Yin, Yang & You

By Kathleen Kenneally, MS, LAc

Acupuncture is defined as a method of Chinese Medicine that treats disorders by inserting threadlike needles just into the skin at points where the flow of energy is out of balance. However, needles are hardly the only method acupuncturists utilize when assisting individuals in their quest for balance and wellness.

At the heart of Chinese Medicine lies a diagnostic system based on thousands of years of practice. Through Chinese Herbs, lifestyle and dietary advice, Chinese massage, moxabustion (a tonifying and warming technique), cupping (cups that relieve stagnation) and the use of acupuncture needles, the acupuncturist has a variety of tools for achieving a healthy body. Chinese Medicine offers elegant simplicity in its diagnosis: Balancing the yin and yang, the Five Elements and Qi (pronounced "chi" or "ki") are important components in optimizing an individual's health. It is important to treat the body, mind, spirit and emotions—the whole person.

The elegant three

Yin and yang describe pairs of opposites like cold and hot or quiet and activity. They occur together in nature and their balance is believed to affect everything in the universe, including our individual bodies. When they are out of balance illness occurs.

Stress and pain are common symptoms that bring people to see an acupuncturist. Stress is a mitigating factor in most illnesses and can be viewed as an imbalance. An acupuncture treatment would be considered a restful (yin) remedy for a hectic (yang) day, thus providing a tune-up to balance the yin and yang of life. In today's society, balancing activity and rest are critical areas to consider when analyzing one's health. Acupuncture needles release endorphins and can be useful for relaxation, stress-relief and treatment of stress-related symptoms such as insomnia.

The Five Elements are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. These elements form a cycle that explains the workings of the human body. Out of balance, Fire brings on too much heat (night sweats); Earth, too much dampness (diarrhea); Metal, too much dryness (a hacking cough); Water, too much cold (cold hands and feet); and Wood, too much wind (tremors or a headache). Your heart, spleen, lung, kidney and liver correspond respectively to these elements.

Let's look at a common location of imbalance: the Wood element and the liver. Many kinds of headaches and irritability result from a liver imbalance called "liver wind rising." Liver regulates blood volume, so many symptoms like a pale complexion, dizziness upon rising, floaters in the eyes and muscle pain in the sinews are treated via the liver. The feeling of being constrained or "ready to blow" is often a liver imbalance. For women, since the liver regulates the menstrual cycle, many PMS symptoms are treated by harmonizing the liver.

Pain in Chinese Medicine is considered a stagnation of Qi (energy). Treatments for pain in general move Qi, while the underlying yin-yang Five Element imbalance is diagnosed. Any muscle pain—from back pain to knee, ankle or wrist pain—is treated with needles, Chinese massage, cupping and moxabustion. Chinese herbs plus dietary and lifestyle advice may be given to supplement treatment. These treatments are applied any time there is bodily pain including arthritis, automobile or bike accident injuries, accidental falls or post-surgery recovery. Acupuncture treatments are beneficial used alongside physical therapy, massage and naturopathy. The Wellness Center can accommodate your needs for combining therapies to optimize your health.

Does it hurt?

The needles used in acupuncture are thin and solid like a thread or a strand of hair. The sensation of acupuncture is usually mild. Some people don't notice anything while others feel a slightly "electric" sensation. People usually find the treatments deeply relaxing and arise after a treatment feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Does it work?

The World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health recognize the efficacy of acupuncture for many disorders. A general rule of thumb is that whatever you bring to your physician you may bring to your acupuncturist to receive adjunctive therapy. However, it is admittedly one of those therapies individuals must try and then evaluate their own personal results. Within a few sessions a client should have an idea if they are headed in the right direction with acupuncture. Acupuncture is an efficacious preventative medicine, so, for example, if you have a tendency toward allergies or frequently get the flu, regular acupuncture may decrease your symptoms or your tendency to become ill.

Want to know more?

Treating the body, mind, spirit and emotions is essential for health and wellness. If you are interested in seeing how acupuncture or other elements of Chinese Medicine might be of benefit to you in your quest for balance and optimal health, contact the Wellness Center at 206.389.4780 and schedule and appointment.