Acupuncture Sydney CBD/City

Archive: Oct 2012

1. Acupuncture Theory (Part 9): Twelve Divergent Channels

   October 21, 2012 Leave a Comment

   Twelve Divergent Channels

   The divergent acupuncture channels are aid to brach branch out from the primary acupuncture channels. Unlike the primary acupuncture channels, the divergent channels possess no acupuncture points. They are important because they make internal linkages which are not explained by the primary acupuncture channels.

   The functions of the twelve divergent channels are as follows:

   Divergent acupuncture channels are believed to strengthen the relationship between the acupuncture pairings. This is said to be done between acupuncture channels with yin-yang pairing as well as for acupuncture channels with zang fu relationships;
   The divergent acupuncture channels are believed to assist in spreading qi and blood to the head and face region;
   The divergent acupuncture channels are said to service areas of the body which are not reached by the primary acupuncture channels.
   The divergent channels may offer an explanation of the actions and indications of some of the acupuncture points on the primary acupuncture channels.

2. Acupuncture Theory (Part 8): Channel Pairings

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   ACUPUNCTURE CHANNEL PAIRINGS

   The twelve acupuncture channels are organised to form six pairs of acupuncture channels. The pairing of the acupuncture channels are done in two important ways.

   Firstly both hand and foot acupuncture channels have yin and yang pairings. This is representative of the external – internal relationship between the acupuncture channels. Each yin acupuncture channel located on the hand is paired with a hand yang acupuncture channel on the hand. Yin acupuncture channels on the foot are likewise paired with yang acupuncture channels on the foot. These pairings are representative of the anatomical relationships between the acupuncture channels as well as the physiological relationship between the respective zang and fu (organs).

   Heart channel of hand shaoyin
   Small intestine channel of hand taiyang
   Urinary bladder channel of foot taiyang
   Kidney channel of foot shaoyin
   Pericardium channel of hand jueyin
   San jiao channel of hand shaoyang
   Gall bladder channel of foot shaoyang
   Liver channel of foot jueyin, then back to the lung channel.

3. Acupuncture Theory (Part 7): Names of the Channels

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   NAMES OF THE ACUPUNCTURE CHANNELS

   A system was devised to separate the names of the organs from the names of the acupuncture channels. This way, the acupuncture channel will not get confused with the organ with which it is theoretically associated. The system to name the acupuncture channels consists of three parts. The first part names the zang or the fu (organ) which belongs to the acupuncture channel. The second part names the limb on which the acupuncture channel travels. Acupuncture channels which have the five shu acupuncture points on the arm are labeled “hand” and conversely, the acupuncture channels which have the five shu acupuncture points on the leg are labeled “foot”. The third aspect of each acupuncture channel name states the yin or yang identity of that acupuncture channel. The yin yang identities are either: taiyin; yangming; shaoyin; taiyang; jueyin or shaoyang. For example when all three aspects of the name are combined, the lung acupuncture channel is called, the “lung channel of hand taiyin”.

4. Acupuncture Theory (Part 6): Twelve Primary Channels

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   THE TWELVE PRIMARY ACUPUNCTURE CHANNELS

   The twelve primary acupuncture channels run vertically, bilaterally and symmetrically in the body. According to Chinese Medicine and acupuncture theory, each primary acupuncture channel connects with the internal organ with which it is associated.

   Acupuncture theory is based on the Traditional Chinese Medical principals related to the internal organs or “zang fu” as they are called in Chinese. Each specific organ can be either categorized as pertaining zang or fu. This in turn allows each organ to then be categorised as either yin or yang since fu pertains to yin and zang pertains to yang. Since the primary acupuncture channels are related to the organs, they can then also be classified as those which are connected to zang and those which are connected to fu. The acupuncture channels that relate to zang are yin by nature, and in turn the acupuncture channels that related to fu are yang in nature.

   Once all the primary acupuncture channels are paired, there are six yin acupuncture channels and six yang acupuncture channels. Three of the yin acupuncture channels are located on the arm and the other three yin acupuncture channels are located on the leg. Likewise, three of the yang acupuncture channels are located on the arm and the other three yang acupuncture channels are located on the leg.

