Acupuncture, simply stated, is a health science which is used to successfully treat the pain and dysfunction in the body.

Acupuncture has its roots deeply planted in China in fact; authorities agree the science is between 5,000 and 7,000 years old. Its use spread throughout Egypt, the Middle East, the Roman Empire and later into Western Europe as merchants and missionaries to China told of the amazing discoveries the people in the Orient had developed. Acupuncture did not become known on a national level in the US until 1971 when diplomatic relations between China and America relaxed.

At first glance, acupuncture appears strange; as its primary notoriety is the utilization of needles placed in the skin at various locations to relieve pain or affect a specific body part.

Early Chinese physicians discovered there is an energy network traversing just below the surface of the skin which communicates from the exterior to the interior organs and structures in over 1000 Acupoints on the body. This energy works in harmony with the body’s circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, and all other systems of the body. When this vital energy becomes blocked or weakened, and effect in the body system or an anatomic location becomes evident. Stimulation of one of the combination of key Acupoints on the body may restore harmony to the affected area.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Far too often in the medical professions, the patient is told after extensive examination, “there is nothing wrong”, “it is all in your head”, or sorry “you’ll have to learn to live with it”. The examining doctor unable to find the cause of the problem has little else to tell the patient. Fortunately, many physicians are now referring their patients for acupuncture evaluation.

The human body’s energy flow courses over 12 meridians or channels that are normally well-balanced. If a disruption of energy flow exists, we can alter the entire system, producing pain or symptoms in the body.

If we were to compare a 175 pound man on one end of a seesaw and a 45 pound child on the other end, it becomes obvious the seesaw would be broken due to the fact that the heavier person would be sitting on the ground and the lighter would be dangling in the air. Even though the seesaw is producing a symptom of being broken extensive examination would not reveal anything wrong with the seesaw. The obvious answer is the balance. Correction of the balance corrects the problem.

This is acupuncture’s goal to restore normalcy to the body’s energy balance by utilizing a combination of Acupoints located on the 12 meridians. This is accomplished by a variety of means, the needle is just one.

Medical research continues in this country and others to attempt to explain in Western scientific terms what the ancient Chinese 70 centuries earlier described. Today, many theories have been postulated as to why acupuncture is so effective in pain control. However, as more discoveries are made, more research is indicated.

Is the Acupuncture Treatment Painful?

One would assume inserting a needle into the skin would be painful since most of us can relate to being stuck with a pin or having a hypodermic injection. However, four acupuncture needles can easily be inserted into the hollow tube of a hypodermic needle. Because of the extreme slenderness of the needle most people compare the sensation as “less than a mosquito bite”. A phenomenon referred to as the “TEHCHI” occurs when the energy is contacted. This sensation is felt as a mild to moderate heaviness or tingling.

The tapping needle “teishein” is not really a needle as it does not pierce the skin. It produces a mild to moderate sensation. Compared to tapping a ballpoint pen on the skin. This form of stimulation has been used successfully for centuries. Thumb pressure is equally impressive and not considered painful.

How Many Acupuncture Treatments Are Usual?

The number of treatments will vary with different conditions and individuals. Chronic problems require more treatment than acute ones. Some patients notice an immediate improvement after the first treatment, whereas others may not notice any effect until the seventh or eighth visit. It’s been shown that certain percentage of patients receive maximum benefits up to three months following a course of therapy. The usual number of treatments is between 8 and 16. The usual frequency is between two and four times per week.

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for the following conditions:

Acupuncture Can Help With Addiction Control – Smoking, Weight Loss, Alcholism and Drug Addiction

Acupuncture has gained a great deal of notoriety recent years concerning his considerable success with addictions control. It has been shown that acupuncture has a very positive effect in the area of drug and alcohol addiction. This procedure, in conjunction with professional counseling, has been proven extremely effective.

One of the most noteworthy addictions acupuncture helps with is smoking. The average patient will reduce their intake at least one half within 24 hours of the first treatment. Several additional treatments generally allow patients to stop smoking without experiencing the negative side effects of quitting. Acupuncture also has a favorable effect in weight control.