The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago,acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971.
Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed.Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment.This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner.
Acupuncture is one of the key components of the system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In the TCM system of medicine, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle. Among the major assumptions in TCM are that health is achieved by maintaining the body in a "balanced state" and that disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qi (vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. It is believed that there are 12 main meridians and 8 secondary meridians and that there are more than 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body that connect with them.
The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up in others.
The meridians can be influenced by needling the acupuncture points; the acupuncture needles unblock the obstructions at the dams, and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments can therefore help the body's internal organs to correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities, and in the circulation of their energy through the meridians.The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.
The modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body's own internal regulating system.
The acupuncture treatment consists of inserting fine needles into the body in patterns designed to influence the flow of qi in one of the subdivisions of the energy circulation network. Usually only one energy subdivision is selected to stimulate energy movement, along with a collection of local points to focus the attention of the energy movement. Each subdivision of the circulation has a unique therapeutic point combination necessary for activation. The combinations involve the insertion of at least three needles - the energy moving needles - that are usually in the extremities and usually inserted bilaterally. The focusing needles are Inserted at trunk points that influence the organs being stimulated, or at muscular points tender to palpation in the region of the pain.
Focusing needles can likewise be stimulated through manual, thermal, or electrical means. It is common to treat the patient using front, back, and extremity points during the course of a single treatment session. This means that the treatment is typically divided into two sections: the energy movement section using extremity points to activate flow through the meridians, and the section to focus the energy on one or several organs or to influence a pain problem
Benefits of acupuncture
There are many benefits that can obtained through acupuncture, including the following:
• Prevention of illness and other problems—it is believed that acupuncture can help the continuous steady flow of Qi, and this can allow the body to prevent harmful illnesses.
• Healing—the belief in acupuncture healing is not that the acupuncture itself creates healing, but that the correct flow of Qi throughout the body helps it to better be able to heal itself. The healing that comes from the correct Qi flow is both healing from acute injuries as well as healing from chronic illnesses.
• Pain relief—not only can acupuncture help lead to the healing of illnesses and injuries, the manipulation of the pressure points can create some immediate (as well as long-term) pain relief.
• Breaking bad habits—many acupuncture therapists believe (as well as do many of their patience) that acupuncture can help break bad habits that the body has developed—this can include addictions, such as smoking, as well as unintentional bad habits, such as sleep habits.
• Sense of well-being—because the flow of Qi has such an effect on the body’s overall health, many patience leave an acupuncture session feeling generally healthier.
