What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an essential part of traditional Oriental medicine, a comprehensive system of health care with a continuous clinical history of over 3,000 years. Oriental medicine includes acupuncture, Chinese herbology, body work, dietary therapy, and exercise based on traditional Oriental medicine principles. These therapies work with the natural vital energy inherent within all living things to promote the body’s ability to heal itself. This system of health care is used extensively by one-quarter of the world’s population residing in Asia and is rapidly growing in the West.
Acupuncture (the insertion of very fine needles to promote the flow of energy within the body) is a balancing technique purported to restore the body to optimal health. The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues, blood flow and nervous pulses also follow meridians to run through the body to various parts, structures and organs. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers are like a dam that backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts it in others. Any obstruction and blockages or deficiencies of energy, blood and nervous pulses would eventually lead to disease. Needling the acupuncture points can influence the meridians: the acupuncture needles unblock the obstruction at the dams, and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians.
ACUPUNCTURE is the insertion of a fine needle into the body at a specific acupoint, or an “ashi” (tender) point with the intention of helping the body’s Qi to resume its normal, or healthy, activity. Different acupoints have different functions and are combined in different ways depending on the disease pattern. Acupuncture techniques are varied, with the use of different types of needle (pic), and different methods such as needle insertion, bleeding, plum-needling, and the combination of acupuncture with electrical-stimulation, moxibustion (needle-warming) and cupping. Possible side-effects of acupuncture include “needle-fainting” and sub-dermal bleeding. Needle-fainting is rare and can be resolved by withdrawing the needle and eating/drinking something sugary. Sub-dermal bleeding is extremely rare and not dangerous. Acupuncture is only hazardous if performed by someone who is not a qualified acupuncturist.
Many of the myths about acupuncture are not true. The most popular myth is that receiving treatment is an experience with several large needles and major amounts of pain. The reality is that acupuncture has been around for 2,500 years! When other methods have failed give this time-tested technique a try. For more information about the history of this health method go to our “acupuncture” web page.
Acupuncture is a complete medical system originated from China more than 3000 years ago. It applies traditional Chinese medicine theory to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease and improve well-being by inserting very fine stainless steel acupuncture needles at critical points through human body. Due to its proven effectiveness, it has been becoming more and more popular throughout the world.
