| While acupuncture has been around for hundreds | | | | (WHO) recognizes acupuncture to treat over 30 |
| of years (and acupressure for thousands of | | | | different conditions or diseases. The list includes |
| years), it has only recently begun to be validated | | | | but is not limited to: Headache, migraine, |
| by western medicine. Many organizations in | | | | Trigeminal Neuralgia, Peripheral neuropathies, |
| western medicine have now admitted that | | | | Cervicobrachial syndrome, "Frozen Shoulder", |
| acupuncture does offer many benefits to its | | | | "Tennis Elbow", Sciatica and low back pain, and |
| patients. Although many people think acupuncture | | | | Osteoarthritis. It has also been shown to help |
| is just poking people with needles, its background | | | | common sicknesses like cold and flu. Several |
| is much more scientific than that. Acupuncture | | | | studies involving placebo and double blind aspects |
| relates to the energy and the flow of it | | | | have proven the benefits of acupuncture. One |
| throughout the body. The flow of the energy | | | | study had one group of patients actually receive |
| through meridians is the essential component of | | | | treatment. Another group thought they were |
| acupuncture. The needles help to alleviate any | | | | getting acupuncture. The second group witnessed |
| blockage in these pathways throughout the body. | | | | a tool like a theatrical knife that retracted when |
| By clearing out a meridian, it allows vital energy to | | | | pushed against the skin. The patients felt a poke |
| travel through the body. This in turn, allows the | | | | of the needle; however, it never actually |
| body to work as it should. Acupuncture is part of | | | | penetrated the skin. The study showed that the |
| Oriental tradition and is widely accepted there as a | | | | group who actually received treatment had much |
| form of medical treatment. It has slowly gained | | | | better results than the group that didn't. Another |
| credibility over the years in the western | | | | study used brain imaging to determine pain levels |
| hemisphere. Today, a large percentage of | | | | in its test subjects. Pain was induced in all of the |
| hospitals in the United States use it to treat pain. | | | | subjects. Then some were given acupuncture |
| It has been proven to help the body in several | | | | directly after. Those that were treated showed a |
| different ways. They include reducing pain levels, | | | | much lower pain level in the brain. These studies |
| as well as making pain more tolerable. It can help | | | | helped to prove that acupuncture helps healing as |
| regulate your emotions and keep you from | | | | well as pain management. Overall, acupuncture is a |
| getting too high or too low. It undoubtedly can | | | | treatment that has been proven to be extremely |
| increase your energy, which almost everyone | | | | beneficial to nearly everyone. Whether you suffer |
| could use. It has also been proven to help you | | | | from back pain, arthritis, or a host of other |
| perform your everyday tasks more efficiently | | | | diseases, acupuncture may help. However, the |
| and generally enhance your quality of life. It also | | | | only way to know for sure is to try it out for |
| can help reduce dependency on medications that | | | | your self. |
| you might be using too frequently. In China | | | | Sean is a Chinese and Western Herbalist. Visit |
| acupuncture is also used as anesthesia on patients. | | | | Dimmak Herbs Herbal Supplements for more |
| Large organizations have gradually accepted | | | | information and product related to this article. To |
| acupuncture and admit the amazing effects it can | | | | keep up daily with herbal and health tips visit The |
| have on a person. The World Health Organization | | | | Blog of Health and Herbs. |