Tap into your life force

Acupuncture is a Chinese medical practice that is thousands of years old. With acupuncture, very fine, solid needles are inserted into the body. The needles are placed according to traditional locations on the body. This treatment is often confused with acupressure, that stimulates the same meridians via gentle touch. According to Chinese spiritualism, acupuncture needles are tapping into energy meridians that exist throughout the body, and through which life force, called chi, flows.

So how does it really work? Well, acupuncture is a fairly recent import to the West, making its entrance to America less than four decades ago. Current thinking is that the insertion of needles into the body causes a chemical response, which may involve the release of endorphins or other substances that are produced in response to injury or invasion by a foreign body.

To determine acupuncture points, a pulse and tongue diagnosis is required, along with observation and questioning of the patient. Actual insertion of the acupuncture needles involves a tap at the end. The needles themselves are extremely thin, looking barely more substantial than a hair-like piece of wire. For hygienic reasons, it is very important that the needles being used are disposables, removed from their packaging specifically for your treatment.

Insertion of the acupuncture needles causes minimal discomfort, but, contrary to what you may hear, there can be mild discomfort during the actual treatment (the period of time after all of the needles have been inserted and you're waiting, motionless, while the treatment takes effect).

Acupuncture is used to treat multiple physical and psychological symptoms. There are patients that belive that an acupuncture facelift can revitalize the facial muscles and increase blood flow to create a more youthful appearance without invasive surgery. Some patients swear by acupuncture for back pain treatment and even turn to acupuncture infertility treatments as an alternative to drug therapy for conception In other circles, a course of acupuncture treatments are used to curb habits, and acupuncture to stop smoking has grown in popularity over the last few years.

Before booking an appointment with an acupuncturist, it's a good idea to do some online research. Find out the name of the governing body for the profession in your district and ensure that the massage therapist you've selected is certified. Also, be leery of an acupuncturist who oversteps his/her bounds. An acupuncturist is not a physician. It's a good idea to consult your physician before embarking on a course of acupuncture.

Acupuncture's efficacy is fairly well-established. The positive effects of acupuncture have been documented. Scientific investigations have found that acupuncture can help the body maintain homeostasis, moderate inflammation responses, relieve pain and promote general health and well-being. Many insurance providers will also recognize this and cover acupuncture treatments for policy holders.

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