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By Dr. Michael Miles
Acupuncture is one of the five branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Each branch consists of a healing modality which can be used in and of itself for maintaining health and, when used in conjunction with other TCM modalities, can produce the most favorable results for achieving optimal health. In our practice, we use three of the five modalities: Acupuncture, Herbal Nutrition, and Moxibustion with Cupping. We offer support and recommendations for the additional two branches: Qi Gong (meditative self-exercise) and Tui Na (Chinese bodywork similar to western chiropractic).
TCM is based on the principle that the body is made up of interconnected systems which must all be in harmony together to achieve good health and wellbeing. Acupuncture, in particular, seeks to restore the balance in the flow of energy known as “qi” or “chi” within the body. To do this, needles are inserted into specific points along the body’s energy lines that correspond to each of our 5 major organs and the supporting systems linked to those organs: Heart and Small Intestine, Lung and Large Intestine, Stomach and Spleen, Kidney and Middle Belly, Liver and Gallbladder.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, diagnosis includes observing the patient and finding out about his or her background. The senses of hearing, smell and touching are used to assess the patients condition: e.g. is there redness in the face, heat in the joints, is the breath mal-odorous, does the heart beat arhythmically, is the voice tinny or disrupted, etc. An acupuncture treatment begins with the acupuncturist interviewing the patient to learn not just about the particular health concern but also about his lifestyle, diet as well as his emotions, among other factors.
To check the health of the patient’s Qi or energy flow, the acupuncturist will feel the pulse points at the patient’s wrist and look at the patient’s tongue. The practitioner may also look at the patients eyes to determine discoloration or odd patterning in the iris. Once the interview is done, the acupuncturist will give a diagnosis and start treatment. A typical acupuncture treatment may about 12 needles, however, it is not the number of needles used but how they are placed exactly into the acupuncture points that is believed to restore the balance of the body, the ultimate aim of traditional Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture is a calming practice, administered in a gentle, methodical manner with great sensitivity to the patient. The effects can be immediate and dramatic, and can also be expected to develop healing change in the body over time. Consider looking outside the box and expanding your horizons by exploring the well documented art and practice of Acupuncture.
Dr. Michael Miles’ Clinic is located at 15601 N. Oracle Rd. in Catalina behind Golf Cars of Arizona.You can learn more about the Catalina Clinic and Dr. Miles by visiting the website: www.catalinaclinic.com. To contact Dr. Miles or make an appointment at the clinic call 520-825-8100.
Gary Every is an award winning author who has won consecutive Arizona Newspaper Awards for best lifestyle feature for pieces “The Apache Naichee Ceremony” and “Losing Geronimo’s Language”. The best of the first decade of his newspaper columns for The Oracle newspaper were compiled by Ellie Mattausch into a book titled Shadow of the OhshaD. Mr. Every has also been a four time finalist for the Rhysling Award for years best science fiction poetry. Mr. Every is the author of ten books and his books such as Shadow of the Ohshad or the steampunk thriller The Saint and The Robot are available either through Amazon or www.garyevery.com.
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