Why leave the needles for 20 minutes? 08/02/2009
Acupuncture treatments are usually 15-20 minutes in length. This treatment length originated from The Classic of Difficulties (Nan Jing), a highly revered ancient textbook of Oriental Medicine. It was discovered through Daoist meditation practices that Qi and Blood move through the meridians at the rate of six cun* for each complete inhalation and exhalation. The total length of the Meridians and Collaterals equals 1620 cun (Nan Jing, Chapter 23). 1620 divided by 6 equals 270, so it is said that 270 breaths are required for Qi to make one complete cycle through the body. However, this number could vary based on a person’s breath rate. If a person breathes 14 times/minute, it will take 20 minutes (270/14) for Qi to make a complete cycle. If a person breathes 18 times/minute, only 15 minutes (270/18) will be needed for Qi to make the complete cycle. Therefore, according to the Nan Jing, treatment time can be calculated around 15-20 minutes. Treatment time may be altered based on a variety of factors. The type of acupuncture theory used, body constitution of the patient, excess or deficiency condition, and hot or cold environment or season may influence the total treatment time. As a patient, the Nan Jing's explanation has an important message for you: Breathing is important during your acupuncture treatment. It is important for Qi to make a complete cycle through your body during the treatment, and breathing is what drives the Qi. To make the most of your treatment, breathe slowly, deeply and consistently throughout. *Cun is a Chinese proportional unit of length; pronounced “chun.” CommentsLeave a Reply | AuthorChanta Van Laanen, LAc ArchivesJune 2010 Categories |
