Acupuncture?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cenpress
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

cenpress

Guest
What does the Church say about this as a treatment for chronic pain?

I’ve been suffering back pain for several years now & am now seeing a specialist … but I’ve seen several physical therapists over the past three years, a chiropractor, have had numerous x-rays & MRIs … and the pain still persists.

Just wanted to know if this is even an option to me, since I want to adhere to the Church’s teachings.

Anyone have any information they can share? Thanks!
 
There is nothing the matter with alternative methods or approaches to healing ones body, the spirit yes, the body none.

Five years ago I was suffering from chronic back problems stemming from injuring myself while building a shed at my house. I was trying to erect a wall by myself and in doing so the wall shifted and I twisted by back while trying to catch it. The moment I did that I heard a very audible pop followed by intense shooting pain. I had ruptured three disks.

I was reduced to walking with a cane, had trouble sitting and standing for long periods and had frequent numbness in my left leg. After trying two years of physical therapy and different pain medicines my doctor wanted me to undergo surgery. Knowing that back surgeries seldom go off without additional problems I started to get second opinions. A friend recommended acupuncture.

I tried it and after four sessions, which were very painful at times, I was cured. I have been pain free and no longer need the cane. Like I said the sessions were painful at times because different gauge needles were required and one needle had to go very deep to target a specific nerve and that one hurt! But within four sessions I was walking like a new person.

To find a very good acpuncturist, preferbably one that has studied in China, hit the yellow pages, maybe a doctor can recommend one and don’t be afraid to ask the acpuncturist for references.
 
I know a priest who swears by it. It gives him the best pain relief for his chronic pain.
 
I’m not aware that acupuncture is a problem…out of curiousity, why would you think that it might, the non-western origin?
 
Newbie2 said:
I’m not aware that acupuncture is a problem…out of curiousity, why would you think that it might, the non-western origin?
Click to expand...
Because it deals with Chakra/Qi meridians, the seven gates, the five organs, and all the rest of it. Those same concepts are used in Indian and Chinese religions.

Of course, the same basic theory underpinned Greek medicine, which Christians didn’t oppose except in a few cases (contraception, for instance), so it’s not really against the rules.

My problem is most practitioners in the West, who aren’t actually Chinese, are really flaky.
 
Hastrman said:
My problem is most practitioners in the West, who aren’t actually Chinese, are really flaky.
Click to expand...
my experience has been different. I am walking today instead of in a wheelchair because of accupuncture. neither practitioner is Chinese, in fact both are orthodox Catholics, MDs, and active in pro-life work. the Church has no position on non-Western medicine, only on non-Christian theology.
 
Hastrman said:
Because it deals with Chakra/Qi meridians, the seven gates, the five organs, and all the rest of it. Those same concepts are used in Indian and Chinese religions.

Of course, the same basic theory underpinned Greek medicine, which Christians didn’t oppose except in a few cases (contraception, for instance), so it’s not really against the rules.

My problem is most practitioners in the West, who aren’t actually Chinese, are really flaky.
Click to expand...
FIRST: if the reason it works includes anything in Leviticus then NO we cant use it. AURA/ chi, isn’t that spiritual? or also work to change the spiritual aspect of us?? (can’t refute the bad, but want the good)

*ONE EXCETPTION!!: if it is truly a false belief explained by another means. IE; it actually affects nerve impulses but was given false credit; or if the body truely does use an EMF filed, (here maybe). but be careful it might be doing BOTH!
*

also lets talk about something you said ;

“the same basic theory underpinned Greek medicine”

so we just threw out or ignore what we don’t agree with but want the BENEFIT of the practice. A BIG NO-NO :tsktsk:

you know how “devil come as an angel of light” well one of the biggest tricks would be is if he was using our medical practices as a way to get us to do things against the bible!:eek:

other times i also thought of what if some of the aspects of our religion were actually false but so ingrained that we can’t see it!
people who question them are said to be false or blasphemous but maybe they actually are right?

