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Acupuncture
is a very ancient healing art. We know that it has been in use for at least
3500 years, originating in ancient In
Chinese medical theory, if the flow of Qi in the body is blocked, then
dysfunction, illness, and pain can result. The origin of the blockage may be
an imbalance in the physical body, the emotions, the mind, or the spirit. One
of the very valuable concepts of Chinese medicine is that dysfunction in any
of these levels can cause symptoms and disease in any other. An example of
this that we can all understand is how excessive worry or stress can cause a
headache or stomachache. In
the practice of modern medical acupuncture, tiny sterile stainless steel
needles are inserted at points along the meridians to help unblock the flow of
Qi. This helps alleviate the patient’s symptoms and encourages the balance of
Qi that is necessary for health and wellbeing. These needles are about the
diameter of a human hair, are solid, and do not contain any medicines or
other substances. They can be stimulated in many ways—by physically vibrating them with the hand,
heating them, cooling them, or connecting them to an electrical pulse—to help
unblock the stagnant Qi and encourage its movement. The number of needles,
their pattern of placement, and the length of treatment is determined by the
patient’s presenting complaints. Medical
acupuncture can be helpful for many kinds of problems and can be used safely
in conjunction with other kinds of treatments. It is often very helpful to
boost the effectiveness of other therapies, for support of one’s energy and
strength during times of stress or illness, and for the relief of pain. |
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©2008 by Dr.
Adrienne Clamp. All rights reserved. |
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