Acupuncture: What is It? Is It Something I Should Do?

Acupuncture is an ancient study. It is a technique that has been done for hundreds of years as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The goal of this procedure is to restore the well being and the health of the individual. While it may seem strange, acupuncture uses a method of inserting needles into specific points in the body. It should only be preformed by a skilled individual, one that has received training in it. If you are wondering if this is something for you, you’ll need to learn a little more about what acupuncture can provide as well as how it is done.

Why It Works

Acupuncture points are located throughout the body. Today, stainless steel needles are used. They are about .01 to .02 in thickness. The procedure treats the body as a whole. It works to improve the function of several systems of function that are associated with several physical organs in the body. If there is a problem with the systems or a disease is present, acupuncture tries to address this by attempting to modify the activity of one or several of the systems of function. They do this with a combination of heat, needles, and pressure on the sensitive parts of the body which are called acupuncture points. They help to restore the body through a method of yin and yang.

There are six yin channels and six yang channels. There are three of each in each arm and three of each in each leg. There are yin and yang points throughout the body including the hands and the feet. The goal is to restore the balance of qi in the body. Qi is a term used to describe vital energy. This is the very foundation of being alive and functioning in Traditional Chinese Medicine technologies. If there are deficiencies of qui, there can be pain and illness. Pain is supposed to mean that there is a blockage or a poor flow of qi.

What Happens During Acupuncture

When you visit an acupuncturist, you will already have insured that the individual is capable of performing the procedure because they have been trained. This individual will determine which points to treat based on questions that they will ask you. . They will then use diagnostic skills to determine and observe the left and right radial pulses. They will look at the tongue coating and notice if there are teeth marks around the edges of it. From here, there is quite a bit of difference in what is done as far as the various techniques go.

Western Acupuncture

There are several things that are done in acupuncture in the western cultures. For example, to treat a throbbing headache, the acupuncturist will stimulate the area of the hand between the thumbs and the palms (the webbing that is located there). These points, called, the gu points are known for helping the face and head areas of the body. There are many various ways in which it can help you such as this one.

What Can It Benefit?

So, what can acupuncture do for you? There are a number of conditions in which it can be used with proven and unproven results. While Traditional Chinese Medicine is debated, some studies have found some benefits to using it for treatments. Some conditions in which acupuncture has been shown to show some benefits include tennis elbow, depression, headache, lower back pain, chronic heart failure, labor, menopausal symptoms, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. It is important to note that they don’t necessarily cure the condition but can help to relieve or benefit it in some way.

Many of the treatments and methods of acupuncture are yet to be realized. In western culture, there is always a wait and see for testing. But, the testing is expensive and not one that is a priority to many. For that, it will take a long time before it can be proven and used as a standard medical treatment as it is used in many Asian countries. There are many ways in which acupuncture can provide excellent results and without the harmful side effects of medications. In fact, in many cases, it can be safer to treat conditions with acupuncture over medications.

If you choose to use acupuncture, all of the benefits and difference comes in finding a well trained, experienced acupuncturist.

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