Meridian Therapy

Meridian Therapy is a style of acupuncture developed in Japan during the mid-1930's. At the same time, the Chinese were formulating what is known now as TCM. During Japan's turbulent modernization at the turn of the late nineteenth century, traditional East Asian medicine was suppressed in favor of medicine based on the Western model. East Asian medicine originated in Japan coming from China through Korea around the fifth century A.D. During the 1910's through the 1920's, a revival of Kampo (traditional herbal medicine, based largely on the Shang Han Lun) sparked one acupuncturist, Sorei Yanagiya, to reexamine known classical texts of acupuncture. His interest led others to become interested in the study who came to Yanagiya for his knowledge. Most notably among his students were Sodo Okabe and Keiri Inoue. These two students were responsible for the formulation of what was to become modern Meridian Therapy.

To begin an understanding of Acupuncture and Meridian Therapy, one must first understand Qi. Qi is the name given to the life energy that flows in an area just beneath the skin and through the yin and yang meridians. This life force must remain in balance in order for one to be free from illness. Whenever on encounters a disruption in this flow, the disturbance leads to illness. Acupuncturists improve his flow by inserting needles into specific acupuncture points (meridians) on the skin.

The primary paradigm is that of the Five Ph

Related Essays

Acupuncture & Meridian Therapy Meridian Therapy is a style of acupuncture developed in Japan during the mid-1930's. At the same time, the Chinese were formulating what is known now as TCM. .... (1286 5 )

Tui Na & the Shiatsu Practitioner .... pressing (and) rubbing," is an Oriental Bodywork Therapy that uses .... and musculoskeletal relationships, and acupressure techniques applied to meridian point to .... (2078 8 )

Chinese Acupuncture .... was considered to be an inexact, unscientific method of therapy by outsiders .... thin needles especially designed for acupuncture at these meridian points allows .... (3013 12 )

Nursing home care and its alternatives .... live-in companion, handyman services, physician visits, visiting nurses, mental health counseling, home therapy, senior centers .... San Jose: Meridian Publishing Inc .... (3455 14 )

'meridian points' relate to patterns of energy pathways connected as electrical currents within the body. There is scientific evidence to suggest that the points have lower electrical resistance than sights on the body that are not meridian points. The closest known linkage to this theory was a Spanish study conducted in 1992 that sent radioactive tracers as injected into accupoints. The tracers traveled along similar pathways to the next meridians. This created a theory that "information transmission is linked to neurochemicals rather than to the circulatory or lymphatic system." (Woodham & Peters, 91) METHODOLOGY: With the previous working theory models, there are several methods of application when it comes to utilizing the meridian points. An acupuncturist practitioner will evaluate the patient's Qi and determine the best way to achieve flow utilizing these methods. The first method is quite traditional and utilizes needles at specific meridian points to achieve redirection of Qi flow. This is called 'acupuncture' and it has been practiced in China for thousands of years though only recently introduced to the West. It is utilized for such varied conditions as pain relief, anesthesia, addictions, migraines, digesti

Category: Medical - M