Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a major component of traditional Chinese medicine with origins as far back as over two thousand years in history.

It is used for management of various types of pain and addiction control. It works well with arthritis, PMS and other chronic pain, and to ease withdrawal symptoms associated with alcoholism, drug addiction and smoking.

It is interesting to note that though Chinese in origin, it was banned in China by the Chinese Imperial Medical College, in 1822 - the reason? The medical college considered disrobing as indecent! However, it is back in practice in full swing all around the world.

Acupuncture involves the placement of hair-thin disposable needles of varying lengths into the skin of the ailing person. The practice originally used needles made of bone, stone or metals like silver and gold. Modern practice uses needles made of stainless steel.

The needles are penetrated painlessly just enough so as to hold from falling out.

The points where the needles are inserted are supposedly along the twelve main 'meridians' or 'channels' that represent an internal system of communication and transport between organs and systems in the body. These meridians or points need not be in close proximity to the ailing organ in the body.

Some needles, once inserted, are twirled in a particular direction to enhance results.

There are more than 1000 acupoints that are also used in Acupressure. The concept here may be directly related to the over 7000 known chakras in the Hindu system of Nadi Shastra. It is the belief in both the systems that the chakras are supposed to be in their 'orbits' constantly rotating in a given direction at a specific pace.