Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of healing known to mankind. It originated in the east nearly two thousand years ago. It consists of the gentle insertion and stimulation of very fine needles into specific points on the body and/or burning an herb (artemisia vulgaris latiflora) over these points. The stimulus can help bodies to react to diseases or heal.
Traditional Chinese Medicine states that it is the vital force, which is called Ch’i by Chinese, in the body that controls the working of organs and systems of human bodies. This Ch’i energy circulates from one organ to another along channels or pathways called meridians. Ch’i always follows in certain routes and in balance. In all illnesses, Ch’i is out of balance which cause human body to signal trouble by pain or other disease symptoms. Acupuncture treatments set out to correct imbalance of Ch’i or energy of a person. The goal is to restore Ch’i or energy to its natural balance level so that Ch’i will flow smoothly in human bodies.
What Can Acupuncture Treat?
While acupuncture is often known to its effectiveness in pain control, The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wider range of medical problems, such as, arthritis, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, neck pain, TMJ, sciatica, low back pain, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee pain, menstrual irregularity, endometriosis, PMS, infertility, menstrual cramps, menopausal syndrome, urinary tract infections, indigestion, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, ulcers, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, colds and flu, bronchitis, asthma, allergies, emphysema, hypertension, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, impotence, premature ejaculation, incontinence, prostatitis, prostatic hypertrophy, stress, headache, depression, anxiety, migraine, multiple sclerosis, post-stroke paralysis, dizziness, chronic fatigue, insomnia, smoking.
Do Needles Hurt?
The needles are one-time disposable and are made of stainless steel. They are as fine as a human hair. Usually nothing is felt as the needle penetrates the skin but there will be some sensation as the needle reaches the subcutaneous acupuncture point. This can be a feeling of numbness, or an ache, or an “alive” sensation, or a sort of sharpness. It is certainly a lot less painful than the sensation of being accidentally punctured by a needle or a pin. Some people seem to feel hardly anything at all. Acupuncturists believe that feeling numbness means that the needle tip has reached the acupuncture points. No feeling or feel pain is not appropriate in treatment.
What Can I Expect From a Acupuncture Treatment?
Typically, an acupuncturist will begin by taking a comprehensive intake and exam, which will consist of asking numerous questions about your primary complaint as well as more general health issues. It also includes feeling your pulse, examining color of tongues, abdominal palpation, and facial color. Then, the acupuncturist will choose several acupuncture points for treatments and insert fine sterile needles into points on the surface of your skin. The needles will be left in anywhere from a few seconds to up to 40 minutes. The acupuncturist may manually stimulate acupuncture points by touching the needles. Sometimes electrical stimulators, cupping, and moxibution are used as well depending on the needs.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The number of treatments needed varies considerably from person to person. It depends on the severity of the disease, how long the patient has suffered from it, what drugs have been or are being taken, and a host of other factors that can affect effectiveness of acupuncture treatment. But, typically, a series of 5-10 treatment may bring visible improvement to many chronic problems. Some degenerative conditions may require many more treatments over time. To help reduce the number of treatments, your practitioner may suggest dietary modifications, specific exercise regimes, relaxation techniques, self-massage, and/or Chinese herbal medicines.
Is Chinese Herbal Treatment Safe?
Herbs and nutritional supplements from plant, animal, and mineral sources are traditionally considered safe in Chinese medicinal practices. Only large quantity of consumption of herbs could possibly trigger some side effects. OriLife stocks herbs from a few qualified wholesalers in the United States.