Acupuncture is the insertion of needles into superficial structures of the body, like the skin and muscles, at acupuncture points to influence the flow of qi in the body. Energy flows through these points and stimulates qi much like the blood flows through the vessels and stimulates the nerves. Putting needles in strategic places within these acupuncture point pathways, or meridians, can cause different types of effects in the body, like reducing illness or strengthening weakness. In this way it works to restore balance and vitality to the whole being.
Acupuncture is often accompanied by moxibustion, which involves burning mugwort on or near the skin at an acupuncture point to generate infrared heat. The purpose of moxibustion is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi, stop irritation in the skin or muscles, and maintain general health.
“There is Yin in Yang and there is Yang in Yin, when one knows the law of Yin and Yang and the mutual relation between them, he can treat the disease by pricking [needling, applying heat] properly, know the initial condition of the disease and apply the pricking technique [needling, applying heat] properly.”
“The so-called sthenia [excessive vitality] indicates the evil-energy has entered the body. The so-called asthenia [weakness, lack of energy] indicates the healthy energy has exhausted inside. When the evil-energy is sthenic, heat will produce; when the healthy energy is asthenic, cold will occur.”
“According to the principle of acupuncture, one must examine the patient carefully first and then treat according to the conditions of his spiritual activities. As the blood, channel, Ying-energy, vital energy and the essence of life are all stored by the five viscera, when they become abnormal and [become] divorced from the storing viscus, the refined energy of the fiver viscera will be lost, the soul and the inferior spirit will be rising in the air, the will will be vexed and the patient himself will lose his intelligence and fail to ponder…”
