What Disorders Can Acupuncture Treat And How Does It Work?
By Terry Dunn, Thu Dec 8th
How did acupuncture start? The story was met with widespreaddisbelief. During a visit to China in 1978, cardiologist DoctorIsadore Rosenfeld witnessed open-heart surgery on a patient,anaesthetised only with acupuncture. A major operation and thepatient was awake! Nothing like it had ever been seen before inthe west. But acupuncture is over 5000 years old. There is evidence thatit was practiced by the ancient Egyptians. South Africantribesmen scratched their bodies to cure disease and the Eskimosused a simple form of acupuncture. In ancient China the YellowEmperor's bible on internal medicine talks about the importanceof acupuncture for curing disease and restoring health. Today, in China and Taiwan there are over 232,000 traditionalChinese medical doctors practicing acupuncture. In America thereare more than 8000 qualified acupuncturists, 16 acupunctureschools and 2 medical schools teaching acupuncture. As atreatment it's accepted and practiced worldwide.
What ailments can acupuncture treat? Many people assume that acupuncture is used as a simple paincontrol technique. A technique where needles are inserted tointerrupt the nerve pathways that send pain messages to thebrain. But acupuncture is much more than this. It's designed totreat any malady and works to balance the energy of your entirebody. Based on clinical experience, it's known that acupuncture cantreat a variety of respiratory, eye and mouth,gastro-intestinal, neurological and muscular disorders. It'sespecially effective on headaches, migraine and back pain.Acupuncture is also used to stop smoking, lose weight, lowerblood pressure, relive constipation, anxiety, insomnia,allergies, asthma and alleviate skin disorders. How can it treat all these ailments? It works by 'unblocking'and balancing your energy 'circuits'. And unlike conventionaldrugs, there are only beneficial side-effects such as sleepingbetter, more energy, deeper breathing and many other bonuses. How does acupuncture work? Acupuncture means 'to puncture with a needle'. Fine, flexibleneedles, about the diameter of a human hair,
are inserted intopoints along the principal meridians of your body. Your body has a network of energy channels or 'meridians' inwhich your 'ki' flows. Each meridian is associated with aphysiological system and internal organ. There are 12 principal meridians that run the length of yourbody and each one has more than 350 acupuncture points.Acupuncture points are specific locations along the meridians.Inserting a needle into a point will 'unblock' or stimulate theenergy flow through the meridian in a very predictable andmeasured way. What happens during a treatment session? Acupucture is all part of the philosophy and practice of TCM orTraditional Chinese Medicine, which uses an intricate system ofpulse and tongue diagnosis. A qualified acupuncturist will also check the 'palpation' of theacupuncture points or meridians, your medical history and anyother signs or symptoms of disorder. The treatment is painless and insertion of the needles can feellike an insect bite or tiny prick. If you are sensitive you willfeel warmth or energy flow and is often described as a 'buzz'. Sometimes moxibustion is used to increase the heat effect at theinsertion point. A Chinese herb, 'Moxa', is placed on the needleand lit. This can stimulate the blood flow as well as the 'chi'. Is acupuncture safe? Nobody can predict the changes that will occur. Your body willdo what it needs to do to heal itself. But the healing processstarts with skilful diagnosis and the correct stimulation ofprecise acupuncture points. Acupuncture will often compliment traditional western medicine,and in the hands of a trained and properly qualifiedacupuncturist, you are perfectly safe. And for many people it isenjoyable too. Although the Chinese may have enjoyed the benefits ofacupuncture for many centuries, the legacy of discoveries by mensuch as Dr Isadore Rosenfeld means we can all benefit from thiswonderful treatment. About the author:Terry Dunn writes regular articles on how to use alternativetherapies to improve your health. From aromatherapy to yoga,discover what it's like, how it works and how you can benefit.To read more articles, visit his website,http://www.holistichealthtalk.com |
