| What Is Acupuncture? | | | | |
| | | | No medication involved |
| When you're learning about something new, | | | | |
| it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer | | | | There is usually no medicine on the needles, |
| amount of relevant information available. | | | | for the needle itself acts on the Qi energy |
| This informative article should help you | | | | to make the change in the flow. The |
| focus on the central points. | | | | practitioner may use a particular angle to |
| | | | insert a needle, or may manipulate the needle |
| Accupunture originated in China | | | | a little (such as a small rotation) to get |
| | | | the best results for a particular client. |
| Acupuncture was developed in China many | | | | |
| centuries ago. The Chinese call acupuncture | | | | If you think like the Chinese, you may want |
| Zhue Jiao, which means "needle heat". The | | | | to visit your acupuncture clinic regularly to |
| needle regulates an inner force called "Qi", | | | | maintain an optimal flow of Qi, and to |
| which is responsible for the health of the | | | | maintain really good health. |
| body. The regulation of Qi using acupuncture | | | | |
| can restore physical health, give a release | | | | A particular health or emotional problem may |
| from stress, or improve physical or mental | | | | need only one or two visits, or might require |
| health in other ways. | | | | a series of up to eight visits or more, |
| | | | depending on the problem. |
| A very healthy person should have Qi energy | | | | |
| flowing freely in several distinct pathways, | | | | During a visit, the acupuncturist may insert |
| and these pathways are like the roads for | | | | several needles, and not necessarily at the |
| maintenance crews. Freely flowing energy | | | | same points from visit to visit. As the |
| distributes everything the cells need, and | | | | condition improves, a different set of |
| take away what waste is produced. This | | | | locations might be chosen to affect a change |
| produces not only physical, but also mental, | | | | in Qi flow to move even more quickly to good |
| health. | | | | health. |
| | | | |
| If Qi is stopped at some point, there will be | | | | Sometimes the needles are inserted just |
| some symptoms, often a physical illness. The | | | | underneath the layer of the skin, while at |
| acupuncturist will determine where the | | | | other times some of the needles may be |
| needles should be placed in order to return | | | | inserted up to a depth of three inches. |
| the flow to normal, or as close to normal as | | | | Insertion of the needles usually does not |
| is possible. This might happen in one | | | | hurt at all. Some clients remark on an |
| treatment, or a series of treatments. | | | | occasional pinching sensation when a needle |
| | | | is inserted. |
| Many Chinese get acupuncture treatments | | | | |
| regularly in order to stay healthy, to keep | | | | Once the needle is in place it can easily be |
| their Qi flowing at a nearly ideal level. In | | | | forgotten. Sometimes there is a pleasant |
| several places in China, a practitioner of | | | | relaxing or warm sensation around the |
| acupuncture gets paid only as long as their | | | | insertion point, which is an indication that |
| clients remain healthy, not when they get | | | | the Qi flow is being redirected in the right |
| sick. | | | | manner. |
| | | | |
| Accupuncture methods | | | | Acupuncture is a very good way to correct a |
| | | | number of illnesses, and one of the best ways |
| Nearly all acupuncture techniques use | | | | to maintain health on a regular basis. |
| needles, though there are varieties that also | | | | |
| use electric stimulation, burning, and herbs. | | | | This introduction gave a brief overview to |
| The needles used are solid needles, not | | | | encourage you to consider acupuncture as a |
| hollow tube needles like Western doctors use. | | | | health option. More and more insurance |
| In America, certified practitioners of | | | | companies are giving coverage for visits to |
| acupuncture use pre-sterilized disposable | | | | an acupuncture clinic, and this should be |
| needles. | | | | explored. |
| | | | |
| You can see that there's practical value in | | | | Sometimes it's tough to sort out all the |
| learning more about "acupuncture". Can you | | | | details related to this subject, but I'm |
| think of ways to apply what's been covered so | | | | positive you'll have no trouble making sense |
| far? | | | | of the information presented above. |