Illuminated Body: The Medical Museum: University of Iowa Health Care

The Illuminated Body: Representation in Medicine and Culture

Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine has existed for thousands of years and teaches that the body, like all of nature, contains opposite forces known as yin and yang. According to Chinese philosophy, people are healthy when the relationship between yin and yang is balanced but become ill when yin (characterized as feminine, passive, cold, dark and moist) falls out of balance with yang (masculine, active, warm, light and dry). Classic theory holds that acupuncture restores harmony by altering qi (pronounced "chee") - the vital source of movement between yin and yang. Qi flows through the body's fourteen meridians, which channel energy to all the organs and systems. Along these meridians are 361 acupoints, at which the insertion of needles - or the application of heat or pressure - can alter the flow of qi.

In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States. The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being "widely" practiced--by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners--for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions.1 According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey--the largest and most comprehensive survey of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by American adults to date--an estimated 8.2 million U.S. adults had ever used acupuncture, and an estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture in the previous year.2

The Harvard Health Letter. August, 1993, President and Fellows of Harvard College Acupuncture Ear
Meridians, seen as the lines on the ear, are thought to be the channels of energy through which the yin and yang travel. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine use objects such as this ear as reference tools. There are 361 points along the fourteen meridians that traverse the body, each relating to a particular organ. Every illness, weakness and symptom is thought to be responsive to correction by acupuncture.

Courtesy of the East West Center Oriental Health Therapeutics, Iowa City, Iowa

Acupuncture Doll

Courtesy of the World Health Organization

Acupuncture Charts

Courtesy of the East West Center Oriental Health Therapeutics, Iowa City, Iowa

Medicinal Herbs
Herbal remedies are another way to treat imbalances in the body. They are usually selected for their action upon the flow of yin and yang along particular meridians. According to practitioners and their clients, they produce satisfactory results while being readily available at a low cost, and side effects are minimal.

Courtesy of the East West Center Oriental Health Therapeutics, Iowa City, Iowa

Acupuncture Needles
The needles used in acupuncture are the means by which messages are sent along the meridians in the body. When the practitioner inserts the acupuncture needles at specific points, the needles regulate the flow of yin and yang along the meridians. The needles are then removed and the healer uses slight pressure and massage to close the virtually invisible pin pricks. The insertion of acupuncture needles is usually painless.

Courtesy of the East West Center Oriental Health Therapeutics, Iowa City, Iowa

Acupuncture Analgesia
This type of procedure produces an absence of pain sensation, but does not affect temperature sensitivity, touch and pressure. The needle is manipulated up and down throughout the procedure.

Courtesy of the World Health Organization

Last modification date: Wed Feb 21 09:27:24 2007
URL: http://www.uihealthcare.com /depts/medmuseum/galleryexhibits/illuminatedbody/chinese/chinesemed.html