ACUPRESSURE POINTS FOR HEADACHE

Headache

The head is where all the yang channels of the hand and foot meet. Attack of endogenous or exogenous factors may cause headaches due to derangement of Vital energy and Blood in the head and retardation of the circulation of Vital energy in the channels that traverse the head.

Headache such as in a common cold is caused by exogenous pathagenic factors. Headache of endogenous origin, called " HEADWIND" is intermittent, protracted and intractable. Pain occurs on either side of the head. It may be of the excess or deficiency type, the former due mainly to hyperactivity of yang of the Liver and the later due to deficiency of vital energy and blood.

Frontal headache:

Acupressure points are :-

GB 14

UB 2

St 44

St 43

Temporal headache

 Acupoints are:-

SJ 23

GB20

SJ5

GB 41

Parietal headache

Acupoints are:-

GB 8

St 8

Sj 3

Sj 5

Vertical headache:

Acupoints are:-

GV20

K1

UB60

Occipital headache

Acupoints are:-

GV 20

UB10

Lu7

SI 6

In all cases of headache the acupoint L.I. 4 to be used.

Acupressure points for high Blood Pressure and low Blood Pressure

 High blood pressure:

High blood pressure ( RaktaVata) is also called hypertension. The main cause according to Ayurveda is vitiation of Vata. This then leans towards the arterial hardening, narrowing and congestion ( Vata can dry up moisture in blood.

The symptoms commonly associated with high blood pressure are related to the Liver and Kidney. Acupressure is effective in controlling mild and moderate cases of hypertension without serious complications.

Give pressure on given Acupoints.

Acupressure points are:-

LI11

St36

GB20

Liv3

Sp9

Caution: If blood pressure is very high , do not use Liv3.  An abrupt fall in blood pressure may occur.

Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure (Nyuna Raktachapa) or hypotention is normally a vata derangement.

The acupoints are :-

Cv6

St36

Sp6

P6

THE THEORY OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS

 The five Elements are:

Wood

Fire

Earth

Metal

Water

According to the traditional medicine , there are five Elements in heaven, as also on earth. These five elements are related in two cyclic sequence which are:-

1. Generative cycle

2. Destructive cycle

Generative cycle (Sheng cycle)

In generative cycle Fire is fed by Wood; the ashes which form becomes the earth; Metal is formed in the Earth; Water springs from Metal( fluidity arises from the solid state); and Water nourishes trees which become Wood. Thus completing the generative cycle.

Destructive cycle (Ko cycle)

In destructive cycle Fire melts Metal; Metal cuts Wood; Wood covers the Earth; and the Earth dams Water. Thus completing the destructive cycle. 

The 5 Elements are therefore not independent entities but exist in an intimate relation to each Elements which governs and is governed by another Element.

The Five Elements may refer not to five material substance but to five characteristics namely: 

Wood- solidity and ease of workability;

Fire- Combustion and development of heat

Earth- fertility

Metal- fusibility

Water- fluidity.

The theory of the five elements basically explains the interpromoting, inter-acting, over acting and counter-acting relationships among them. Its application to traditional medicine is classifying into diffrent categories, natural phenomena plus the tissues and organs of the human body and human emotions interpreting the relationship between the physiology and pathology of the human body and the natural environment with the laws of inter-promoting, over-acting and counter-acting of the five elements. This theory is used as a guide in medical practice.

WATER- The water is that quality in nature which describe as soaking and descending.

That which soaks, drips and descends causes SALTINESS.

FIRE- Fire is that quality in nature which describe as BLAZING AND UPRISING.

That which rises up generates BITTERNESS.

WOOD- Wood is that quality in nature which permits of curved surface or straight edges.

That which  of curved surfaces or straight edges give SOURNESS.

METAL- Metal is that quality in nature which can flow the form of a mould and then become hard. 

That which can flow the form a mould and then become hard, produce ACIDITY.

EARTH- Earth is tha quality in nature which permits of sowing and reaping.

That which permits of sowing, growth and reaping, gives rise to SWEETNESS.

The Five elements are gradually came to be associated with every conceivable category of phenomena in the universe which it was possible to classify in fives. 

