Acupuncture – An Overview of The Basics

Acupuncture is a popular alternative medical treatment for pain. It involves inserting thin, metallic needles into strategic points on your body. Acupuncture was first used in China more than 2,000 years ago. It first gained attention in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how impressed he was with the postoperative pain relief he got from acupuncture.

The Chinese and Western theories on how acupuncture heals the human body are very different. According to traditional Chinese medicine, everything in nature, including the human body, has two opposing forces: yin and yang. The yin force is very passive and the yang force is very active. There is also the notion that there is a flow of energy, known as Qi, which flows through pathways, known as meridians, in the body. Each meridian corresponds to one or more organs. As long as the Qi is flowing properly, there is a balance between yin and yang and your body will remain healthy. If the flow of Qi is disrupted, this will cause an imbalance between yin and yang, which will cause illness. Qi is accessible through approximately 400 acupuncture points on the human body that are connected with the meridians. These acupuncture points are places near the surface of the skin. To restore the proper flow of Qi, an acupuncturist will insert thin, metallic needles into the acupuncture points in various combinations.

Western scientists have different explanations for how acupuncture heals the human body. One theory suggests that during acupuncture treatment, opioids are released into your central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which reduces pain. Acupuncture has also been found to stimulate the nerves in your spinal cord, which causes the release of pain-suppressing neurotransmitters. This theory was verified by images of the brain from one medical study that showed acupuncture increases your pain threshold. Another theory is that acupuncture increases the blood flow around the treated area. The increased blood flow will supply additional nutrients and/or remove toxic substances. Western scientists have also determined that acupuncture points are conductors of electromagnetic signals. These scientists believe that acupuncture will stimulate these acupuncture points and speed up the electromagnetic signals. These signals will then help send pain-killing biochemicals, such as endorphins, to injured parts of your body.

According to a report from the United States National Institute of Health (NIH) titled “Acupuncture: The NIH Consensus Statement”, acupuncture is effective in treating various medical conditions. It was effective in alleviating postoperative dental pain and adult postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It was also effective in treating tennis elbow, addiction, stroke, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, carpel tunnel syndrome and asthma. A Mayo Clinic Study from 2006 showed that acupuncture significantly alleviated the symptoms of fibromyalgia. The report from the NIH also indicated that the side effects of acupuncture are less harmful than medical drugs or surgery. Acupuncture is being accepted by the mainstream as a legitimate medical treatment. A number of medical schools, such as UCLA, have acupuncture training classes in their curriculum. In 1995, the United States Food and Drug Administration classified acupuncture needles as medical instruments. Many American insurance companies will provide full coverage of acupuncture treatment for certain medical conditions.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Acupuncture [http://acupuncture-guideto.com/]