Acupuncture Schools Where East Meets West!

Eastern Healing Schools Gain Popularity in Europe & USA

For as long as we can remember now the treatment for today's illness and conditions has been to hand out a pill for this and a pill for that, and patients are saying "No more!".

It's been proven now that although a lot of conventional medicine and treatments have proved to be life-savers, there is still a lot that does more harm than good. It is for these reasons that alternative medicine and treatments, especially natural cures, are finding their way from East to West. In fact, some of the best acupuncture schools are now being established in Western societies, and a whole new group of people are being trained in traditional Chinese medicine, and Eastern cures for modern day ills with acupuncture treatment being one of the most popular.

Although acupuncture therapy is still a relatively new way of treating and healing in Western countries, the acupuncture benefits have been enjoyed for over 3,000 years in the East, treating a whole range of complaints and ills including acupuncture infertility treatment. Now some could argue that anything that has stood the test of time for such a duration has to have some credibility as a formidable method of helping physically and mentally ill patients. Others might argue that it's nothing more than hocus-pocus superstition and that any healing is purely in the mind. Either or, anyone attending the best acupuncture schools will certainly have some interesting history lessons and case studies on what is becoming the new way to get well the world over.

Anyone who is considering acupuncture as a career will be surprised by a couple of things. Firstly, they may be amazed to see how much literature there is and things to learn about this ancient method. After all, on the face of it, acupuncture looks like a pretty simple occupation. The other thing is that even the best acupuncture schools which boast the finest equipment and resources will still only have minimal medical supplies and equipment. But then again, when you think that the main tool are thin, bendable needles inserted into a conscious patient, there is no need for a lot of hardware and medicines.

You don't need to attend the best acupuncture schools to know that acupuncture needles are inserted into precise point on the body. But what you will learn at the best acupuncture schools is why this is done and what the anticipated results are expected to be. These points have a name and are known as meridians. These meridians are the channels in which an energy (known as Qi) flows. We are at our poorest health (apparently) when the body is lacking in Qi, and the job of the acupuncturist is to restore or guide Qi to where it's needed the most.

Acupuncture is not a given: Acupuncture cost when compared to the acupuncture benefits is only something an individual patient can comment on with any authority. In other words, what works for some, does not always work for others, just as with more conventional medicine and treatments.

Like most other studies, medical or otherwise, the best acupuncture schools will also be teaching their students about other things too, mainly ancient and alternative healing methods that may be used in conjunction with acupuncture. Such teaching may include special diet, especially those using herbs, berries and certain roots. This practice is becoming very popular and is called herbology. Many in the Easy embrace good diets to aid longevity and assist prevention of common ills. With such long life expectancies in these countries, even among the poor, who can argue with their lifestyles?

It's with some relief that those folks involved in the world of conventional medicine are at last taking a closer look at the benefits of ancient forms of healing which includes the practice of acupuncture. Fortunately for acupuncture, it seems to be getting more credibility than some of the others such as aromatherapy, certain massage techniques (especially foot), and hypnosis. If any alternative medical practitioners are against being regulated, then that might be a good indicator that perhaps they are a little quaky and involved in latent scamming. Because there are now some of the best acupuncture schools up and running, this, like many other vocational qualifications, requires four years of formal schooling to operate legally and professionally.

In a world that seems to have an ever increasing amount of scammers and bogus alternative medical professionals, it's somewhat comforting to know that acupuncture has rigorous standards applied. This means you will see, or can ask to see, the formally recognised occupational qualifications of the acupuncturist should you be seeking treatment, or get some comfort in the fact the best acupuncture schools are recognised in society if you are thinking of getting and education in this field of alternative healing.

Perhaps one of the main problems with alternative medicine and treatments is that of scepticism. You see, a lot of practices which focus on the mind can only work when the patient has an open mind. Disbelief or any level of uncertainty will block access to the mind and thus block any healing to it. Anyone who's thinking of attending one of the best acupuncture schools will be shouting at this page pointing out that acupuncture is a physical treatment.

This is true. However, although acupuncture is said to stimulate the body's own healing response, the mind still has to be open to this idea for it to work effectively, even with face acupuncture which is said to be able to bring back a more youthful look, but once again, only when the mind accepts it.

