An Introduction to Acupuncture

In the world of medicine, Western and Eastern approaches are often cast as being in conflict. This is less so these days with acupuncture becoming a staple of many treatments, particularly for pain, undertaken by doctors.

Acupuncture is often referred to as the ancient practice. So, just how ancient are we talking? It originated roughly 2,000 years ago in China. Put another way, it has been around for roughly ten times the United States.

After 2,000 years, you would think acupuncture would be a staple of the medical system in the West. In truth, it was shunned until the 1970s. As the world opened up, Westerners visiting Asia have reported the benefits of acupuncture and boosted its popularity.

Acupuncture is based on the concept of Yin and Yang. These forces are balanced in a well adjusted body. Disease and pain arises when they are not in balance. The goal of acupuncture is to correct any imbalance.

So, how does one treat the energy imbalance in your body? The answer is to manipulate it at key points known as meridians. The manipulation is done through the placement of fine needles in the skin and then manipulating them accordingly.

Many people blanch at the mere mention of needles. It is important to understand that the needles used in acupuncture are hair thin, not the monsters you see in a doctor's office. They cause no pain. Even the most sensitive of people feel only a minor prick.

An obvious secondary question is whether acupuncture is safe for the patient. After all, can't the needs introduce infection and such? Not really. The needles used in acupuncture are all sterile, non-toxic, used one time only and approved by the FDA.

Now that we have the basics of acupuncture, there is still one big question. Does it work? Well, it has been around for 2,000 years! That being said, it is better for certain health issues than others. Let's take a look.

If you have pain management issues, you are going to mark down the day you first undergo acupuncture as a special one. Acupuncture is extremely beneficial when it comes to most pain. You can often jettison most or all of your pain medication after a month.

Besides pain issues, acupuncture has also been found to be beneficial in treating other particular health problems. These include among others stroke, postoperative dental pain, tennis elbow, menstrual cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome and many others.

If you have tried Western medicinal approaches without achieving the results you want, it makes sense to look around for other options. Acupuncture has been around for 2,000 years, which means it produces results. Give it a try.

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