Combining herbal therapy with acupuncture produces many benefits. The main benefits include the ability to reduce stress, relieve allergy symptoms and headaches associated with allergies, certain women"s health issues, helping to balance the immune system, and also to relieve the pain of neck, back, bursitis, arthritis and tendonitis.
Traditional Chinese healthcare is often a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and Qigong (breathing patterns/physical postures and motions of the body).
Acupuncture therapy can be both traditional and electrical, as well as ear (auricular) acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and also acupressure. Moxibustion is a technique used in traditional Chinese medicine that uses burning mugwort, which is a small spongy herb, to speed healing. Moxibustion strengthens the blood, is used to stimulate the flow of qi, and also to maintain good health.
Cupping is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal disorders and certain types of pain. It may also be used to treat depression and to reduce swelling. The more common areas of the body to be used in cupping are the back, stomach and sometimes the arms and legs. There is "dry" cupping, "wet" cupping and "air" cupping.
Acupressure is the ancient art of healing using fingers to press certain key points on the skin"s surface in order to stimulate the body"s natural ability to heal itself. Acupressure is used to relieve muscle tension, to increase blood circulation and to aid in the healing process.
Acupuncture makes use of the five element theory in that it adjusts and realigns the flow of qi within the individual"s body. When the body is re-adjusted it is better able to heal. Acupuncture can ease pain and other symptoms and can strengthen the immune system.
Chinese herbal medicine is a system of treating a patient through an interconnection of mental, emotional and physical components of the individual being treated. The purpose of the herbal therapy is to restore balance within the patient"s body between the individual, his larger social and natural order.
The Chinese people view the human body as an extension of the cosmos. It is believed that there is a strong connection between herbal medicine and dietary habits. Eating is not just for filling the belly with food, but to achieve therapeutic benefit, prevent disease and to adjust to changes within the body.
To understand the connection between acupuncture and herbal therapy you must understand qi and yin and yang. The Chinese believe that there is a balance to be preserved in the flow of life and when the flow or balance is well the body is also well. Acupuncture and herbal therapy is used to restore balance.