rev.5/16/04 1 Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) Background/Overview/Definition Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) dates back more than 2500 years, featured prominantly in the earliest of Chinese texts. The primary treatment modalities used in AOM are acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, moxibustion, and cupping. This system of medical practice is also sometimes referred to as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The philosophy of AOM is centered on the need to restore a balance of energy in the body to stay healthy. Three energeticconcepts which are considered critical are Yin- Yang, Qi (pronounced “chee”), and the Five Elements. Yin-Yang: The forces of Yin and Yang coexist in the body. Yin is considered a cold and moist energy force, whereas Yang is considered its opposite (hot and dry). AOM practitioners work to correct imbalances between Yin and Yang in the body, looking for signs of such imbalance, such as too much heat or to much damp, to guide therapy. Qi: Qi is best thought of as vital life energy. When one is sick or injured, one’s Qi is considered to be imbalanced. The Qi runs along 12 major channels or meridians within the body. These channels can become blocked in illness or injury. A major focus of therapy in AOM is to try to improve the flow of Qi. An imbalance of Yin and Yang results in an obstruction of the vital life force, or Qi, within the meridians or channels. Acupuncture is designed to affect the distribution of Yin and Yang in these pathways so that the Qi can flow more freely. Five Elements: An additional complex set of inter-relationships within the body is the Five Elements (water, fire, wood, metal, and earth)....
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