Acupuncture
Acupuncture is thought to act on meridians. In the form of the treatment most widely practiced in the U.S., hair-thin needles are inserted into the skin at specific points along the meridians to redirect to unblock stagnant qi. These so-called acupoints correspond to different organs or systems in the body. For example, inserting a needle at a point inside the forearm known as PC6 is intended to treat nausea, needling lv3, on top of the foot, is meant to help with motor function.
A decade of acupuncture imaging research has shown that people who get better with acupuncture have clear changes in their brain function, according to Dr. John Farrar, a pain researcher at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Changes are seen in the thalamus, a brain region that processes information from the senses, including touch and pain.
Herbs
Herbal medicine is itself a powerful method of healing. Western drugs often control symptoms, but do not alter the disease process. Chinese herbs treat the underlying condition as defined by traditional diagnosis, and rarely cause adverse side-effects.
Just as soil depletes through overuse, Qi, Moisture, and Blood are eroded by overwork, emotional tension, mental strain, inadequate exercise, diet, and rest.
Since fatigue results from a lack of Qi, herbs that nourish the Qi have an energizing effect. Since blurry vision, restless sleep, and irritability result from depleted Blood, Blood-enriched bergs improve vision, sleep, and equanimity. Dry skin and dehydration arise from insufficient Moisture, and herbs that replenish it soften the skin and relieve the thirst.
Cupping
Cupping is a therapy in which a jar is attached to the skin surface to cause local congestion through the negative pressure created by introduction heat in the form of an ignited material. The cupping method combined with bloodletting is suitable to treat acute sprains accompanied by blood stasis. The animal horn was used to dispel pus. Along with continual development in clinical practice, the materials for making jars and the methods have been greatly improved. The rage of indications has been expanded, since this method is simple and the therapeutic effect is good. This therapy was attracted with great attention and applied in a large scale by the broad masses, and was also used as an auxiliary method of acpuncture and moxibustion. It should be noted that cupping therapy can also increase and help with peristaltic movements and increase in digestive fluids, thus it can be very useful in treating and dealing with digestive complaints.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a type of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves burning moxa, a cone or stick made of ground mugwort leaves, on or near your body’s meridians and acupuncture points. The resulting heat stimulates these points and improve the flow of Qi throughout the body.