BIO- ENERGY CHANNELS

Energy Channels

Channels/Meridians or Nadis:- Lines drawn more or less vertically on the body surface connecting acupuncture points having similar therapeutic properties.

The 14 major channels (nadis) are considered most important in our body. These major channels are distribured over the entire human body, which allow vital energy(prana) to flow. These channels, having great therapeutic value are found close to skin, connecting with major organ internally and externally with tissues where the the pressure points are located. These pressure points have low resistance.

By needling, heating or massaging the pressure points ( marmas or vital points) , a therapeutic effects can be achieved not only in local area but also in organs which are related to these channels.

These channels carry vital energy (Prana) in one form or another as it moves around the body. The channels are also vehicles for the three humors, VATA, PITTA AND KAPHA. When a channels's energy flow is impaired, this can cause a similar blockage in the flow of the body fluids like blood , lymph etc.

The channels carrying Vital energy (Prana) cannot normally be seen, since they carry invisible energy, much like electricity. 

The 14 important channels are:-

1) Governer channel

2) Conception channel

3) Lung channel

4) Large intestine channel

5) Stomach channel

6) Spleen channel

7) Heart channel

8) Small intestine channel

9) Urinary Bladder channel

10) Kidney channel

11) Pericardium Channel

12) Sanjiao channel

13) Gall Bladder channel

14) Liver channel

The Governer and Conception channels do not relate to a specific organ but have a relared effects on an area.

The Conception channel controls childbirth and the reproductive system. The 12 major organ channels can be divided into two types:- 1) Those which are related to solid organs(like- The heart ) . 2) Those which are related to the hollow organs (like -The large intestine). 

The solid organ channels are always located along the inside of the limbs, while the hollow organ channels are always located along the outside or external aspect of the limbs. 

Solid Organs And Hollow Organs

THE THEORY OF ZANG-FU

Here the Zang means "solid organ", and Fu means "Hollow organ."

In human body, the diffrent internal organs are described as having the division of labour exhibited by a properly run state. This is know as the state of analogy:

Here is the organs and there Official Functions:-

The Heart : The supreme Controller or Emperor.

The Small intestine: The separator of the pure and impure.

The Pericardium: The protector of the Emperor.

The Sanjiao: The controller of temperature.

The Liver: The official for judgement and planning.

The Gall Bladder: The official for decision making.

The Lung: The Receivar of Vital energy from the heavens.

The Large Intestine: The official for the drainage of the dregs.

The Stomach: The official for rotting and ripening.

The Spleen: The official for transport and distribution.

The Kidney: The controller of the storage of vital energy.

The Urinary Bladder: The controller of water.

Another analogy is the  Universe analogy:

The upper half of man, including the heart and the brain, represents heaven; the lower half, including the stomach and genitalia , represents the earth. Man is the son of heaven and earth.

The ancient traditional medicine related the body functions into twelve Organ system, which are classified according to their characteristics into Zang(yin) and Fu(Yang), and into the five elements.

 

The Zang organs have the functions of storing and are known as the "SOLID ORGANS".

They are YIN character.

The Fu Organs have the functions of digesting and absorbing food and excreting wastes, and are known as the " HOLLOW ORGANS"

They are YANG in character.

Although the diffrent Organs have separate functions , they work in close co-ordination with each other to preserve the unity of the organism and to carry its vital functions.

The classification of the Twelve Organs into Yin and Yang and into five Elements is correlated as follow:-

1. Each Yin organ(Solid organ) is coupled to a Yang Organ(Hollow Organ) and they are both identified with one of the five Elements.

Heart, Pericardium, Sanjiao, Small Intestine- Fire element.

Stomach and Spleen- Earth Element.

Lung and Large Intestine- Metal element.

Kidney and Urinary Bladder- Water element.

Liver and Gall Bladder - Wood Element.

2. Each pair of these coupled Organ relate to other such pairs of coupled organ in generative and in destructive cycle that govern the relationship of the Five elements.

Each of the Zang(Solid) and Fu(Hollow) organs relates to a vital functions of the body.

The Zang(Solid) and Fu(Hollow) organgs are connected to certain areas of the body in such manner that pathological changes in in Zang and Fu organ also brought about corresponding changes in related area or tissue. Some of these changes could be related to the Five colour. This made it easy to ascertain which set of Zang(Solid) and Fu(Hollow) organ needed treatment. These relationships are as follow:

Lung and Large Intestine- WHITE, and connected to the tissues of SKIN, BODY HAIR.

