Acupuncture – Does Your Qi Need To Be Balanced?
Acupuncture has been around for ages. The Chinese belief about this treatment is that it helps to balance life energy in a person’s body, sometimes called chi or qi. Can it help you?
Acupuncture is a medical treatment which began in China many years ago. This energy is supposed to flow through meridians and when blocked can cause health difficulties. Western medicine has begun to utilize this discipline, as well, but for different reasons. Western practitioners believe it can be helpful when applied to pressure points located in nerves, connective tissue and muscles. Doctors have found it useful to tap into the body’s natural ability to handle pain and appropriate blood flow.
The way that acupuncture is performed is by inserting extremely slender needles into designated locations of a person’s body, depending on the ailment. Doctors in America have found it to be helpful in treating certain conditions including those with chronic pain. Some examples include menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, chemotherapy side effects, migraine headaches and backaches. Mental conditions such as depression and anxiety have also been treated with success. Infertility, addiction and other miscellaneous applications have shown promising outcomes, as well.
As with all medical treatments, there are some risks involved. Complications are rare but may include bruising, pain, infection near the needle insertion sites. If a needle was pushed into a locale too deeply, injury to internal organs could occur. If dirty needles were reused, a patient could catch Hepatitis or other blood borne diseases.
Practitioners do a thorough examination on a patient before performing the technique. Items such as condition of tongue, color of face, rate of pulse and pain locations will all be notated during the initial exam which may take up to one hour. Subsequent visits may take only half an hour and be repeated over a period of several months. Even though the needles are long, they are very tiny in width and cause little or no pain. Five or ten will be used in a body region per session depending on the need of the individual. In order to increase effectiveness, twirling motion, heat or electric current may be added to the devices. After insertion, the patient will lie quietly for fifteen or twenty minutes when it will be time to remove the tools. Many patients report a feeling of being deeply relaxed or energized.
In selecting an acupuncturist, a person should ask friends, family and co-workers for recommendations. The family doctor’s office may have a list of potential worthy possibilities, as well. When screening a new practitioner, it is helpful to ask about their training, see if the office hours and location are convenient, and if the office staff is welcoming. A practitioner who is not an M.D. should be certified by NCCAOM which is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Is this the type of practitioner that can help you with your health and well being concerns? Perhaps. There have been many success stories in both Eastern and Western medical communities. One way to find out is by making an appointment with a reputable acupuncture practitioner and find out for yourself.
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