subject: Acupuncture And Its Beneficial Effects In Healing The Body [print this page] Acupuncture Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the practice of putting very thin needles in specific parts of the body to stimulate energy points to improve health and well being.
The beneficial effects produced by Acupuncture are:
Analgesia: pain relieving effect
Homeostasis: maintaining the normal balance in the body
Sedation: calming effect
Immunity: enhancing the immune system
It started about 2000 years ago in China when the practitioner used very sharp stone to pierce and clean the afflicted part of the body. Later on very fine needles made from bronze, gold and silver were used and developed into the classical 'nine needle method.'
According to Chinese medicine the health of the body and the health of the mind are totally dependent upon each other. And both of them are dependent upon the life force yin and yang and the flow of Chi in the body.
The specific locations of Acupuncture points is the end result of millions of detailed observations of their therapeutic effects when stimulated. Later the points developed into channels or meridians - lines joining these acupuncture points, through which the energy Chi flows to create balance in the organs. Different channels of energy depict or represent a particular organ in the body.
There are over 1,000 acupuncture points in the human body. When imbalance occurs the related points are stimulated to alleviate the problem and the flow of energy and thus restoring the balance.
When a patient consults an Acupuncture practitioner about a problem, the practitioner does his diagnosis by inquiry about the patient's history and then he checks the four points on his wrist. And for further diagnosis he checks the imbalance of all 12 meridians or channels of flow of chi.
Once the diagnosis is complete the patient is asked to lie down and the practitioner inserts thin needles into the points related to the organs where he has diagnosed the problem.
The acupuncturist uses two hands to insert the needle. He uses one hand to stretch the skin with his thumb and fore-finger and with the other he expertly inserts the needle to the depth required. The needle is left inserted sometimes for 30 minutes for the desired results.
The needle is inserted 1/5 of an inch deep dependent upon which organ needs stimulating for which problem. It is initially not painless however a tingling warmness replaces it. And every now and then the needles are vibrated to echo the healing sensation to the organ. It is certainly less painful than the doctors' hypodermic syringes.
The acupuncture practitioner may additionally use the following techniques during treatment to move the Chi:
Moxabustion: which is heating of the inserted needles with a specific dry herb stick called moxa, to activate the acupuncture point
Cupping: which is creating suction on the skin using glass cups
Herbal medicine in the form of tea, capsule or tablet.
Healing your bodies without the use of Western conventional medicine and its disturbing side effects is increasingly becoming more popular today. Acupuncture practitioners are busy because Acupuncture works.
