Acupuncture

            Been sick lately? Acupuncture might just be a solution. Acupuncture involves the body’s meridians, which is a complex network of the human body through which energy flows. This energy is known as qi. There are twelve different meridians in the human body and they connect organs, transport qi, blood, and yin and yang. I was impressed and curious about this! Each meridian also has pressure points that can be stimulated by inserting needles in them (acupuncture), helping achieve balance between Yin and Yang in our body and cure diseases. According to traditional Chinese medicine, it is when an “imbalance” between Yin and Yang happens that we start to experience health problems. One way to solve health problems is through acupuncture, which looks painful, but I heard it is not. I haven’t tried acupuncture yet but it’s definitely on my bucket list. Earlier in during the program, I had the opportunity to try acupuncture and have just one needle inserted in my arm to experience the feeling but because I didn’t have breakfast that morning I wasn’t able to partake in this awesome activity. I was told by a TCM doctor that I needed a big breakfast otherwise I could pass out.

            A doctor first determines on which meridian the disease is located and then selects the appropriate acupoints to insert needles. Another way to treat is by massaging the acupoints if the condition is not a in a severe state.

            Later on we received a small manikin, by one of the SIT staff members, that has all meridians and pressure points labeled on it. It looks so sophisticated but most meridians connect the same organs and after studying the textbook on acupuncture, it makes more sense how every part of our body works together and exists in harmony.

Acupuncture - Meridians and Points