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Acupuncture Treatment in Oriental Medicine

 

2-1 What is Oriental medicine acupuncture and moxibustion treatment - ‘Qi’, ‘Kei-raku’, ‘Kei-ketsu’?

Some indispensable concepts in Oriental medicine acupuncture and moxibustion are ‘Qi’(Ki in Japanese), ‘Kei-raku’(channel/meridian), ‘Kei-ketsu’ (acupuncture point), ‘Gogyo’ (five elements), and ‘Yin and Yang’. In this summary, I would like to explain Qi, Kei-raku and Kei-ketsu. 

 

These are generally unfamiliar words for everyone, so it can be difficult to understand them right away. The first and most important thing is the concept of Qi. When you hear Qi, you may think that it is a bit strange. However, in Japanese vocabulary, the Japanese word for Qi is often used. people write that ‘illness’ is ‘sick-qi’. Also, it is often said that illness comes from Qi.

 

The word Qi or ‘Ki’ is often used in everyday life in Japan. For example, there are many words and expressions such as: "Ki-nisuru”, (you care about), "Ki-ga-Ki-denai" (you are very nervous), "sono-Ki-ganai" (you don't want to do that), "Ki-mochiwarui" (you feel uncomfortable), "Ki-gachigau" (you are crazy), "Ki-gachiru"(you are distracted), "Ki-gamayou" (you are wondering), "gen-Ki" (you are fine), "yang-Ki" (cheerful), "yin-Ki" (gloomy), "sat-Ki" (bloodthirsty), "kat-Ki" (lively), and "hon-Ki" (earnestness). 

 

In traditional Chinese medicine, the vital energy or life force keeps a person's spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health in balance. In other words, the fundamental invisible force that drives humans socially, mentally, and physically is actually "Qi". In the ancient Orient, when science was not well developed, doctors examined a patient's illness by examining the Qi emitted by that person to determine what was wrong in their body. 

 

For example, there is "Shi-shin" (four examinations) in the diagnostic method of traditional Chinese medicine. "Bou-shin" - to examine the energy and complexion emitted by the person. "Bun-shin" - to feel the person's voice and sense any smellsthe person emits. "Mon-shin" - to ask questions. "Set-shin" - to touch and feel. Thisalso includes tongue diagnosis, pulse diagnosis and abdominal diagnosis. In this way, Oriental medicine has established a comprehensive method for diagnosing the cause of a person's ‘Qi’ illness.

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Next is the ‘Kei-raku’, which is simply the route through which ‘Qi flows.

There are 12 main pathways (channels/meridians) in the body, which are connected to each internal organ function. The Kei-raku cannot be found by dissecting acorpse, because there is no Qi flowing in a dead body. Since the pathways areinvisible, there is debate among acupuncturists about their existence, but since the channels were established thousands of years ago, they are still being applied clinically by acupuncturists around the world.

 

On the pathways, there are the ‘Tsubo"’, which are the so-called acupuncture points. There are many points that have been used in folk remedies for a long time in Asia, such as being effective for stomach pain or headaches when pressed there.Tsubo points work on the vitality that is the root of the body used in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. The points are located on the route of the Kei-raku pathways, where the Qi flows in and out. 

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