Acupuncture treatment has to be of the exact duration. If the treatment is of a shorter period than required it may have no effect. Alternately, if the treatment is given more than what is required it may cause the person undergoing the treatment to feel more exhausted and tired. The point is stimulated with a repetitive process of applying pressure or a slight thrust or a twirl.

Extensive research has been done to have a deeper insight into how the process of acupuncture alleviates or reduces pain. The basic thing that happens in the body when a person goes in for acupuncture procedure is that upon stimulating the acupuncture points, the central nervous system like the brain and the spinal cord are also stimulated.

They then release certain chemicals to the muscles, brain and the spinal cord. These chemicals may then mask the pain or change the pain experience or may even instigate the secretion of certain hormones which influence the body’s natural healing and regulating system.

There are three mechanisms by which this is achieved –

1.      Conduction of Electromagnetic Signals – According to evidence found by Western Scientists, the acupuncture points actually conduct electromagnetic signals. Upon stimulation, these acupuncture points facilitate in faster or speedier conduction of these signals than under normal circumstances.

The faster conduction of these signals enables the biochemicals like endorphin
to flow freely. Endorphin, being a pain killer along with some other immune system
cells starts flowing to the injured or diseased sites in the body to provide the patient
some relief from pain.

2.      Opioid System Activation – Some other research has proved that acupuncture releases several types of opioids into the central nervous system which reduces the pain of the patient.

3.      Changes in Involuntary body functions, Sensation and Brain Chemistry – Studies have shown that acupuncture changes the release of neuro-hormones and neurotransmitters thereby altering the brain chemistry.

 Moreover, acupuncture is also found to affect parts of the central nervous system which are directly related to sensation. These parts are also related to involuntary functions of the body like the immune processes and reactions. These include the patient’s blood flow, blood pressure, body temperature, etc.

How exactly does acupuncture work within the framework of the Western medicine is still not very clear. According to the statement issued by The National Institute of Health Consensus acupuncture as a therapy is very predominant in the United States.

Results of the usage of acupuncture on patients undergoing chemotherapy and suffering from nausea and vomiting, in control and reduction of postoperative pain, dental pain, etc have been very positive and encouraging. Acupuncture thus with its pain relieving properties considerably reduces the need for pain killers thereby reducing the side effects for patients.

Acupuncture treatment usually is not supposed to and does not cause pain except in some particular areas. The needling process creates a warm, tingling sensation which sometimes makes you feel numb in that area.

Sometimes, during the needling procedure, the patient feels the pain radiating from the point of needling to another point in the body. Basically while the acupuncturist uses the needle on the patient, what happens is it stimulates certain parts of the nervous system which are responsive.

This in turn sets off a biochemical series speeding up the healing process. Some points in the body called the broad spectrum points, when needled have the capacity to heal more than one disease in the body at a time. Other points are limited in their applications. They affect only one point in the system.

Acupuncturists normally combine both points for an effective healing process. The broad spectrum points are used by almost all acupuncturists to treat a variety of common ailments.

Accupoints which are on the meridian lines do not correspond though to the neural connections very clearly. Modern acupuncturists have identified certain other points based on the similarity to the layout of the human body.

These points include certain points on the outer ear. Acupuncturists have also identified other zones like points on the scalp and hands which corresponds to larger areas of the body. This may be because the spinal cord connects various parts of the body with secondary branches.

Modern concepts and research thus are focussed on finding effective points which will stimulate biochemical responses rather than the traditional qi regulation. Modern methods of acupuncture relies more on electrical stimulation either with or without needling and laser stimulation in contrast to the traditional method of needling and moxibustion which is application of heat.

Acupuncture when performed by an experienced and trained acupuncturist is definitely free from any kind of a side effect. It is a very safe procedure and also very effective.

Acupuncture provides the patient with a much needed sense of relaxation. During and after the procedure, the patient experiences a sense of well being. One more thing in acupuncture is that while you go in for the treatment of one ailment, you find that other ailments in your body simultaneously get treated for. This is because of the balance of the vital energy in the body.

As you know, acupuncture promotes health and relieves pain. Though the method seems quite strange, it is a time tested and validated process practiced for a number of years.

Since the principle of acupuncture involves the balance and imbalance of the energy flow in the meridians or channels, the acupuncturist’s perspective of treatment depends on this system.

Based on this principle, the acupuncturist thus stimulates certain areas in the meridians called the “accupoints” with the help of needles which are slender and fine.

Modern acupuncturists also use other things for stimulation of the accupoints like herbs, magnets, lasers and even electricity. The ultimate objective though is to adjust the vital energy in such a way that the body heals itself.

