Acupuncture

Acupuncture, a natural therapy, involves inserting hair-thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the body's healing abilities. A form of Chinese medication, acupuncture can be used to heal and overcome a variety of physical and mental health related problems.

1. Pain Relief

Due to the fact that acupuncture increases the body's level of endorphins, which are often referred to as "feel good" chemicals, acupuncture can aid in relieving pain. Because acupuncture points and the central nervous system are connected, acupuncture also helps normalize nerve impulses.

2. The Immune System

Acupuncture strengthens the body's immune system and natural resistance. Evidence indicates that there is an increase in white blood cells, as well as in the level of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Globulins after an acupuncture treatment. Alpha and Beta Globulins are thought to help white blood cells better fight infection. Gamma Globulins assist in the production of immune antibodies.

3. Drug Recovery

Acupuncture assists in the recovery of alcohol and drug addiction by helping to reduce withdrawal symptoms, decreasing cravings, relieving tension, and helping people relax. Because acupuncture is so successful in drug treatment recovery, many clinics throughout the United States are now using acupuncture as an integral component of their programs.

4. Musculoskeletal Disorders

Acupuncture has the ability to release muscle tension, as well as tension in the connective tissues, allowing the circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems to function more efficiently. For these reasons, acupuncture helps in preventing and treating musculoskeletal disorders. Sports figures such as Carl Lewis, Charles Barkley, and Jim McMahon are known to use acupuncture in order to improve performance and training, as well as to speed up healing and manage pain.

5. Allergies

Allergies are caused by the immune system reacting to substances that are harmless to most people. Common causes of allergies are environmental factors, such as chemicals, dust and pollen. Food such as milk, wheat and shellfish can also cause allergic reactions. In addition to causing sneezing, stuffy nose and watery eyes, allergies can cause more serious problems such as diabetes, joint pain, glaucoma, kidney problems, heart palpitations, depression and learning disorders. With acupuncture, the body can be detoxified and the immune system strengthened, thus causing the body to cease having allergic reactions.

6. Stress

Stress leads to serious health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory problems. According to Chinese medicine, stress causes these problems when the liver energy is out of balance. Acupuncture, therefore, helps put this energy back into balance, which relaxes the muscle and brings about peace of mind.

7. Diseases And Disorder

Acupuncture can effectively help with more than 50 different internal medical problems, some of which include: asthma, bronchitis, ulcers, diarrhea, and hypertension. Depending on the medical condition, the exact acupuncture treatment varies and may be used in conjunction with other natural therapies, such as herbs and massage.

8. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Thought to be usually brought on by depression, infection or stress, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients have immune system deficiencies and most have a weakness in their internal organs. Acupuncture can be used to improve the body's immunity and, therefore, eliminate Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

9. Menopause

In Chinese medicine, the typical symptoms of menopause -- hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, insomnia, and heart palpitations -- occur when the Yin is out of balance. However, other symptoms of menopause -- hypertension, weight gain, water retention and indigestion --are caused by an imbalance in the Yang. If left untreated, this results in a Qi deficiency, causing fatigue, decreased sex drive, a dry vagina, cold extremities, lower back pain, and incontinence. It has been shown that acupuncture therapy helps get the Yin and the Yang back into balance, thereby reducing the symptoms of menopause.

10. PMS And Menstruation

Many women experience both emotional and physical pain and discomfort before and after menstruation. Emotional difficulties include anger outbursts, sadness, irritability, and depression, while physical pain includes pain in the lower back and the lower abdomen. Acupuncture helps bring the body back into balance and eliminates or lessens physical and social pain associated with menstruation.

Acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine, has quickly gained acceptance in Western culture because of its proven ability to treat emotional and physical problems and without the side effects associated with other forms of medication.