Acupuncture
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
The following discussion is of acupuncture and/or acupressure. However, one should also understand that the underlying mystical, occult, philosophical, and yes, even demonic elements, are common to REFLEXOLOGY, INNER HEALING, YOGA, and some forms of Holistic Healing. No one would say that Karate does not work, yet it is sad how few realize that it is the demonic spirit of Karate which empowers it. The following on acupuncture or acupressure will alert the Christian to other forms of popular new age occult and eastern mystical and metaphysical trendy fads which are ensnaring many Christians in these last days of Strong Delusion. Yes, of course, these things may work. However, why and how they work, and why the Christian should have nothing to do with such things, may be better understood as we look at the example of acupuncture and acupressure.
Jesuit priests, who served as Catholic missionaries in the East, first introduced acupuncture in Europe about 200 years ago. It is claimed that acupuncture is thousands of years old. That acupuncture is occult in nature does not require much depth of research. Most of its popularity in America and Europe followed the normalization of relations between the West and the Peoples Republic of China.
The technique is used, as the practitioners claim, to unblock and redirect energy flow through the insertion of needles. Acupuncture, without the needles, acupressure, at key points on the body, the practitioners say, balances the energies. Many of the places needles are inserted have no nerve endings. Acupuncture is based on the occult system of Taoism often called Yin / Yang , Chi or Ki, and is supposed by the occultists and new age enthusiasts to be a common force that flows through the universe.
We should not be surprised that this eastern occult technique out of China will find its way into the so-called Christian circles in the last days during the great falling away from THE Faith. It should also be of no surprise regarding the emphasis on FORCES. This fixation on FORCES, or flow of energies, is a hallmark of the antichrist, and his beast system of the last days. Daniel has much information about the antichrist and the antichrist system of the last days. Dan 11:38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
The Nei Ching states that, 'The entire universe is an oscillation of the forces of Yin and Yang.'... In terms of medicine, the interaction of Yin and Yang is the basis of the energy pervading and activating the body, and an imbalance in the relative amounts of Yin and Yang energy Is seen as the root of all pathology.
The specific points of acupuncture run along what are called meridians or zones. There are differing opinions of how many of these meridians there are. Holistic occult healers claim 10, while acupuncture practitioners say there are 12 meridians or zones corresponding with different organs of the body. The meridians run up and down the body from the top of the head to the tips of the toes.
Occultists, practitioners, and their victims believe that disease results when the body’s energy flow becomes unbalanced. They insert long, very fine, needles into specific spots on the body, or use fingertip stimulation to bring the energy flow into balance or release the blockages. This, they believe, frees the energy of the universe (the universal FORCES) to flow freely, what they cal CHI, they think thus giving health to the organs and body system. Acupressure was invented for those who fear needles being stuck in them like a voodoo doll.
True Chinese acupuncture practitioners do NOT name specific diseases. They will just tell you that you have a block in a certain meridian and treat you by starting to poke the needles in you. The new Western version of acupuncture practitioners does name the specific diseases. This is an adaptation which traditional Western medicine required.
Dr. Chang, author of The Complete Book of Acupuncture states "According to the Law of the Five Elements, the lungs (metal) support the kidneys (water). If the lungs are indisposed and consequently must use all their energy to sustain their functions, the kidneys must become polluted. Because they do not have enough energy to function. To revitalize the kidneys, one must treat the lungs".
Dr. Chang himself accepts the metaphysical, Taoist basis for acupuncture; but, he mentions some non-religious explanations. That the needles, "block the impulse from reaching the brain... or generate an Impulse that will preoccupy the nerve center in the brain. The nerve center, being preoccupied with the surrogate impulse, fails to attend to the original pain, which has become secondary and will eventually subside" (The Holistic Health Handbook, p. 46). this very well could be the accurate reason why it works.
As Christians we should not seek practitioners who offer metaphysical cures that manipulate invisible energy. The Acupuncture theory is incompatible with both scientific evidence and diametrically opposed to the Christian world view of the human body and spirit. The Bible never describes energy zones or meridians in the human anatomy. While admittingly there is much unknown, this has always been the practice of metaphysical and occult practitioners.
