Getting adequate and quality sleep, staying fit and eating healthy, are sure ways to attain optimum health although many may still suffer from illnesses. A person with pain and aches will have to depend on drugs to get relief without the help of acupuncture. Acupuncturists have the skill to enhance the energy of a person in just a few treatments.
Why Acupuncture?
Treating body pain with the use of needles may seem a bizarre idea, but for many who have tried acupuncture, this technique is one of the most powerful and safest ways to relieve pain. Acupuncture has no side effects whatsoever and one need not worry about any negative reactions. You might be asking yourself: Does acupuncture hurt? The surprising answer is that acupuncture is painless. On the other hand, drugs prescribed by medical doctors carry dangerous side effects, and merely mask the pain and need to be taken again once their effects wear off. One also has to worry about taking a combination of drugs since one drug might not be compatible with another. Body manipulation is the way to go if you want your body realigned, and if your body is realigned you may also have to realign your Qi as well. This is something that acupuncture is known to accomplish.
Ancient Old Medicine
Acupuncture is a 4,000 year old Chinese healing art that uses thin needles inserted at specific pressure points in order to treat certain types of conditions. This excellent form of treatment was introduced in Europe in the 1600’s by the Jesuits doing missionary work in China. In Chinese, acupuncture is called “Chen Chin” which literally means stick and burns. The word acupuncture is derived from two Latin words “acus” (needle) and “plunge” (to knit).
Acupuncture works basically due to the needle’s stimulating effect on nerves surrounding the pressure point. There are now several types of acupuncture techniques that patients can try out. Some of these include Imunoak acupuncture and earring acupuncture.
Thousands of years ago, the Chinese discovered that when a certain part of the skin is stimulated, it generates certain effects on the functions and organs of the body. These effects were considered beneficial to the person in that they help control and regulate certain kinds of disorders. Currently it has been discovered that there are around 2 000 pressure points scattered throughout the body (also known as acupoints.) However, only 360 of these points are commonly used to treat various types of disorders.
Acupoints are chosen based on questioning and examination and tongue and pulse diagnosis and classified according to their impacts on specific body organs and systems. When an acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin, the sensation felt is virtually painless. A sensation of relaxation and comfort sets in as the effect of the needles is felt.
Western scientists do not exactly know how acupuncture actually works although more and more studies have revealed that acupuncture works for a wide range of conditions including childhood illnesses, emotional and mental problems, organ imbalances and joint and pain problems.
A growing number of Western trained nurses and doctors are now studying and practicing acupuncture in Miami, while a growing number of people have decided to go through full-time training in acupuncture to be full-time acupuncturists.
What Can Acupuncture Do?
Arthritis, allergy, or migraine headache are just a few of the health conditions alternative therapies such as acupuncture can treat. Licensed acupuncturists are trained to treat phobias, disorders that cause recurring pain, nausea, and even sore eyes. Because of the dangers of conventional drugs, a lot of people now prefer alternative modes of treatment to help cure and prevent illness.
A person is oftentimes constantly bombarded with problems that bring about stress. Without treatment of some kind, that person becomes less effective in maintaining the health of his immune system. Drugs are rarely effective when it comes to resolving nerve problems and may not always alleviate the swelling of the joints. Headaches can be addressed by chiropractic medicine, physiotherapy or by acupuncture. The latter can be an effective tool as well in treating allergy due to its ability to decrease the body’s sensitivity to histamine.
The aim of a majority of acupuncture treatments is to restore or improve the flow of vital energy in the body. This is accomplished by either clearing out blockages in the energy channels or rechanneling the flow to parts of the body that badly needs energy to rebalance the energy levels in the body. Initially, before metal was discovered, stick and stones were used as tools to stimulate energy. Then various objects were used including gold, porcelain, bamboo, and even bone. Nowadays, needles made up of stainless steel with a little element of copper are widely used by acupuncturist practicing their profession in Western societies.
Before acupuncture treatment is performed, the acupuncturist diagnoses a patient’s condition using the traditional Chinese medicine ways of diagnosing a person. These diagnostic tools include the principles of the five elements, yin and yang and other TCM concepts. The acupuncturist has several ways to use acupuncture on the patient. He may address the symptoms using local pressure points by balancing the energy levels of the body. The traditional type of acupuncture called classical acupuncture is utilized to treat and/or prevent of a number of mental and physical conditions.
Acupuncture has a very important role to play in Western medicine. It is effective and economical and it is used both as a preventive and treatment modality by millions of people all over the world.
Acupressure
Instead of needles, acupressure uses nail or fingertip pressure to acupoints in order to boost the circulation of chi, relieve pain and clear blockages in the meridians. Acupressure in Chinese medicine can be used as a standalone therapy or used along with an acupuncture treatment.
Acupressure is appropriate for people who have a fear for needles. It can be safely utilized, easily learned and can be applied as a self-help technique. However, the results are less specific and slower than acupuncture since its application is less direct and specific than acupuncture.
How to Find a Licensed Acupuncturist in Your Area
Unfortunately, not all acupuncturists have the same level of training. For example, acupuncturists who are certified (not licensed,) including some medical doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists, oftentimes only have 300 hours (or less) of training. But a qualified practitioner gets over 2,000 hours, which is a 3 to 4 year masters level education in acupuncture and Chinese medicine to become a licensed acupuncturist.
To learn more about choosing an acupuncturist that’s right for you, please visit any of the three online resources below: