Acupuncture Miami is part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM believes in the forces of nature governing the body’s health. When these forces are in harmony, the body is healthy and grows. When they are imbalanced and in disharmony, the body experiences sickness, disease and ailments. These forces or elements are chi, the meridians, yin-yang and the five elements.
Chi – Chi or Qi is the basic essence of life. It is also called the life force, vital force or vital energy the makes the body live and grow – without chi the body dies. Chi is energy and is like electricity composing of two opposite but complimentary forces – yin and yang.
Meridians – These are energy channels where chi flows. Meridians are networks distributed throughout the body similar to the circulatory and nervous systems. They are, however, like chi, invisible to the eye and cannot be empirically studied by Western science. When a person experiences injuries, sickness or extreme emotions, blockages in the meridians can sometimes develop. These blockages hinder chi flow and chi starts to stagnate in the process. This blockage or stagnation causes the body to weaken and get sick.
Yin-Yang – These are the opposite but complimentary forces within chi energy. They are like the positive and negative forces of electricity. Yin and yang interact with each other and when they interact harmoniously and are in balance, the body experiences good health. When there is imbalance in either of these two forces, the body suffers illnesses and disease.
The five elements – The five elements in TCM are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. These elements are all integrated in a person’s body although as the body ages and exposed to all kinds of things, these elements become disharmonized. Harmony and balance can be restored with acupuncture or some of the treatments TCM offers. When a person is born, these five elements are in perfect balance.
The acupuncturist’s job is to diagnose the disease of the patient, what organs or body parts are affected and where the needles need to be placed. He should know if the patient suffers from a yin type deficiency or a yang type imbalance. TCM ascribes a yin or yang orientation to the major organs. Yin energy always governs organs without cavities; these organs are the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen and lungs. Yang energy administers the large and small intestines, stomach, gallbladder and the bladder. Yin is the water, passive, feminine, nurturing side while yang is the fire, active, male and consuming side of nature. Yin is matter while yang is energy. A deficiency in yin makes yang rage in the body causing symptoms such as headaches, a flushed face, sore eyes, sore throats, nosebleeds, bad temper or manic behavior. Yang deficiency can result in hypo activity, cold limbs and extremities, poor circulation of blood, pale face or low energy.
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