What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture, simply stated, is a health science that is used to successfully treat both pain and dysfunction in the body.
Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing developed over thousands of years as a part of the traditional medicine of China, Japan and other Eastern Countries. It involves the stimulation of certain empirically tested points on the body with ultrafine needles, herbs, finger pressure, and other methods to relieve specific medical conditions.
How does it work?
Many Western doctors believe that stimulation of empirically specific points causes the nervous system to release endorphins and other naturally occurring chemicals and hormones that affect pain perception, mood, and overall health. Documented physiological shifts following acupuncture show an increase in the body’s own natural painkillers, anti-inflammatory agents and analgesics. Secondly, acupuncture stimulates the body’s immune system, affecting heart rate, brain activity, and blood pressure. Not only does acupuncture relieve pain; it also increases the body’s own natural ability to heal itself and prevent disease.
What is it good for?
Acupuncture is not necessarily the solution to every health care problem. Both Western and Eastern Medicine have their respective strengths and weaknesses. When appropriately combined, the patient is well served.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment modality for many conditions, including:
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Diseases of the muscles, bones and joints. Including back pain, repetitive stress injury, shoulder and neck problems, whiplash, sprains and arthritis.
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Headaches, migraines.
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Fibromyalgia, insomnia, fatigue.
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Anxiety, depression and other nervous disorders.
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Indigestion, stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal disorders, constipation, diarrhea.
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Asthma, bronchitis, frequent colds and flus.
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High blood pressure.
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Menstrual problems, painful periods, infertility, fetal malposition.
How does it feel?
The needles are ultra-fine, filiform needles, about the thickness of a hair. In fact, you can fit between 5-10 acupuncture needles into the one hypodermic needle used for drawing blood! Insertion is often painless or may feel for a brief moment like a mosquito bite. Other therapies may also be applied, including moxibustion, cupping, or massage techniques.
Many patients find an acupuncture treatment to be very relaxing and some people even fall asleep during a treatment.