Acupuncture is a big deal with in New Age Occultism. It has prominent listing and many books listed to promote the occult practice listed in the Occultopedia, the Encyclopedia of Occult Science and Occult Knowledge. This occult book has a web site and such a book should have NO place in a Christian home, however that acupuncture is occult is attested by the Occultopedia, Encyclopedia of Occult Science and Knowledge.
Many Christians stumble into the lure of this occult practice quite innocently. The practice can now be commonly found in the tool kit of anesthetists who may use the practice in a pain clinic. Such situations may not appear to have any obvious 'spiritual' activity going on. It is not likely that one could avoid seeing the charts of meridians in a local 'health' shop, alongside all sorts of weird and wonderful New Age alternative therapies. Sadly, I have known some Christians who were taken by that snare of the devil, and it is a powerful snare. ALL of them said, "But, it works!" Satan has to bait his hook with something. It is sad how this never occurs to many Christians.
It can be said unequivocally that acupuncture and acupressure therapy and any of its derivatives are doorways to the occult.
Acupuncture is a traditional form of Chinese medicine which involves stimulating the skin at strategic places, called acupuncture points, to produce therapeutic benefits. Variations on the acupuncture occult theme include:
Professor Edward Ernst is a genuine expert and credible medical practitioner. He is head of the department of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter. He is widely respected in both the orthodox and alternative medical communities for applying to alternative medicine the same rigorous criteria demanded in orthodox medicine. Here is what Professor Ernst says: "Neither the meridians nor the acupuncture points have ever been shown to exist in an anatomical sense, nor has the existence of Yin and Yang been demonstrated convincingly. For these and other reasons, critics tend to reject traditional acupuncture."
Given that there is some objective evidence of limited benefit, conventional Western medical thinking has suggested some 'scientific' mechanisms that might be involved. Mothers worldwide know that rubbing it, or kissing the child’s bruised knee, does make it feel better. There are many over the counter ointments, analgesic balms for example, which work by taking your mind off the pain underneath the area being stimulated. Touch alone may have some therapeutic value, and is as biblical as the command not to be too quick in either laying hands on someone, or allowing someone to lay hands upon you. Yet, these sorts of things do not really explain how sticking needles in the knee can relieve female cycle pains, if it really does. However, if someone says it feels better, they feel better. Only they can say if they feel better or not. Some will believe and say it worked.
In 1965, some credible medical scientists proposed a new theory for pain mechanisms, whereby only certain nerve signals could get in and out of the 'gate' into consciousness at any one time. On this electrophysiological model, acupuncture may exert its analgesic effect partly through the selective excitation of efferent pain inhibitory pathways. This poorly understood but probably respectable concept might allow a scientific explanation of how a needle in one area of the body could affect another part of the body.
Have you ever heard of the term Endorphins? These are central nervous system chemical transmitters. Endorphins may provide an explanation for the analgesic effect of acupuncture as there is experimental evidence that endorphins are released in response to acupuncture.
Whatever the explanation, we cannot deny that there are two schools of 'traditional Chinese' acupuncture and 'Western' acupuncture that exist in our culture, side by side, today. Non-medically trained practitioners typically practice the traditional Chinese acupuncture. Sadly today, there are qualified physicians who also practice acupuncture.
Also, there are credible medical scientists like Professor Ernst who have concluded that acupuncture is of proven benefit for:
It should be pointed out that in Professor Ernst’s same review he strongly suggested that acupuncture is no more effective than sham acupuncture for:
The same study lists many conditions 'for which trial data are available, and where the evidence is neither convincingly positive nor negative for such conditions as:
Claims are made about many other conditions; but, Professor Ernst clearly says there is no evidence to support such claims. Prof. Ernst’s studies regarding acupuncture, seems to have the most credible scientific study of anyone whom we found with internet searches. Prof. Ernst’s conclusion, in his own words – "the bottom line is that acupuncture seems to be more than just a placebo for some conditions, but it is clearly not a "cure-all"'.
