 Acupuncture is a form of preventive and holistic medicine that has existed for millennia. Chinese acupuncture is the most well known system, has many aspects of its history and knowledge still intact today.
Hair-thin [between 30 and 36 gauge (g) on average, typically 32 (g)], sterile, disposable needles are inserted into specific places on the skin called acupuncture points, usually in order to maintain, but also to restore health as well. Rather than being painful, acupuncture treatments are often relaxing, invigorating, or both - depending on what the body requires. Acupuncture works by eliciting a healing and balancing of Qi [subtle energetic relationships] throughout the body.
Scientific investigation into acupuncture points and meridians, or subtle-energetic channels, is a constantly evolving research discipline, but several crucial mechanisms are able to explain some of what goes on, such as neurohumoral theory, insular brain imaging, gas-discharge visualization and other interesting work investigating psychosomatic [mind-body] connections, as well as the fascia/interstitial fluid mechanisms. See the links page for more information, or do an internet search.
 Chinese Medicine [CM] practices include acupuncture [Zhen Ci], acupressure massage [Tui Na / An Mo], moxibustion [Ai Jiu - warming herbals, or use of an infrared heat-lamp over the acupoints], 'Scraping' or Gua Sha [smoothed straight-edge transverse pressure along affected muscles] Chinese medicinal substances [Zhong yao] - including essential oils, Cupping [guan fa- suction cups placed over acupoints for gentle traction], Energetic healing [Qi Gong], exercise [Tai Ji Quan], and dietary and lifestyle planning [Yang Sheng Fa].
[CM] Diagnosis aims to thoroughly examine what underlying energetic patterns are occuring in your symptom-patterns. These not only directly relate to the part of the body or immediate condition, but also any vital organ systems that are indicated, as no part of us operates alone - isolated from the rest - but rather, functioning as a whole. Not only a main complaint's immediate history is taken, but also the consistency and rate of the radial pulse, and tongue appearance - these are foundational examinations in CM diagnosis.
What is health truly all about? It is not just the absence of disease or major discomfort, physically or emotionally, but the vitality or, Shen in Chinese, of life. Our cells, organs, systems, brain and emotions are designed to be self-correcting and purifying. Sometimes there are blockages, which acupuncture can help to gently assist this self-healing process - to unblock energy channels, promoting the innate harmonious energy flow.
Electro-acupuncture [Dian zhen - electrical-current stimulation of acupoints] ranges in sensation from a very light tapping to a controlled muscle reflex. It has been shown to be quite effective in reducing a variety of pain.
Here is a study on electro-acupuncture's beneficial results in treating peripheral joint Osteoarthritis:
another study explores beneficial results of EA use for Labor pain:
Along with other holistic modalities, and together with better attitude, lifestyle, exercising and diet, acupuncture has potential, when persevered with, and administered competently, to assist your mind/body's own healing capacity.
The World Health Organization [WHO] list of acknowledged conditions for treatment:
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