What is Acupuncture?
A modern understanding
A modern understanding
What is acupuncture? It is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves stimulating specific points on the body using various methods such as laser, micro-current and hair-fine sterile needles. The goal of acupuncture is to balance the flow of “qi” in the body.
What is Qi? Qi is a complex concept that is often described as energy, and it is believed that the blockage of Qi can result in illness. However, this interpretation isn’t entirely accurate. In reality, Qi refers to bodily functions, and the term “blockage of Qi” describes a functional obstruction within the body. Interestingly, the West was first introduced to the incorrect idea about Qi by Soulie de Morant, who lived in China from 1901-1917 and went on to become a champion of Chinese medicine in France. He’s actually credited with bringing acupuncture to the Western world!
In China Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of health conditions and is often used in conjunction with other traditional Chinese medicine practices such as herbal medicine.
And did you know that acupuncture is the best-researched natural therapy? That’s why it’s becoming increasingly popular and mainstream, with many insurance companies now covering it. It’s even being integrated into hospitals, and get this – the US military has fully embraced it and is now training its medics in battlefield acupuncture!
Here are some of the conditions that acupuncture has been shown to help with:
Remember, acupuncture is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and often should be a part of a comprehensive integrative approach. It’s important to speak with a qualified acupuncturist to determine the best avenue for you. And if you’re looking for a natural and holistic way to improve your health and wellness, acupuncture may be just what you need!
Acupuncture can help treat a wide range of conditions. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a book in 2002 called “Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials,” which summarized the conditions that have been shown to benefit from this treatment in various studies. While some academics argue that this document may be outdated, we believe that the age of a study doesn’t necessarily invalidate its findings, especially if there are no newer, higher-quality studies available.
(Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved through controlled trials-to be an effective treatment)
(diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed)
(Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which there are only individual controlled trials reporting some therapeutic effects, but for which acupuncture is worth trying because treatment by conventional and other therapies is difficult)
Reference: World Health Organisation: Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials 2002