Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest and best-known treatment methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is based on an independent medical understanding of the human being and of health.
In Chinese Medicine, complaints are not considered in isolation. Rather, the focus is on the individual interaction between body, mind and the various functional systems. The basis for this is a careful medical history and TCM diagnosis, through which the individual pattern of disharmony is identified.

Urs Schelbert in Hangzhou Akupunktur Klinik
Urs Schelbert in Hangzhou Akupunktur Klinik

Acupuncture in Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture is inseparably connected with the fundamental concepts of Chinese Medicine. These include, in particular, Qi and Blood, Yin and Yang, the Five Phases of Transformation, as well as the meridians and channels.
Qi moves through a network of channels and connects the various areas of the organism with one another. If the free flow is impaired or an imbalance develops within the functional systems, complaints can arise.
From the perspective of TCM, the purpose of acupuncture is to support the harmonious flow of Qi and Blood and to restore the individual’s balance. The treatment does not simply focus on the location of a symptom. What matters is the pattern that emerges from the complete TCM diagnosis.
For this reason, people with apparently similar complaints may be treated with different acupuncture points and different treatment approaches.

The Acupuncture Points

The selection of acupuncture points follows the principles of Chinese Medicine. Each point has particular properties and is related to the channels and functional systems.
Depending on the diagnosis, individual points can be combined to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. The art of acupuncture therefore does not lie in using as many needles as possible, but in making a targeted and individually tailored selection.

What complaints can acupuncture be used for?

Acupuncture is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for a wide range of complaints. These include, among others, pain, headaches and migraine, musculoskeletal complaints, digestive complaints, sleep disorders, as well as various complaints associated with the female menstrual cycle.
Two people can, for example, suffer from the same complaint and nevertheless have different patterns of disharmony. Accordingly, the selection of acupuncture points and the treatment may also differ.

Different Forms of Acupuncture

In addition to classical body acupuncture, there are various other forms of acupuncture. Depending on the individual diagnosis and therapeutic objective, for example, ear acupuncture or electroacupuncture may be used.
A particular focus of our practice is 9-Palaces Acupuncture. It combines the classical foundations of Chinese Medicine with a differentiated system for considering the relationships between the various functional areas.
9-Palaces Acupuncture therefore enables a particular form of individual assessment and point selection. It is an essential part of our therapeutic approach.

The History of Acupuncture

The history of acupuncture goes back many centuries. Its development is closely connected with the emergence and further development of Chinese Medicine.
Early medical texts already describe the use of needles and treatment through specific points and channels. Over the centuries, the theoretical foundations of acupuncture were further developed and systematized.
An important historical work is the Huangdi Neijing, which is regarded as one of the most important classical foundations of Chinese Medicine. Later works, including the Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing by Huangfu Mi, made a significant contribution to the systematization of acupuncture and its points.
Modern acupuncture encompasses various schools and treatment systems that differ considerably in some respects in their diagnostic methods, point selection and therapeutic approach.

Acupuncture at 9 Palaces TCM

At 9 Palaces TCM, acupuncture is not performed according to a fixed scheme. The treatment is based on the individual situation and the resulting TCM diagnosis.
The combination of classical Chinese Medicine and 9-Palaces Acupuncture allows for a differentiated consideration of the individual disharmony and a correspondingly targeted selection of acupuncture points.

Further Information