Principles of Acupuncture

According to the Chinese School of Thought, an illness is described and defined by divisions of Yin and Yang polar opposites [interior and exterior, cold or hot, deficient or excessive]. Accordingly, half of the body’s organs are defined as Yin in relation to the other half called Yang and it is believed that for every living thing to sustain life, there should be a balance between these two forces. When Yin and Yang are out of balance in the body, a disease may occur.

Qi [which is pronounced as chee] is a form of energy that flows or circulates through the body in a predictable manner, which is determined in part by the balancing forces of Yin and Yang. Any disruption of this flow is thought to cause disease. The manipulation of the flow of this energy [qi] with acupuncture reestablishes this balance of Yin and Yang and therefore restores a healthy state.

Next page: Methods of acupuncture therapy

Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: March 16, 2012