There can be NO doubt that YES acupuncture does have harmful side effects. The most frequently reported adverse effects are bruising and pain felt during the needling, and MOST INTERESTINGLY fainting and drowsiness directly after an acupuncture session. Of course, the use of non-sterile needles may cause infections. One overview study found 126 cases of hepatitis. The same study suggested the possibility of three cases of HIV infection, which could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt. The risk of staph infection is always really serious if the needles are not properly sterilized. The inevitable tissue trauma can also cause complications, which range from retained needles to injury of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Probably many complications go unreported, but difficulties with quantification also mean that we do not know accurately the incidence of problems, as nobody knows how many acupuncture treatments are performed.
The $64 question that the medical scientists will not address is the question of SPIRITUAL HARM. As Christians we should be concerned about possible spiritual harm. By associating in whatever way, however remote, with a therapy perhaps permeated by non-Christian or even anti-Christian ideology, are patients not at risk of spiritual harm?
The 'traditional Chinese medicine' approach has seen acupuncture as a 'cure-all'. Within that context, claims about longevity and positive enhancement of health are made, for which there is no evidence. The so-called therapy may without question involve the occult, since the VAST MAJORITY of acupuncture practitioners are new age or occultists. The Christian should have the wisdom to consider just who is this person I am about to place myself in the position whereby they may be doing the serious biblical operation of the laying on of hands? In all therapeutic relationships, there is a power imbalance and the patient, the client, the counselee, is potentially submitting to a lot when they place themselves 'under' the therapist.
TRANSFERAL OF THINGS IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM OFTEN IS BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
Lev 8:22 And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
Lev 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Num 27:23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
Deu 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Acts 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Acts 28:8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
1 Tim 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
That last scripture should be given very serious consideration in these days of strong delusion. There is also the implied admonition for the Christian to be careful regarding whom and for what purposes which they might allow hands to be laid upon them. Maybe what one Christian reported regarding their acupuncture experience may be helpful in understanding the problem with this whole sort of thing for Christians.
The brother said how he had visited an acupuncturist, and after half a dozen treatments, he had achieved relief of the chronic painful condition he had sought to find relief by the practitioner. He gave credit for this healing, NOT TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, but to the acupuncture therapy. However, the specific condition may well have gotten better anyway over the almost three month period he was under the therapy. He also said that while the acupuncturist was twiddling the needles he was always muttering something inaudible under his breath, in what sounded like an incantation. When questioned, he did have to say YES, that he did in fact, notice too, that progressively over that three month period his spiritual life had begun to dry up. He found it hard to pray, he lost interest in reading the bible, and even came to want to avoid Christians whom he knew were strong in their faith. He did confess that he had lost some of his love for the Lord. Thank God that he did eventually come to realize that he had come under some harmful spiritual influence from the acupuncturist. He was able through repentance, prayer, and fasting to be restored.
This example is typical. BUT IT WORKS, THEY SAY. The fact that it appears to work simply means Satan put some bait on the hook. Acupuncture has NO clinical proof of working, any better than mommy kissing your bruised knee, except for VOMITING. Vomiting and nausea is the ONLY thing upon which there is clinical proof and evidence that acupuncture works. By the way, the EXIT of demons is often by vomiting. Yes, acupuncture would effectively Stop the demons from leaving. Could this be why the demon would make one feel better sometimes, to get the legal right to stay in your body? Good question which medical science and churchDUMB, sadly, will not ask, or answer.
SADLY THERE ARE MANY WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS, WHO FAIL TO SEE THESE PRACTITIONERS ARE WORKING WITH SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN. WORSE STILL IS THAT THERE IS A SPIRITUAL CONCEPT FOR PHYSICAL AILMENTS THAT IS NOT OF GOD OR BIBLICAL. GOD DOES NOT JUST DISLIKE THE OCCULT - HE HATES IT.
THE HOLY BIBLE MAKES CLEAR THAT ANY OCCULT INVOLVEMENT IS AN ABOMINATION AND THAT BRINGS CURSES TO COME UPON THE PERSON, ON THEIR CHILDREN, ON THEIR GRAND CHILDREN, AND ON THEIR GREAT GRAND CHILDREN. GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD AND THERE IS NO INNOCENT OR NEUTRAL DEALING IN THE OCCULT. PRAISE THE LORD - BECAUSE HE BECAME A CURSE ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY, ALL SUCH CURSES MAY BE BROKEN BY THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF YESHUA.
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Exo 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.