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Microcosms in Oriental Medicine
Oriental Medicine is based on the philosophy of human body as microcosm within the macrocosm of nature and wellnese as harmony with laws of the Universe. The concept of microcosm is not limited to acupuncture but also in other modalities such as reflexology,Shiatsu, etc. In Oriental Medicine, diagnostic methods include observing and/or palpating of various body parts. Some of the organ/body parts considered as microcosm include: eyes, ears, hara/abdomen, hands, (soles of) feet, scalp, etc.
See article: Microacupuncture Systems As Fractals Of The Human Body byVadim Bouevitch, MD, Medical Acupuncture Vol. 14, #2
Below are the main microcosms used in acupuncture:
Ear
It was recorded in Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng (黃帝內經) Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, that all six Yang meridians (陽經) connect directly to the ear. Only the Yang meridian channels transverse superficially to and from the head and the six Yin meridians (陰經) connect their respective Yang meridians at the ear. However, the ancient Chinese ear acupuncture points were not arranged in an anatomically organized pattern. Reactive ear acupoints that were tender to palpation were referred as Yang alarm points.
Auricle/ear therapy took new directions after Dr. Paul Nogier, a French physician presented his observations of the somatotopic correspondence of the auricle in 1957. He developed the proposition after noticing scars on the ears of patients who had been successfully treated for sciatic pain. Subsequently, much systematic researches were conducted on ear reflex points. In particular, Dr. Terry Oleson conducted pioneering research on auricular diagnosis and auriculotherapy at the UCLA Pain Management Center in Los Angeles with the cumulation of his works published as Auriculotherapy Manual and the establishment of Auriculotherapy Certificate Institute.
Today, there are four systems of auricular points: Chinese, French, European and WHO documented in the Auriculotherapy Manual. NADA protocol, a set of auricle points in auriculotherapy specifically applied for substance abuse detoxification is used in rehabilitation centers internationally and legally accepted in many drug courts in USA. Auricular acupuncture is currently used in the US Army as part of battlefield acupuncture. According to Air Force acupuncturist, Colonel (Dr.) Richard Niemtzow, battlefield acupuncture focuses on locations on the ear that have been known for hundreds of years as effective areas for pain control (see Pentagon Brief, 1,April, 2008.)
Auriculotherapy Certification Institute
National Acupuncture Detoxification Association
Frequently Asked Questions from Terry Oleson's site
Hara
Palpation is one of the major diagnostic methods of Chinese medicine. Palpating the mu points on the abdomen is the basis of hara or abdominal diagnosis. Hara palpation was documented in Oriental Medicine classic texts Nan Jing (難經) Classic of Difficulty.
The Japanese physicians have developed hara diagnosis most extensively. In late 17th century, there were acupuncture schools for the blind practitioner in Japan, with emphasis on tactile and palpational techniques rather than emphasis on theory. Point location was by palpation as experience noted points varied along the meridians and were not totally stationary by anatomic location, even in one individual. The emphasis was not on "the diagnosis," but on observation of the physical aspects of the body such as the abdominal patterns, often concurrently with painless skilful needing such that the diagnosis and treatment were intertwined. Built-in tests such as the O-ring, Akabane, and Fukushin were used to allow correct balancing of meridians. Intuition and sensitivity of the practitioners and good patient rapport was prime important. In the mid-18th century, Todo Yoshimasu (1702-1773) revived the ancient technique of fukushin, or abdominal palpation diagnosis.
Together with pulse diagnosis, hara palpation plays an important role in Japanese meridian therapy as well as the Japanese Kampo herbal prescription that are integral part of the medicine system in Japan.
Japanese Acupuncture: Blind Acupuncturists, Insertion Tubes, Abdominal Diagnosis, and the Benten Goddess by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon
Hara Diagnosis: Reflections on the Sea by Kiiko Matsumoto, Stephen Birch
Scalp
Scalp as a microsystem was developed much later. Today Scalp acupuncture is not a single system, but a a multiplicity of systems still in development both by the Chinese (Zhu) & the Japanese (YNSA), with a 30+-year history of practical experience.
During the 1970’s, attempts were made to develop scalp acupuncture as a complete acupuncture system. However three major contributors to the development of this system, Jiao Shunfa, Fang Yunpeng, and Tang Songyan, each proposed different diagrams and groupings of scalp acupuncture points.
