Acupuncture
Treatment
According to the World Health Organization (December 1979), acupuncture has successfully
treated the following disorders:
▪ Neurological conditions
▪ Cardiovascular disorders
▪ Respiratory conditions
▪ Digestive system disorders
▪ Urogenital disorders
▪ Gynecological and obstetric disorders
▪ Skin conditions
▪ Eye conditions
▪ Musculoskeletal disorders
▪ Sporting injuries
▪ Psychological conditions
The practice of acupuncture can be traced back at least 2,500 years. Its basic premise is that there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) coursing through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture's aim is to correct imbalances of flow by stimulating identifiable anatomical points close to the skin.
The most thoroughly studied mechanism of stimulation employs penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.
The practice of acupuncture to treat identifiable pathophysiological (disease) conditions in American medicine was rare until the 1972 visit of President Richard M. Nixon to China. Since that time, there has been an explosion of interest in its application to Western medicine. American acupuncture now incorporates medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries.
As a natural form of healing, acupuncture offers the following benefits:
-
provides drug-free pain relief
-
effectively treats a wide range of acute and chronic ailments
-
treats the underlying cause of disease and illness as well as the symptoms
-
provides a wholistic approach to the treatment of disease and illness, linking body, mind and emotions
-
assists in disease prevention as well as the maintenance of general well-being.