Acupuncture And You

Acupuncture has been used in China for the past 2,000 years for every ailment you can imagine. That means the practice has grown up alongside Eastern medicine’s knowledge of specific ailments ranging from diabetes to fatigue. Now that technology and ease of travel has closed the physical gap between the East and the West, the two medical cultures have spent decades working on how they can fit their practices together holistically. Initially, it may seem a bit difficult to imagine the two philosophies complimenting each other, but once you begin looking into acupuncture, you can begin to see how it can benefit anyone — even you.

Western medicine is based on removing the malfunctioning part or adding chemical components to poison the invading virus or infection. Eastern medicine is based on making sure that the channels along which a person’s life-energy flows remain unblocked so that the healing-energy can pass through, keeping everything running smoothly. If these channels are blocked, problems will arise.

Along those lines, or meridians, are certain points which act as switches for particular parts of the body. The acupuncturist inserts a thin needle into one of these points and by manipulating it, unblocks the energy flow, enabling the healing life force to travel. To some, that sounds like a fluffy, poetic way of looking at healing. Western students of interpret this phenomenon a little bit differently. As the Western outlook is more chemically based, these students say that the needles are actually causing the body to release chemicals – like endorphins — which inadvertently induce a state of relaxation or relieve pain, thereby promoting health in the entire body.

Whatever the mechanisms, there are many people who swear by it, if for no other reason other than “it feels good”.

You may at this point be wondering if it’s safe. It is very safe if you visit someone who knows what they’re doing. The best way to ensure that you are in the right hands is to verify that the therapist is licensed. That means that they have satisfactorily completed at least enough schooling to have a Masters degree in healing and acupuncture, and that they passed a test for state certification. Beyond that, you must make sure that they use sterile, prepackaged needles. Asking many questions about their practice and philosophy is also a good idea, as a trustworthy therapist will tend to be more open about what they are doing. In addition, the doctor should be asking you for information about your medical history and current medications.

If you opt for acupuncture, give it some time to work before you decide whether it is time well spent. If you feel great from the beginning, that is a good reason in and of itself to continue.