Many patients ask me about different types of acupuncture, where it comes from, and why it works. I think the best way of describing the philosophy behind acupuncture is to look at the Seasons and the benefits of receiving seasonal acupuncture. Acupuncture is a fantastic way to keep good health and one way of receiving the benefits of acupuncture is to receive acupuncture seasonally. The idea of staying in tune with the seasons is a very old one, the benefit of having acupuncture seasonally is that it enables the body, mind and spirit to remain in balance with seasonal changes and variations. The idea of having acupuncture seasonally is part of Five Element Acupuncture theory, which itself has its root in very old writing and Taoist texts. To understand where Seasonal Acupuncture comes from we need to take a look at these texts, some of which I have discussed under The History of Acupuncture, if you click on this link it will take you to those pages.
The early Chinese medical texts are also philosophical and religious in nature. Medicine is not understood as separate to the natural order of life, far from it. It is by looking at humanity and our link to the world that we can find health in body and health in mind and spirit. These are never discussed separately, as all matters are inter linked. In this way we are as linked to the world and its seasonal variations as much as a house sparrow is. It is here that that the benefits of acupuncture and the philosophy behind it can be found. Acupuncture is the practice of restoring our natural harmony with the world. World in the Taoist sense means really our connection with the entire solar system as well as our grounded selves on earth. Most early systems of medicine look to the earth for help, answers to our health can be found by observing our connectedness with nature. By observing the cyclical nature of the natural world we are able to observe our own patterns. Life follows one way, it is born it transforms and responds, as night follows day and summer follows spring.