What is the history of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medical science. While Acupuncture has been employed for thousands of years by Chinese physicians, this type of therapy appeared in the United States on a national level in 1971.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a health science that is used to treat pain and dysfunction in the body. Treatment employs the use of needles placed in the skin at precise locations to relieve pain or positively affect a body part. The body’s energy flow has a balance, and as energy flows over its meridians (or channels), the balance can be disrupted. The goal of Acupuncture is to restore normalcy to the energy balance of the body.
Is Acupuncture painful?
Acupuncture needles are very small, and most people do not consider the treatment painful. Acupuncture treatment is not comparable to the discomfort of hypodermic injections. When energy is contacted, people report a mild to moderate heaviness or tingling sensations. Other methods of Acupuncture do not require the use of needles. “Teishein” (or tapping) needles do not pierce the skin and many Acupuncturists may use electronic or laser stimulation or physical pressure to perform Acupuncture.
How many Acupuncture treatments will I need?
The number of treatments varies by condition and individual. Chronic health issues will probably require more treatments than acute health problems. Some people will notice immediate results, while others require additional treatments to achieve improvement. It is important to be patient in the healing process and not discontinue treatment too early. Experts generally agree that eight to sixteen treatments is normal.
What conditions can Acupuncture help?
The World Health Organization has indicated that Acupuncture is an effective treatment for: acute and chronic pain relief, migraine, tension, cluster and sinus headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, bladder dysfunction, neck pain, mid-back pain, low shoulder pain, tennis elbow, post operative pain, gastric problems, asthma, allergies, skin conditions, hemorrhoids, abnormal blood pressure, fatigue, anxiety, neurologic syndrome, various eye problems and many other conditions. Acupuncture textbooks list well over one hundred different conditions that respond to Acupuncture treatment.
How long will Acupuncture results last?
If an acute condition (where there is no organ system or tissue damage) is treated by Acupuncture, results are often permanent. Symptoms of chronic conditions may occasionally reappear. A few additional treatments are usually indicated for chronic symptoms.