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Holly3278
Guest
Hey everyone. I have chronic pain and I was reading about how Acupuncture can help with pain. Does the Catholic Church have anything against Acupuncture as it does with other therapies such as Rheiki?
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Ancient1
Guest
There are many, many of these “somatic” therapies and you will find Catholics and even priests giving conflicting answers because they tend to get lumped together.
We are wise to avoid ones that are based on a belief system that interferes or conflicts with Catholicism. But if something is merely a medical technique, even if not scientifically validated by western medicine, it should not hurt you. Unless the practitioner does combine it with other stuff such as “new thought”, Buddha and Shiva statues around the office, crystals, or whatever.
Reiki is problematic because it involves energy manipulation (or else it’s just BS, but assuming they are doing what they believe they are doing). This can stir up feelings of confusion, anxiety, etc. Some believe malicious spirits can influence you when you are in a vulnerable state of having your energy centers opened by someone who has no training in warding off evil influences.
However, acupuncture is different. It is focused on meridians. Science has not proven that these exist, but eastern medicine has a long tradition and a complex system (ask to see the meridian chart for the human body). The needles affect certain points in the body that stimulate the flow in these “channels” to organs, nerves, or other places of illness or pain. Unless you believe meridian themselves are bad or expose you to evil, and I do not see how that could be the case, then there should be no reason not to try acupuncture.
I know two people (one Catholic, one Buddhist) who were both profoundly helped by acupuncture. The Catholic lady is elderly and had severe arthritis. None of the usual medical treatments helped. Around 80 she started acupuncture, only once a month. The pain disappeared. She is now 90 and has continued the regimen and has never had the arthritis return. (Of course, I guess we could also ask if this is a miracle from a saintly intervention?)
I tried acupuncture many years ago and it did not help me. They say some people are more receptive than others, maybe depending on body tension.
Others might disagree, but as there is no mysticism or spiritual manipulation involved, and it’s a health issue based on respected Eastern medicine, not some sort of voodoo or quasi-religious ideas, acupuncture could be just fine.
We are wise to avoid ones that are based on a belief system that interferes or conflicts with Catholicism. But if something is merely a medical technique, even if not scientifically validated by western medicine, it should not hurt you. Unless the practitioner does combine it with other stuff such as “new thought”, Buddha and Shiva statues around the office, crystals, or whatever.
Reiki is problematic because it involves energy manipulation (or else it’s just BS, but assuming they are doing what they believe they are doing). This can stir up feelings of confusion, anxiety, etc. Some believe malicious spirits can influence you when you are in a vulnerable state of having your energy centers opened by someone who has no training in warding off evil influences.
However, acupuncture is different. It is focused on meridians. Science has not proven that these exist, but eastern medicine has a long tradition and a complex system (ask to see the meridian chart for the human body). The needles affect certain points in the body that stimulate the flow in these “channels” to organs, nerves, or other places of illness or pain. Unless you believe meridian themselves are bad or expose you to evil, and I do not see how that could be the case, then there should be no reason not to try acupuncture.
I know two people (one Catholic, one Buddhist) who were both profoundly helped by acupuncture. The Catholic lady is elderly and had severe arthritis. None of the usual medical treatments helped. Around 80 she started acupuncture, only once a month. The pain disappeared. She is now 90 and has continued the regimen and has never had the arthritis return. (Of course, I guess we could also ask if this is a miracle from a saintly intervention?)
I tried acupuncture many years ago and it did not help me. They say some people are more receptive than others, maybe depending on body tension.
Others might disagree, but as there is no mysticism or spiritual manipulation involved, and it’s a health issue based on respected Eastern medicine, not some sort of voodoo or quasi-religious ideas, acupuncture could be just fine.
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raaucoin
Guest
While science may not have proven these meridians -channels of energy- exist, it is worthy of note that those channels (most of them) actually run along nerve pathways. So stimulating or sedating points along those pathways could potentially cause an affect on the nervous system as it corresponds to organs or systems.It is focused on meridians. Science has not proven that these exist, but eastern medicine has a long tradition and a complex system (ask to see the meridian chart for the human body). The needles affect certain points in the body that stimulate the flow in these “channels” to organs, nerves, or other places of illness or pain. Unless you believe meridian themselves are bad or expose you to evil, and I do not see how that could be the case, then there should be no reason not to try acupuncture.
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Leegal
Guest
All I can say is my aunt has used accupuncture for MS and they are a devout Catholic family.Hey everyone. I have chronic pain and I was reading about how Acupuncture can help with pain. Does the Catholic Church have anything against Acupuncture as it does with other therapies such as Rheiki?
When in doubt, ask your priest.
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centurionguard
Guest
There’s no sin in the Church against using Acupuncture as a preventive pain reliever anymore than taking an Aspirin or Tylenol.
I use it along with Tens Machine for carpel tunnel.
Works good too when you have severe back pain with deteriorated lumbar discs.
I use it along with Tens Machine for carpel tunnel.
Works good too when you have severe back pain with deteriorated lumbar discs.
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thistle
Guest
Catholicism and Reiki are incompatible.Hey everyone. I have chronic pain and I was reading about how Acupuncture can help with pain. Does the Catholic Church have anything against Acupuncture as it does with other therapies such as Rheiki?
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Echolynn
Guest
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=166543
Acupuncture is a system of medicine, not a religion. Just like a person of any religion can use western medicine, any person of any faith can use acupuncture.
The language of acupuncture can be confusing, because of an original mistake in translation that is unfortunately perpetuated today. Any time you hear “qi” or “energy” “flowing in the meridians” - substitute “oxygen, nutrients, and cells of the immune system traveling along with the blood.”
Blessings, everyone.
Acupuncture is a system of medicine, not a religion. Just like a person of any religion can use western medicine, any person of any faith can use acupuncture.
The language of acupuncture can be confusing, because of an original mistake in translation that is unfortunately perpetuated today. Any time you hear “qi” or “energy” “flowing in the meridians” - substitute “oxygen, nutrients, and cells of the immune system traveling along with the blood.”
Blessings, everyone.
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Holly3278
Guest
I know that but I was not asking Rheiki. I was asking about Acupuncture.Catholicism and Reiki are incompatible.
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