Understanding Acupuncture Begins With A Good Acupuncture Doctor

Although not as widely accepted in the western world, acupuncture has been used with great success for centuries in China. Even in light of the hundreds of thousands of success testimonials from patients who have been treated with this method, there remains a good number of US medical professionals who doubt its effectiveness, although it is believed this is largely because of their unfamiliarity with it or they have never tried it.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM, acupuncture began with the assertion that one’s health is primarily a balance of yin and yang in the body. The blood that flows in your body is the yin and one’s “life force” that flows within the body is the yang. The yang is sometimes also referred to as “Qi”. Fine needles are used in acupuncture, applied to specific pressure points of the body to aid in the balance and flow of the yin and the yang. Another purpose is to reduce stagnation and tone if there is a deficiency found.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats the body as a whole. Disease is considered to be some type of imbalance of yin and yang, where the purpose of acupuncture is to restore that balance. There are 14 channels in the body where are the particular acupuncture pressure points that are used in treatment, channels along which the Qi and the blood flow.

Acupuncture affects one’s immune system and is also proven to stimulate hormones within the body. This in turn has an effect on how blood flows as well as how and when certain gastric secretions are produced and released. It is no secret that acupuncture can lower a person’s blood pressure and has an impact on the production of both white and red blood cells.

Modern medicine understands that our bodies operate by small electrical pulses. What happens with acupuncture is that it taps into this electrical current to restore the balance, which can be proven by examining a body’s electromagnetic fields. The flow changes that result impact how the body reacts and can create different responses. This different response is the restoration of yin and yang balance, where the end result is relief from the affliction suffered by the patient.

You should check your phone book to see if there is a listing for an acupuncture doctor or acupuncture therapist. Failing that, check with some massage therapists, who may also be acupuncture therapists or may know if one in your area. You may also want to check with herbal medicine experts who can refer you to someone.

Do not hesitate to interview your potential acupuncture doctor after you have found them because you need to be comfortable that they understand acupuncture. Ask any questions you may have and make sure you are comfortable with the answers. Find out where they studied acupuncture and how long they have been using it as a treatment. You can also ask what you should expect if you elect this type of treatment for your ailment.

Sometimes allopathic medicine is used in conjunction with acupuncture, TCM, and other therapies, depending on the ailment. It is used to treat a variety of ailments including depression, arthritis, fertility, and many other discomforts. Acupuncture is something you may wish to consider if traditional treatments are not having the desired effect for you.

Tags: Health & Fitness