“What is acupuncture and how does it help?”
I am a 23 year old male. I want to know more about acupuncture. What is acupuncture and how does it help?
17 Answers
Acupuncture is an ancient medicine practice that stems from daoism!
I went through 4 years of a masters program to find the answers to your questions. I suggest you pick up the book, "The Web that has no Weaver" by Ted Kaptchuk. It does a good job of explaining the processes in laymen's terms.
Mr. Anthony James Lorenzo
Acupuncturist
That is the billion dollar question, my friend. Science has yet to explain how or why acupuncture works. Of course, we have theories that come from ancient wise people, and I'm happy to explain from that perspective... but I can't definitely tell you how acupuncture works in an empirically proven way.
So according to the ancients, our bodies have an energy field... and that energy field operates inside, on the surface, and outside the body. They refer to it it Chinese as Qi (pronounced Chee), as Ki in Japanese, and Prana in India. The ancients believed/observed/taught that illness comes from this energy being blocked or weakened. They mapped out pathways on the body where this energy for various systems of functionality could be accessed and named/identified points on those pathways where the energy can be accessed--acupuncture points. The needles stimulate this energy--almost exclusively just MOVING the energy. And when this energy is in balance and moving properly, healing and wellness spontaneously occurs. There are many ways to stimulate this energy--with needles (acupuncture), with pressure (acupressure), with magnets on the points, and with mindful exercises/breathing (Qi Gong/Tai Chi).
Hope that was helpful! Don't hesitate if you have further questions!
So according to the ancients, our bodies have an energy field... and that energy field operates inside, on the surface, and outside the body. They refer to it it Chinese as Qi (pronounced Chee), as Ki in Japanese, and Prana in India. The ancients believed/observed/taught that illness comes from this energy being blocked or weakened. They mapped out pathways on the body where this energy for various systems of functionality could be accessed and named/identified points on those pathways where the energy can be accessed--acupuncture points. The needles stimulate this energy--almost exclusively just MOVING the energy. And when this energy is in balance and moving properly, healing and wellness spontaneously occurs. There are many ways to stimulate this energy--with needles (acupuncture), with pressure (acupressure), with magnets on the points, and with mindful exercises/breathing (Qi Gong/Tai Chi).
Hope that was helpful! Don't hesitate if you have further questions!
Trigger your body to do the self-healing safe without side effects
Basically it helps by many means, one of them is stimulation. You can get more info by orientalmedicine.com or acupuncture.com
Acupuncture is used in almost all the fields of medicine and it is primarily used to reduce inflammation, pain, and increase blood flow.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
Acupuncture is the gentle insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body. This process stimulates movement of energy within the body, allowing natural healing to take place. These points are selected based on years of training acupuncturists receive based on over 5,000 years of experience in China.
Acupuncture helps to prevent illness by improving the overall functioning of the body's immune and organ systems. Acupuncture is helpful for:
Treating existing illnesses and injuries.
Preventing both recurrence of illnesses and new illness.
Improving overall health.
Acupuncture originated in China over 5,000 years ago. It is part of the holistic system of healing known as Traditional Chinese Medicine ("TCM").
How does Acupuncture work?
Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory
The Classical Chinese explanation is that energy (Qi) flows in channels (meridians) throughout the body and over its surfaces. These channels are rivers of energy which are referred to as meridians. The Chinese have identified 71 meridians in the human body, which is a basic energy map for all people. The meridians are often compared to a series of interconnected highways. Each of the major organs in the body is associated with its own meridian. Through the network of meridians the internal organs are connected to certain areas and parts of the body including the muscles, bones, joints, and also other organs.
The Chinese believe that health is a manifestation of balance, both within the body itself and between the body and the external environment. When the body is internally balanced and in harmony with the external environment, Qi flows smoothly through the meridians to nourish the organs and tissues. If an obstruction occurs in one of the meridians, the Qi is disrupted and cannot flow properly. When the Qi cannot flow smoothly or is forced to flow in the opposite direction, the body's innate balance is disrupted and illness results.
