Acupuncture & Acupressure

Acupressure and acupuncture are terms which are used synonymously. On this site we will give an extremely abbreviated description of acupuncture and how it is used in the clinical environment. Acupuncture is actually a misnomer as it implies puncturing of the skin. However, it is not necessary to puncture the skin when using acupuncture. "Acupuncture" refers to the ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine methods of treatment, diagnosis, pathology, Herbal Pharmacopia, Taoism and all aspects of 5 element theory. These teachings and sciences as used at Lighthouse Wellness Center and in Applied Kinesiology only come from mainland China and not from Japan, Korea, India, or any of the islands or land bodies separate from China. While it is true that there are numerous different systems that often refer to themselves as "acupuncture," one of the oldest and best respected upon which we have focused our attention and learning is the Chinese System coming from mainland China.

Interestingly, Professional Applied Kinesiology has many similarities to the ancient health care systems of the Chinese who used spinal manipulation, nutrition, herbs, and acupuncture. This knowledge comes from numerous ancient Chinese illustrations and texts. Even some of the muscle, organ and gland relationships of modern day Professional Applied Kinesiology correspond with many of the ancient Chinese Texts.

What Is Meridian Therapy?

ANSWER: It is the 5th Factor of the Intervertebral Foramen.

Acupuncture is based on Meridian Therapy. Meridian Therapy, also called "Channel Therapy" by some, corresponds with the 6 different meridians running up and down the arms and legs and torso on both the right and left side of the body as well as the meridian which runs up the front of the body and the meridian which runs up the back of the body. These meridians are crucial to nearly all aspects of human life and have been validated better by scientific research for more than 10 thousand years than any other type of health care system of diagnosis and treatment on the planet. Additionally, Acupuncture has probably been in existence longer than any other health care system on the planet. Acupuncture meridians are sometimes described as lines of energy that run up and down the limbs and torso on both sides of the body in addition to the line running up the front of the body which is referred to as the "conception vessel" and the line running up and down the back of the body which is referred to as the "governing vessel."

Acupressure is based on yin and yang. Yin is female. Yang is male. Yin is cold. Yang is hot. Yin is night, Yang is day. Yin is a cloudy day. Yang is a clear day. Yin is Autumn or winter and yang is spring or summer. Yin is North or West and Yang is East or South. Yin is inside and yang is outside. Yin is on the chest or abdomen and Yang is on the spine or back. Yin is dirty and yang is clean. Yin is cloudy fluid and yang is clear fluid. Yin is solid and yang is hollow. Yin is right and yang is left. Yin is chronic and yang is acute. Yin is non-reactive and yang is virulent. Yin is weak and yang is powerful. Yin is moist and Yang is dry. Yin is soft and Yang is hard. Yin is empty and yang is full. And so we can see some aspects of how yin and yang apply to nature, the body, and disease. The following are the 12 meridians which compose the 5 elements: Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidney, Circulation Sex (also called Pericardium or Heart Constrictor), Tripple Heater (referring to adrenal glands, Thyroid Gland and Thymus gland, pituitary gland, and sex glands), Gallbladder and Liver. The other two main meridians are called the conception vessel and governing vessel and they correspond to the white matter and grey matter of the brain.

Amazingly, each different meridian corresponds to a different gland or organ, a different set of emotions, different spinal vertebrae, either yin or yang, one of the 5 different elements which are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood, a different homeopathic remedy, various bones in addition to a single specific spinal vertebrae, a specific time of day, specific nutrition, specific herbs, a specific muscle(s), and specific spinal nerves to name just a few. You may be beginning to see now how being an holistic doctor and require a great deal of study.

Professional Applied Kinesiology is not the only holistic chiropractic technique which uses acupuncture. Acupuncture is also used in Neuro Emotional Technique, Total Body Modification and other techniques and therapies as well.

Diagnosis in Chinese Acupressure generally focuses on pulse point diagnosis using the right and left pulse points which correspond to different acupuncture points and also a variety of "alarm points" found on the torso and also tongue diagnosis in addition to a great deal of other considerations. 5 element theory can often be very important in making a correct diagnosis with a chronic and difficult case as well as rendering a proper treatment following the diagnosis. The 24 hour acupuncture clock is also very important when diagnosis is made and treatment rendered.