acupressure.

What is the root of the word Acupressure?
The word acupressure has its origin in the Latin word acupuncture `acus’ meaning needle and `puncture’ meaning to prick.

What is the difference between Acupressure and Acupuncture?
In acupuncture the pressure points are activated by needles. In acupressure needles are not necessary, the disease being alleviated by pressure alone. When the word `acus’ is used, it usually means `needle’.
In the context of acupressure it involves pressure being applied by the fingers or by a blunts instrument. Generally the pressure points in acupressure and acupuncture coincide. Researchers have found that if the same acupressure points are pressed instead of using needles, the results are the same. This is known as `Zone Therapy’.

difference between Acupressure and Acupuncture

Source : A Self Treatment Manual by Sagar Sagir.