[Info] Acupuncture for Epilepsy

[Cinnabar]

Rae and epileric had been speaking of Chi energy and how it flows through the body. I found some information about TCM "Traditional Chinese Medicine", part of of which touches on Epilepsy and acupunture. Eastern medicine is so very different from Western medicine so you might want to take two reads.

Chinese Medicine is quite unlike Western Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, acupressure, food therapies, medication and exercises. It is a very different, yet logical, way of thinking and dealing with problems to assit your four-legged friend. The goal of acupuncture and Chinese herbs is to rebalance the body by treating the meridians, which are located beneath the skin's surface.

In TCM seizures are often caused by heat generated by the liver, which generates wind, which causes the seizure. (The image of someone caught up in a wind storm might help explain the terminology.) Seizures can also commonly be caused by imbalances in the heart meridian. Deficient Kidney Yin can also play a role. If Kidney Yin is low, Yang is dominant, and heat is Yang. It is important to treat the Liver Heat, (or Heart, depending on the diagnosis), but also to work to bring the Kidney Yin back up, and in balance with Kidney Yang. The Kidneys, in TCM, are Water. Water helps Wood, (Liver), and hinders Fire (Heart), so if the Kidneys are out of balance, that could be a factor in the Liver or Heart imbalances that trigger seizures. By using the various methods of diagnosing imbalances, a practioner will be able to detemine the imbalances that need to be treated in any individual, and the best method for treating those imbalances.

Qi is energy "circulating" in the body. Qi, (also spelled Chi) is the life force energy. There are 12 major meridians and 8 extra meridians through which the Qi circulates. Meridians are like rivers which distribute Qi throughout the body. If any of these meridians have a blockage that causes the energy to not flow properly, problems develop, such as illness, swelling, and pain.There are several factors that can affect the flow of Qi through the meridians. For example, weather, your mood, foods eaten, and much more affect the flow of Qi. Acupuncture is used to stimulate the flow of Chi through some meridians, and to inhibit the flow of Chi in other channels (meridians) to restore balance. When the Chi is balanced, you're healthy. Too much Chi in one area, and not enough in others creates an imbalance which causes health problems.

http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/chinemedicine.html