The Complete Idiot's Guide to Acupuncture and Acupressure

Table of Contents

I. FROM MYSTERY TO MIRACLES.

1. What Are Acupuncture and Acupressure, and How Do They Work?

What Are Acupuncture and Acupressure? Energy Channels: Go with the Flow. Acu-Points: Mini but Mighty. Finding Your Points-Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

Anatomy: The Thigh Bone's Connected to the… Finger Measurements: Let Your Fingers Do the Walking.

How Does It Work-The Key to the Qi.

Bioelectric Flow: What's the Buzz All About? Biomagnetic Flow Pulls You to the Point.

Different Yet the Same.

Healthcare Versus Self-Care.

2. What to Expect on Your First Visit-Does It Hurt?

Looking: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall.

Tongue Diagnosis: Open Wide and Say “Aaah!”

Your Pulse: Feel the Beat. Listening and Asking: The Hidden Arts. Smelling: Pass the Perfume. Physical Exam: Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Check Your Channels. Abdomen: The Bounty of the Belly.

Is This Safe?

Acupressure: Press Safely! Acupuncture: The Safer the Better.

Your Treatment: Relax and Enjoy.

The Power of Pleasing Pressure. Acupuncture: The Painless Truth.

3. The Origins of Oriental Medicine.

Acupuncture: The Ancient Art. Types of Acupressure: Choices, Choices, and More Choices.

Shiatsu. Reflexology: Foot Geology.

Types of Acupuncture: More Pointy Choices.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Five-Element Tradition: Wooden You Like to Know. Japanese Acupuncture.

It's an Acu-World After All.

4. Acupressure-Fingers, Hands, and a Whole Lot More.

From Fingers to Feet-Using Your Body to Heal.

Fingers and Palms…Hold On! Feet: Please Tread on Me.

Pressure on the Point-How Hard Do You Push?

Three Types of Pressure.

Common Acupressure Techniques-Shake, Rattle, and Roll.

5. Acupuncture-Tools of the Trade.

Needles: When Size Does Matter.

Needle Knowledge.

Moxibustion-A Real Warm-Up.

Moxibustion: The Cherry on Top.

Cupping: Trying to Horn In.

Cupping Comments.

Massage and Exercise: Movin', Movin', Movin'.

Tui-Na: Push Me, Pull You. Medical Qi Gong-It's a Bird, It's a Crane, It's You!

Magnets: What's the Attraction? Nutrition: Heal with the Energy of Food.

The Healing Power of Food.

Herbal Medicine-Plants Plus.

6. How You Get Sick-The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Yin and Yang-the Great Balancing Act. Qi and Blood: Building Blocks of Health. The Dreaded Excesses: Too Much, Too Fast.

The Bothersome Barometer.

The Directions of Disease: Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

The Eight Directions: Which Way Did He Go?

II. STOP THE PAIN DRAIN.

7. Pain from the Neck Up.

Headaches: Riot on the Rooftop!

Serious Sinus Relief. Pressure Points to Take the Ache Out.

Dental Pain: Page the Tooth Fairy.

Gentle Dental Acu-Points.

Neck Pain: Release the Weight of the World.

Stop the Neck Wreck.

Fibromyalgia: Tired of Being Sick and Tired. Render Tender Points Painless.

8. Keeping Pain at Arm's Length.

Bursitis: The Cursa the Bursa.

Shoulder Bursitis: Play Ball (Again!). Move It or Lose It.

Tennis Elbow: The Gripes of the Grip.

Acupressure: The Match Points.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: The Mouse That Made You Roar.

Trouble in the Tunnel. The Terminator in the Tunnel: Acupuncture on the Scene. I'll Be Back: Acupressure Stretch and Press.

Arthritis: Speakin' of the Creakin'.

Causes of the Creakin'. Oriental Aids for Arthritis.

9. Pain Below the Belt.

Oh, My Aching Back. Sciatica: The Nerve of It.

Elbow Your Pain Out of the Way.

Knee Pain: What's the Deal with Your Kneel? Capping Off Knee Pain. Plantar Fasciitis: A Step in the Right Direction.

Electro-Auricular: I Hear It's All in the Ear.

10. Injuries-Taking the Ouch out of the Oops.

Motor Vehicle Accidents: Putting the Brakes on Pain. End the Backlash of Whiplash. Slips and Falls: Stop Pain from Falling Through the Cracks. Sports-No Guts, No Glory. Work: Beyond the Job Description.

Ergonomics-Getting the Right Position.

11. Nervous About Nerve Pain?

Bell's Palsy: For a Winning Smile. Multiple Sclerosis: A Nervous Situation.

Lighten the Load of Your Legs with Acupuncture.

Shingles: Not Just on Your Roof. Stroke: A One-Sided Issue.

Stroke: Are You at Risk? The Oriental View.

Trigeminal Neuralgia: Facing Your Pain.

Help with Acupuncture.

III. RESPIRATION, PERSPIRATION, AND MENSTRUATION.

12. Respiration-A Breath of Fresh Air.

Allergies: Aahh-Choo!

Put a Close to the Runny Nose. Acupressure: Keys to End the Sneeze.

Asthma: Ease the Wheeze.

Common Asthma Triggers. Take a Deep Breath with Acu-Points.

Bronchitis: Quit the Cough.

Points to Cut Off the Cough. Nutrients to Neutralize Mucus.

13. Colds-Nosing Around for Better Health.

Colds: Clearing a Common Condition.

Oriental Medicine Calms the Cold.

Cough: Expectorating to Feel Better.

