6 Amazing Acupoints In The Nick Of Time

In the last few decades, the medical industry has turned over a new leaf. Given a choice, people are gearing more towards alternative medicine over allopathic drugs and invasive procedures. Who wouldn't if you are being promised good health minus all the unpleasant side effects?

One such method that has grabbed attention is the cupping therapy. Although still new in the United States, this healing technique is quite ancient and has been widely practiced for years in China, Egypt, Middle East and Eastern European cultures.

So, what exactly is the cupping therapy?

A trained therapist applies heated cups to specific areas of your body, generally muscular areas like the back, stomach, arms and legs. The cups could be of glass, plastic or silicone.

There are different ways in which the cupping therapy is done. The first is the "dry cupping" or the "fire cupping" method. A cotton ball is soaked in an inflammable substance such as rubbing alcohol. The cotton ball is set on fire and used to heat the cups. Alternately, the cups are heated in hot water or oil.

Once the cup is well-heated, it is immediately placed on the patient's skin. As the skin rises, it seals the cup off completely. The heat creates a vacuum causing the skin and muscles to form a small puff. The cup is allowed to sit in this position for a few minutes before it is safely removed. In the "moving cupping" method, the cups are not held in a single position, but are moved smoothly over different areas. The therapist first applies oil or cream to the skin before the cups are applied. The reddened areas are due to the suction and expansion of the blood vessels.

The second method is the wet cupping method. After applying and removing the cups, the cupping therapist makes small incisions to the skin. The suction is repeated to draw out small quantities of blood. The third method is the combination of cupping with acupuncture. This one is the most effective of all the three. It involves inserting needles before the cup is placed onto the skin.

As a healing therapy, the cupping method works deep at the tissue level. It:
• Gets rid of toxins accumulated in the tissues.
• Relaxes the body by relieving tensed and knotted muscles.
• Reduces inflammation.
• Improves blood circulation and thus promotes healing.
• Boosts immune function helping fight flu, colds and allergies.
• Enhances performance by stimulating energy flow across the body.

Cupping Therapy and Pain Mitigation
The cupping therapy is known for its varied therapeutic effects. However, pain mitigation is among the most well known. It is for this reason that a number of athletes swear by it. It helps for the following pain conditions:

• It relieves migraines and tension headaches.
• It reduces the intensity of joint and muscle pains; thus, you can get relief with muscle injuries, back aches, neck pain and stiffness.
• People with rheumatism or arthritis-induced pain can consider the cupping therapy as a long-term remedy.
• It soothes pain triggered by respiratory conditions.
• You will be surprised to know that the cupping therapy can also make toothaches more bearable.
• For women who suffer severe menstrual cramps, the cupping therapy can be an effective alternative for pain medications.

The Cupping Therapy as a form of alternative medicine does so much for the health of your body. It aids digestion, alleviates pain and stiffness, fights anxiety, encourages blood circulation and helps for weight loss. Coupled with acupuncture, it only makes the process more effective.

Four Amazing Acupoints For Acute Stiff Neck/Angina Pectoris/ Diarrhea/Coma

The anatomy basis of acupuncture cosmetology

The relationship between acupuncture cosmetology and meridians:

TCM holds that the human body is centered on five zang organs and connects general tissues and organs (including zang-fu organs, limbs, bones, five sense organs, nine orifices, skin, muscle, and tendons) into an organic whole through meridian system; in addition, the human body maintains respective life activities also through distributing essence, qi, blood and body fluids by meridians. Different parts of the body have different physiological functions but they share the common organic activities and keep perfect harmony and unity through connection of meridians.

The meridians system consists of meridians and collaterals; the former constitutes the main trunks of meridian system and includes the 12 regular meridians and their attachments (12 divergent meridians, 12 muscle regions and 12 cutaneous regions) as well as eight extraordinary meridians, while the latter mainly refers to 15 collaterals, minute collaterals and superficial collaterals.

Disorders of a certain organ or local area may manifest in the body surface or whole body through meridian system, likewise, the general condition may also manifest in a specific area with a group of symptoms and signs with certain laws, which can provide basis for syndrome differentiation as well as therapeutic approaches.

Qi and blood are fundamental substances of the meridian system to be transported and distributed to all over the body to warm, nourish, moisten and maintain the normal functions of zang-fu organs and tissues. Qi and blood are also products of normal functions of zang-fu organs and meridians.

The relationship between acupuncture cosmetology and acupoints:

There are numerous acupoints distributed over the human body. Modern acupuncture generally classifies acupoints into three types: acupoints of 14 meridians, extraordinary acupoints and Ashi points. The first type of acupoints are distributed in the 12 regular meridians, Governor Vessel and Conception Vessel, which are sometimes abbreviated as "regular acupoints". These acupoints share the common actions of treating diseases of respective meridians and are the major parts of acupoints; the second type of acupoints with specific names and definite locations but are not attributed to the fourteen meridians, which are sometimes abbreviated as "extra acupoints". These acupoints have special effects on certain problems; and the third type of acupoints, also called "tender spot", "reflexing points" and "unfixed points", have no specific names or definite occasions but are usually close to the area with pathological changes.

