yin-yang and chi in acupuncture

78 Pages·2007·0.36 MB·English

by  Heather Galloway

YIN-YANG AND CHI IN ACUPUNCTURE

Approved:

____________________________
Heather C. Galloway, Ph.D.
Director, Mitte Honors Program

Approved:

____________________________
Eileen Morrison, Ph.D.
Department of Health Administration
YIN-YANG AND CHI IN ACUPUNCTURE

HONORS THESIS

Presented to the Honors Committee of

Texas State University-San Marcos

In Partial Fulfillment of

the Requirements

For Graduation in the Mitte Honors Program

By

Tiffany Pui Lin Chiu

San Marcos, Texas

December 2006

2
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.

-Lao-tzu

3
Abstract
The goal of this research paper is to illustrate how the concept of the yin and yang
and chi are applied in the traditional Chinese medicine of acupuncture. An acupuncturist
has the ability to heal the physical and psychological aspect of a person based on a
uniquely prescribed combination of acupuncture and emotional therapy. Acupuncture is
an ancient form of treatment that involves the insertion of needles into the skin at
acupuncture points, which run along the meridians in a person’s body. These acupoints
are specific points that can access chi and are regulated by the concept of the yin and
yang. As a preventive therapy, acupuncture is an alternative, cheaper, and effective
approach to a health care system.

4
Table of Contents

Chapter Page

ABSTRACT 4
INTRODUCTION
History 7
Folk Traditions 7
How old is acupuncture? 8
Acupuncture as a secret? 9

ONE YIN-YANG
Yin-Yang defined 12
Yin-Yang symbol 12
Why does it look the way it does? 13
Western yin yang 15
Yin-Yang philosophy 15
Yin-Yang organs 18
Yin-Yang psychology 21
Yin-Yang acupuncture 24

TWO CHI
Chi Defined 27
7 types of chi 27
Meridians 30
Chi, meridians & organs 31
Meridians in acupuncture 32
Psychology and chi 33
Psychology and emotions explained 34
Chi in acupuncture 40

THREE ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture defined 43
Acupuncture safety 43
Acupuncture is a preventive medicine 43
Acupuncture as a holistic therapy 44
Does acupuncture work? 45
How acupuncture works 45
How acupuncture heals in the West 46
How acupuncture heals in the East 47
Acupuncture prescription 48
Acupuncture needles 48
Acupuncture and psychology 49
Acupuncture Research 57
5
Acupuncture testimonials 58
Modern acupuncture & modern medicine 60
Acupuncture & insurance 62

FOUR CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture and its acceptance 63
Importance of Traditional Medicine 64
Researcher's Perspective 65
Closing Remarks 65

6
Introduction: History of Acupuncture
After a meal, have you ever eaten a dinner mint to aid in digestion? Or when you
have had a headache, have you ever rubbed your temples and realized it relieved pain?
You may not have been aware of it, but these are two examples of Chinese medicine:
herbology and acupressure. Along with herbalism, massage, and other therapies,
acupuncture is one of the principle components of a 2000 year old system known as
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In the past two decades, TCM has grown in
popularity in the United States. With that I find it to be important to research important
underlying theories in Chinese medicine: the yin and yang and chi. More specifically,
how the concept of the yin and yang and the concept of chi are applied in traditional
Chinese medicine of acupuncture.
The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being
commonly practiced by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other
practitioners for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions
(Culliton, 1997). According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey the largest
and most comprehensive survey of Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) use by
American adults to date, an estimated 8.2 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture, and
an estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture in the previous year (Barnes,
2002).
Folk Traditions
Originally Chinese medicine was practiced as a folk tradition. This means it was a
practice of family traditions that was passed down throughout generations. Most Chinese
7
doctors in the beginning were referred to as “bell doctors”. Bell doctors were physicians
who would roam from door to door, in village to village, helping people in need (Ody,
2000). The doctors would ring a bell at a person’s home to notify that the family doctor
had arrived. After the Europeans entered China, traditional Chinese medicine was
labeled as primitive. Chinese doctors soon began to travel abroad to study Western
medicine. By the time the first Chinese Republic was established in 1911, government
ministers were actively trying to suppress traditional medicine in favor of a Western
approach (Ody, 2000).
In 1949, everything changed. The communists seized power and improving
public health became a key priority (Ody, 2000). Old remedies were revived, and the
“bell doctors” were trained in basic health skills and the doctors were determined to
improve the rudimentary health care facilities in the countryside. Today, traditional
Chinese medicine is readily available throughout China and thousands of newly qualified
Chinese doctors have made their way to the West to fuel growing interest in TCM in
Europe and North America (Ody, 2000).
How old is Acupuncture?
It is believed that the first mighty emperor, Fu Xi, who gave the Chinese a
universal philosophy to interpret and explain all natural phenomena, reputedly made the
first acupuncture needles (Ody, 2000). It is thought that this emperor reigned sometime
between 4000 and 2500 B.C.
The third ruler was the next leader to help lay the foundation for acupuncture. His
name was Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor, the supreme ruler of the universe, who
introduced music, medicine, mathematics, writing and weapons (Ody, 2000). Huang Di
8
is considered by some to be the father of Chinese medicine, based on his contribution of
literature called, Nei Jing Su Wen, the Canon of Internal Medicine. The writings consisted
of 81 articles of medical exposition dealing with the physiology, anatomy, pathology,
diagnosis, principles of treatment and disease prevention, as well as the yin and yang
ideas (Hyman, 2005). Huang Di’s text contained all of the fundamentals of acupuncture,
including the major acupoints, theories of yin-yang and five elements, the twelve
channels, principles of diagnosis, physiology, pathology, vital energy, concept of blood,
and so on (Ling, 2003).
Not only does acupuncture stem back from these two legendary emperors by
means of influential text, but by archaeological evidence. Acupuncture is so old that it
can be traced to the New Stone Age (8,000-2,000 B.C.) of the Chinese culture (Ling,
2003). An example would be the frequent assertion that the stone "needles" excavated at
different times in various parts of China were remnants of ancient acupuncture (Chuang,
1982; Micozzi, 2001; Wang, 1986). This evidence coincides with reports of ailments that
were treated by bien (stone needles for acupuncture treatment). There are about one
dozen books compiled around the sixth century B.C. that made reference to medical
treatments by bien (Ling, 2003).
Acupuncture as a Secret?
How can the art of acupuncture be preformed for thousands of years and still be
relatively unknown to the rest of the Western world? The answer is simple. The Chinese
people were not explorers like the British, Spanish, or Portuguese. They remained aloof
from the rest of the world until the 16th and 17th centuries, when Western countries
9
discovered China and sent many missionaries there (Ling, 2003). It was in the late 19th
century that China began to allow trade with the West.

10