What Is Acupuncture?
By Hunter L. Thompson, 28th Feb 2010 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutHealthAlternative Medicine
Acupuncture is one of many alternative medicine treatments. It is relatively new in Western society, however it has been in use for thousands of years in Asia where it is still one of the main types of health care.
- Introduction
- How Does it Work?
- Conditions Treated
- The Most Frequently Asked Question……..
- Why Would I Get Acupuncture?
Introduction
Acupuncture is a healthcare and wellness modality that originated in China and has been practiced for thousands of years. It is the main form of healthcare for millions of people in Asian countries. The goal of acupuncture treatment is to assist your body’s own ability to heal, to reestablish its innate harmony, and to create a smooth flow and balance of Qi (pronounced chee). Qi is often referred to as our life force or the vital energy that animates us. We are all born with a unique amount of Qi, and we also get Qi from the food we eat and the air we breathe. Our health is influenced by the quality, quantity and balance of Qi. As we move through life our Qi changes based on what is happening to us, our food, water and air purity, and our innate ability to adapt to life circumstances.
How Does it Work?
Each person is unique. Acupuncture treatment is extremely individual. The acupuncturist assesses the person, his or her current health, health history, and social and emotional situation. Acupuncturists are aware that the same symptoms can manifest from very different sources and therefore gathers information that will lead to an understanding of the specific possible causes of the person’s symptoms or concerns.
Acupuncture treatment addresses the movement of Qi throughout the body. Although it is not visible, Qi flows through the body just like blood and lymph. The original practitioners of Chinese Medicine mapped out a series of pathways, called meridians, which are the rivers that carry Qi and energize, activate, nourish, and support every cell, tissue, muscle, organ and gland. Qi travels through these meridians in a very specific and precise way, moving from one organ system to another. If the flow of Qi is disrupted or blocked, then an imbalance will occur, resulting in various signs and symptoms. For instance, if a blockage were to occur within the Lung meridian, you might experience chest tightness, shortness of breath and cough.
These blockages can occur for several reasons. Acupuncture treatment addresses the symptoms, assisting the body to diminish or sometimes control the signs of the problem. However, one of the main goals of treatment is to ascertain the root cause of the problem, so that the smooth flow of Qi can be restored. Imbalances can occur on any level: Body, Mind and/or Spirit. It is common for imbalances to begin at the Spirit level, which, if not processed appropriately, will ultimately manifest as physical symptoms, often years later.
Disease can be caused by internal factors such as emotions, external factors like the environment and weather, and other factors such as injuries, trauma, diet, and germs. However, infection is seen not as primarily a problem with germs and viruses, but as a weakness in the energy of the body which is allowing a sickness to occur. The concept being that if the body’s Qi were flowing smoothly the mechanisms that would block or expel any external pathogen or germs would prevent infection. In Chinese medicine, no two illnesses are ever the same, as each body has its own characteristics of symptoms and balance.
Conditions Treated
The National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization recognize the ability of acupuncture to treat many common problems including:
• Addictions: alcohol, drug, smoking
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic fatigue
• Colitis
• Common cold
• Constipation
• Dental pain
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Digestive disorders
• Dizziness
• Emotional problems
• Eye problems
• Facial palsy or tics
• Fatigue
• Fibromyalgia
• Gingivitis
• Headache
• Hiccough
• Incontinence
• Indigestion
• Infertility
• Insomnia
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Menopausal symptoms
• Menstrual irregularities
• Migraine
• Morning sickness
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Nausea
• Osteoarthritis
• Pain: joint, muscle
• PMS
• Pneumonia
• Rhinitis
• Sciatica
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Sexual dysfunction
• Shoulder pain
• Sinusitis
• Smoking cessation
• Sore throat
• Stress
• Tennis elbow
• Tonsillitis
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Urinary tract infection
• Vomiting
The Most Frequently Asked Question……..
Acupuncture is performed with needles, so the question that is uppermost in people’s minds is whether it is painful. When patients ask me if it will hurt, I tell them that they will usually feel some sensation, ranging from an ache to a pinch to a prick to nothing. Usually the sensations are fleeting, and the treatments deeply relaxing. Some points are more sensitive than others, and I believe these are the points that are calling for attention. Some patients report feeling energy moving through their body, described as a tingling, or a buzzing sensation. Others don't feel anything.
The needles are tiny and very thin -- slightly thicker than a human hair -- and are inserted just below the skin's surface. They are individually packaged, sterile, and disposable. They are used once, and then immediately placed in an appropriate sharps container.
Why Would I Get Acupuncture?
Despite the relative newness of acupuncture treatment in the United States, its history demonstrates that this form of treatment does get results. I have had people ask me, “Can I get acupuncture if I don’t have a disease?” The answer is a resounding “Yes!” While acupuncture treatment is very good at relieving symptoms, its history demonstrates that preventive use is best. Keeping the flow of Qi moving smoothly will help to avoid many common conditions and illnesses. Historically, the acupuncturist was charged with maintaining health rather than fixing the person after some condition or illness developed. This is a way to take charge of your health and move smoothly through life.
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