Learning about acupuncture meridians at acupuncture school is proving to be an exciting and interesting choice for many younger generations, but acupuncture school is not the only interest in alternative treatments for modern day complaints and ills. Naturopathic college is also popular, as is a recognised massage therapy certification. The list and choices are endless, but don't forget that not all are recognised practices (yet). The general consensus seems to be that ancient and oriental cures are something that will gain momentum and acknowledgment as each year passes us by.

OC Titbit: The History of Acupuncture Needles:

Did you know that the early acupuncture needles were made from a variety of different materials? Very early on they were made of bone, and stone, but later on the practice began using available metals such as silver and gold. Those first needles were washed and reused, not like today's needles and all the regulations that surround health and safety. Today, the acupuncture needle is made from ultra thin sterile stainless steel and is not reusable. Needles aside, traditional acupuncture has changed very little since its beginning some thousands of years ago.

The Common uses of Acupuncture

There are some health conditions where acupuncture is used more commonly, but there is not really any single set of conditions that it is meant to treat specifically. The uses of acupuncture are broad, but should you be interested to learn more, then take a look at what the British NHS has to say on the subject: Acupuncture - Common uses

Glossary of Acupuncture Terminology

Understanding the terminology used for acupuncture gives a better understanding of how this ancient form of healing works and whether or not it might be something you'd like to try. We'll start this month with Qi, usually pronounced chi. This Qi/chi, is the energy, and the subdivisions of Qi are:

Yin: This is the relaxing, cooling, and conserving energy force

Yang: Quite opposite to Qi, Yang is hot, transforming, active, and restless energy.

Jing: Believed to be inherited energy from (pre-birth)

Yuan: Another pre-birth energy of vitality

Ying: This energy is the nutritional force

Wei: A defence energy that is similar to the immune system

Zhong: This energy controls blood circulation to ends of the body, i.e. hand and feet and is acquired through the breath.

Meridians are the energy pathways that run throughout the entire body. Meridians have subdivisions as follows:

The Twelve Main: These 12 main meridians are the pathways where the majority of acupuncture points are located on the body.

Luo Meridians: The Luo meridians are connecting meridians

TMM: these are the points which govern energy in the body's muscles.

Divergent meridians: More complex points considered as the deeper pathways. They are said to divert pathological qi away from the major organs

The Extra Eight: These extra 8 meridians are the ones that affect our energies to include reproductive energy and body posture and shape of our physical body.

Pathological Terms – are the principles used by acupuncture to sort and organize various groups of symptoms. These terms include: Excess, Damp, Deficiency, and Stagnation.

Excess: this refers to over-activity of a given meridian function or of the yin or yang

Damp: think catarrh, cystitis, ME symptoms, or other general conditions that have symptoms of heaviness or stickiness. This is what the pathological term 'damp' refers to.

Deficiency: this term means under-activity or the functioning of meridians, or of yin or yang. The 'Yin' deficiency can lead to hot flushes (flashes), raging thirst, anxiety and insomnia. The 'Yang deficiency can lead to constant feeling of drowsiness, chilliness, backache and or indigestion.

Stagnation: the term relates to blockages or lumpiness in the blood which is said to be caused by qi. This blood, or dampness is what contributes to painful lumps or obstructions in the body's natural flow.

Meridian Names

Okay, so let's now look at some of the Meridian Names. These are named after the vital organs in which they pass. Here they are in brief and in alphabetical order: Bladder; Colon; Gall bladder; Heart; Heart governor; Kidney; Liver; Lung; Small intestine; Spleen; Stomach; Triple burner.

Meridian point Bladder – name associated with backache, headache and sciatica.

Colon – problems with eyes, headaches, and difficult labour

Gall bladder – painful ribs, migraine headaches, pituitary problems (the pituitary is a tiny pea-sized body that's attached to the base of the brain. It's purpose is to control growth among other things).

Heart governor – this related to things such as chest pains, emotional worries, nausea and vomiting.

Triple burner – this name relates to deafness, painful ribs, irregular temperature, mumps, and influenza