Acupuncture points are the specific points on the meridians where the Qi is both concentrated and accessible. Acupuncture engages the Qi by inserting needles at these specific points, the goal being to restore the proper flow of Qi. As the body regains its natural balance, well-being returns.
Acupuncture and Modern Science
To the human body, acupuncture needles are a physical stimulus. In Western science, a stimulus is defined as a detectable change in either the external environment or within the body itself. When the body detects change, it produces a response. Although acupuncture is not yet fully understood by Western science, with modern technology scientists can now actually begin to "see" the body's response to acupuncture. For example, using an MRI (a very sophisticated x-ray), researchers have shown that when a needle is inserted at specific acupuncture points on the body, corresponding changes occur in the brain.
In the West, acupuncture is most well-known for its ability to relieve pain so the majority of research thus far has been done in this area. Acupuncture points are now believed to stimulate the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to release pain-relieving chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord and brain. Acupuncture may also stimulate other chemicals to be released by the brain, including hormones that influence the self-regulating system of the body.
Summary
Chinese Oriental medicine has been around for thousands of years, and has provided us with a unique and holistic approach to help prevent and treat disease. Western science and Traditional Chinese Medicine ultimately rely on the body's natural healing ability to maintain health and protect against disease. Both have the same goal of helping a person stay healthy. Western science tends to use drugs and surgery as needed. Acupuncturists tend to use gentle needling and herbs. A combination of both systems creates an ideal environment of health and healing.
Acupuncture helps to prevent illness by improving the overall functioning of the body's immune and organ systems. Acupuncture is helpful for:
Treating existing illnesses and injuries.
Preventing both recurrence of illnesses and new illness.
Improving overall health.
Acupuncture originated in China over 5,000 years ago. It is part of the holistic system of healing known as Traditional Chinese Medicine ("TCM").
How does Acupuncture work?
Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory
The Classical Chinese explanation is that energy (Qi) flows in channels (meridians) throughout the body and over its surfaces. These channels are rivers of energy which are referred to as meridians. The Chinese have identified 71 meridians in the human body, which is a basic energy map for all people. The meridians are often compared to a series of interconnected highways. Each of the major organs in the body is associated with its own meridian. Through the network of meridians the internal organs are connected to certain areas and parts of the body including the muscles, bones, joints, and also other organs.
The Chinese believe that health is a manifestation of balance, both within the body itself and between the body and the external environment. When the body is internally balanced and in harmony with the external environment, Qi flows smoothly through the meridians to nourish the organs and tissues. If an obstruction occurs in one of the meridians, the Qi is disrupted and cannot flow properly. When the Qi cannot flow smoothly or is forced to flow in the opposite direction, the body's innate balance is disrupted and illness results.
Acupuncture points are the specific points on the meridians where the Qi is both concentrated and accessible. Acupuncture engages the Qi by inserting needles at these specific points, the goal being to restore the proper flow of Qi. As the body regains its natural balance, well-being returns.
Acupuncture and Modern Science
To the human body, acupuncture needles are a physical stimulus. In Western science, a stimulus is defined as a detectable change in either the external environment or within the body itself. When the body detects change, it produces a response. Although acupuncture is not yet fully understood by Western science, with modern technology scientists can now actually begin to "see" the body's response to acupuncture. For example, using an MRI (a very sophisticated x-ray), researchers have shown that when a needle is inserted at specific acupuncture points on the body, corresponding changes occur in the brain.
In the West, acupuncture is most well-known for its ability to relieve pain so the majority of research thus far has been done in this area. Acupuncture points are now believed to stimulate the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to release pain-relieving chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord and brain. Acupuncture may also stimulate other chemicals to be released by the brain, including hormones that influence the self-regulating system of the body.
Summary
Chinese Oriental medicine has been around for thousands of years, and has provided us with a unique and holistic approach to help prevent and treat disease. Western science and Traditional Chinese Medicine ultimately rely on the body's natural healing ability to maintain health and protect against disease. Both have the same goal of helping a person stay healthy. Western science tends to use drugs and surgery as needed. Acupuncturists tend to use gentle needling and herbs. A combination of both systems creates an ideal environment of health and healing.