Heart,pericardium and Small intestine, Sanjiao- RED colour, Tissue- Brain,  Blood vessels.

Spleen and Stomach- YELLOW colour, Tissues- Soft tissues, four extremitis.

Liver and Gall Bladder: GREEN colour, Tissues- Muscle, Tendon

Kidney and Urinary Bladder- BLACK colour, Tissues- Bone, Cartilage, Nails, Teeth, Head hair.

The relationships of the five human emotions to the Zang- Fu :-

Lung and Large Intestine - Sadness.

Heart and Small Intestine- Joy.

Spleen and Stomach- Anxiety.

Liver and Gall Bladder- Anger.

Kidney and Urinary Bladder - Fear.

Yin and Yang

THE THEORY OF YIN AND YANG.

According to the Yin-Yang theory, the Universe was originally in a state of primordial chaos without force, form or substance. It then resolved into negative(YIN) and positive(YANG) forces. It is said, therefore, that a balance exists in the Universe in its normal state, because of Yin And Yang relate to each other in harmony.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions are brought about by an imbalance of the Yin and Yang forces. These forces are constantly interacting with each other, this is why everything in the Universe is neither stable nor final. The dynamic balancing of this duality which brings about both equilibrium and change. They are like the different but inseparable poles of magnet. According to TCM the Universe is in a state of oscillation of forces of YIN and YANG and thier changes.

The YIN is conceptualized as being  COLD, DARK and FEMALE.

YIN is passive and signifies that which is deep and hidden.

Where YANG is WARM, LIGHT and MALE.

YANG is active and signifies that which is above the surface.

Yin and Yang are constantly changing thier relationship to each other, one cannot exist, materially or conceptually , without other. Thus there is no night without day, no inside without outside and no virtue without vice. 

Yet nothing is absolutely Yin or absolutely Yang in every Yin there is always some Yang , and in every Yang there is some Yin.

Health and disease are also explained in terms of this Philosophy of Yin Yang. As man is made out of the same elements as the Universe , he is subject to the same law, the Universe being the macrocosm, man is the microcosm.

The hormonal balance in a healthy individual is a perfect example of this Yin Yang dynamism. In fact  the concept of homeostasis in mordern physiology is none other than the estsblishment of a Yin-Yang balance as applied to the known parameters of the biochemical physiology of the organism. The basic postulates of the Yin-Yang theory are therefore valid , even in the context of today's scientific milieu, if we can adjust our minds to these ancient semantics.

Human health and disease

CAUSES OF DISEASE

The causes of disease are divided into four categories:

1. Those originating from outside the body.

2. Those arising inside the body.

3. Miscellaneous causes (neither outside nor inside).

4. Phlegm.

When the different vital forces of the body are in a harmonious balance, there is positive health. And when this balance is disturbed, there is DISEASE.

The factors on which the development of disease depends:-

1. The immunity level of the body.

2. The virulence of the disease causing agents.

If the body is in positive health there is no way for disease to gain a foothold. Disorders may also arise from internal disharmonies without being caused by exogenous influences. In traditional medicine much emphasis is placed on the prevention of disease by the promotion of general health and the early treatment of internal disharmonies.

In traditional medical terminology, the physiological activity of the organ, the vital energy, and the blood, all of which have the power to resist disease, are called normal vital force. The course of a disease is seen as a battle between the Normal vital force of the body and the disease causing factors. Treatment of the disease, at any point in time, depends on the dynamic interaction between these two forces. Disorder which are primarily caused by internal disharmony require appropriate treatment so as to properly re-establish normal functioning of the affected organ.

CAUSES OF DISEASE

1. Those originating from outside the body: The six Excesses are the extrinsic causes of disease.

a) Wind

b) Cold

c) Heat

d) Dampness

e) Dryness 

f) Summer heat

Here the term Excess means "ABNORMALITY OR EVIL".

When normal environmental forces become excessive they may cause disease. 

2. Those arising inside the body: 

The seven Emotions:The seven Emotions are Excessive happiness, anger, worry, pensiveness, sadness, fear, and anxiety. They are linked with five element system of correspondences.

