Foundations Of Acupuncture
Expert-defined terms from the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care (United Kingdom) course at HealthCareStudies (An LSPM brand). Free to read, free to share, paired with a professional course.
Acupuncture Point #
an anatomical location on the body where a needle is inserted to stimulate the body's healing processes, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, it is essential to understand the location and function of each point, related terms include trigger points, ashi points, and acupressure points, for example, the LI4 point is commonly used to treat headaches and facial pain, while the LV3 point is used to treat liver and gallbladder issues.
Adaptogenic #
a term used to describe herbs or substances that enhance the body's resistance to stress, in the context of acupuncture, adaptogenic herbs such as ginseng and ashwagandha are used to support the body's energetic balance, related terms include tonic herbs and restorative herbs, for example, ginseng is used to enhance energy and vitality, while ashwagandha is used to reduce stress and anxiety.
Anatomical Location #
the specific location of an acupuncture point on the body, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, it is essential to understand the anatomical location of each point, related terms include topographical location and somatotopic location, for example, the GB21 point is located at the base of the skull, while the LV3 point is located on the dorsum of the foot.
Ashi Point #
a type of acupuncture point that is tender to the touch, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, ashi points are used to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues, related terms include trigger points and ahshi points, for example, the ashi point on the shoulder is used to treat shoulder tension and strain.
Auricular Acupuncture #
a type of acupuncture that involves the stimulation of points on the ear, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, auricular acupuncture is used to treat a range of health issues, including pain and addiction, related terms include ear acupuncture and auriculotherapy, for example, the zero point on the ear is used to treat withdrawal symptoms, while the kidney point is used to treat kidney issues.
Ayurvedic Medicine #
a system of medicine that originated in India, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, ayurvedic medicine is used to understand the energetic balance of the body, related terms include dosha and prakriti, for example, the vata dosha is associated with air and ether, while the pitta dosha is associated with fire and water.
Blood Stasis #
a term used to describe the slowing or blocking of blood flow, in the context of acupuncture, blood stasis is used to diagnose and treat a range of health issues, including pain and inflammation, related terms include blood deficiency and blood excess, for example, the SP6 point is used to treat blood stasis in the lower extremities, while the LI4 point is used to treat blood stasis in the head and face.
Channel Theory #
a concept in acupuncture that describes the flow of qi through the body, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, channel theory is used to understand the energetic balance of the body, related terms include meridian theory and jing luo theory, for example, the lung channel is associated with the respiratory system, while the kidney channel is associated with the urinary system.
Chinese Herbal Medicine #
a system of medicine that uses herbs to treat a range of health issues, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, chinese herbal medicine is used to support the body's energetic balance, related terms include herbal formula and herbal remedy, for example, the ginseng herb is used to enhance energy and vitality, while the licorice herb is used to soothe the stomach and intestines.
Chronic Pain #
a term used to describe long-term pain that lasts for more than three months, in the context of acupuncture, chronic pain is used to diagnose and treat a range of health issues, including musculoskeletal and neurological disorders, related terms include acute pain and subacute pain, for example, the LI4 point is used to treat chronic headaches, while the LV3 point is used to treat chronic lower back pain.
Circadian Rhythm #
a term used to describe the internal clock that regulates the body's physiological processes, in the context of acupuncture, circadian rhythm is used to understand the energetic balance of the body, related terms include diurnal cycle and circadian cycles, for example, the kidney channel is associated with the water element and the circadian rhythm, while the heart channel is associated with the fire element and the circadian rhythm.
Clinical Trials #
a type of research study that is used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a treatment, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, clinical trials are used to investigate the effects of acupuncture on cancer treatment, related terms include randomized controlled trial and cohort study, for example, a clinical trial may be used to investigate the effects of acupuncture on nausea and vomiting in cancer patients.
Cold Syndrome #
a term used to describe a pattern of disharmony that is characterized by cold and damp energies, in the context of acupuncture, cold syndrome is used to diagnose and treat a range of health issues, including respiratory and digestive disorders, related terms include heat syndrome and damp syndrome, for example, the LU5 point is used to treat cold syndrome in the lung, while the SP6 point is used to treat cold syndrome in the spleen.
