Many people have heard about acupuncture and know it is a kind of alternative medicine. But most of them do not know how acupuncture works and why it is effective in treating some illnesses. This article gives an overview of acupuncture so you can understand this valuable ancient medical science, and possibly know where to get acupuncture treatment when you need it.
What is acupuncture?
As a part of Chinese medicine, acupuncture treatment originates in China. Chinese medicine is based on the theory of meridians and points. According to Chinese medicine, the subtle body of a human being contains the system of meridians and points. Meridians, or channels, are invisible to our physical eyes, but they are important energy routes. Our life force, or Qi, is flowing through the channels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Said, Blockage or disruptions in the flow of Qi is the cause of various diseases. Acupuncture treats diseases by regulating and balancing the flow of Qi. Points sit on the meridians. Acupuncture works by stimulating the points with acupuncture needles. In an acupuncture treatment session, the therapistinserts acupuncture needles into different points on the client’s body.
The tools for acupuncture treatment
Generally, acupuncture needles are 15 mm to 20 mm in length and 0.12 to 0.35 mm in diameter. They areas thin as hairs. Different gauges of acupuncture needles are used on different areas of body. For example, to treat ear points, you need very thin and short needles. Different kinds of needles are available in acupuncture supplies shops and online stores. When the needles are pushed into the client’s body, he may feel a little pain, but he should not feel any discomfort when the needles remain in his body. The needles will be kept in the client’s body for 5-20 minutes. It depends on the Chinese medicine diagnosis of the client’s condition. The therapist may apply heat or pulse electricity on the acupuncture needles. You can find the accessories in acupuncture supplies shops.
An acupuncture treatment process
The client sits or lies down. Following the local sterilization on the points, the therapist inserts the acupuncture needles in the client’s body. The correct angle, direction and depth are very important for a successful treatment. But an experienced therapist knows how to diagnose the diseases and treat them correctly. Generally, after reaching the proper depth, the therapist does not pull out the needles immediately. They use fingers to rotate the needles left and right for 2-3 minutes to stimulate the points sufficiently. Then the needles are kept in the body for 5-20 minutes.
Can I use acupuncture to treat myself?
Yes. But acupuncture is a complex technique that takes time to master. As we mentioned above, you need to know the correct angle, direction, depth of insertion, as well as how long you should keep the needles in the body for different conditions. Besides, there are different kinds of needles in the acupuncture supplies shop. You can get some books to read about acupuncture theory, and try some treatment routines and see the effects. Besides needles, acupuncture supplies may also include Electrical Point Finders, which can help you locate the points precisely.
Acupuncture Treatment Guide: The Guidelines Are for Our Safety
Acupuncture treatment is tested now for over 3000 years and till date it is considered as most efficient and trustworthy form of healing people. It is helpful in promoting health, reducing pain and decreases the symptoms of diseases. This method of healing seems to be weird but with time people has recognized this ancient Chinese art of healing and curing. The basic focus of the acupuncturist is to increase and balance chi in your body. “Chi” is the positive energy that flows in the human body. When chi is imbalance the body falls sick and weak.
The experienced and efficient acupuncturist from their knowledge can control health and illness by motivating some points of areas that lie along the meridian. These specific points of areas are called “acupoints” where the needles are inserted. The needles used in this method are almost the size of human hair strands. Nowadays, in acupuncture new additions are done such as introduction of herbs, magnet and lasers. But the basic or root requirement is the same. The new methods of acupuncture also revitalize you and adjust the vital energy in your body. This is done by reaching all the required areas of body and also heals it in a very short time.
Limits of Acupuncture
It’s a known fact nowadays that acupuncture treatment as well as oriental medicines has both powerful healing tools. Every individual must understand that these methods are neither very easy to follow and nor they are the only solution for all your health related problems. All types of medicine methods whether they are western or oriental have their own respective strengths as well as weaknesses. So, a proper combination of acupuncture treatment as well as western medicine together will serve in much better way. Usually acute diseases can be handled properly by the western method whereas everyday health problems to chronic diseases can benefit more from oriental medicine or acupuncture.
Making selection of a Efficient Acupuncturist
For the last 12 years the acupuncturists are licensed by the Medical Board of California. An individual is only allowed to practice this skill once he or she has completed four years of training from any approved college of oriental Medicine. Once an individual passes the California Acupuncture committee examination papers, he or she is granted a title called “Licensed Acupuncturist” or L.Ac. The acupuncturist when receives this license passes all the criteria and become eligible to treat and handle acupuncture cases. Never opt for an acupuncturist who does not possess this license because then you will only be responsible for your life.
Is Acupuncture treatment safe for you?
This question usually arises in every individual’s mind when they first come for counseling. If you have searched for a licensed, qualified and efficient acupuncturist then we can say that you are safe in their hands. A licensed acupuncturist is well versed with the entire human body and they are skilled in inserting the needles in proper and perfect way. The needles used by them are either pre-sterilized or are disposable.
Bleeding does not occur while inserting the needles. Needle used for the treatment are thin like a hair strand of a human. The needle is inserted in particular acupuncture point with care and safety. Oriental medicine doctor are truly concerned about their patients and are also aware of the infections that patient may get from the surroundings and equipment. They take every possible step to provide clean and healthy atmosphere. So, this method of treatment is completely safe.
Side effects of Acupuncture
If an efficient and experienced acupuncturist treats an individual then he will only make use those equipment that are either pre-sterilized or disposable. Acupuncture is safe and does not have any severe side effects. From the treatment, patients feel relaxed and energized. So, finding a side effect is not easy with this form of treatment.
Acupuncture and Its Benefits
The art of healing through acupuncture treatment points to not only one area of the body but targets almost every system of the human person. It has diverse forms that have evolved through time; and some of the most generally used methods are: acupuncture infertility treatment, needle piercing for arthritis and acupuncture for weight loss.
The most important question of most patients is how the acupuncture infertility treatment works. Acupuncture works through the so called “pattern spans” in a person’s body. The acupuncture point chart allows for the tactical placement of the needles that are meant to target a specific organ. The energy points in the human body control every aspect of the human being if stimulated properly. For the majority women, acupuncture infertility treatment works for the reason that the latter significantly energizes the spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental balance; and such are needed to develop and keep up a positive pregnancy.
Usually, patients resort to an acupuncture infertility treatment when the scientific way of conceiving fails. Furthermore, most reproductive health care specialists also advice the use of acupuncture infertility treatment if all the other methods fail; and much to their surprise, the olden way of conceiving proves to be very resourceful especially for couples who have already tried several methods just to get pregnant. Even though the mechanism is not fully known, still many couples have already proved the efficacy of acupuncture infertility treatment. Obviously, you have to try using the method and see if it works out for you the same way.
The Use Of Acupuncture Point Chart
An acupuncture point chart is a necessary tool to be used in performing the famous needle sticks. Lacking of it, delivering acupuncture therapy would be quite impossible. A therapist is as a rule taught on the ways to read an acupuncture point chart. Usually, this tool is meant to be carried along and not just for memorized.
Though some therapists may be able to perform acupuncture without the important guide, it is nevertheless still a vital tool used by many specialists – beginners or experts alike. Additionally, an acupuncture therapy is more meaningful and to the point if performed together with the use of an acupuncture point chart.
The acupuncture treatment works through balancing the Qi in a body. Ancient Chinese assumed that an imbalance in the Qi may lead to the problems that you are currently experiencing. If it is fixed, subsequently you can start living a normal life again. Obviously, fixing the Qi is not an easy task; you have to go through several therapies in order to fully get rid of your problem. You are obliged to obey with the acupuncture allergy treatment to draw positive effects from it.