Traditional Acupuncture methods include a variety of methods, and not all involve needles.
Acupuncture is a western word meaning needle piercing the principal method of treatment, while the Chinese term is Chen Chiu which means 'needle moxa'.
Moxa is a dried herb, often mugwort, and is burned to generate a gentle heat on or near the point. It may be applied in a small cone directly on the skin, on the end of a needle or as a smouldering roll of moxa and moved over and above the skin warming the acupuncture point. Rolls of moxa are traditionally known as 'Magic Sticks of Thunder and Fire'.
Cupping is another traditional treatment using glass or bamboo cups. A lighted taper is briefly placed into the cup, the taper is removed and the cup is placed on the acupuncture point for two to ten minutes providing suction and stimulation to the point.
Electro-Acupuncture is a modern development where a point is gently stimulated by a low frequency electric current applied through the needle giving a pleasant sensation of tingling or buzzing.
Auricular Therapy or Ear Acupuncture can be used in its own right or in conjunction with body acupuncture and is often effective when treating addictions. Tiny seeds may replace the use of needles and are taped in position over the acupuncture point and allow frequent stimulation between treatments.