The procedure of acupuncture has been evaluated and adjusted over the centuries according to the various new inventions and discoveries. Modern thinking states that diseases and injuries can be set right by a set of responses which are complex.

According to the modern western perspective, diseases are caused by a problem in these responses which are caused by the signaling systems like the peptides and other biochemicals traveling from the site they were released at to various other sites in the blood circulation.

Diseases according to modern medical science are caused by the breakdown of the immune system in the human body due to metabolic failures, changes in the DNA structure or micro organisms.

Normally, up to a point the imbalance or disturbance is set right by the cellular functions of the human body which by themselves are designed for healing.

Chronic diseases are caused due to the weakening of the immune system or the self protecting systems which can be due to various reasons like stress, poor nutrition, unhealthy habits, etc.

Modern findings have revealed that acupuncture actually increases the ability of the cells or the mechanisms of the body to heal itself. Acupuncture stimulates the signaling systems which in turn increases the response to healing. Acupuncture thus considerably cures a lot of diseases or in extreme cases helps in alleviating symptoms like reducing the intensity of pain, etc.

The nervous system, as we all know plays the role of signal transmitter. Signals are transmitted by the nerves with the help of peptides. During this process, various biochemicals are emitted which influences the cells of the body.

The hormonal system is connected to the nervous system through the adrenal gland and is thus connected to all cells and systems of the body. A Department of Neurology, Loyola University of Chicago study reports that cranial nerves and spinal nerves were dispersed in and around the area of the accupoints.

Research has further shown that Acupuncture has an effect on endorphins which are one of the neuropeptides. Endorphins are said to alleviate pain. Acupuncture therefore is used predominantly for treating chronic pain and for the treatment of drug addiction especially in the West.

Unlike other practices, the practice and method of acupuncture has been mostly retained from what it was in the ancient times even though we have understood the procedure and its implications itself with practice over a period of time.

The principle of Acupuncture revolves around the circulation of vital energy in our body. This energy is called qi. In the acupuncture text Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic on Internal Medicine), acupuncture is described as a procedure by which the excess qi is released from the body.

This is done by making holes in the energy pathways or meridians also called the Jingluo. This procedure was is so delicate that for some ailments, the qi had to be released carefully without letting out the blood and for some other ailments, the blood had to be let out without disturbing the qi.

This procedure is based on the assumption that diseases enter the living body through the outer skin and penetrates upto the bone marrow through the muscles and the various internal organs. The disease is cured by inserting the needle to the required depth. The depth of insertion is determined based on the degree of the disease penetration.

Before the invention of the microscopes and autopsy procedures which has revealed the working process of the human body, doctors and eminent scholars worked on the basis of the similarities that exist between the human body and the nature outside.

Ancient Chinese Civilization regarded the water courses as a major supporting entity for the human race. The water entity included the rivers, oceans, streams, canals, man made irrigation systems, etc.

Similar to this water system in nature, the human body has a system which consists of moving fluid which is also life giving. This fluid is referred to as the qi and the various paths followed by this fluid are the meridians.

The principle of acupuncture is based on the fact that just as in nature, where the water flow sometimes gets blocked by a fallen tree or a mud slide, the qi in the meridians in the human body too could get blocked due to various factors like disease due to bad weather, intake of improper food, etc.

When this happens, the point upto the blockage has a flow of the qi and beyond the blockage the qi dries up causing aches, pains and diseases.

Just like the water starts flowing immediately after you clear the obstruction, the block in the meridian can also be cleared to enable the fluid to flow freely and restore the natural flow.

When the water system gets blocked you can clear the blockage by  making a small opening. The force of the water will push through the opening widening it enough to restore a natural flow.

Similarly, in the meridian blockages, making a small hole with a needle enables the qi to push through the hole and widen it making the flow easier and free. Meridian points in the body has certain points on which using the needle is more effective.

This is the system of approach which is being taught even today to the students opting for traditional acupuncture. All they need to do is to locate the area of disturbance, identify and isolate the points which are blocked and clear the blockage.

Procedures have become more sophisticated with different ways of needling being introduced, based on the depth and direction and even the chemical composition of the needles being used such as gold, silver or steel.

Even the purpose of using the needle differs with different patients. For some, needles are used just to increase the flow of qi in the meridian even if there is no blockage. For some others they may use the needle to decrease the flow of qi depending on what the case may be.

When the qi flow is corrected and balanced, the ailment or disease can be totally eradicated with a controlled diet, exercise and other habits over a period of time.

What Sicknesses did Acupuncture Originally Cure?