Worry and Sadness - Metal element

Fear- water element

Frustration upests the free flowing nature of liver.

These are the normal emotions which can lead to illness if sustained for long period of time.

3. Miscellaneous causes:  These refer to syndromes due to aetiologies that are neither Excesses nor Emotions. Inconsistency in the quantity, quality or time of eating causes indigestion and related diseases. Quality here refres both hygienic level of food and to the traditional classification of foodstuffs as either cold or Hot. Each organ is associated with a corresponding taste in five elements system. Too much of one taste will injure the corresponding Organ.

4. Phlegm: The word phlegm doesnot refer exclusively to the secrections that are coughed up from the Lungs, but also to stagnant fluids in the body. Its formation is due to the dysfunction in the water metabolism. When the water in the body becomes stagnant, it transform into Phlegm. When Phlegm collects in the lungs there is coughing and wheezing with profuse expectoration. When it enters the Stomach there is nausea and vomiting. When it invades the channels local swelling occur.

AYURVEDIC ACUPUNCTURE

Ayurvedic medicine has many different branches, as it is the study of whole body and life. One of these branches is Ayurvedic Acupuncture. This can be termed as an accessory therapy since it was used in conjunction with other forms to effect healing. It belongs more correctly to the branch of surgery.

Ayurvedic surgery in India was extremely advanced. Plastic surgery of the nose was a routine operation during Sushruta's time. Sushruta is the most ancient renowned Ayurvedic surgeon. During those time broken bones were also mended with metal pins in much the same way they are today.

Today there is no doubt that Ayurvedic Acupuncture originated from the practice of using needles in surgery and the knowledge of the pressure points.

Ayurvedic Acupuncture is traditionally termed Bhedan Karma, and is a part of the traditional Indian methods of using pressure points or marmas. These methods are generically reffered to as Marma Chikitsa. There is undeniable connection between Marma Chikitsa and what is today recognized as Acupuncture.

Acupuncture is more correctly termed "NEEDLING" where needles are used to penetrate the skin at strategic points of the body in order to cause a therapeutic effect. The Acupuncture points are positioned along energy channels which connect with major organ and structure of the body.

The needles must be inserted into specific reflex points( marmas) which then cause an internal therapeutic reaction. A system which does not take these points into account is not a true system of acupuncture.

It is unfortunate that many traditional Ayurvedic practices have remained secretive and have all but disappeared from popular usage. Example: There is a system of martial arts in India called Marma Adi (a part of Kalari) which is the secretive and complex art of striking vital pressure points for self-defence purpose. It is still kept quite secret, even in India, and very little information is available today to the West. Marma Adi's secrets were recorded in 72 shastras or ancient books which were written on palm leaf manuscripts and carefully handed.

Likewise, many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and art forms have almost all but disappeared from popular use in India. Ayurvedic Acupuncture and moxibution appear to be two of these system, although once again they are gaining popularity, even if only very gradually.

According to the Ayurvedic principles the Ayurvedic Acupuncture form is termed BHEDAN KARMA (piercing through therapy) and a part of the Suchi Veda or science of needling.

Acupunture-Moxibustion

 Moxibustion- Heating or burning certain areas of the  body with the powdered leaves of the moxa plant ( Latin name: Artemesia Vulgaris).

Acupuncture- This is a form of point injection therapy. ( Latin: Acus- needle; punctura- to penetrate)

Acupuncture- Moxibution is one of the most ancient and characteristic therapeutic techniques of Chinese medicine. Very broadly speaking, the acupuncture technique was from ancient times onwards thought most valuable in both acute and chronic diseases, while moxa was more appropriate in the chronic ones.

Different environments gave rise to different incidences of endemic disease, hence the invention of different therapeutic methods. Thus, moxibustion came mainly from the North, materia medica and pharmacy came from the West, and gymnastics, remidial exercises and massage from the centre. But acupuncture originated in the East, where people suffered greatly from boils and carbuncles.

Acupuncture is a system of therapy which has been in constant use throughout chinese culture area for some four and a half thousand years; and the labours of a multitude of devoted men and women, through the centuries, have given it a highly developed doctrine and a set of rules to carry out the clinical practice.