More About Acupuncture

Oriental medicine sees the world as being made up of Yin and Yang, which are two opposite yet complementary and interdependent energies.  They can be thought of in broad terms as male/female, active/passive, etc. Nothing in the material world is completely Yin or Yang - there is always some of the other in each.

In the human body, we can describe the various areas of the body in Yin and Yang terms. The anterior, medial, interior and inferior areas of the body are described as Yin. The posterior, superior, lateral and exterior are described as Yang. Yin and Yang are relative - an area may be Yin in relation to one area and Yang in relation to another. Yin and Yang in the human body are balanced by a series of energetic channels called meridians.

The Meridians

Each organ has an energetic system which provides for the function of the organ. The energetic system is made up of channels of energy that we call "meridians". The meridians have places of access by which we can affect their function. These places of access are called "points". Different points have different functions which are more Yin (influencing the body's substantial or nourishing functions) or more Yang (influencing the body's more energetic functions).

There are 12 Main meridians of the body, 6 Yin and 6 Yang, which operate in conjunction with the organs of the body. It is mainly through points located along these 12 meridians that we manipulate the energies of the body. These points control the functioning of our internal organs, and function in a fashion similar to the keys on a computer keyboard. Using the points in certain sequences tells the body what changes you wish to make in the functions of the system.

Systemically, the balance of Yin and Yang is maintained by the Extraordinary Vessels, a series of channels which networks the 12 Main meridians. These 8 Extraordinary Vessels (EV) act as a series of reservoirs for the Yin and Yang of the human body. Generally, the 8 EV are used in pairs so that the function of each is balanced by the function of its mate. For example, one point is used to drain excess Yang from an area while its paired mate is used to support Yang deficiency. 

By using them together, we can clear muscle spasms, joint pain, etc. while making sure that the patient does not become excessively sedated or weakened. These pairings permit us to treat structural problems quickly, safely, and effectively, by balancing the amounts and flows of Yin and Yang in the body.