A Quick-Start Guide to Acupuncture

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Acupuncture Quick-Start Guide

The basic principle behind acupuncture is to stimulate specific points under the skin to adjust bodily functions to optimum levels. Both ancient Traditional Chinese and modern Western practitioners can use this technique to relieve symptoms for those suffering from a chronic disease. Needling is the most common approach and is an essentially safe treatment strategy. It can be used to relieve pain, improve healing, and enhance your general well-being. A

common question people ask is how is this procedure actually done and what sort of benefits

can you expect?

Needle Insertion Process

There are two main categories of acupuncture practice in America today, Traditional Chinese

Medicine (TCM) and Medical Acupuncture. Each has its own merits, so your choice is an

individual one. Most people make their decision based on upon which philosophy they are more

aligned with and which technique creates the least apprehension.

TCM practitioners work with the concept energy flow or Qi, and the meridians through which this

energy travels in the body. Most procatitioners insert small needles just under the skin at certain

places on the body in order to reach the acupuncture meridian points. So far, modern scientific

methods have only found little evidence to prove the existence of these energy channels despite

the fact that this technique has been used effectively for thousands of years across various

countries to treat millions of people.

Medical Acupuncture practitioners are most often Medical doctors who graduatesd from western

medical schools. Their needle locations are not based on the traditional acupuncture points, but

on anatomic data. They will often use fewer needles and ...

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...icular medical condition. Results do

vary, so it is helpful to have an open and honest discussion with your acupuncturist about

expected results and their time frame. In general, most patients begin to feel positive effects after

three or four sessions. Certain specific conditions may actually get a little worse before

improving. This is known as a "healing reaction". Keep your practitioner informed if you

experience this sort of reaction so adjustments can be made to your treatment.

In modern medicine, using traditional healing techniques with proven results has become a more

accepted and widely practice. Acupuncture has proven its value over and over again. Current

practice guidelines help keep it effective and safe. It is a gift of healing from ancient healing sages

that has the potential to provide relief to millions of people in the future.

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