Contraindication #
a term used to describe a condition or situation in which a treatment should not be used, in the context of acupuncture, contraindication is used to identify risks and complications associated with acupuncture treatment, related terms include caution and precaution, for example, pregnancy is a contraindication for acupuncture treatment in certain points, while bleeding disorders are a contraindication for acupuncture treatment in certain points.
Deficiency Pattern #
a term used to describe a pattern of disharmony that is characterized by a lack or deficiency of energetic resources, in the context of acupuncture, deficiency pattern is used to diagnose and treat a range of health issues, including fatigue and weakness, related terms include excess pattern and stagnation pattern, for example, the SP6 point is used to treat deficiency pattern in the spleen, while the LI4 point is used to treat deficiency pattern in the large intestine.
Damp Syndrome #
a term used to describe a pattern of disharmony that is characterized by damp and cold energies, in the context of acupuncture, damp syndrome is used to diagnose and treat a range of health issues, including respiratory and digestive disorders, related terms include heat syndrome and cold syndrome, for example, the LU5 point is used to treat damp syndrome in the lung, while the SP6 point is used to treat damp syndrome in the spleen.
Diagnostic Techniques #
a term used to describe the methods used to diagnose and assess a patient's condition, in the context of acupuncture, diagnostic techniques include pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, and abdominal diagnosis, related terms include physical examination and medical history, for example, pulse diagnosis is used to assess the quality of the pulse, while tongue diagnosis is used to assess the color and shape of the tongue.
Dry Needling #
a term used to describe a treatment that involves the insertion of a needle into a muscle or tendon to stimulate healing, in the context of acupuncture, dry needling is used to treat a range of musculoskeletal issues, including pain and inflammation, related terms include intramuscular stimulation and percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, for example, dry needling is used to treat shoulder tension and knee pain.
Electroacupuncture #
a term used to describe a treatment that involves the use of a small electrical current to stimulate acupuncture points, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, electroacupuncture is used to treat a range of health issues, including pain and nausea, related terms include percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, for example, electroacupuncture is used to treat chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.
Element Theory #
a concept in acupuncture that describes the relationship between the five elements and the human body, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, element theory is used to understand the energetic balance of the body, related terms include five element theory and wu xing theory, for example, the wood element is associated with the liver and gallbladder, while the fire element is associated with the heart and small intestine.
Excess Pattern #
a term used to describe a pattern of disharmony that is characterized by an excess or overabundance of energetic resources, in the context of acupuncture, excess pattern is used to diagnose and treat a range of health issues, including inflammation and irritation, related terms include deficiency pattern and stagnation pattern, for example, the LI4 point is used to treat excess pattern in the large intestine, while the LV3 point is used to treat excess pattern in the liver and gallbladder.
Five Element Theory #
a concept in acupuncture that describes the relationship between the five elements and the human body, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, five element theory is used to understand the energetic balance of the body, related terms include element theory and wu xing theory, for example, the wood element is associated with the liver and gallbladder, while the fire element is associated with the heart and small intestine.
Gallbladder Channel #
a term used to describe the pathway through which the gallbladder meridian flows, in the context of acupuncture, the gallbladder channel is used to treat a range of health issues, including digestive and musculoskeletal disorders, related terms include liver channel and triple heater channel, for example, the GB21 point is used to treat tension headaches and neck pain, while the GB30 point is used to treat lower back pain and sciatica.
Heat Syndrome #
a term used to describe a pattern of disharmony that is characterized by heat and inflammation, in the context of acupuncture, heat syndrome is used to diagnose and treat a range of health issues, including infectious and inflammatory disorders, related terms include cold syndrome and damp syndrome, for example, the LI4 point is used to treat heat syndrome in the large intestine, while the LV3 point is used to treat heat syndrome in the liver and gallbladder.
Herbal Medicine #
a system of medicine that uses herbs to treat a range of health issues, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, herbal medicine is used to support the body's energetic balance, related terms include chinese herbal medicine and western herbal medicine, for example, the ginseng herb is used to enhance energy and vitality, while the licorice herb is used to soothe the stomach and intestines.
