PREAMBLE:
I've just had a conversation with Mel333 basically approximately the 'abilities' of acupuncture. In it I touched upon some beliefs I have developed myself and now wish to put out these beliefs for discussion to see how others feel.

BACKGROUND:
Through various experiences I've had in life - by myself and with motionless family - both good and bad (but mostly bad lately) with reference to to mean and physical health and fitness I began to feel a massive misunderstanding and misdirection was present. Modern day medicine - whilst of major benefit for environment conditions - didn't satisfy my needs or fully answer my questions.

FOR DISCUSSION:
What increasingly medicine lacked for me was the ability for the individual to understand themselves, the total influence (and therefore ultimately control) they had over their lifes, and to give the individual the direction and support to find this understanding. Through my need for understanding (to cut a long story short) I was led towards Traditional Chinese Medicine (although I'm sure - and please feel free to confirm this - all the Eastern Medicines have developed from similar persepectives). For me Traditional Chinese Medicine was not approximately health or disease it was approximately life itself. An explaination of life from thousands of years of observation not in an enclosed laboratory were variables could be fixed but in the open where all the influences of life were present.

All 'disciplines' within the Chinese culture have developed from the 'I Ching' - an understanding of life. To me it goes without saying that if you truly understand life, you possess the ability to heal any condition.

Opinions welcome.