   The three yin acupuncture channels on the arm are the lung acupuncture channel, the pericardium acupuncture channel and the heart acupuncture channel. These acupuncture channels start on the chest and travel along the inner surface of the arm to the hands.

   The three yang acupuncture channels on the arm are the large intestine acupuncture channel, the triple heater acupuncture channel and the small intestine acupuncture channel. These acupuncture channels start on the hand and travel up the outer surface of the arm to the head.

5. Acupuncture Theory (Part 5): Functions of the Primary Channels

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   FUNCTIONS OF THE PRIMARY ACUPUNCTURE CHANNELS

   Acupuncture channels form a network which reaches all areas of the body. Acupuncture channels are said serve the function of acting as passageways through which qi and blood can be spread throughout the body. The qi and blood nourishes each part of the body and allows those body parts to perform their function.

   In addition to nourishing the body, acupuncture channels serve to prevent the penetration of pathogenic factors which attack the body from the exterior. According to Chinese medical theory, these pathogenic factors are wind, cold, heat, fire, damp and dryness. The acupuncture channels can protect the body from external factors because they flow through the body at varying depths thus preventing penetration from the external pathogens.

6. Acupuncture Theory (Part 4): Channel Theory Continued

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   Acupuncture: Channel Theory Continued

   There are twelve acupuncture channels. Each of these acupuncture channels is related to one of the internal organs in the body. At some point along its pathway, the acupuncture channel will come in contact with its corresponding organ. Generally speaking, the acupuncture points along the acupuncture channel will have therapeutic properties related to the organ with which the channel is connected.

   In addition to the twelve acupuncture channels, there are also eight extraordinary acupuncture channels. These acupuncture channels branch off from the trunk of the eight primary acupuncture channels and they allow the primary acupuncture channels to interlink with each other.

   A typical acupuncture chart displaying the acupuncture channels generally only depicts the superficial pathways of the twelve primary acupuncture channels. It must be pointed out that the acupuncture channel network is far more complicated than suggested by acupuncture charts. All parts of the body, including all tissues and even cells, are serviced by the acupuncture channels.

   It can be said that acupuncture channels are structured similar to a tree. The main trunk and branches define the main structure whilst finer branches, twigs and leaves spread further out. The acupuncture channels spread out around the body to penetrate the organs and connect with the skin, muscles, flesh, tendons, bones, head, body, limbs, sense organs, and all other tissues. In effect the acupuncture channels connect all parts of the body thus creating an integrated whole.

7. Acupuncture theory (Part 3): Channel Theory

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   ACUPUNCTURE: HISTORY OF CHANNEL THEORY

   Acupuncture channel theory was developed on a post hoc basis. Centuries of observation realised the existence of tender areas on the body during times of disease. It was observed that when stimulation was applied to these areas with massage or heat it lead to a gradual recovery of disease. The areas of the body which were sensitive during times of disease evolved to become what we now know are acupuncture points.

8. Acupuncture theory (Part 2): Channels

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   The theory behind acupuncture channels

   Acupuncture channels are called “jing lou” in the Chinese language. It roughly translates to mean a channel. Acupuncture channels mostly run longitudinally through the body at varying depths. The depth of the acupuncture channel at any specific location is generally a reflection of the anatomy of the body in that area. For example, an acupuncture channel on the more delicate areas of the body such as hands and feet tend to be less deep than the acupuncture channels on larger parts of the body such as the abdomen or upper leg.

9. A general description of acupuncture theory

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   ACUPUNCTURE THEORY: A GENERAL DESCRIPTION

   Acupuncture is a sub branch of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into the skin. These acupuncture needles are inserted at specific locations on the body. These locations, when stimulated with an acupuncture needle are said to elicit a therapeutic response.

   Acupuncture has been used in China for over 5000 years. In ancient times, acupuncture was not performed using acupuncture needles but with bone fragments. Over the centuries, acupuncture theory and acupuncture practice have been refined and integrated to become a sophisticated modality of health care.