Acupuncture, The Classical Chinese Medic

Prof Dr Nik Omar and Dr Faridah are  one of the poineer in Chinese Acupuncture among the Malays in Malaysia. He is the director of Research Institute of Medical Acupuncture - RIMAc, The Faculty of Homeopathy Malaysia . He is a qualified acupuncturist and one of the best acupuncture specilaist in this region. He developed a special technique ' How To Study Acupuncture - The Easy Way' including clinical training at his own hospital at Kelantan.

With 11.5 acres of land compound, perhaps this is the biggest Acupuncture Complexs in Asia

Photo: Prof Sir Nik Omar and Dr faridah while study in China, Posing at Great Wall of China

Acupuncture History

Acupuncture has clearly recorded history of about 2,000 years, but some authorities claim that it has been practised in China for more than 4,000 years. The Chinese believe that the practice of acupuncture began during the Stone Age when stone knives or sharp edged tools, described by the character ' bian', were used to puncture and drain abscesses. In fact the Chinese character 'bian' menas the use of sharp edged stone to treat diseases.

In modern terms, 'acu' - means sharp object while 'punctura' is to prick, which means ' to prick with a needle'

Acupuncture Needles

As Acupuncture developed, the bian stones were discarded and needle of stone and pottery were used. These simple, primitive needles are still used in some of the rural areas of China. Eventually metal needles began to appear and these took the form of the classical 'nine needle'. The nine needles comprised the arrowhead needle for superior pricking, the round needle for massaging, the blunt needle for knocking or pressing, the three edged needle for puncturing the vein, the sword-like needle for draining abscesses, the sharp round needle for rapid pricking, the filliform needle, the long needle for thick muscles and large needle for puncturing painful joints.

Tha main needle now used among acupuncturists throughout the world are disposable stainless steel filliform needle as most of the others have been replaced by more sophisticated surgical instruments, for instance, the sword-like needle has been replaced by the scapel.

The nine needles were intitially made of either bronze or gold and silver, and seem to have been first used about 2,000 yaers ago. The tomb of the Prince of Chungshan, dating from second century BC, was excavated in 1968 and contained a set of nine needles, four being of gold and five of silver. Some acupuncturist use gold and silver needles but the majority only uses stianless steel filliform needles as it is very easy available.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion is part of acupuncture where the moxa leaves were burn at the tip of acupuncture needles to give more stimulation. It is moslt used by the Chinese and produced a chock smell. It is made from the dried leaves 'Artemisia Vulgaris" and the Chinese believe that the older the moxa, the better its therapeutic properties. The moxibustion technique used to provide local heat over acupuncture points.  The are certain areas in acupuncture where moxibustion are prohibited.

Moxa can be used in a variety of ways. loose moxa is made into cone and burnt on the skin, the cone then being removed when it is half burnt, to avoid blistering. It may also be burnt on ginger or garlic so that the skin is isolated from extreme heat, or a moxa stick may be used and burnt a centimeter or two away from the skin.