EE  woodblock logoElizabeth Moose, LAc
        Traditional Chinese Medicine
        12741 Research Blvd, suite 505 
                 Austin, TX 78759
                    (512) 419-1076 
      www.balconesacupuncture.com 
       
Acupuncture Newsletter
The Very End of February 2013
In This Issue
Acupuncture Points
Acupressure Book Suggestions
Acupuncture Petition and What's Up With Chinese Medicine and Obamacare
World Health Organization List of Treatable Conditions

Elizabeth Moose, LAc, (Beth) has been a Licensed Acupuncturist since 1988 and has been practicing full time in Austin since 1992.  She has traveled and studied in China, and was on the faculty of the Academy of Oriental Medicine, Austin for eleven years where she taught the Theory and Philosophy course and was a clinical supervisor. For more info click on the website link below.
Quick Links...

Join Our Mailing List

Dear People,

 

Greetings and Happy Chinese New Year of the Snake! 

 

Here I am again with another newsletter. This month I am writing about the acupuncture points and what the heck they are and how they are used and more.  I am also recommending you all go out and learn some acupressure (pressure not puncture), and I provide you with links to several books you might find helpful.

 

As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, requests for newsletter topics, or even an appointment! 

 

Be Well and See You Next Time,

 

Beth 

Acupuncture Points            

 

 

Any of you who have ever had an acupuncture treatment have likely been curious about all those points. What is their nature? How many are there, how do you find and remember them all, how were they discovered, what do they do, and how do you decide which ones to use? That's a lot of questions and there are certainly answers.

 

It goes without saying that the acupuncture points are the foundation of all acupuncture. They are considered a type of doorway, that with stimulation, access the QI flow in the body and facilitate balance and healing. They have been shown to have a lower electrical resistance than their surrounding tissues, and so have indeed been found to be idiosyncratic spots on the body.

 

A few interesting things:

 

The term "point" is a little misleading . Our western minds consider a point as a very small, discreet, one dimensional unit. Though translated as "point," the Chinese term "xue", actually means something more like a cave or a hole, giving it at least three dimensions.

 

Different points are thought to be different sizes as well, some being the size of a pea, and others being the size of a spherical dime and even, some claim, of a quarter.

 

Most western acupuncture students learn the acupuncture points through a system of numbers. A meridian will have 44 points on it for example, which follows a natural flow that goes from point #1 through #44. Thus we may refer to a point as Gall Bladder 34, or Pericardium 6. (Meridians bear the name of the organs they connect to.)  

 

Points traditionally have names, though.  These ancient names often describe the point's location or overt function. Other names are more mysterious, and some points will often have more than one name, or a name variously translated and full of layered meaning. These names reveal the greater spiritual depth potentially accessed by the stimulation of that point.  Here are a few of these names as examples: Convergence and Gathering, Spirit Hall, Celestial Pivot, and Camphorwood Gate.

 

There is a bunch more to know and here are a few links to fill in gaps for the curious. For a more scientific look at the points, here is your link. For some information about how a practitioner makes her point selection, this link will work. For descriptions of some commonly used points including their locations and common functions, please click here. And for a description of how various points are grouped and categorized,

 

 

  Acupressure Book Suggestions   

 

 

rubber arm There are many ways to stimulate an acupuncture point, and their therapeutic use is not limited to seeing a practitioner for a treatment. Acupressure, for example, is very popular and easy to learn. Much can be performed by a lay person which can be a big help both for themselves and their loved ones.

 

So, here I want to include links to a few books you might find handy.

 

The first is acupressure (and herbs and supplements) for our beloved cats and dogs: Four Paws Five 

Directions and another for our beloved babies and children: Acupoint and Trigger Point Therapy for Babies and Children.

 

There are some specialty acupressure books too, Acupressure for Emotional Healing and  

 

For the rest of us, Acupressure's Potent Points: A Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments can really come in handy.

 

Of course there are acupressure books a-plenty and one has only go to the bookstore or cruise around on Amazon.com to see the variety.

Good luck with these and let me know  how it  goes! 

 

      Acupuncture Petition and What's Up With Chinese Medicine and Obamacare?  

 

 

acupuncture herb sign A couple of weeks ago I sent out an alert requesting your signatures on a petition to the federal government asking that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine be declared a legitimate health care specialty to be covered by Medicare. 25,000 signatures were required, and I am here to report back to you that the signature number has been met !  

 

Thank those of you who took the time and interest to sign the petition, we will see where it goes from here and I will keep you posted. 

 

And, very related to this, here is an update on acupuncture and its potential integration into the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare).

 

World Health Organization List of Treatable Conditions

 

needles I want to include this list from the World Health Organization in all my newsletters just to remind you of everything acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can treat. As a practitioner I know this is just a partial list, but it is official and great PR.   

To see the list again click here.


SPECIAL OFFER
Do you know someone that has been wanting to try Chinese Medicine but hasn't taken that first step yet?  Or maybe you know someone  who isn't new to the practice but you think could benefit from my services?

For the months of March and April, each new referral will receive $20 off the first treatment and your next treatment will be $20 off as well.  Just have them mention this offer and it is a done deal.