Understanding the Basics of Acupuncture

Acupuncture, a type of Traditional Chinese Medicine, involves the insertion of fine needles into particular spots on the body. This procedure is meant to free blocked energy and neutralize disease-causing imbalances in the body. People in China have been practicing this for thousands and thousands of years. It was brought to the West in recent years, and it has become very popular today.

 

According to the principles of acupuncture, a life force known as qi or chi exists in every human being. In order to keep this force in balance, the masculine (yin) and feminine (yang) dimensions of the body must be in balance. Under such conditions, the qi is also allowed to flow uninterrupted along meridians of power. During illness, a person's body is said to be in a state of imbalance which must be corrected. A practitioner of TCM will discuss the situation to the patient and can use acupuncture as one of the methods of treatment.

 

In a typical session of IBS Edmonton acupuncture, the patient will be lying flat on a surface at a height that is comfortable to the practitioner. In certain instances, a patient may have to undress partially or completely, depending on the points where the needles have to be inserted. For modesty, a blanket will be offered. Acupuncture needles are inserted into different spots across the body at angles from 15 to 90 degrees as determined by the practitioner. Once they are inserted, the needles may be moved or heated, or a light electric current may be applied to stimulate the meridians. The results may be different for different people after a session. Usually though, people will feel calm yet invigorated. Sometimes, it only takes a single session to correct a problem, and other times, the procedure may have to be repeated at least once. In any case, there should be no pain, bleeding or bruising.

 

Based on research conducted in the West, acupuncture is effective for the relief of asthma, nerve conditions and pain, and for the control of nausea and vomiting. It may also help curb back and arthritic pain, fibromyalgia, and pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Even the World Health Organization suggests that acupuncture is a good way to handle allergies, substance abuse and stress. Generally, acupuncture in the West is now used as complementary medicine, and is usually mixed with other treatments to boost their effectiveness. Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture to read about the history of acupuncture.

 

 

With the many types that this healing method comes in, getting to the right practitioner from http://acupuncture123.net could be a feat. For this reason, learning the basics of acupuncture could be a good idea, if only to know if a prospect is good for you. And to make sure that your session is effective, don't settle for an acupuncturist who is not certified.