传统中医疗法:针灸
Traditional Chinese medicine
Zhenjiu is the combined name of acupuncture and moxibustion.Acupuncture is the practice ofinserting needles into the skin to alleviate physicalpain as well as some mental and emotional conditions.Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy where dried plants are burned on or very near the skin.
These two methods were often practiced together in ancient China.However,today burning is no longer used due to safety reasons,and so,Zhenjiu isunderstood as just acupuncture alone.
Acupuncture originated in China more than 2,000 years ago.Balance in the body was said to be at the heart of what made acupuncture so effective.It is said that qi or a person's "life force" flowed through the body via pathways called "meridians'.People believed that illness and pain was a result of these pathways being blocked.Acupuncture was said to help restore the flow of qi through the body.
The channels through which“qiflowsfrom the organs to tissues are calledmeridians,and it is along the meridianswhere most acupuncture needle points arelocated.In other words, the needles workby repairing damages to the infrastructureof our bodies, to ensure that the life forceenergy of“qican flow smoothly.
Although acupuncture by itself isinsufficient to cure all illnesses, at least itcreates a good starting point to build ahealthy body.
In more recent times, acupuncture spread internationally. In the UK, more than 3000 acupuncturists certified by the British Acupuncture Council are currently practicing.London Southbank University now offers a three-year undergraduate degree in acupuncture,and even the NHS(National Health Service) sometimes prescribe acupuncture treatment. Growing global acceptance has proved the strength of acupuncture.
针灸是针法和灸法的统称。针法是用针扎进皮肤来缓解身体上的痛苦，并改善精神状态。灸法是一种热疗法用艾绒直接或间接对皮肤进行熏灼。
在古代中国，这两种方法常常一起使用。但是出于安全考虑，今天人们已经不再使用艾灸，所以针灸现在只指针法。
针灸起源于2000多年前的中国。保持人体“气”的平衡是针灸的核心作用。“气”或者说一个人的“息”通过经络在全身流动。当经络不通，人就容易生病。针灸有助于恢复“气”的畅通。
“气”从器官流动到组织的通道称为经络，针灸的位置主要就是沿着这些经络。换句话说，针的作用就是修复我们身体根基的损伤，确保“气”这种生命能量能够顺畅地流动。
虽然针灸本身不足以治愈所有疾病，但至少它为塑造健康体魄打下了一个良好基础。
近期，针灸在国际上广泛传播。在英国，就有3000多名经英国针灸理事会认证的针灸师执业。伦敦南岸大学目前还提供了针灸三年制本科学位，甚至连英国国民医疗服务体系(NHS)有时也会采用针灸疗法。越来越高的全球接受度证明了针灸的力量。