The Chinese actually used acupuncture therapy to cure everything from the common cold and headaches all the way to mysterious diseases that seemed to take over the body. There is no one long list of sicknesses and illnesses that acupuncture was responsible for curing, but acupuncture therapy was generally called upon and used to treat virtually every type of disease and ailment that came along. Already mentioned was the fact that acupuncture therapy was used to treat the common cold and headaches, but some of the other diseases that could easily have been cured with acupuncture when it first got started include such things as constipation, arthritis, ear aches, toothaches, as well as upset stomachs. All of these things were naturally experienced by the ancient Chinese as well as other humans throughout the world, which leads many people to believe that they were also naturally cured through the use of acupuncture.

How Did Acupuncture Spread

There are many theories as to how the introduction of acupuncture was brought to other countries throughout the world. However, as the spread of the news that acupuncture truly was a good form of therapy spread around the world, naturally there were individuals who were responsible for the introduction and teaching of the methods. In the United States, though, acupuncture has not been practiced in real widespread areas until just recently, but the benefit that acupuncture has brought to the United States has been so great throughout its time here.

All things considered, the history of acupuncture therapy has truly been an amazing feat that many people have called the miracle therapy that fixes everything. Even though the Chinese know that acupuncture truly can heal all wounds, though, there still are some skeptics who have their own doubts about acupuncture therapy!

There are many age-old medicines that have been used for thousands of years in the treatments of plenty of problems, many of these physical but there are also emotional problems that can be cured with alternative therapies. One such therapy is called acupuncture and many people believe that this is a fake therapy instituted in the Chinese culture in order to have more influence over Western society. Even though it is true that acupuncture has had a great influence over Western society and America in general, the myth of how it got started is completely false. If you truly do not know how acupuncture got its start then here are a few pieces information that one should know about in order to believe that acupuncture is a real therapy:

Acupuncture Was Used Thousands of Years Ago

In an attempt to debunk any myths or disbeliefs within the field of acupuncture, this therapy was actually instituted very many centuries ago in the ancient Chinese civilizations. Many Chinese professors and medical doctors who regularly speak on the issue of acupuncture generally concur that acupuncture was instituted by the Chinese because they had no real forms of medicine. There was no such thing as chloroform in ancient Chinese civilizations and there were also no other real medicine treatments of any kind, except for the ones that they found and kept for themselves.

The “Chi” is what acupuncture is all about. Okay, so there is more to acupuncture therapy than simply muttering the word “Chi,” but the concept of it does have a great deal, if not all to do, with the therapy of the acupuncture way. Ancient Chinese cultures did believe that the “Chi” was found in the body to be the sole energy source in the body, and there were also different energy paths and lines that ran across this “Chi.” Anytime anyone experiences pain it is usually believed that the “Chi” is responsible. By placing plenty of needles along the most precious spots along the paths to the “Chi,” many people in Chinese cultures believe that acupuncture can truly change the body’s perception and response to what is going on inside it and around it.

The Acupuncture Way of Life

One way that acupuncture is supposed to change you, though, if you truly believe in the therapy, is that your whole life will change instantly. Instead of acupuncture being only a form of therapy that you treat yourself to whenever your sick, many people and Chinese professionals in the art and therapy of acupuncture believe that it should truly change your way of life. Instead of looking upon acupuncture as simply a treatment remedy, the whole idea of the therapy should change your life in the way that you go about your job, attend to your family, and even drive down the highway. Just as yoga is meant to teach patience and meditation, so too is acupuncture also believed to instill the practice of relaxation in the body. However, this relaxation technique does need fostering and there are many people who continue to relax themselves everyday, long after they receive acupuncture treatments.

Belief Can Change Everything

There are still others throughout the acupuncture culture who contend that one must actually believe in the therapy for it to start to take effect. Even though this aspect of believing in the art of acupuncture does go along with your way of life, believing in the therapy is certainly the building blocks for letting your trust in the therapy take over. There are many people who already believe ideas about themselves and the world without actually seeing them. Take into consideration that God exists, Heaven and Hell are real, and the Bible or other book of faith is absolute truth. All of these things are rarely able to be seen, but they are still believed. On the other hand, there are still some people who see the positive effects of acupuncture, yet they still do not believe in the therapy. Belief in the system of acupuncture has a great deal to do with whether or not it will work for you!

All in all, though, there are many opponents as well as defenders of the great art and therapy of acupuncture. Many people are on one side of the fence insisting that acupuncture is fake, while those on the opposite side of the fence insist on that the ancient Chinese knew what they were doing when they founded the idea and treatment of acupuncture. In the end, though, it all comes down to personal belief and whether or not one has enough faith in the system to let him or her truly experience the benefit of acupuncture. But while trying to decide whether or not the whole therapy is real, though, just remember that thousands of people have already been cured by the system, and one should try it out before rejecting the whole idea!

