by Judy Thompson

Created on: May 18, 2009

Acupuncture is a fundamental treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine utilizes many herbal remedies, life style changes with diet, and other means to treat the patient. With acupuncture, one would take a sharp thin needle and specifically insert it into a point on the body. It is believe that doing so, will adjust the body's energy flow into the positive and release the stagnate energy that was causing pain or illness. Acupuncture can, also, be used in treatment for a wide variety of illnesses or minor health conditions.

The Chinese had philosophy concepts that were taught for generations from early childhood for every day living and keeping themselves in balance and harmony. They are five common Chinese philosophies that are found within the traditional Chinese medicine today. These are:

1. Tao ~ the way or one's doctrine

2. De ~ virtue or power

3. Li ~ principle

4. Qi ~ vital energy or material forces

5. Taiji ~ Yin Yang

Yin Yang, according to the Chinese philosophy, is described as Yin being of facing from the sun, which is of the female concept and of being passive. Yang is described as facing the sun, which is of the male concept and of being active. Sort of like the hot and cold combination. Nothing is either Yin or Yang, but a combination and in keeping one balanced. These two philosophies are always interacting and opposing each other, which greatly influence each other. In traditional Chinese medicine, they do not want to make the Yin or Yang stronger than the other, but to allow the two to balance with each other and exist with harmony.

Chi is, also, another fundamental use of the Chinese philosophy that the Chinese use as a combination with acupuncture. Chi is the fundamental life energy the universe. It is invisible, yet in the air that we breathe, water that we drink, food that we eat, and within the sunlight that helps keep us warm, but also give things light in order to grow. Chi flows through the body in channels called meridians. If the Chi is broken, illness or certain health problems intend to thrive.

Another part of the Chinese philosophy is the five elements. The Chinese believe that world and the body are made up of five elements. The five elements are wood, fire, water, earth, and metal. All of these are interconnected and controls each other. As water controls fire, and earth generates metal. This concept was lead to believe that

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