A Speedy Guide to Acupuncture

     Using needles to regulate bodily functions to optimum levels is the principle behind acupuncture. Both ancient Chinese and current Western practitioners have used this method to relieve countless sufferers of chronic disease. Needling is a relatively harmless, good treatment strategy that can be used to ease pain, improve healing, & boost general well-being. But exactly how is this procedure done and what kind of benefits will be obtained?

Procedure for Needle Puncture

There are two broad categories of acupuncture practiced these days, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and medical acupuncture. Both have their merits, so the choice is individual. The decision for the majority people hinges upon which viewpoint appeals more to them and which technique holds the least uneasiness.

In TCM, practitioners adhere to the notion of Qi, or energy flow, & the meridians in which they travel. They make use of longer needles and insert them deeper in order to get to the acupuncture points. Modern science has discovered not much evidence to prove the existence of these energy channels, but this is the practice that has been used successfully for 1000抯 of years.

In medical acupuncture, the practitioners are graduates of western medical educational facilities. Their application of needles is not dependent on the established acupuncture points, but on anatomic data. These acupuncturists use shorter needles & the insertions are shallower. They also tend to use fewer needles and leave them inserted for shorter periods of time. Adherents to TCM feel this is a watered-down version of the real thing. Nevertheless, countless sufferers have felt pain relief of symptoms through this technique.

Conditions That May Be Treated By Acupuncture Application

There is a broad and wide-ranging list of ailments that can be treated with acupuncture. The conditions run the gamut from bronchial asthma to bowel problems, anxiety to weight loss. Most TCM practitioners believe that any health condition results from an imbalance in Qi flow, and as a result amenable to needle therapy. Western acupuncturists tend to have a more limited list of indications, the most common of which is undoubtedly management of pain.

Control of pain is the most well researched of all of the indications for acupuncture. There is a definite beneficial effect for a majority of sufferers using this process. Migraines, premenstrual syndrome, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and neuralgias are but a few examples. The theory behind its effectiveness is also medically acknowledged and well researched, called the gate-control theory of pain. It states that the needles can stimulate nerves so that they block the impulses from pain triggers.

Expected Acupuncture Session Result

It is vital to emphasize that acupuncture is used only on top of existing medical treatment. At no time should a patient discontinue medication or ignore medical instructions in preference of needle puncture. After undergoing a needle puncture routine, the primary care physician can make an evaluation with regards to reducing dependence on other therapies.

A course of acupuncture therapy will last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. This is dependent upon the complexity of the specific medical condition. Results also vary, so it is important to have a frank discussion with the acupuncturist regarding probable results and their time frame. In general, the patient will begin to experience positive effects after three or four sessions. Certain specific conditions will actually get a little worse before improving so keeping informed is key.

In modern medicine, the use of traditional techniques with established results has become a widely accepted practice. Acupuncture has proven its value time and again. Modern practice guidelines make it effective, reproducible, and safe. It is a gift of healing that has the potential to bring about relief to millions of people and is gaining popularity rapidly.

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