General Chat

A nerve is a pathway composed of neurons, a special type of biological cell which is the unit of which the nervous systems of all animals are composed. A nerve cell consists of a nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm from which thread-like fibres project from the brain or spinal columns to all parts of the body.

The matter from which biological cells is formed is called protoplasm. In most neurones, electromagnetic impulses are received by numerous short fibre-like structures called dendrites and carried away from the cell by a single long fibre called an axon. Transfer of impulses from neurone to neurone takes place at junctions between axons and dendrites called synapses.

Of course, the ancient Chinese and Indians didn’t know this but seemed to have a fair idea and called this flow of energy quaint names such as chi or qi. Traditional yin/yang, medical and Western types of acupuncture use the same methods and puncture points but have different philosophies which, perhaps, indicates that they know it works but don’t know how. In Western medical views today, it should not work but does .

Another form of treatment, based on the same knowledge, is acupuncture and this originates with the ancient Chinese, using very fine needles inserted, without discomfort, along the pathways of energy of which there are 14 main ones across the human body with some 365 points acupuncture. Acupuncture needles have been found in archaeological digs from 1,000 BC and in 4th century AD medical texts. They believed that illness was often the result of emotional distress and could only be alleviated by treatment of the emotional disorder or stress.

Western thought is coming round to much the same idea and realising that stress or undue emotion reduces the effectiveness of the auto-immune system.

Other variations of the treatment include using a mild electric current with special needles or equipment. We will not go into reflexology, auriculotherapy etc. Western medical research has conceded that acupuncture is effective in treating many illnesses including asthma, depression, arthritis migraines, high blood-pressure, gynaecological disorders and many more that do not respond to conventional medicines hence referral to the NHS is now possible.