What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient medical practice that dates back for at least 2,000 years and is evolving into modern mainstream medicine all over the world. Acupuncture is a method of reinforcing the body's  own innate healing abilities using very fine, single use and sterile needles in specific points all over the body.

There are at least 400 acupuncture points on the body that have been recognized to have specific effects throughout. These points lie on specific pathways that intertwine connecting the body internally and externally.  Scientific research has shown that stimulating these points stimulates the central nervous system which:

1. Increases blood and body fluid circulation
2. Releases good feeling neurotransmitters like serotonin
3. Releases healing hormones like the human growth hormone.

In a more ancient and traditional sense acupuncture is a method of manipulation and stimulation of the body's energy, when there is pain, discomfort, congestion, constipation, fatigue, headaches etc., these things count as a sign of either stagnation, an excess or a deficiency. Stimulating specific points along the body causes the body to regulate itself.

If there is pain(stagnation), which is also considered a blockage in the system, acupuncture forces that blockage to be broken causing energy to move alleviating pain. If there is an excess condition like edema, acupuncture will help the body to absorb and redistribute the fluids in a healthier manner. Same goes for a deficiency like a poor appetite and loose stools, manipulating digestive points can improve appetite and regulate stools to be more solid.

The Theory of how acupuncture works is based on how the internal organs work in conjunction with the rest of the body and the pathways that connect them all together, there are 14 major external pathways that are typically used for needle stimulation. There are also two forms of commonly practiced acupuncture, Chinese and Japanese, that can be combined depending on the practitioners training. The two styles differ mostly in their needling techniques, point locations and diagnosis methods.

Acupuncture can be used to treat all issues, since it is based on how the body works, although acupuncturists can not say that they can cure things, but they can help the body heal faster then it can on its own. Acute issues are the most easily treatable, chronic issues need more time, but when coupled with a healthy lifestyle acupuncture works even better.

A typical acupuncture treatment may last up to one hour, acupuncturists also use other therapeutic tools to go along with the needles such as:

1. Heat Therapy
2. Tuina(Chinese Massage)
3. Cupping
4. Electrical Stimulation

 Acupuncture is a method of therapy that builds a upon itself, boosting the system and breaking blockages as treatments progress. The number of treatments needed usually depends on the issue and its severity. One session of acupuncture is considered to be 10 treatments, although acute issues may need only 1 treatment, but 10 may be needed for full recovery. Chronic issues may need one whole session before positive changes start to take hold.

The effectiveness of acupuncture is constantly being researched and so far the World Health Organization has credited acupuncture with being good for at least 28 different issues. Click the following link to find out what they are: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js4926e/5.html

I hope you have enjoyed this brief introduction into acupuncture, but there is a lot more to it, feel free to leave a question or a comment below and thank you for visiting Acuthink.