The Far East brings us a very different look at life and health sometimes. Case in point: acupuncture. Get it? Point?
Acupuncture is a healing practice that dates back more than five thousand years. It is based on the belief that your life energy (or qi) flows through your body. If your qi is balanced, your health is good. If your qi is blocked somewhere, you start to have problems.
Qi travels along fourteen major pathways, or meridians. Bad diet choices, stress, or illness can block the flow of qi. Blocked qi means an unbalanced self. Stimulating particular points along the meridians can help unblock the flow. The stimulation of these acupoints with slender, flexible needles is acupuncture.
Acupuncture is very effective in helping manage chronic diseases and addictions.
Asthma: Acupuncture stimulates the release of certain hormones that help relieve inflammation. Asthma is an inflammation of the lungs. Acupuncture can help reduce the need for asthma medication.
Chronic Pain: Acupuncture can help encourage the release of endorphins — the body’s natural pain killers and calming agents. Acupuncture is often used for migraine headache relief, fibromalgia pain relief, and even for pain related to disk problems, sports injuries, and tendonitis.
Substance Abuse: Experts believe that because acupuncture can stimulate the release of endorphins, it is an effective addiction-fighter. The calming effect of endorphins can help overcome the need for the next drug fix.
So what can you expect from your first visit to the acupuncturist? First things first: you’ll be asked about your medical history. You may be asked some odd questions about sensitivity to temperature or your daily routine, but the practitioner is trying to find out where and how your qi may be blocked.
The needles themselves are slender and flexible — it isn’t like the practitioner will jab you with hypodermics over and over. Make sure that the practitioner is using disposable needles that are packaged in plastic and NOT OPENED until just before they are inserted.
And as with any treatment, discuss your plans with your family doctor before jumping into acupuncture. Acupuncture is not intended to replace other therapies, only augment them.