Dating back to 3000BC or perhaps as far back as the Stone Age, there has been said that acupuncture is in fact one of the oldest means of medical care on the planet. Acupuncture and meridians being confusing enough, trying to figure out the reason why they contribute to better health can be quite the task. We will take a look at the exact nature of this practice by asking and answering some questions, specifically those surrounding acupuncture meridians.

The Meaning of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is used to balance energy levels and eliminate blockages, which may be preventing your health from achieving its optimum state. The energy system of the body can be manipulated with the use of very fine acupuncture needles. This energy system flows through the body, and can be accessed via a variety of 500 specific acupuncture points found along what is called the acupuncture meridians. These points are related to every system and function of the body, housing both positive and negative energy.

The Meridians

There are twelve main meridians which connect the 500 acupuncture points, and they are found along your legs and arms. With balance they provide optimal health and happiness. When unbalance they result in life and health being unbalanced as well. The Yin and Yang can be compared to the flip sides of the same coin. This is where the balance needs to be in order for all aspects to be positive and aligned.

When making the association between Yin and Yang, picture the two sides of a coin as mentioned above. On the one side, the Yin holds responsibility for negative aspects, such as darkness, passivity, coldness, wetness and the feminine. The other side would be the Yang, which holds responsibility for all positive aspects such as brightness, activeness, dryness, heat and masculine. You will also find that each of the main meridians house their own elements of Yin and Yang.

These twelve meridians are located:

At the inside of your arms, body to fingertips – Yin

Along the outside of your arm from your fingertips to your face – Yang

Along the outside of your leg from your face to your feet – Yang

And along the inside of your leg from your feet to your body – Yin

The following organs are affected by the 12 main meridians:

1. Lungs

2. Large Intestine

3. Stomach

4. Spleen

5. Heart

6. Small Intestine

7. Urinary Bladder

8. Kidney

9. Pericardium

10. Triple Warmer – This meridian affects the thyroid and the adrenal glands which regulate your metabolism and affect your immune system and has a profound affect on your stress reaction.

11. Gall Bladder

12. Liver

The Yin side includes lungs, heart and pericardium with the arm meridians, while the Yang side of the arm houses the meridians for the small intestine, triple warmer and the large intestine. As for the leg meridians, the Yin side covers spleen, kidney and liver, while the Yang side covers stomach, gall bladder and bladder.

Each of your organs, as you probably already know, play a valuable and essential function in the effectiveness of your overall health and the optimal functioning of your body. When one is out of balance, blocked, or not functioning optimally your entire body and even your emotional state can be significantly affected.

There is a reason why this practice of acupuncture and the balancing of the body’s energy through accessing meridians is still practiced today – it works.

Gratitude brings a new perspective to your life. See the glass as half full and realize that you are beginning to change for the better. The world opens up when seen through the eyes of a gracious heart. Challenges in your life become manageable and little inconveniences seem unimportant when the focus is on an attitude of gratitude.

There are many ways to express gratitude. A journal is perhaps the most common method and is a great start, but gratitude jewelry is a fantastic way to take what is a once a day gratitude routine and make it part of every moment.

What is Gratitude Jewelry?

Jewelry is made from beads, crystals, gemstones, and even precious metals. These materials carry with them the ability to invite positive energy into your life.

Jewelry can be symbolic in the life of a gracious person. Each time you wear the piece of gratitude jewelry, you remember what it means to you and your attitude changes.

It is the wearing of the jewelry that begins the process. Every time you are aware of it, you can practice the power of gratitude. Journaling to show gratitude is a wonderful thing to do but it can easily become a chore and cause stress if you miss a day of it. Putting on jewelry takes only seconds and it is an effortless way to remember all the things in your life that you are grateful for. That feeling will stay with you throughout the day.

Earrings, Necklace, Bracelet or all Three?

If you choose gratitude jewelry, what should you wear? It is up to you and the image you want to project. Some women like dangling earrings. Others feel naked without a necklace especially if they have short hair that doesn’t cover their neck. Choose a spot on your body that you wouldn’t mind drawing attention to.

Other women prefer to wear bracelets and love the weight of something lovely on their wrists. Bracelets are a good option because they are always in your view giving you a constant feeling of gratitude in your heart and on your mind.

What about a necklace? They can be big or small, shiny or matte. Through the centuries, women of all cultures have worn neck jewelry as a sign of status and beauty. Wearing a necklace can bring on an ethereal feel to your body. You just have to reach up and touch it to be reminded of the symbolic nature of the piece.

To enhance your gratitude power, wear a matching set. You can dress yourself in all three pieces of jewelry or just two. Some days you might need extra reminders of the gratitude in your hear and wearing all three will strengthen you for the challenges to come.

Learning to express your gratitude in life will change you and your circumstances. Gratitude is a positive life energy that makes you thankful for each moment you have been given. Gratitude jewelry can help you continue to focus on the positive each day.