About Acupuncture
Acupuncture is best known for the control of pain. However, acupuncture can treat a wide variety of common and uncommon disorders. It would be most accurate to say that acupuncture treats disorders of the Qi and the Blood, excess and deficient conditions, constitutional tendencies (fire, earth, metal, water and wood body types), and external influences (i.e. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine have different ways of explaining diseases, symptoms, and etiology, almost like a different language. But the more one understands both medicines, they actually are very similar. Acupuncture is an ancient healing medicine, but has modern application. Acupuncture has been recognized by The WHO and The NIH for effectively treating the following conditions:
1. Eye-Ears-Nose-Throat
3. Gastro-intestinal
4. Internal Organic
6. Infections
7. Mouth and Facial
8. Neurological/Musculoskeletal
This is a general category list, and specific disorders can be searched for online under these headings. The practice of acupuncture, TCM, is sometimes combined with Chinese Herbology, Eastern Nutrition, and Lifestyle Changes. This makes this type of medicine complete and very effective. TCM treats the entire body as well as the specific complaint and has the ability to correct imbalances that do not return. I call this “Re-Patterning” and the body achieves this by many different pathways. The acupuncture needles facilitate a change in the body, but it is the individuals body that actually makes the change. From a western standpoint, acupuncture can change the biochemistry and tissue structure (i.e. lengthen muscle fibers into relaxation), which creates long term or permanent change. The blend of both medicines is also very beneficial and effective. I have worked in integrative medical clinics that have been very successful at utilizing both medicines together. Sometimes, the Best of Both, is what is needed.
