Natural Health Tips
Yin Yang Theory and Heat Therapy
HEALING PRINCIPLES OF ACUPUNCTURE
AND
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Yin Yang theory is one of many ancient fundamental principles
that guides the healing practice of acupuncture. Yin Yang
theory is a way to categorize opposites and encourage balance.
The Yin Yang symbol, often seen as half white and half black,
depicts the harmonious integration of two opposites. Hot
and cold can be used as two opposite qualities to simply
explain how Yin Yang theory identifies imbalances and promotes
health. The cold of winter requires heat to restore balance
and maintain health. Often times some folks feel cold throughout
the entire year, which may signify an internal circulation
problem. Other conditions such as chronic pain may be alleviated
by heat, which helps expand blood vessels and improve circulation.
In Chinese Medicine, it is not often we recommend cold but
rather heat to promote healing. Good health is about good
circulation. Cold constricts and blocks circulation. Heat
relaxes muscles, and improves blood flow that provides the
regenerative nutrients needed by the body tissue. As a rule
use warmth on chronic conditions but with acute trauma cold
may be more applicable for short periods. A hot pouch is
a simple way of providing heat to a cold body or achy muscles.
I make special hot pouches with a selection of herbal ingredients
to provide heat therapy as an adjunct to acupuncture in
my clinical practice. You can make a home-made hot pouch
by loosely filling a heavy sock with rice and tie off the
end. Place your pouch into a microwave and heat for approximately
1 minute. Microwaves have different power outputs so be
careful not to overheat and burn the material. Place the
hot pouch on your lower back or abdomen or on or the area
of pain if applicable. You will know if heat as opposed
to cold was the right choice just by the simple fact that
it should feel good!
Christopher Carlow, D. Ac.
Doctor of Acupuncture
July 12, 2008
