Acupuncture
Meridian Therapy
History
Acupuncture
is an ancient art, science and philosophy of healing.
It probably originated in China some 5000 or so
years ago. The earliest manuscripts on acupuncture
date from 2500 B.C. It is possible acupuncture has
been around for as much as 1800 years before the
invention of metal. (before the Bronze Age) They
used stone chips, or sharpened fish bones to insert
into the skin. The first type of acupuncture stimulation
was on the skin, and included tapping, scraping
and cupping. Any form of stimulation is good and
part of the technique. These manuscripts demonstrate
a sound knowledge of physiology, pathology and technique,
giving credence to the generally accepted belief
that it is the oldest system
of medicine still in practical use today. Acupuncture
is practiced extensively in China, South-East Asia,
and countries throughout the western world. many
people do not realise that not only is acupuncture
the oldest medical art in the history of mankind,
but it probably is the healing art most widely practiced
on a global basis, including 'western medicine'
as we know it. There is proof that acupuncture has
been practiced in Ancient Egypt, Persia, India,
Sri lanka, many parts of Europe, South America and
even by the North American Indians.
In
prehistoric times, the Chinese discovered that there
were certain points on the body, which if massaged,
punctured, heated or burned, relieved pain or had
a beneficial effect on certain disorders. Through
the passage of time, many such points were discovered,
and it was found that by the stimulation of widely
seperated points it was possible to influence the
functioning of a specific internal organ. These
points were then systematically arranged on the
basis of the pertaining organ, over which it was
perceived they had an influence. This series of
points which had an effect on a particular organ
were connected to form a Channel or what we commonly
refer to as a Meridian.
There
are twelve paired, or bi-lateral Channels and two
Extrordinary Channels that run midline on the body,
one in front (the REN Channel) on on the back (the
DU or SHU Channel). These two Channels have their
own points.
There
are another six Extraordinary Channels that do not
have their own seperate points, but are formed by
the interconnection of points of the Twelve Paired
Channels and the Two Midline Channels. The Extraordinary
Channels are not connected to any pertaining Organ.
This
network of Channels connects the internal Organs
and the exterior of man, the Microcosm, with the
Universe, the macrocosm, to establish UNIVERSAL
HARMONY.
Modern
Scientists puzzle over why acupuncture points exist
on the surface of the body. They were certainly
not evolved for acupuncturists to insert needles.
According to some modern workers the points proboably
form "windows" on the surface of the body
for exchange of cosmic energies, so that the body
can remain in energy balance with the rest of the
Universe.
Meridian
Therapy is a system of acupuncture that is based
on the "Classics" and is a unique system
of acupuncture, born of the modern era in Japan.
Although it's development started in the seventeenth
century, it's major development started in the early
1940's.
After
the war Okabe Fukuji and Inoue Keiri were motivated
by their teacher Yanagiya Seisuke, to revive the
classical style of acupuncture that had been lost
in antiquity. Under the direction of Takeyama Shinichiro,
a talented writer, organiser and acupuncturist,
they and their colleagues formed a society for the
study of the classics and formulated a practical
and consistent system which they called Meridian
Therapy, because in it the meridians were restored
to their rightful place as the central focus of
Acupuncture. The first portion of the treatment
was called the root treatment. This involved tonifying
or sedating the points associated with the five
phases on the limbs to balance the "Chi"
in the meridians. After the meridians were balanced,
symptomatic treatment provided additional relief.
This meridian therapy addressed the underlying cause
of a disease, or excess or deficiency in the meridians
before the symptomatic treatment. Meridian therapy
is not the creation of Okabe and inoue alone, but
it is an application of the principals outlined
in the classics.
Physicians
trained in western medicine are starting to accept
the system of Chi circulation. In recent years there
has been a growing disenchantment with some of the
treatments of western medicine, and an increase
in the influences of traditional Chinese medicine,
and a growth in the interest of Meridian Therapy
as a classical Japanese approach that has proven
it's worth in modern times.