Acu-Points: Breathe a Sign of Relief.

Nasal Congestion: Had Enough of the Stuff? Sinusitis: Inflammation in a Hidden Station.

Acu-Pros Clear Your Nose.

14. Childhood Conditions-Pass the Owner's Manual.

Colic: The Bubble That Just Won't Burst.

Back Off the Gas: Foods to Avoid. Colic Massage: Rub a Dub Dub.

Pediatric Asthma: Silence Is Golden.

Trigger Checklist. Oriental Medicine's Answer to Asthma. Infant Massage for Asthma.

Diarrhea: Squirts for the Squirts.

Nutritional Support: Awful Dophilus and More. Add Just a Pinch: Pediatric Back Massage.

Ear Infections: The Fear Not to Hear.

Ending the Cycle of Ear Infections: Stopping the Drama.

Vomiting of Milk.

Determined Digestion: What Goes Down Can Stay Down.

15. Cancer-A Ray of Hope.

Cancer: The Conventional View.

Defining Your Cancer.

Acupuncture: Improving Your Quality of Life.

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting. Pain, Pain, Go Away. Boosting Your Immune System.

Healing Hands: Acupressure and Reflexology. Chinese Herbal Medicine.

16. Birthing Baby.

Female Infertility: The Obstruction to Reproduction.

Improving the Odds with Oriental Medicine. Acu-Points to Clear the Way.

Morning Sickness: Easy to Be Queasy.

Acu-Points to Bring Back Your Appetite.

Childbirth: The Joy of Giving.

Acu-Points to Help You Pop.

Bounce Back from Giving Birth.

Part with Postpartum Depression.

17. The Disappointment Down Under.

PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome).

Foods to Get You Back in the Saddle: The PMS Diet. Ready, Aim, Press These Points for PMS.

Painful Periods: Dissing Dysmenorrhea.

Oriental Medicine Helps the Flow Go.

Menopause: The Hormonal Hostage.

Press Acu-Points to Pause Your Menopause.

IV. SILENT SUFFERERS.

18. Female Frustrations.

Endometriosis: Oh, the Tangled Webs We Weave.

Endo Risks and Symptoms: Could This Be You? Edging Out Endo: Acu-Points Plus.

Ovarian Cysts and Uterine Fibroids: Double Trouble.

Acu-Points to Block the Bleeding.

Bladder Infections: Say Goodbye to UTI.

Risk Factors: Keeping an Eye on the UTI. Acu-Points: Concerning Your Burning.

19. Gastrointestinal Conditions-A Glitch in Your Gut.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Moving Experience.

Acu-Points for Bothersome Bowels.

Constipation: Ready, Set, No Go!

Acu-Pros Hasten to Relieve Constipation.

Diarrhea: Runs for Your Life!

Acu-Points to Slow the Flow.

Indigestion: It's Easy to Be Queasy.

Tips to End Indigestion. Acu-Points: Get a Break from Your Stomachache.

20. Skin-The Purpose of the Surface.

Eczema: Ditch the Itch.

Oriental Medicine Makes the Connection.

Facelifts: An Uplifting Experience.

Acu-Facelift.

21. Stress-Notions and Emotions.

Stress: Burning the Candle at Both Ends.

The Stress Show: Your Price of Admission. Had Enough? Let Go of Stress.

Worry: Who, Me?

Acu-Pros Relieve the Worry Wart.

Depression: Leaving the Black Hole Behind.

Depression Checklist: Are You at Risk? Lifting Your Spirits with Acu-Points.

Anxiety: A New Dimension in Apprehension.

Anxiety Checklist. Hold Down Anxiety with Oriental Medicine.

22. Driving Your Qi: The Passing, Middle, or Breakdown Lane.

The Sobering Facts on Alcoholism. Acupuncture and Addiction.

HIV/AIDS: A Helping Hand for the Immune System.

Oriental Medicine Manages the Immune System.

Hypertension: The Pressure's On.

Acu-Points to Let the Steam Out.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome…or Just Plain Tired.

Chronic Fatigue Checklist. Acu-Points to Relieve the Fatigue.

23. Balancing Your Qi-Too Much Here, Not Enough There.

Insomnia: Cruisin' for a Snoozin'.

Acu-Points to Soothe You to Sleep. Better Sleep Checklist.

Raynaud's Phenomenon: When the Cold Gets Old.

Remedies for the Extremities: The Oriental Medical Viewpoint.

Tinnitus: The Ring You Can't Answer.

Turn On Your Acu-Points, Shut Off the Ringer.

Weight Management: Motorize Your Metabolism.

Acu-Points for Better Digestion and Food Cravings.

The New Truth About Exercise.

V. THE HOME STRETCH.

24. Expectations-Am I Better Yet?

The Natural Healing Process. How Acu-Points Help.

Limitations: How Far Can You Go?

Time and Patience: Hard Medicine to Swallow. How to Tell If You're Better: Did It Work?

25. Building a Winning Team.

Choosing Your Acu-Pro: A Needle in a Haystack. Informing Your Physician: What's Up, Doc? Do You Need More Help? Getting the Support You Need: A Family Affair.

Support Groups Make a Difference.

26. And Then There Was You-Taking Charge.

Responsibility: A New Point of View. Lifestyle: It's All in Your Hands.

Healthful Lifestyle Tips.

Fun and Laughter: Remember Us? Balance and Peace of Mind.

VI. APPENDIXES.

A. Glossary.

B. Further Reading.

C. Insurance Coverage.

D. State and National Organizations.

E. Acupuncture Schools.