Forty-four years, Mary W. could not find help for the migraines that plagued him for years. One or two drugs helped numb the pain, but no sound remedy the problem too long. She was not happy with drowsiness and digestive problems, brought the pain and was always afraid that they might rely on painkillers and antidepressants for the rest of his age. She sought acupuncture treatments as a last resort. It was found that their headaches were related to her menstrual cycle, which is something intuitively suspects, but said she had no correlation. It was also discovered that her other symptoms of anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and severe premenstrual symptoms, with characters that have a pale tongue with red edges and a low quality stretched pulses contain an indicated an imbalance in the liver and heart energy.
Marie began a program of 12 weeks of acupuncture treatment involving Oriental bodywork, nutritional counseling, herbal medicine and meditation - all depends on the restoration of balance in his liver and heart energy. With the third treatment, her headaches and premenstrual symptoms were significantly improved. A month before, had it such a dramatic change in their PMS - less crying easily, irritability, anxiety and headache-free - it could fade her treatments at intervals of 2 weeks. Mary, who reported feeling more comfortable in his everyday life and enjoy over her husband and her children, now has acupuncture once a month for maintenance and to prevent possible problems arise.
Mary is just one of nine to 12 million American patients who have discovered the benefits of acupuncture and visit an acupuncturist every year, according to a 1993 Federal Drug Administration (FDA) are estimates. In a country where we have an increase in chronic and degenerative diseases, and given the limitations of pharmacotherapy and surgery employing acupuncture and reliable oriental medicine, non-invasive therapies and natural remedies for restoring balance to the four levels of man: body, emotions and mind
Although acupuncture has a history of 5000 years and is used by 25% of world population, it was only in the last decade that its popularity has increased in North America. One reason for this increase is that the people who discovered that acupuncture works. In a study conducted in six hospitals in five states, 91.5% of patients treated with acupuncture and the disappearance or improvement of symptoms reported, 84% said they had their doctor less often, 79% said using less medication, and 70% of those recommended for surgery, that they should avoid it.
What is acupuncture?
Most people know that acupuncture needles involves the insertion into the body, but many do not really understand how it works and the philosophy behind the treatment. Acupuncture is an important component of the system of oriental medicine. Behind an invisible body's energy system, and that the imbalance in the energy (Qi) leads to the disease -. It is based on the same basic principle from which all spring Oriental healing art based and Conditions of Eastern Oriental bodywork therapy, nutritional therapy, herbal medicine and Qi Gong (energy-based meditation). Underlying the whole world that people who are directly connected to all life, and part of the same design, which sees the whole universe consists.
In the Eastern view of health is balance and harmony within a person and his environment, which manifests itself in a quiet vitality. Oriental medicine emphasizes the prevention and treatment act of diseases, addressing diet and lifestyle factors that influence health and illness and a person to encourage more self-awareness. The goal of treatment, acupuncture and other arts, the balance of the underlying basis of a person's energy, and does so in tune with that part of yourself again knows how to live healthy and peaceful. The ultimate goal is to help people, its unique potential or destiny in the life expression.
How does it work?
Acupuncture needles used first stone and later used iron, bronze and bamboo as a technology. Today needles are very fine, sterile needles made of stainless steel to minimize that are comfortable enough, and usually used with the plastic guide tubes on the sensation of insertion. Almost all U.S. practitioners use disposable needles, to save time and money, and patients to help ease. They are much thinner than hypodermic needles, we remind the doctor's office, and are therefore much more comfortable when inserted.
Acupuncture is not painful, it is not entirely painless. Once the needle is placed, it is usually not even noticeable at all. Pins are left standing in about 20 minutes, then removed. The specific sites are used are often the points, doors in the energy system. These portals are called meridians or energy pathways on the Channels. The channels are rivers, the invisible life energy (Qi), which bear all the basic human functions. Each channel corresponds to a specific organ system affected, a series of physical function and emotional aspects, mental and spiritual covers.
For example, a patient can be like Mary, who suffers from headaches, mood swings, premenstrual symptoms and a feeling of "stuck" in life judged by an imbalance of energy in the liver. Liver energy is not only the liver physical but also emotional energy is released and relaxed, menstrual function, blood, rage, eyes, nails, tendons and ligaments, clarity, good discernment, imagination, spiritual intelligence, foresight and determination. Stimulation of acupuncture points on the channel of the liver with the right intention can the expression of the healthy aspects of a person. There are 12 systems in places like bodies, each with its own unique physical, mental and spiritual. Acupuncture for the treatment and prevention of chronic pain and addiction is well known, with dozens of different health conditions and promotes a feeling of well being and peace. conventional medical approaches are more effective in trauma and life-threatening diseases.
What does acupuncture treat?
The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture and traditional Oriental medicine's ability to treat over 43 common diseases, including:
- Gastro-intestinal diseases such as allergies, stomach and duodenal ulcer, chronic diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, gastrointestinal weakness, anorexia and gastritis
- Genitourinary problems, including stress incontinence, urinary tract infections and sexual dysfunction o gynecological concerns, such as irregular, heavy or painful menstruation, infertility and PMS
- Respiratory disorders such as emphysema, sinusitis, asthma, allergies and bronchitis diseases o bones, muscles, joints and nervous system, such as
- Arthritis, migraine, neuralgia, insomnia, dizziness and lower back, neck and shoulder pain o-vascular diseases, including hypertension, angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis and anemia Emotional and psychological problems o, including depression and anxiety
- Drug abuse, like alcohol, nicotine and drugs
- Blurred vision, ear, nose and throat o Supportive therapy for other chronic and painful debilitating diseases
- In addition, controlled clinical trials in the United States use of acupuncture with standard stroke protocol for combined treatment of paralysis following a stroke evaluated. Effective results were found for more than 80 percent of patients receiving acupuncture, with a saving of $ 26 000 per patient.
- On 5 November 1997, the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference (NIH) for acupuncture, "Acupuncture effective treatment for nausea caused by chemotherapy drugs, surgical anesthesia and pain resulting from pregnancy and surgery and a variety of disorders of the musculoskeletal system."
- The NIH panel also said that "One of the benefits of acupuncture that is used, the incidence of side effects significantly less than with many other drugs or other accepted medical procedures for the same conditions."
Essentially, it is appropriate powers more than 14,000 acupuncturists in America today, and dozens of different types of acupuncture. Practitioners trained in different traditions use different approaches. The most important factor in choosing an acupuncturist is their depth of training, accreditation or certification, and experience. In this sense, it is best to ask met an acupuncturist, the national certification standards of the National Certification for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), which also confirms Oriental bodywork therapy, and herbal practitioners conditions mentioned Chinese. Currently 40 states license acupuncturists, 38 NCCAOM certification used as an admission requirement.