The relationship between acupuncture cosmetology and cutaneous and muscular regions of skin:

As blood vessels and nerves are distributed in the body skin--the most concerned part of those who pursue beauty--healthy skin requires abundant supply of qi and blood. The cutaneous and muscle regions are parts of the meridians system responsible for skin, muscles, tendons, bones, articular sensation and motion. They can defend exogenous pathogenic factors, maintain normal sensation and temperature of the skin and reflect abnormal changes of internal organs. In addition, the muscle regions also help to maintain the tenacity of bones and joints and relax the powerful motor center. The normal function of cutaneous and muscle regions are keys to healthy, flexible, and elastic skin. Qi and blood of the body are incessantly transported to the body surface through cutaneous muscles and bones--meridians--internal organs. Likewise, such cosmetic acupuncture techniques as shallow needle, dermal needle, Guasha (scraping) and cupping also regulate internal organs through skins, muscles and tendons and eventually improve the external skin conditions.

To sum up, acupuncture cosmetology aims to preserve health and treat relevant beauty-impairing or figure-impairing diseases through regulating meridians and zang-fu organs. More specifically, it works through the following aspects:

1.Regulates and supplements qi through action on meridians:

Acupuncture can dredge meridians and circulate qi to promote blood circulation and maintain the coordination and relative balance of functional activities of the human body, which enables qi to ascend and descend in a regular order. As qi activity is the essential motion mode of qi, a normal qi activity guarantees normal life activities.

2.Regulates and supplements essence through action on zang-fu organs:

TCM holds that the five zang-organs store essence but do not discharge and the six fu- organs transport and transform but do not store. Acupuncture can regulate functions of zang-fu organs to maintain adequate storage of essence and blood and transform int qi to spread to the body through meridians and acupoints.

3.Regulates and benefits the heart-mind through action on emotions.

Based on the theory of acupressure cosmetology, for a woman, the first priority to carry her age well is to maintain her uterus in good shape!

This book is the antidote to that way of thinking and feeling, because the perceived failure is not a failure in any of   the whole, which has simply not provided people with the information that they need to know in order to speed up their metabolism!

What's the philosophy?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is the energetic makeup of the body that determines health and illness. "Qi" or "Chi" is the vital energy that flows throughout the body. It moves along invisible lines or energy channels called meridians. There are 12 regular meridians in the body. Meridians connect organs with other parts and hence they are often known by the name of the organ they influence. The large intestine, small intestine, stomach, gall bladder, bladder, lung, heart, spleen, liver, kidney and pericardium (heart) are names of some of the meridians.

Acupoints are points mapped out along these meridians; they are gateways for the entry and exit of energy in the body. Acupoints are also called xue and tsubo. There are almost 350 acupressure points across the body. When the flow of energy is blocked at any of these acupoints, it causes diseases, aches and pains. The ailments could affect any of the organs along the meridian. The imbalance can be corrected by simply applying pressure to acupoints. Applying pressure stimulates the acupoints and corrects the imbalance. Thus, it restores health.

The Amazing Effects of Acupoints

• People with chronic migraines can use acupuncture as a treatment measure. Stimulating the acupoints relieves ordinary headaches as well as reduces the frequency of monthly migraines.
• Antihistamines are often regarded as the only solution for allergies. Acupuncture builds resistance against seasonal allergies and thus reduces dependency on antibiotic drugs. It is also useful for asthma.
• Stress, depression and insomnia are other conditions that can be treated by correcting energy imbalances. Acupuncture sessions increase the secretion of neurotransmitters that help the mind relax. It also creates a feel-good feeling.
• Acupuncture improves heart health. It reduces stress and lowers blood pressure.
• If you suffer bone stiffness, discomfort in the back, tennis elbow and Carpal Tunnel syndrome, you can relieve it by a few consecutive sessions of acupuncture.
• This alternative system of medicine also helps for a number of woman's issues. This includes relieving menstrual cramps. For menopausal woman, it makes it easier to control symptoms such as hot flashes. In pregnant woman, it can be used to make morning sickness less severe and to induce labor as well.
• Acupuncture can be used to treat digestive disorders and hyperacidity.
• Finally, instead of spending hours on the treadmill, you can harness the energy of the acupoints to melt a few pounds and reach a healthy weight.

Acupressure and acupuncture are very effective medical practices. However, in order to be a safe, they must be done from certified providers with the experience and required level of training.

Acupuncture not only helps maintain good health but also helps relieve pain and balance body energy. Alfred Health Care has certified WFA Acupuncturists specialized in TMC self-healing oriented approaches and modalities.

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