Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture Concepts

TCM Acupuncture

In traditional acupuncture, our starting point is based on the idea of Yin and Yang energies flowing through the human body in the form of Qi (chi). These energies mirror the flow of energy in the Universe known as the Tao.

Qi flows through 12 channels of energy (meridians) in the body that can be accessed at certain points near the surface of the skin (acupuncture points or acupoints). The location of these acupoints is found using the proportional cun measurement.

Disturbances in the flow of Qi lead to physical and/or emotional disease or disorders due to Qi becoming excessive, deficient, stagnant, or a combination of these (e.g. stagnant and excessive, excessive and deficient etc.)

Traditional acupuncture aims to restore the body’s natural health state by balancing:

  • Yin energies (feminine, receptive, cooling, calming) and
  • Yang energies (masculine, expanding, warming, active).

The insertion of solid needles into acupuncture points, or applying pressure on the points, is used as a means of restoring and balancing the correct flow of Qi. The flow of Qi can also be regulated by using acupoints on the ear (auricular acupuncture).

Theories used in TCM Acupuncture

In looking to address imbalances of Yin and Yang, TCM Acupuncture works with imbalances of four Fundamental Substances:

  1. Qi
  2. Blood
  3. Body Fluids
  4. Essence (which is also known as Jing)

In addition we also to address patterns of disharmony in the Zang-Fu organ system. The Zang (Yin) organs are:

The Fu (Yang) organs are:

The Zang (Yin) organs are paired with a Fu (Yang) organ as follows:

  • The Heart is paired with the Small Intestine
  • The Spleen is paired with the Stomach
  • The Lungs are paired with the Large Intestine
  • The Kidneys are paired with the Bladder
  • The Liver is paired with the Gall Bladder

Additionally, imbalances can also occur with the Extraordinary Yang Organs which are:

  • The Uterus
  • The Marrow
  • The Brain
  • The Bones
  • The Blood Vessels

These five organs are referred to as Extraordinary Yang Organs as they have the storing function of Yin organs but have the hollow shape of a Yang organ.

Each Zang organ is also paired with an element to make up the Five Elements. These pairings are:

  • The Heart is paired with the Fire element.
  • The Spleen is paired with the Earth element.
  • The Lungs are paired with the Metal element.
  • The Kidneys are paired with the Water element.
  • The Liver is paired with the Wood element.

The Five Elements are used for diagnostic and treatment planning purposes through a system of Correspondences and the Five Element Generating, Controlling and Insulting cycles.

The Causes of Disease

The causes of disease in TCM acupuncture are attributed to Internal or External pathogenic factors, or a combination of both.

There are six main Internal Pathogenic Factors that we look at:

  • The emotions of Shock, Fear, Worry, Sadness, Joy and Anger.
  • Internal Wind.
  • Internal Damp.
  • Phlegm.
  • Cold.
  • Heat.

With External Pathogenic Factors, we look at six main elements:

  • Wind.
  • Cold.
  • Heat.
  • Damp.
  • Dryness.
  • Summer-Heat.

Some of these elements can combine with each other and give rise to patterns such as Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, Damp-Cold and Damp-Heat.

Additionally, we also look at other factors such as lifestyle, diet, constitution, fatigue and overexertion, excessive sexual activity, and trauma.

Eight Principles Differentiation

Eight principles differentiation is a technique used to help understand the nature of the TCM issues we are faced with in a clinical practice. It breaks down the presenting signs and symptoms into eight categories:

  • Internal (interior) – are we faced with a problem that involves the Zang-Fu organs?
  • External (exterior) – is the problem more related to muscles and classed as External?
  • Hot – are there signs of heat?
  • Cold – are there signs of cold?
  • Excess – do the signs and symptoms show signs of Excess (e.g. Damp, Phlegm, Stagnation?)
  • Deficiency – do the signs and symptoms show signs of Deficiency (e.g. fatigue, weakness?)
  • Yin – is this a Yin condition (e.g. slow onset)?
  • Yang – is this a Yang condition (e.g. sudden onset)?