“tell a lie long enough and eventually people will believe it {as truth}” -can’t remember who said that.
 
zmyr88 said:
FIRST: if the reason it works includes anything in Leviticus then NO we cant use it. AURA/ chi, isn’t that spiritual? or also work to change the spiritual aspect of us?? (can’t refute the bad, but want the good)

*ONE EXCETPTION!!: if it is truly a false belief explained by another means. IE; it actually affects nerve impulses but was given false credit; or if the body truely does use an EMF filed, (here maybe). but be careful it might be doing BOTH!
*

also lets talk about something you said ;

“the same basic theory underpinned Greek medicine”

so we just threw out or ignore what we don’t agree with but want the BENEFIT of the practice. A BIG NO-NO :tsktsk:

you know how “devil come as an angel of light” well one of the biggest tricks would be is if he was using our medical practices as a way to get us to do things against the bible!:eek:

other times i also thought of what if some of the aspects of our religion were actually false but so ingrained that we can’t see it!
people who question them are said to be false or blasphemous but maybe they actually are right?

“tell a lie long enough and eventually people will believe it {as truth}” -can’t remember who said that.
Click to expand...
What on earth are you talking about?
 
cenpress said:
What on earth are you talking about?
Click to expand...
if the reason acupuncture works includes anything in {(Leviticus 19:26; Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 13:1-3; Deuteronomy 18:9-11; Jeremiah 27:9; Jeremiah 29:8} then NO we cant use it.

Hastrman said
"
Because it deals with Chakra/Qi meridians, the seven gates, the five organs, and all the rest of it. [forbidden?]
Of course, the same basic theory underpinned Greek medicine, which Christians didn’t oppose except in a few cases (contraception, for instance), so it’s not really against the rules."

here: we justify acupuncture by the fact that we are ok using western medicine which come of same beliefs of how the process works (stuff like chi, ki, chakras, being effected).

INSTEAD: we should question whether we should be practicing modern medicine, and heres why!

Just because can attribute a biological process happening as the reason for why something is working, does not mean that it is also working on a spiritual level.

example in point:

acupuncture works by the fact that the needle interferes with nerve impulses and therefore blocks pain, (biological). it also is believed to work by altering our chi which runs through us.(spiritual??)

since we can’t separate which we want to happen, so if CHI use is forbidden so is acupuncture.
 
no one, even those who resurrected this old thread, answered question in OP by providing any Church teaching on this, so until that is offered, what is to discuss?
 
Upon further research, I am finding no official teaching on the use of Acupuncture.
I think it would fall into a faith and reason category. If it works, and you use it for medical reasons only, then it is okay. My internet research showed that it is now being offered and covered by Kaiser Permanente health insurance. Therefore, it would be medical and not spiritual.

Regarding another form of ancient Asian medicine:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=60137&highlight=acupuncture
I found it interesting that the Staff Apologist also referred to the same Vatican document, but it’s not a teaching.

Perhaps this question should be addressed to a staff apologist.
 
puzzleannie said:
no one, even those who resurrected this old thread, answered question in OP by providing any Church teaching on this, so until that is offered, what is to discuss?
Click to expand...
My, didn’t we get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? 😃

Smile. We’re getting something out of it. PMs may be flying back and forth as a result of it.

🙂
 
zmyr88 said:
Just because can attribute a biological process happening as the reason for why something is working, does not mean that it is also working on a spiritual level.

example in point:

acupuncture works by the fact that the needle interferes with nerve impulses and therefore blocks pain, (biological). it also is believed to work by altering our chi which runs through us.(spiritual??)

since we can’t separate which we want to happen, so if CHI use is forbidden so is acupuncture.
Click to expand...
I’ll make my point fast, since I’m kinda pressed for time.

