The Nature of Acupuncture

The Nature of Acupuncture

Eastern Medicine was often looked at with a dubious eye by most practitioners in the West. That has been slowly, but surely, changing over time. One of the Eastern treatments that has garnered significant attention is the practice of acupuncture.

Acupuncture has been with us for over 5,000 years. It is believed to have originated in China over 5,000 years ago. To give you some perspective, consider the fact that the United States is only some 230 plus years old. London, the capital of England, is only 2,000 years of age. Rome is one of the oldest cities in the West and is only 2,700 plus years old. Acupuncture has been around almost twice as long!

Acupuncture is based upon the idea that we have energy flowing through out body. When the pathways for this energy get out of whack, the body suffers and produces symptoms. The practice of acupuncture is focused on removing any inhibitors to the energy flow. Once this is done, the symptoms disappear. The energy is known in Chinese medicine as “Qi”, but is usually called “Chi” in the West.

The nature of acupuncture is often overtaken by a simple tool used – needles. Nobody really likes needles because they associate them with pain. The image of a child in the doctor’s office getting an immunization with a big needle is a nightmare we all experienced as kids. Well, acupuncture needles are an entirely different matter. They are the size of a human hair. You barely feel them when they go into the skin. They certainly do not hurt!

So, what do these needles do? The energy flowing through your body does so along meridian lines. Blockages in these flow lines are identified by practitioners. The needles are then inserted along these lines in strategic places to remove the blockages. Once the blockage is removed, the return of the energy flow leads to the removal of the symptoms.

What can acupuncture do for you? Well, it obviously depends on the problem you are suffering from. The treatment is known to be extremely helpful with low back pain, headaches, sciatica, sinusitis and even weight loss. Recent research at the University of Texas has revealed acupuncture is also helpful in relieving the side effects of chemotherapy treatment for certain cancers.

Acupuncture was once viewed by the Western medical establishment as a hoax. This is no longer the case. Study after study has showed the positive impact it can have in treating individuals. Don’t hesitate to look into possible acupuncture treatments that might be available for your condition.

More Back Pain Headache Articles

Tags: Acupuncture - Nature