What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a very important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and it has been a Chinese art of healing for over 2500 years. By applying the theory of meridians of TCM acupuncture, it promotes Qi and blood, adjusts organs and nervous system, and balances "Ying" and "Yang" of the human body. Since the middle of the 1970’s Acupuncture and TCM have been getting more and more popular in many countries. Today, it is a great contributor for providing alternative healthcare to the people in the world.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
By inserting very fine, sterile needles into specific points of the body, Chi or ‘vital energy’ flows within its meridians to stimulate and improve the immune and healing systems. According to the World Health Organization, there are 47 specific common conditions treatable by Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. These include:
Respiratory Disorders such as the common cold, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma (mainly in children and adults when uncomplicated).
Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders such as acute sinusitis, acute rhinitis (runny nose), acute tonsillitis, toothache post-extraction pain), gingivitis, and pharyngitis.
Eye Disorders such as acute conjunctivitis, central retinitis, nearsightedness in children, and uncomplicated
Gastrointestinal Disorders such as diarrhea, constipation, spasms of the throat and diaphragm, hiccups, gastroptosis (abnormal lowering of the stomach), gastric hyperacidity, chronic duodenal ulcer (for pain relief), acute duodenal ulcer (without complications), acute and chronic colitis, acute bacillary dysentery, and paralytic ileus (blockage of the small bowel – often occurring after an abdominal operation).
Neurological and Muscular Disorders such as headaches, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, facial palsy (when begins with three to six months after onset), numbness and paralysis following a stroke, peripheral neuropathies (loss of feeling in the outer nerves), Meniere’s disease (ear problem which causes dizziness and vertigo), neurogenic bladder dysfunction, bed-wetting, intercostal neuralgia (pains in the ribs), neck pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, sciatica, low back pain, and osteoarthritis.
The National Institutes of Health has concluded that there is clear-cut evidence that acupuncture is useful in treating such conditions as post-operative pain and the nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy or chemotherapy. In addition, it is beneficial as an adjunctive to standard biomedical care in the treatment of stroke, headache and chronic back pain, as well as addiction, menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma.