Overview

Acupuncture is a concept rather than a technique and is a major component of a complex system of diagnosis and treatment known as Oriental Medicine. It has helped literally billions of people over a period of 4000 years to maintain optimal health and well-being. Acupuncture is endorsed by the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health and is currently being taught to students at Harvard University, the University of California at Berkely, and several other U.S. medical schools.

Acupuncture is endorsed by the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health and is currently being taught to students at Harvard University, the University of California at Berkely, and several other U.S. medical schools.

In ancient China, people visited their doctor regularly and rewarded him for keeping them healthy. If they got sick, they stopped rewarding him until their health was restored. Prevention was viewed as the highest form of medicine and the most esteemed doctors were the ones with no sick patients.

It is out of this tradition that modern acupuncture has evolved and can often provide solutions to health problems for which western medicine as little to offer. This is especially true for chronic and degenerative conditions and those labeled as "idiopathic", meaning "of unknown origin". For the experienced acupuncture physician, the only idiopathic condition is one which has not yet been accurately diagnosed.

Acupuncture Methods

Traditional acupuncture involves the use of very fine, flexible needles inserted into the skin at various anatomical locations (acupoints) around the body. This usually painless procedure helps achieve homeostasis and restores normal physiological function to the body. The process occurs through the adjustment of subtle electro-chemical currents in the body which the Chinese call "Qi", pronounced "chee". Qi flows through all our internal organs and tissues through a network of pathways called "meridians". It is the unbalanced or blocked flow of Qi through the meridians which results in symptoms, illness, and eventual disease. These imbalances and blockages may have a number of causes including trauma, poor diet, prescription and recreational drug use, environmental pollutants, stress, and inherited tendencies. Once the balanced, unblocked flow of Qi is regained through treatment, health is restored.

Modern technology has produced a number of tools which can be used in place of, or, in addition to needles, to stimulate acupoints. These include cold lasers, gentle micro-current electrical stimulators, and fiber-optic light applicators. In many cases, these modalities produce better results than traditional needles. For treating acute and chronic pain, for example, dramatic results can often be achieved within minutes. These tools are especially helpful in treating children and anyone uncomfortable with needles.

Acupuncture is often combined with other modalities which support and increase its effectiveness. These include, but are not limited to, infrared heat, manual therapies ( massage, myo-fascial release, neuro-muscular re-education ), exercise, dietary recommendations, nutritional supplements, and Chinese herbal formulas.

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Conditions Treated by Acupuncture >