Although acupuncture practices are named as alternative therapy in western culture, it is known that its use in East-China goes back 5000 years. However, the most comprehensive source available to us belongs to Huang Di Nei Jing and dates back to BC. It was written in the year 200. In the book called The Yellow Emperor’s Internal Diseases Classic, 282 points are described. The earliest theories of acupuncture were put forward by Shen Nung. These are related to circulation, pulse and heart. It was described 4000 years ago and laid the foundations of internal medicine. It describes the two different energies ying and yang, the five elements, the organ and the twelve meridian systems, which form the basis of acupuncture, working in harmony with each other but in opposition to each other.
Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles onto the body surface to affect physiological functions in the body. On the basis of acupuncture, Shen Nung theorized that the human body has an energy force that circulates throughout, and this is called Qi. Qi includes spiritual, emotional, mental and physical basic life activities. A person’s health can be affected by the flow of Qi in the body. If the qi flow is insufficient, unbalanced or blocked, the yin yang balance is disturbed and disease occurs. Qi in the body circulates through meridian and special pathways. There are 12 double and 2 single meridians.
Acupuncture points are specific localizations where the meridians are superficial on the skin. Thus, needling, moxibustion and acupressor can be applied easily. These points provide the circulation of Qi and the balance of ying and yang.
There are methods applied to acupuncture points;
These are;
Electroacupuncture
Moxibion
Laser
Cupping
Electroacupuncture is to give low current to the needles attached to the acupuncture points with an electrostimulation device. It is used in many treatments, most commonly pain treatment.
Another method is laser stimulating the acupuncture point. It is mostly used in auricular acupuncture. The ear is rich in nerve and vascular networks. It has connections with all system organs in the body. For this reason, ear acupuncture points, which correspond to many organs and parts of the body, are used in the treatment of many diseases from obesity to alcoholism and drug addiction.
Moxibustion is the application of heat to acupuncture points. Acupuncture and moxibustion are considered to be complementary to each other. Moxibustion has been successfully applied in asthma, bronchitis, some types of paralysis and arthritis.
Cupping is another form of treatment, it affects the acupuncture points created with metal, wooden and glass jars in the form of increased blood supply in the applied area with the effect of vacuum. used.
Acupressor, one of the most popular methods, is a needle-free acupuncture treatment. It is massaging the acupuncture points with the fingers. In its most advanced form, standing reflexology is used very often.
Ear acupuncture was added to this method, which was used mostly as body acupuncture at the beginning. While the Chinese did not use auricular acupuncture much, in the 1950s the French dr. Paul Nogier published the ‘auruculotherapy–auriculomedecine’ technique, which he introduced as an auricular diagnosis and treatment method.
There are written sources that Hippocrates treated headache and hypertension by bleeding certain points on the auricle in the 4th century BC. Therefore, ear treatment has been an important method for a long time.
The definition and application of auriculotherapy as it is today, French dr. We owe it to Paul Nogier.
Microsystems have gained more importance all over the world now. Microsystem is used to mean the representation of the whole body in a smaller area. projection area finds representation area according to the excess of functions rather than the size of the organ. Today, many microsystems have been described. Ear, head, mouth, hand, foot… etc.
For example, there are differences in the response of Gleditsch microsystems to treatment; defined that auricular acupuncture produces a faster and better response in musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases.
The most important difference between microsystem acupuncture and body acupuncture; If there is a problem in the organ, the reflection points of that organ are active, if there is no problem, it is not active. Because of this feature, microsystem acupuncture provides important clues for both diagnosis and follow-up of treatment.
In acupuncture, the effect is achieved by inserting a needle into certain points. There are 361 acupuncture points on the body. These are points that stand on meridians and channels and whose certain effects have been scientifically accepted.
The main known effects of acupuncture are;
Analgesia
Vegetative nervous system regulation (although acupuncture regulates VSS, it loses its effectiveness if there are obstructions in conduction.)
Sedation
Relaxation
Immunostimulation
Vasodilation
These effects of acupuncture have been explained by anatomical, histological, embryological, bio-physical, biochemical, neurophysiological, physiological mechanisms. Many scientific studies have been published, especially on the analgesic effect.
