The Truth About Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a method of Chinese alternative medicine, which has been in use for many centuries. This treatment technique is used to bring stability in a life force that is often referred to as Chi. The providers of this treatment believe as the truth that sickness happens when there is an imbalance or blockage on a person’s Chi. Therefore, acupuncture is used to bring the required balance in the body.

 Life-force flows through pathways, also known as meridians, in a person’s body. When needles are inserted at precise points along the pathways, the energy flow in the body returns to its normal state. At times heat, gentle electrical current, or pressure are used alongside needles during therapy. Currently, acupuncture treatment is recommended for the management of persistent lower back pain, migraines, headaches, neck and dental pain, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, menstrual cramps, and nausea that result from chemotherapy.

When a patient visits an acupuncturist, he is given an exam and asked several questions about his general health. The provider then conducts an assessment of points on the client’s body to examine chi that is not flowing correctly. Each point is known to relate to a particular health defect or an individual body function. To find the right points for placing the needles, the therapist will use as landmark several body tissues and organs. The provider then taps thin needles into the patient’s skin where points are located. Needles are placed at particular points depending on what the acupuncturist believes is required to re-establish the flow of chi. A full therapy may take around 30 minutes, but the duration mostly depends on the provider’s judgment. A patient may be required to visit the acupuncturist a number of times to complete the treatment.

During the therapy, a patient may experience a slight pressure when the needle is being inserted. Although acupuncture does not hurt, the area may suffer numbness or an aching sensation. Once inserted, the needles are supposed to stay in the body of a patient for duration of about twenty minutes before they are removed. The stimulation that is experienced during acupuncture is responsible for increasing the natural painkillers and boosting the blood circulation in the body.

Only experts are supposed to carry out acupuncture. Skilled acupuncturists are either regulated healthcare professionals or members of a renowned acupuncture society. They are usually accredited in many countries as a confirmation that they have achieved a certain level of training, and that they are well equipped to follow a set of professional guidelines.