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What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an important
traditional Chinese Medicine with a history of over 2500
years. Already
used widely throughout Asia and Europe, Acupuncture is
considered one of the newest primary health care
modality in the US.
So far over 12 million Americans have turned to
Acupuncture for help, and many western physicians as
well as medical researchers have experienced the
powerful healing effect that it has for the body.
The concept behind it
The main concept behind Acupuncture
is an energy force called “Qi”(pronounced chee)
which circulate throughout the human body using
specialized pathways called Meridians or channels with
“Acupuncture points” connecting to the tissues and
organs of the body.
It is believed that free flowing of the Qi keeps
a person healthy. If
the flow of the Qi is blocked for any reason, illness
results. Acupuncture restores the proper balance and flow of the Qi,
returning health to the body.
(more about Qi and Qi Gong)
Healing effects of Acupuncture
One of the most common uses of
Acupuncture is pain relief.
This includes migraine, backache, period pain,
arthritic and rheumatic pain, post-operative pain, and
post-injury pain.
The World Health Organization
has declared Acupuncture successful treats a variety of
medical conditions:
-Ear, nose, and throat disorders:
common cold, sinusitis, tonsillitis, hayfever,
rhinitis and tooth pain.
-Respiratory disorders: acute
bronchitis and bronchial asthma.
-Gastro-intestinal disorders:
gastritis, indigestion duodenal ulcer, hiccoughs,
colitis, constipation and diarrhea.
-Eye
disorders: Acute conjunctivitis, central retinitis,
juvenile myopia and mild cataract.
-Neurological
and Muscular-skeletal: Trigeminal neuralgia, headache,
stroke syndromes, Meniere's disease, neuralgia, bladder
dysfunction, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, sciatica,
lower back pain and osteoarthritis.
Other
conditions treated include menstrual, menopausal and pregnancy
related conditions, stress, depression, Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome, sports injuries, and drug withdrawal.
Acupuncture is more than just
inserting tiny needles into your body.
It is a complex system combining other
complimentary techniques including
-Moxibustion (warming)
-Cupping
-Massage
-Herbs
-Electro-Stimulation
-Laser devices
Herbs are usually taken in addition
to Acupuncture to enhance its healing effect.
(see U-Healthy’s herb glossary for more info).
Response to Acupuncture
After a person receives Acupuncture,
he or she will experience a sense of general well-being
and relaxation. It
is reported that an individual feels an improvement in
sleep, digestion, and overall energy levels.
Since Acupuncture heals the body through natural
techniques, side effects are very rare. Mild exacerbation may be felt after first treatment, but
subsides with additional treatment.
Acupuncture is safe for person of all ages
including children and the elderly, although treatment
for the elderly is usually done to reduce discomfort and
management of the condition.
Conclusion
In short, Acupuncture can strengthen
the physical body, prevent disease, control pain, health
enhancement, assist in sports performance, addiction
withdrawal, and achieve longevity.
More Info…
-FAQs
-Locate your local Acupuncturist
-Safety
guidelines for choosing an Acupuncturist
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More
and more people are turning to Acupuncture where
traditional western medicine have failed. Still,
many find this ancient Chinese medical technique
mysterious. Below is a concise introduction on
Acupuncture to help anyone who is interested to learn
about it.