I don’t even know/care to know what this “chi” is. You talk of “altering our chi which runs through us” as if it’s some factual entity or a spiritual belief YOU actually hold. In that case, you might best stay away from acupuncture. But I ain’t got no “chi” runnin’ through my body … I have the Holy Spirit in me. And I’m dealing with chronic back issues. I’m not seeking to rub Buddah’s belly. Nearly all of my options have been exhausted, so my orthopedic specialist (who is a strong, faithful, church abiding Catholic) suggested maybe I try acupuncture. All I wanted to know was whether there was any church teaching that spoke against its use.

Suggesting that, while, yes it may alleviate some pain BUT also disrupt my “chi” is (I’m sorry to say it) kinda absurd. Because it begs the question, Well, wouldn’t one need to believe in said “chi” to begin with if that is to become something I even worry about?

All this talk about “Eastern” this and “Eastern” that is neither here nor there. We got tea from the Far East, did we not. Tea can be an incredibly healthy part of our daily diet, providing antioxidants among other wonderfully beneficial properties. I don’t hear any call from Catholics to “Stay away from drinking tea!”

This nonsense about disrupting one’s chi because sometimes that is what people of other faiths will use acupuncture for is like saying it’s wrong to drink wine because Catholic priests use it during consecration at mass.

I hope I was clear. I’m interested in seeing some of your replies to this.

P.s. I seriously can’t believe this thread I started so long ago was resurrected. Anyway … happy Holy Week to you all.
 
graceandglory said:
Up to the challenge due to insomnia from a cold. 😉
Church document on healing and the new age
from the vatican website
information on new age practices and how to evaluate them as a Catholic

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html
Click to expand...
cited document is about new age philosophies in general and contains no teaching whatever on acupuncture except to note that those who promote so called “new age” therapies sometimes advertise it, along with a host of other standard medical therapies that have been around for centuries. Just because a “new age” guru co-opts someone else’s therapy, thought, or spiritual methods does not make that entity new age by definition. there are some new agers who promote use of crystal beads on a string or chain. that does not render the rosary a new age device.

unless one is actually trained in non-Western medicine and the language in which it is taught, one is not competent to judge it in relation to Western medicine. quoting internet sources and magazine articles does not constitute competency.

I have been receiving acupuncture treatments from several years from an MD, who also trained in the East, via acupuncture as well as standard western pain management techniques, and have never once heard the words “chi” or whatever applied to the treatment, or any spiritual or religious (name removed by moderator)ut whatever. A loony tune practioner can use traditional western methods in a loony toon manner, that does not automatically make the method ineffective or dangerous. All I know is I was bedridden when I started therapy and had to be literally carried over the bridge to Mexico for treatment and am now walking, functioning, and working full-time, after my own doctors had given up on me. Acupuncture also assisted my recovery from an auto accident when my kids were small that was supposed to prevent me from ever walking again.
 
My daughter is studying Traditional Oriental Medicine and will be certified as an accupuncturist in August. It worked wonders on my arthritis and she also says she can treat menopause symptoms and infertility. She is going to specialize in women’s health and is learning a Chinese method of NFP, athough they don’t call it that.

The only weird thing she does is prescribe these horrible smelling herbs for differnent ailments. Many swear by them. That I can do without.
 
Joannm said:
My daughter is studying Traditional Oriental Medicine and will be certified as an accupuncturist in August. It worked wonders on my arthritis and she also says she can treat menopause symptoms and infertility. She is going to specialize in women’s health and is learning a Chinese method of NFP, athough they don’t call it that.

The only weird thing she does is prescribe these horrible smelling herbs for differnent ailments. Many swear by them. That I can do without.
Click to expand...
make sure it is’nt doing something that prevents the body from conceiving, or might abort a growing fetus.
 
I would say there is nothing wrong with it because it is a medical procedure.
 
Everyone has gotten so far off topic in this thread, it’s a bit disconcerting.

ALL I WANTED TO KNOW WAS WHETHER ACUPUNCTURE (AS A MEDICAL TREATMENT, NOT A SPIRITUALITY) GOES AGAINST ANY OF THE CHURCH’S TEACHINGS.

So much vitriol. Seriously.

Thank you to those of you who replied to my question.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top