A standard of nomenclature for acupuncture points has been developed (adopted in 1984 and reconfirmed in 1989), based on a combination of the thoughts of the different schools of scalp acupuncture. However, a unified pattern has yet been adopted.
In the US, Prof. Zhu Mingqing (who migrated from Beijing to the U.S.) has developed a popular version of scalp acupuncture. In recent years, Zhu’s scalp acupuncture has been a craze in Japan, America, and China. As a school of scalp acupuncture therapy, Zhu’s method is actually derived from the standard scheme [adopted in China] and based on the clinical experience of Zhu Mingqing. Dr. Zhu traces the origins of modern scalp acupuncture to the work of Huang Xuelong, who in 1935 introduced the concept that there is a relationship between the scalp and the cerebral cortex.
Since coming to the U.S., Zhu made progress with the establishment of the Chinese Scalp Acupuncture Center of the U.S.A. in San Francisco in 1991 and the credential to provide treatments for several neurological disorders at Zhu's Acupuncture Medical & Neurology Center, in San Jose, California
Dr. Toshikatsu Yamamoto of Nishinan, Japan, founded and developed a new form of acupuncture in 1970 while working in a small hospital in South Japan (Nishinan). It was first reported at the 25th annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Ryodoraku in Osaka, Japan, in 1973. To distinguish his method from the earlier Chinese Scalp acupuncture, he added the word NEW after his name.
A further development of the YNSA was discovered by the AITNA-YNSA Germany (Ansbach Institute for Transcranial Neuroacupuncture). The AITNA-YNSA Germany discovered that the chin and cheek somatotopes exist in both the Yin and Yang form. This was the logical continuation of the YNSA system.
This micro acupuncture system is different from traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese scalp acupuncture. It is both a diagnostic and interactive treatment system in relieving both somatic and visceral pain problems, as well as balancing Qi.
YNSA provides a sophisticated diagnostic method and an immediate feedback after correctly placing the acupuncture needles or other transactional stimulation procedures such as s-c injection of normal saline, xylocaine, electrical stimulation, local pressure or Laser energy. This constant interchange between the probing physician and feedback from the patient’s body enables the practitioner to diagnose and treat a wide variety of clinical problems.
Synopsis of Scalp Acupuncture by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. and Edythe Vickers, N.D., L.Ac., Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, OR
Treatment Of Stroke-Related Motor Impairment By Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA): an open, prospective, topometrically controlled study Toshikatsu Yamamoto,MD Thomas Schockert,MD etc. Medical Acupuncture Vol17, #1
YAMAMOTO NEW SCALP ACUPUNCTURE (YNSA) by Aristarchos Raftis, MD, PhD.
The Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain by Scalp Acupuncture By Jason Jishun Hao, DOM, MTCM, MBA and Linda Lingzhi Hao, DOM, PhD Acupuncture TodaySeptember, 2006, Vol. 07, Issue 09
Hand
Hand as a microcosm is used mainly in Korean Hand Acupuncture. Korean Hand Acupuncture (ERA) was developed by Dr. Tae-Woo-Yoo in 1971. The validity of Dr. Yoo's map was addressed by Dr. M.H. Cho in 1980. A similar approach was carried by Dr. Yasu Mitsuo in Japan, using thermography to objectively demonstrate the warming of the predicted corresponding body parts by either moxibustion or needling at the KHA hand acupoints.
In 1987, Professor Imura of the Japanese Department of Health reported on an experiment treating joint injuries with KHA in the Journal "Ido No Nippon". Treating random points produced a 19.5 % success rate, which may be taken as a measure of the placebo response. But using just the sensitive points in the KHA corresponding areas produced a success rate of 69.5%. It has been demonstrated that the KHA microsystem utilizes a reliable map.
Dr. Yoo believes that the answers must be sought after in the nervous system and the circulatory system. A preliminary experiment showed that moxibustion at specific KHA points could selectively augment the Alpha-2 wave amplitude of an EEG, suggesting the involvement of the brain in mediating effects of KHA.
The Physiological Bases of ACUPUNCTURE MICROSYSTEMS by Peter Eckman, M.D. Medical Acupuncture Fall / Winter1991 - Volume 3 / Number 2
Hand Acupressure Reduces Post-Op Vomiting in Children Acupuncture Today December, 2000, Vol. 01, Issue 12
142 W. Main St
next to Alison Grant law office
LEWISVILLE , TX 75057
ph: 972-821-3562
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