Acupuncture is a famous treatment procedure for a wide range of health conditions. It is a drug-free approach that entails inserting thin needles through the skin at specific body points. So, when and where did it originate from? How does it work? What are the health benefits of acupuncture treatment? Does it have any side effects? Read on to find out everything you need to know about acupuncture.
When and where did it originate from?
Acupuncture is the oldest form of treatment dating back to around 2nd century B.C. Its roots can be traced back to China where it started before spreading to other parts of the world. Despite the rapid growth and inventions in the medical field, Acupuncture has proven its worthiness and its still being used alongside modern medical practices.
What health conditions is it used to combat?
Acupuncture is used to fight various health conditions related to the digestive, reproductive, and respiratory systems of the body. Such conditions include acute bronchitis, chronic tonsillitis, migraine, infertility, lower back pain, bronchial asthma, chronic sinusitis, rheumatoid arthritis, facial paralysis, spasm of the cardia and esophagus, and many more. This procedure can also be used to combat addictions such as smoking and alcoholism. Acupuncture corrects imbalances in the major organs of the body which is the primary origin of many diseases hence preventing their development.
How Acupuncture Works
Acupuncture is based on the assumption that most health conditions develop due to blockage or interruption of the body’s life energy flow. This interruption or blockage of flow results to the accumulation of fluid in some parts of the body resulting in swelling and pain due to excess pressure. A blockage also cuts out the supply of nutrients to all parts of the body leading to malnutrition. This makes one feel fatigue, weak and even experience slow healing if they have injuries on these parts.
Acupuncture removes blockages in the body hence relieving pain and swelling, allowing nutrients to reach all body parts thus making one to be relaxed. The body’s energy balance is restored making one feel vibrant and energized. This treatment approach involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body called acupuncture points. Depending on the condition being treated, the points of insertion and the number of needles may vary from one person to another. The needles used in the treatment are pre-sterilised and should be used only once. They are inserted just under the skin or deeper to reach the muscle where are they left in place for around 20 to 40 minutes. In some cases, the needles may be rotated or stimulated using a mild electric current. At the end of the session, you will get a deep sense of relaxation.
Does it hurt?
The procedure is not painful, but one may experience a tingling or warm sensation when the practitioner is inserting the needles. If you experience too much pain, numbness or any other form of discomfort, let the practitioner know immediately.
Benefits of acupuncture?
• No significant side effects as compared to using drugs
• Can be combined with other forms of treatments when carried out appropriately
• One gets personalized therapy according to their needs
• Works both as a preventive and treatment measure
• One can comfortably continue with their normal life even when undergoing this procedure
These are all good examples of how acupuncture can help your body.
Side effects of acupuncture
• Soreness, bruising and bleeding on the points of insertion (Risky for patients with a bleeding disorder or users of blood thinners)
Other alarming side effects of acupuncture procedure mostly arise from poor hygiene and training of the practitioner. Such include;
• Infection because of using unsterilized needlesof internal organs especially the lungs which can collapse
• Wrong angle of inserting needles or doing it too deeply resulting damage
Why Acupuncture can be a better approach to healing than using modern western drugs:
Modern western drugs have side effects that sometimes even outdo the condition the drugs are meant to treat. This means they will do more harm than good, especially when used over a long period. Acupuncture, on the other hand, doesn’t leave behind significant side-effects if it’s carried out safely by the right professional. Another good example of how acupuncture can help your body.
The different kinds of acupuncture include:
Electroacupuncture
This type of acupuncture involves rotating the needles once they are inserted in the body or stimulating them using a mild electric current. It gives the patient a tingling sensation which some practitioners say it facilitates healing.
Body Acupuncture
This is the most common type of acupuncture which entails inserting fine needles into various points on the body ranging from the toe to the head. The treatment is used to fight a wide range of conditions.
Auricular acupuncture
This type of acupuncture entails inserting fine needles in the ear where it is believed there are acupuncture points that represent all parts of the body. The procedure is useful in combating addictions such as alcohol or smoking, and when combined with body acupuncture, it can help treat infertility.
Acupressure and Acu-Acoustics
With this type of acupuncture, the practitioner massages or presses key acupuncture points. This acupuncture is useful in combating fatigue, skin conditions or painful conditions such as migraine. Patients don’t necessarily need to visit clinics when undergoing this type of procedure. They can learn how to carry out this type of acupuncture with the help of their practitioners or programs such as Natural Synergy system. This way, they will be taught how to identify critical points and massage themselves at the comfort of their home. Of cause, no practitioner will readily teach you how to do this type of treatment on your own because they will be losing customers.
Most of them charge per session and the more sessions you attend, the better for them pocket-wise. But what about you? Are you getting any better? Are there any inconveniences on your side such time or privacy? If the answers to the preceding questions are no and yes respectively, maybe you need an alternative.
Natural Synergy
Natural Synergy is a program designed to teach you the art of acupressure and help you achieve your health goals at the comfort of your home. Emily J. Parker was the mind behind this program where she aims to help patients eliminate the root cause of various diseases instead of fighting the symptoms only like how most medications do.
