Acupuncture has been used as a healing method for thousands of years. The concept behind it is to achieve balance in the flow of energy that flows through our bodies. Acupuncture focuses on a number of areas in the body like the ears, hands, head and other points (possibly even your feet) and inserting tiny needles at these points in order to help bring about this natural healing process.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese therapy that uses burning mugwort herb to treat various ailments. It’s similar to acupuncture, but instead of needles, the practitioner uses a piece of moxa (Chinese mugwort) that has been rolled into a cigar shape.
In China, moxa was used for thousands of years before acupuncture was developed as a separate technique. Moxibustion is still widely used today in China, Japan and Korea.
Moxibustion is usually done on an acupuncture point or acupressure point, but it can also be applied to other areas of the body such as the face or neck. The herb is lit and held near the skin until it burns out — typically between two and five minutes — then removed before it burns too close to the skin.
Auricular acupuncture
Auricular acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that involves the stimulation of specific points on the outer ear called acupoints. It is claimed by its practitioners to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including chronic pain and depression.
Auricular acupuncture was developed by Dr. Paul Nogier, a French ear specialist who practiced in the 1960s and 1970s. He claimed that he discovered the existence of these points by accident while treating patients with facial paralysis.
The practice became popular through word of mouth and its popularity increased after being featured on television shows such as The Dr. Oz Show.
Auricular acupuncture is one of many alternative therapies used by practitioners of Chinese medicine (or TCM). TCM practitioners believe that there are several systems of energy called qi (pronounced “chee”) circulating throughout our bodies. These qi move through channels called meridians. In order to maintain balance between these two types of energy, TCM practitioners use various techniques such as dietary changes, herbal remedies and acupuncture to open up blocked meridians.
Acupressure
Acupressure is a form of alternative medicine, which involves the stimulation of points on the body by applying pressure with the fingertips. Acupressure is practiced worldwide and is based on the concept of life energy which flows through “meridians” in the body. In Japan, acupressure has been practiced since at least the 12th century AD (Heavenly Needles), while in China it originated in India during the first millennium BC.
In practice, acupressure points are stimulated by tapping them with fingers or thumbs, or by pressing, holding and rubbing them. Some techniques involve more than one point; others aim to stimulate points along a meridian line. There are many ways of applying pressure. The most common method is to use the thumb and forefinger together as this produces a stronger effect than using either finger alone. Some people prefer to use two fingers such as index fingers and middle fingers at once or use all four fingers together but it depends on how much pressure you can handle and what works best for you.
When it comes to traditional medicine, acupuncture is one of the most popular techniques out there. If you’ve never tried it before, you might want to think about giving it a shot. As shown above, there are numerous benefits to be enjoyed. These include painful or chronic joint problems, migraines, fertility treatments and much more. Ultimately, the right choice will depend on your needs. Give some of these acupuncture techniques a shot and see how it works for you!