What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient technique that promotes the body's natural healing process. It involves the insertion of thin, sterile needles into precise acupuncture points. The patient's signs and symptoms help to determine which points to use.
Most people assume that the needles we use are the same as those used to draw blood or give an injection. Acupuncture needles are quite different. Standard needles are thick and hollow to allow fluids to pass through. Acupuncture needles, on the other hand, are slender and fine. Furthermore, when examined under a microsope, you can see the tip is round, not pointed, as their purpose is to slide under the skin not puncture a vein. They don't create the painful sensation associated with getting a shot. People generally find acupuncture treatments to be relaxing and rejuvenating. All needles used at our facility are sterile and single use only, and ar disposed of properly into a sharps container.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy course through the body. These channels, also called meridians, are like rivers, bringing nourishment to muscles, tissues, and organs. An obstruction in these energy channels is like a dam that backs up and starves the tissues down stream. Injury and traumas are common causes of channel obstruction, but we also realize that emotional imbalances, poor diet, inactivity, lack of rest and chronic disease can impair channel circulation.
Needling acupuncture points directly influences the meridians. The precisely placed acupuncture needle unblocks the obstructions and reestablishes a regular flow through the meridians. This allows the body to receive the nourishment, recover from illness and return it's vitality.
Acupuncture helps the body to restore homeostasis. Our bodies are equipped with innate feedback loops which regulate everything from hormone levels to blood circulation to digestive processes. Sometimes our bodies become so imbalanced that these feedback loops fail to work. Acupuncture assists in 'reminding' the body what the normal balance is so that it can correct the imbalances and function correctly again.
Acupuncture is know to increase endorphins, the body's natural pain killers, and increase blood circulation. Therefore, injured tissues and organs can heal from the fresh blood supply, and remain pain free. Learn More about some acupuncture specialties.
The World Health Organization created a list of diseases that respond well to acupuncture treatment. These include everything from constipation and diarrhea to headaches and bacterial infections.
Links
Learn more: www.acupuncture.com
The 12 major Chinese medicine organs and channels http://www.acupuncture.com/education/theory/primarychan.htm
Great search engine for primary research http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
National Institute of Health philosophy about acupuncture
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/
Current news about the acupuncture community
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/
The school that trained us
http://www.ocom.edu/index.php
The national certifciation commission for acupuncture
http://www.nccaom.org/
More information on theory
http://www.tcmstudent.com/theory/
