Acupuncture: A Benefit to the Well Individual?

Before we begin a discussion about the benefits of acupuncture, let’s talk about the origins of acupuncture.  It was first used in China over 2000 years ago and is one of the oldest medical procedures in the world.  It is a family of procedures that stimulates the anatomy of the body and helps to balance the energy flow throughout the body.  It is this kind of acupuncture that is practiced in the United States today, through the use of tiny, metallic needles placed in affected areas and manipulated by hand or by electrical stimulation.

Acupuncture is the basic foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine and is based on the belief that there are two opposing and inseparable forces within our body.  They are known as the Yin and Yang of the entire person. The Yin is representative of the cold, slow, or passive principle, and the yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle.  A healthy state is achieved by maintaining a balanced state of yin and yang.  This is done through vital pathways or meridians that allow for the flow of qi, or vital energy.  The vital energy flow occurs along pathways known as meridians. These meridians connect over 2,000 acupuncture points along the body.  There are 12 main meridians and 8 secondary meridians.  Although traditional Western medicine does not completely understand how acupuncture works, the proof that it does work has been shown in several studies conducted by Western medical facilities.

Acupuncture Effectiveness

Now, let’s move to the question of does it work.  According to the National Institute of Health, the answer would be yes. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in many areas of health care.  Areas such as postoperative nausea, chemotherapy side effects, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, headache, menstrual cramps, addiction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma, just to name a few.  The study revealed that acupuncture was able to provide pain relief, improve the function and mobility of joints due to arthritis inflammation, and serve to complement standard care.

Although there are many who would doubt the effectiveness of acupuncture, once they are a patient, they are believers.  It has been proposed that acupuncture works and produces its effects by regulating the nervous system.  The theory proposes that since acupuncture produces its effect through the regulation of the nervous system, it induces the release of endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. There is also the theory that acupuncture alters brain chemistry by changing the neurotransmitters in the brain.

Without a doubt, acupuncture was a benefit in the study, and as a patient myself, I can vouch for the wonderful effect it has had on my back.  Although acupuncture is classified as alternative medicine therapy, and there is still much to be understood about the way it works, it is a proven aid in maintaining optimal health.

But what about the well individual, can acupuncture provide a benefit to them?  Absolutely.  Because acupuncture works off the belief that we must maintain the balance of our vital energy flow in order to remain healthy, acupuncture serves as the tool for realignment.  Our vital energy flow can be out of balance, and we still feel and appear quite healthy.  It is in this capacity that acupuncture serves as a sort of preventive medicine.  Checking and balancing the flow of energy on the meridian points in your body is like your car receiving a tune-up before it is in need of repair.

DISCLAIMER:

This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.
Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA-approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”