Concepts Associated with Acupuncture

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word acupuncture? You may imagine, if you are like a lot of people, a very painful way of treating illness in which a poor soul is stuck with needles in various parts of his body and face. With this kind of thinking, it is really a wonder why there are still people who go for this treatment at all. As a result, many of them deny themselves of a treatment that can potentially give them a much better quality of life and health. In fact, they view acupuncture not with awe and respect but with aversion, trepidation, and fear. However, the fact of the matter is that this multi-millennial treatment has treated countless numbers of people throughout history and is practically painless. When performed in the right manner, acupuncture has given happiness and hope for many people suffering from pain, fatigue, migraines, and headache.

Concepts Associated with Acupuncture
Meridians – These are the energetic pathways where vital energy travels. Since they are invisible, they are believed to be located near the skin which makes them accessible to stimulation with needles.

Blockage- A blockage is believed to form along a meridian which results in medical problems and pain.

Acupuncture – Into strategic points in the body tiny small needles are inserted during an acupuncture procedure. The needles energize these points to clear out blockage that, in turn, leads to the treatment of symptoms and the removal of pain.

Energy- According the Chinese medicine practitioners, vital energy known as Chi or Qi is the body’s bioelectrical energy that flows through meridians.

At this point, you may be finding these concepts and explanations as pseudo science and archaic. But the truth is numerous studies have been done that suggest otherwise. How does acupuncture really work? This question has still not been scientifically explained although there are a few theories that try to explain this mystery. One such theory is that acupuncture does what it does by stimulating the production and release of neurotransmitters in the brain, modulating spinal cord function and altering microscopic tissue.

For certain reasons there are some medical treatments that have never been understood. Still, this does not prevent them from being used to treat certain conditions. For many years, people used penicillin and aspirin not knowing how they worked but used them nonetheless because they worked. This simply proves that sometimes results matter more than knowing how these results came about. Obviously, it is important to know how the method works for safety reasons.

There are not many alternative and conventional medical treatments that have no side effects. Medications can result in side effects such as allergic reactions, and surgery can lead to complications on the operating table and/or infections later on. With acupuncture, however, common risks and adverse effects include infection, which is very rare, light bleeding, bruising, and dizziness.

To avoid these risks and side effects, you need to seek the services of a licensed acupuncturist. In several states, professional and government associations thoroughly monitor acupuncture practices to protect patients.

What to Expect in an Acupuncture Procedure
When you first come in for treatment, your acupuncturist will first pore over your detailed medical history and carefully inspect your present condition. Acupoints to be treated which are pre-determined during the diagnostic phase of your treatment will be inserted with needles generate a healing effect. In a lot of instances, the patient will be required to undergo 30 to 90 minutes of acupuncture for about 10 to 20 treatments. Each session will entail the insertion of needles into pre-selected acupoints. Patients report a feeling of dullness or a sensation akin to an ant bite but no pain felt on the site where the needle is inserted

Each patient reacts in a different way to acupuncture. Some may feel so energized while others may feel being tired and want to take a nap. A lot of patients may experience immediate relief from the ailment and the symptoms while for some, relief may come only after several rounds of treatment.

Your fear of needles goes away once you have experienced an acupuncture procedure. This is because you’ll be enjoying the relief of your symptoms and the other benefits acupuncture gives you. This very old medical technique is your best course of action for a lot of illnesses although for certain conditions, it may be better to combine acupuncture with your current medical treatment.

Acupuncture, a form of treatment that used be reserved solely for the Chinese, is now a very popular treatment all over the world that has helped countless numbers of people throughout history.