Acupuncture is the insertion of ultra fine filiform needles into pressure points on the body according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, the goal is to harmonize your flow of energy & circulation; oftentimes disruption to the circuit is the cause of the complaint. “Bad” blood can accumulate like a bruise, meaning the bad blood has pooled into one area & because it is not flowing well it is stagnant, so we can use acupuncture & other methods of TCM like cupping to get the blood to move again and resolve the bruising. Research has shown that acupuncture is very effective for back and neck pain compared to placebos or fake (sham) acupuncture. Other research has shown acupuncture stimulates beta-endorphins and alpha-adenosine to stimulate pain relief and self-healing within the body. It’s a tried medicine of millennia for the modern life, but of course it doesn’t mean we can live without mainstream medicine.
Live Happy,
Michael
Live Happy,
Michael
Acupuncture is a system of meridians, with points along them, that correspond to different internal organs. Each point has specific functions and the goal of the practitioner is to use their knowledge of the point functions and their assessment of the patient’s condition to correctly choose a combination of points that will best serve the patient’s needs.
Acupuncture is one modality of traditional Chinese medicine and dates back for thousands of years. It helps in many ways, and was practiced to keep people healthy.
Acupuncture treatment is part of Oriental Medicine and based on channels. These channels have points which related with body systems. The needles are going to stimulate these points to affect body systems as well as muscles and nerves and finally to treat or improve their functions.
Acupuncture is to apply fine and dry needles into two types of spots on the body based on energy channels called meridians and trigger/sore points. The needles trigger body energy flow or chemicals to balance energy/chemicals to treat illness. It is an ancient medical therapy and has created in China and spread out the world in the last 3000 years. It can treat many conditions. In the States, most people have acupuncture for pain management, addictions, infertility, anxiety/depression, and cancer support therapy, etc.
This is a question that require a long answer. It would be difficult to answer it in the limited space that I have here. But the short and acurate answer is:
Balancing the Qi.
Be well, be confident, we can help.
Balancing the Qi.
Be well, be confident, we can help.
Several thousand years ago, East Asian Practitioners discovered that the body forms disharmonies as a result of the various physical and mental stresses of life. Oriental medical theory explains these disharmonies as an imbalance of opposing fores called yin and yang. this imbalance disrupts the movement of the body's vital emergy (qi )along the meridian pathway--channels through which the body's energy is thought to flow. Acupuncture restores the smooth flow of qi by inserting and manipulating needs at specific points on the body, through acupuncture,the body is able to restore its natural balance and promote the ability to heal itself.
Acupuncture works by activating the body'sn own healing powers, so it can be beneficial for many health conditions, below are some common conditions that can be treated, but please feel free to contact us about your specific health condition.
Acupuncture works by activating the body'sn own healing powers, so it can be beneficial for many health conditions, below are some common conditions that can be treated, but please feel free to contact us about your specific health condition.
That is a very open ended question that can elicit a very long answer. The short answer is that acupuncture is part of Asian medicine. It is the insertion of fine needles in the body to help the body regulate and heal itself.
Long story short, acupuncture is an ancient technique where needles are inserted into strategic points around to body to achieve overall wellness. It helps by balancing your body to allow you to heal yourself.
Acupuncture is the insertion, manipulation and removal of very fine, filiform (solid) needles at particular points on the body with the goal of affecting some health condition.
How it helps is a much longer conversation and would require discussing: holograms, fractals, physics, anatomy&physiology, the structure & function of connective tissue, cell biology, systems theory, embryology, and how information is utilized in living organisms.
The bottom line is: there are lots of clinical trials showing a variety of measurable biochemical effects resulting from acupuncture. How the biochemistry is changed and what systems are impacted largely depends on what is being treated and which acupuncture points are stimulated.
How it helps is a much longer conversation and would require discussing: holograms, fractals, physics, anatomy&physiology, the structure & function of connective tissue, cell biology, systems theory, embryology, and how information is utilized in living organisms.
The bottom line is: there are lots of clinical trials showing a variety of measurable biochemical effects resulting from acupuncture. How the biochemistry is changed and what systems are impacted largely depends on what is being treated and which acupuncture points are stimulated.