Holistic Medicine #
a system of medicine that integrates the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person's health, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, holistic medicine is used to understand the complex interactions between the body, mind, and spirit, related terms include integrative medicine and complementary medicine, for example, acupuncture is a form of holistic medicine that is used to treat a range of health issues, including pain and stress.
Integrative Cancer Care #
a term used to describe the integration of conventional and complementary therapies in the treatment of cancer, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, integrative cancer care is used to enhance the quality of life and survival of cancer patients, related terms include complementary therapy and alternative therapy, for example, acupuncture is a form of integrative cancer care that is used to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer patients.
Jing Luo Theory #
a concept in acupuncture that describes the pathway through which the meridians flow, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, jing luo theory is used to understand the energetic balance of the body, related terms include channel theory and meridian theory, for example, the lung channel is associated with the respiratory system, while the kidney channel is associated with the urinary system.
Large Intestine Channel #
a term used to describe the pathway through which the large intestine meridian flows, in the context of acupuncture, the large intestine channel is used to treat a range of health issues, including digestive and respiratory disorders, related terms include lung channel and stomach channel, for example, the LI4 point is used to treat facial pain and headaches, while the LI10 point is used to treat elbow pain and wrist pain.
Liver Channel #
a term used to describe the pathway through which the liver meridian flows, in the context of acupuncture, the liver channel is used to treat a range of health issues, including digestive and musculoskeletal disorders, related terms include gallbladder channel and pericardium channel, for example, the LV3 point is used to treat lower back pain and sciatica, while the LV8 point is used to treat genital issues and urinary issues.
Lung Channel #
a term used to describe the pathway through which the lung meridian flows, in the context of acupuncture, the lung channel is used to treat a range of health issues, including respiratory and skin disorders, related terms include large intestine channel and heart channel, for example, the LU5 point is used to treat cough and shortness of breath, while the LU9 point is used to treat wrist pain and finger pain.
Marrow #
a term used to describe the spongy tissue inside the bones that produces blood cells, in the context of acupuncture, marrow is used to describe the energetic substance that nourishes the body, related terms include kidney jing and bone marrow, for example, the BL11 point is used to tonify the kidney jing and bone marrow.
Meridian Theory #
a concept in acupuncture that describes the pathway through which the meridians flow, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, meridian theory is used to understand the energetic balance of the body, related terms include channel theory and jing luo theory, for example, the lung channel is associated with the respiratory system, while the kidney channel is associated with the urinary system.
Mind #
Body Medicine: a system of medicine that integrates the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person's health, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, mind-body medicine is used to enhance the quality of life and survival of cancer patients, related terms include holistic medicine and integrative medicine, for example, acupuncture is a form of mind-body medicine that is used to treat stress and anxiety in cancer patients.
Moxibustion #
a term used to describe a treatment that involves the burning of herbs to warm and stimulate the body, in the context of acupuncture, moxibustion is used to treat a range of health issues, including digestive and musculoskeletal disorders, related terms include acupuncture and cupping, for example, moxibustion is used to treat cold syndrome and damp syndrome.
Needling Technique #
a term used to describe the method of inserting a needle into the skin to stimulate an acupuncture point, in the context of acupuncture, needling technique is used to enhance the effects of acupuncture treatment, related terms include insertion technique and manipulation technique, for example, the needle is inserted at a specific angle and depth to stimulate the acupuncture point.
Nei Jing #
a term used to describe the classic text of acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, nei jing is used to understand the principles and practices of acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine, related terms include huangdi nei jing and yellow emperor, for example, the nei jing describes the meridians and acupuncture points, as well as the diagnostic and treatment principles of acupuncture.
Nervous System #
a term used to describe the complex system of nerves that controls the body's functions, in the context of acupuncture, the nervous system is used to understand the mechanisms of acupuncture treatment, related terms include central nervous system and peripheral nervous system, for example, the nervous system is stimulated by the insertion of needles into acupuncture points.
Nutrition #
a term used to describe the process of nourishing the body with food and nutrients, in the context of the Certificate Programme in Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Care, nutrition is used to support the body's energetic balance,