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Acupuncture - and what it can mean to You!
Author: Tony Jones
Do you know what acupuncture really is? You may have some ideas
about it involving needles being inserted into various points of
the body to relieve pain but there is much more to it
than that.
Let's share a little information about the origins of
acupuncture. It was first used in China over 2000 years ago, and
is one of the oldest medical procedures in the world. Its use
stimulates the anatomy of the body and helps to balance the
energy flow throughout the body. It is this kind of acupuncture
that is practiced in Western World today, through the use of
tiny, metallic needles placed in affected areas and manipulated
by hand or by electrical stimulation.
Acupuncture is the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine
and is based on the belief that there are two opposite and
inseparable forces within our body. They are known as the Yin
and Yang. The Yin represents of the cold, slow, or passive
state, and the Yang represents the hot, excited or active state.
A healthy human being maintains a balanced state of the Yin and
Yang. This is done through vital pathways or meridians that
allow for the flow of vital energy often referred to as qi.. The
vital energy flow occurs along pathways known as meridians.
These meridians connect over 2,000 acupuncture points along the
body. There are 12 main meridians, and 8 secondary meridians. It
is a fact, strange but true that western medicine does not
completely understand how acupuncture works, the proof that it
does work has been shown in several studies conducted by western
medical facilities. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective
in many areas of health care. Areas such as postoperative
nausea, the side effects of chemotherapy, osteoarthritis,
low-back pain, headache, menstrual cramps, addiction, carpal
tunnel syndrome, and asthma, just to name a few. Studies show
that acupuncture can provide pain relief, improve function and
the mobility of joints inflamed by arthritis can complement
standard care.
Those who doubt the effectiveness of acupuncture, often become
believers once they have received some treatment! It has been
suggested that acupuncture works and produces its effects
through regulating the nervous system. This theory proposes that
since acupuncture produces its effect through regulation of the
nervous system, it induces the release of endorphins and immune
system cells at specific sites on the body. There is also
another theory that acupuncture alters the brain chemistry by
the changing the neurotransmitters in the brain.
Which ever one or both of these theories is correct as a patient
myself, I can vouch for the wonderful effect it has had on my
back. Although acupuncture is classified as an alternative
medicine therapy, and there is still much to be understood about
the way it works, it certainly has proved its worth in
maintaining maximum good health . Can acupuncture be of benefit
to the well individual? It certainly can. One of the main
tenants of acupuncture is the belief that we must maintain a
balance of our vital energy flow in order to remain healthy.
Here acupuncture can be used as a tool for realignment. If our
vital energy flow is out of balance, we can still feel and
appear reasonably healthy. In this instance, acupuncture serves
as a sort of preventive medicine. Checking and balancing the
flow of energy on the meridian points in your body is like your
car receiving a tune-up before it is in need of a repair!
About the author:
Achieve total health by visiting www.heathy-body-and-mind.com
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