Natural Synergy offers natural solutions to various psychological, or emotional conditions. The program teaches you how to use acupressure to clear blockages in the body to make it function naturally and smoothly for overall well-being. Through this program, one will learn how to identify meridian points they need to concentrate on to effectively fight a health condition.
Poor diet is the leading cause of most illnesses. With the help of this program, one will learn how to maintain a healthy diet and exercise to remain healthy. One will also be able to identify diseases that you can reverse naturally.
Natural Synergy system is well presented in audio and video tutorials to make it easy for anybody to use it regardless of their education level. This program can help you to maintain the overall well-being of your body in a natural approach. There are no side-effects, and the best thing is you can practice the guidelines of this program while enjoying the comfort of your home.
How does it work?
Acupuncture works through physiological and energetic mechanisms. The energy mechanism is the balance of the channels or meridians through which the energy is transferred from one part to another of the body. Although the benefits of acupuncture have long been proven it is essential that the technique is performed by a qualified professional.
Benefits of Acupuncture
The benefits of acupuncture are mainly to counteract the pain. That’s why the technique is used against a headache, toothache, osteoarthritis, rheumatism and to relieve menstrual pain. Acupuncturists use special needles of different sizes. These needles are sterile and inserted into one of the specific acupuncture points as well as the position of the energy flow. Normally, patients feel poking the needles into their skin, but they cannot feel any pain. These needles are strong and larger than normal hair size.
People who seek the unconventional treatment of acupuncture are those people who have suffered from a long period of chronic pain brought on by their conditions of standing up like chronic back pain that seems to never go away, painful head and migraine, cancer, depression, sleep disorders and other affective disorders.
Acupuncture for a headache
Several studies have scientifically confirmed the effectiveness of acupuncture in preventing and treating migraine attacks and headaches. In cases of a headache, traditional Chinese medicine techniques are analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and act as a muscle relaxant.
Acupuncture for anxiety and depression
Acupuncture may also be an option for the treatment of emotional disorders, depression, and anxiety. Acupuncture provides relaxation by balancing the body’s energies. Several studies in China have confirmed that acupuncture, combined with a very low dose of drugs to avoid stress, depression, and anxiety, is just as effective as treating a patient with a full dose of medication against depression.
Repair the nerves efficiently
Acupuncture, unlike other medicines, acts directly on the nervous system. Therefore, it is undoubtedly the most effective therapy to stimulate nerve repair. Thus, it is the therapy of choice for strokes, paralysis, and health problems.
Relieve pain
As mentioned above, acupuncture is the queen to act on the nerves which also helps to relieve pain or to proceed to anesthesia without resorting to anesthetics. In this way, an experienced acupuncturist can help you to relieve back pain. Acupuncture needles also leave positive effects on the brain, disabling some brain areas associated with painful sensations. From this point of view, it is understood that the technique is also thought to be adequate for treating anxiety and stress and related gastrointestinal disorders.
Calm the hyperactivity of the organs
Acupuncture helps to quickly calm the hyperactivity of the organs. The number of patients with these symptoms is numerous. In Western medicine, they receive neuroleptics which make them sluggish. Acupuncture therapy manages to regularize these patients without breaking them, which allows them to remain in society and helps them to avoid the psychiatric hospital that awaits them at the slightest aggravation.
A reliable diagnostic system
The diagnosis of an acupuncturist is based on the basic theory of Chinese medicine. This fundamental theory occupies half the time (acupuncturist) spent learning acupuncture. It is particularly explicit when it comes to the symptoms that one (acupuncturist) encounters in practice and it allows to very well understand the situation of the patient. This is a clear and indisputable advantage for acupuncture compared with other alternative medicines because none of these other medicines have such clear and effective theories to make a diagnosis.
Influence the quality of sleep
Acupuncture can have a positive effect on sleep. Sleep disorders can have several causes. A frequent awakening at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning is an energetic disorder related to the gallbladder. While difficulty falling asleep, are due to a vacuum of “yin” or an excess of “yang”. To treat effectively, you must find the origin of the symptom and work on the relevant meridian.
Acupuncture for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome can be alleviated by using acupuncture and physical exercises. During a research, a group of women with this problem received electro acupuncture regularly for four months. As a result, they had their normal menstrual cycle and hormonal levels regulated. Women with polycystic ovaries do not normally ovulate, which can lead to infertility, increase the risk of obesity, and develop type 2 diabetes and the development of cardiovascular disease.
Increases fertility
Acupuncture is used to increase the chances of pregnancy since it increases the amount of blood that reaches the uterus, making the uterine walls thicker and, therefore, making fecundity easier. It also manages to reduce “stress hormones” that reduces acidity in the stomach, as well as digestion, in pregnant women.
Reduces side effects of radiation
Many of the patients, who receive radiation therapy for cancer, make use of acupuncture to reduce some of the side effects that radiation has on their body. For example, it reduces nausea and dryness of the mouth, thus improving their quality of life.