Ancient medicine methods, alternative therapies, and alternative medicine seem to fascinate a large number of people. Acupuncture therapy falls under all of these categories. Acupuncture was first used by ancient Chinese civilizations when there was any physical or mental ailment that needed to be cured. The use of this ancient medicinal method has now moved from the Middle East where it originated, into a whole plethora of countries. Consequently, a large number of people are interested in the basics and fundamentals of acupuncture.

Acupuncture truly is an amazing therapy. Acupuncture therapy isn’t like any other therapy because it doesn’t involve any of the things that are associated with traditional Western therapies. For example, some traditional Western therapies involve focusing on an individuals interactions with the environment and other people; however, acupuncture deals with the person and the body itself, including bringing the state of the body back to equilibrium where it belongs.

What Do Those That Practice Acupuncture Believe?

While a good number of people are interested in acupuncture as a therapy, these individuals (a large number of them anyway) do not realize that acupuncture is truly a belief system. In other words, acupuncture just simply isn’t a therapeutic technique that requires a person to undergo needles in their skin and that’s it. Instead, acupuncture is a whole belief system that entails beliefs about the body and the whole healing process.

The Chinese believed that there was one basic source in the body that was responsible for the whole body’s energy source. This energy source is called the Chi, and this spot in the body is also responsible for any type of pain that is felt. Knowing all this, however, enables a person to also know that in order to stop pain from being felt then those spots on the bodies must be removed. Because of that belief, the Chinese culture concluded that there were pathways that run along the Chi line that impact specific portion of the body. Consequently the acupuncture practitioners came discover that a number of illnesses and diseases can be treated by undergoing the process of having needles placed in the skin in order to stimulate those pressure points on the body to help the process of healing.

The Science of Acupuncture

Even though acupuncture is not an exact science, more doctors and alternative therapy practitioners in the West are using acupuncture as a reference point and study guide to look at the practices of alternative therapies in a different light. Perhaps the reason that traditional Western medicine doesn’t embrace acupuncture as much as the Chinese does is because there are no hard facts to go off of. But those who don’t practice it also don’t realize what they’re missing out on. When it comes right down to it, thought, acupuncture is not only amazing, but it’s also a therapy that everyone should be grateful for!

The different acupuncture clinics are:

* Triangle Acupuncture Clinic– It is a clinic that deals with acupuncture as well as herbal medications. They are well trained in prescribing herbal medicines, acupuncture and assessment of the Western medicines. Very high quality of of acupunctural treatments is offered here in a comfortable and a luxurious environment. If you want treat any of your health concerns or medical problems, you can contact this clinic.
* Points That Matter– This is an acupuncture clinic. In this clinic they provide you with personal acupuncture treatments along with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Services. They help you to deal with the following problems with the help of acupuncture: digestive disorders, chronic pain, migraines, headaches, skin conditions, allergies, insomnia and their stress related problems. They will offer you advanced standards and developmental trends in the field of acupuncture.
* Acupuncture Clinic of Richmond– This clinic uses the below listed therapies for the treatment of a number of disorders: exercise, herbs, nutrition and acupuncture. With the help of acupuncture, it also prevents illness, increase the quality of life and the overall well being of the individual. The aim of the acupuncture clinic of Richmond is to offer effective, safe and a good quality complementary heath care to all the individuals.
* Austin Acupuncture Clinic– It provides good quality clinical services to its customers along with the new clinical facilities. The spacious rooms in the clinic can accommodate all types of patients having different disorders. The treatment rooms of the clinic are easily accessible and it provides a lot of amenities and comfort situations to all the individuals in the clinic. The rates are very reasonable and you get service from dedicated medical practitioners.
* Acupuncture Clinic for Pain Relief and Sports Medicine– The practitioners in this clinic are well equipped with a sense of humor and they offer care for your mind, body and spirit in a holistic way. They also provide you with ear tracks for losing your weight.
* London Acupuncture Clinic– In this clinic problems related to addictions, arthritis, menstrual disorders, circulatory problems, digestive disorders, diabetes, facial paralysis and high blood pressure are treated effectively with the help of acupuncture. They also use other techniques of acupuncture such as moxibustion, acupressure and cupping. Each patient is treated in a personalized manner to let the body rebalance itself. This is the basic aim of acupuncture treatment in the London Acupuncture Clinic.

Acupuncture therapy has been in use from thousands of years in the East. The insertion of needles is not so painful as like taking injections. These are very fine needles that help to restore the balance of the body and resolve the illness.

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