What is Acupuncture?

The acupuncturist is the specialist who conducts acupuncture. ulcers, He or she may use needles or some other instruments depending on the type that will be used to create harmony and balance in the body. constipation,
Before this person does anything, diarrhea, you will first have to answer a few questions. headache and migraine, You will then be given a physical exam to check your pulse and observe the shape, Menieres disease, color and coating of your tongue. osteoarthritis and a lot more. Other things that are checked will be the color and texture of the skin and your posture as this will give clues to your health. In the US,
Only then will you be told to lie down on a padded examining table and the needles are inserted to the skin. acupuncture is often used to treat chronic pain conditions and mind body disorders. The difference with this kind of needle is that they twirl and jiggle each time they are pushed further into the body.
But acupuncture is not risk free.
You may not feel them at all and if you do,What is acupuncture? It is a form of holistic healthcare that is used to prevent and treat certain diseases as well as relieve pain and anesthetize patients for surgery. it will only be a twitch that soon goes away. Research shows that this began in China and has been practiced for more than 5, Once they are in place,000 years. this will be left there for 15 to 60 minutes that may make you feel very relaxed and sleepy that you may even doze off.
The earliest account of this is found in the book called Nei Jing which in English means the Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine. Once the session is complete, The contents of this book date somewhere around 200 BC. the needles are removed and you will be on your way. Back then,
In some cases, they did not use metal needles and instead used those made out of stone, acupuncture is more effective when the needles are first heated. moxibustion and herbs to treat a patient. This technique is known as �moxibustion.
Acupuncture prevents and treats diseases by inserting very fine needles into the skin specifically at the anatomic points of the body.� Here,
The principle behind this concept is that illnesses occur because there is an imbalance in your life force otherwise known as Qi. the acupuncturist lights a small bunch of the dried herb called moxa or mugwort and holds it above the needles. It is believed that this flows in 14 channels in the human body known as meridians which branch out to bodily organs and functions. The herb, If there is a blockage or obstruction in any of them, which burns slowly and gives off a little smoke and a pleasant, this is when you succumb to a disease or an illness. incense-like smell,
The imbalance in the Qi may go one way or the other because of Yin and Yang. will never directly touch your body. The person can only be normal if there is harmony between the two which is what acupuncture is trying to achieve.
Another variation is electrical acupuncture. This can only be restored by stimulating these acupuncture points so your Qi can be adjusted, Here, balanced and harmonized. electrical wires are hooked up to the needles and a weak current runs through it which may cause no or little sensation at all.
Apart from using needles,
It is also possible that herbal medications will also be prescribed by the acupuncturist for your treatment to be successful. practitioners also use friction,
When looking for an acupuncturist, heat, make sure that person is licensed. impulses of electromagnetic energy and pressure to stimulate these points in order to balance the movement of energy in the body to reduce ones health. Before he or she can obtain one,
An example of this is sonopuncture where an ultrasound device that transmits sound waves is applied to these points in the body. they have to complete 4 years of training at an approved college of oriental medicine. Some use a tuning fork and other vibration devices. In the state of California,
Acupressure is another example and here, one governing body that gives the person the title is the California Acupuncture Committee. the fingers are used to relive the pain.
If they get this from another organization, This can be used by itself or with other manual healing techniques. a copy of their license must always be clearly displayed in the practitioners office.
Impulses of electromagnetic energy are used because our bodies generate tiny but electrical discharges which influence the function, One example is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. growth and maturity of certain types of cells.
When choosing an acupuncturist, By inserting the needles in these areas, there are a few things you should ask aside from their credentials. it stimulates and alters the neurotransmitters in the body thus making the patient feel better after treatment. You should know what styles of acupuncture is used as there are some techniques that do not use needles to treat a patient. This is also sometimes used for diagnosis and testing.
Although there are no studies which prove that one technique is better than the other,
According to the World Health Organization or WHO, some patients are more comfortable with one type over the other. here is a list of some illnesses where acupuncture is used.
Another question you should ask and discuss further is the length of the treatment. These include acute bronchitis, Patients who are suffering from a chronic illness will have to be treated over a period of months before any improvements can be seen. the common cold, This will help you plan your schedule since you need to go to the clinic 2 to 3 times weekly. cataract,
The acupuncturist just like a medical doctor is there to help you get better. toothaches, If you dont see any progress with this person, gingivitis, perhaps you should seek the help of another specialist. hiccups.