Acupuncture has a variety of helpful techniques. Here are some things to think about.
Acupuncture is a form of medical treatment that originated in China. Although it is being more widely accepted in mainstream medicine,
it has actually been around for thousands of years. It is now considered to be an alternative remedy or one that is complementary to more traditional types. This segment of healthcare is also associated with the philosophical belief system called Taoism. There are thousands of practitioners today in the United States. These doctors of acupuncture use natural remedies, herbs as well as the needles.
Some of the foundations of Chinese medicine include views that humans are part of the whole of the universe rather than separate entities. Nature and other forces are connected to humans, as well. The body's organs, tissues and other components are believed to be interdependent and connected. What affects one portion of the body will also have an impact on other portions. There is also a belief that there are yin and yang counterparts present in everything. The theory of yin and yang entails that there are two balanced sides to everything and these two parts complement and oppose at the same time. There is also a belief in energetic pathways called meridians and chi or qi as energy flow.
Chinese practitioners look at the whole body in order to discover what the ailments are and remedies may be. The tongue is checked, the pulse is taken, and the patient is listened to, smelled and touched. All of these observations help the doctor to prescribe a cure of herbs or acupuncture needle placement.
Herbs are derived from natural sources such as flowers, seeds, roots, leaves and stems. They are ground up and used in powders, pills or brewed in tea form. Although these concoctions are mainly derived from plants, animal and mineral derivatives are also sometimes included.
Acupuncture is performed using slender needles at certain bodily pressure points. These needles are placed into the skin in order to release blocked chi. The needles are not painful but rather stimulate healing via their insertion locations. These devices are usually made from wire comprised of stainless steel. Although some doctors use reusable acupuncturist needles, most of these devices are throwaway types. Depending on where the insertions will occur, each needle ranges from extremely thin and flexible to thicker and more rigid. Some are longer while others are fairly short and the sharper the device, the less painful the insertion.
These treatments are used for a multitude of conditions and maladies including back pain, depression, nausea, anxiety, infertility, smoking cessation, cancer, arthritis, cancer, heart disease and complications related to HIV or AIDS.
These treatments have been approved for public safety by the FDA. The FDA is a governmental watchdog agency designed to oversee drugs, foods, beverages, medical devices and procedures. The stipulation for safety is that practitioners sterilize all needles. Consumers should ask about the acupuncturist's training and certification before having treatments performed.
If an individual has an ailment and is considering acupuncture as a cure, it would be wise to discuss the situation with his or her healthcare provider. Pregnant or nursing mothers should proceed with caution and only under the oversight of their family doctor.
