idians, more than 360 places in which the chi flows near the surface of the skin. These meridians correspond to specific parts of the body but are not necessarily located near the affected part; for instance, points on the upper ear lobe correspond to places on the patient's legs. Inserting thin needles especially designed for acupuncture at these meridian points allows the healer to reach specific places on the body in which the flow has been interrupted. The healer rotates the inserted needles, which are inserted painlessly, to stimulate the necessary flow of the chi, restoring the balance between the patient's yin and yang.
The word acupuncture is derived from the Latin acus, for needle, and punctura, to prick. Historians believe that the process was developed in China at least 5,000 years ago; needles dating back at least 4,000 years have been found in archeological sites, and the earliest written history, which extends only 3,500 years, includes accounts of acupuncture. The first needles found were made of stone. Later implements were constructed of bronze, gold, and silver. Modern acupuncture needles are most often made of steel.
Acupressure, a version of acupuncture that applies pressure rather than needles to crucial points of the body, is often used by chiropractors as a way of adapting acupuncture's philosophy to chiropractic's noninvasive principles. The technique derives from a Japanese adaptation of acupuncture, the massage technique called shiatsu which uses hands, elbows, and other parts of the body to press on key points of the body identified through acupuncture study as being crucial to treating the patient's particular ailments.
The physician using acupuncture or acupressure techniques does not simply apply a set of immutable principles to every patient. Instead, he or she first diagnoses the patient by careful, detailed observation and interviews. The physician then takes measurements particular...