Why Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine?
If you are seeking a health care practitioner with a natural approach to your health & wellness then you will quickly notice that there are quite a few choices. You could be looking at Acupuncture, Naturopathic medicine, Holistic nutrition, Massage therapy, Chiropractic care and so on. With so many options it may be hard to narrow it down to one. So I will give you a couple of reasons to consider Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as your number one choice.
Acupuncture originated in China roughly 3500 years ago and is considered to be one of the oldest forms of medicine on the planet. An Acupuncture treatment manipulates the flow of a life giving energy called “Qi” and the circulation of blood, which can restore health to the body and mind. Qi is accessed through the various Acupuncture points along the meridians of the body by insertion with very fine needles. Research even suggests by MRI results that Acupuncture points have an Acupuncture-brain-organ pathway and connection. This means that needling specific Acupuncture points has a therapeutic effect on targeted organs or organ systems.
An Acupuncture treatment corrects the imbalances within the body, which gives the body the ability to heal itself. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine are used to approach your body holistically; treating your mind, body, and soul to bring you maximum wellness. An appointment with an Acupuncturist may include a variety of healing modalities including Acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, auricle acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, tui na, herbal formulas, nutritional counselling, and information on healthy lifestyle choices. There is also a strong emphasis on prevention of illness, Traditional Chinese Medicine will teach you to listen to your body for potentially serious signs or symptoms. Below are some of the disorders that Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine will be able to help you with.
Acupuncture originated in China roughly 3500 years ago and is considered to be one of the oldest forms of medicine on the planet. An Acupuncture treatment manipulates the flow of a life giving energy called “Qi” and the circulation of blood, which can restore health to the body and mind. Qi is accessed through the various Acupuncture points along the meridians of the body by insertion with very fine needles. Research even suggests by MRI results that Acupuncture points have an Acupuncture-brain-organ pathway and connection. This means that needling specific Acupuncture points has a therapeutic effect on targeted organs or organ systems.
An Acupuncture treatment corrects the imbalances within the body, which gives the body the ability to heal itself. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine are used to approach your body holistically; treating your mind, body, and soul to bring you maximum wellness. An appointment with an Acupuncturist may include a variety of healing modalities including Acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, auricle acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, tui na, herbal formulas, nutritional counselling, and information on healthy lifestyle choices. There is also a strong emphasis on prevention of illness, Traditional Chinese Medicine will teach you to listen to your body for potentially serious signs or symptoms. Below are some of the disorders that Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine will be able to help you with.
Pain
The effectiveness of Acupuncture to ease and control pain has already been established through controlled clinical studies. In fact, Acupuncture has been compared to morphine for controlling pain related to chronic illness. The mechanism of pain control by Acupuncture treatments is that Acupuncture can activate the nervous system of patients. This activation of the nervous system allows the body to increase the release of its own natural pain-killing chemicals, like endorphins, which are known to be 200 times more effective than morphine. For this reason Acupuncture is well known to help manage pain related to chronic facial pain, headaches, migraines, arthralgia, muscle spasms, sciatica, fibromyalgia, neuralgia, spondylitis, fasciitis, arthritis, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, knee pain and shoulder pain.
In Rheumatoid arthritis Acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial with controlling inflammation and to supplement a dysfunctional immune system. For Rheumatoid arthritis Acupuncture is also effective for pain relieve but may not improve any damage that has already occurred within the joint.
Acupuncture has been successfully used to treat abdominal colic, acute gastroenteritis, gastric spasms and has been shown to have a better analgesic effect than conventional medicinal treatments. The positive effects are noted to peak in a shorter period of time than conventional medicines and Acupuncture has no negative side effects.
For pain related to trauma, sprains, and fractures Acupuncture is not only helpful to alleviate discomfort but will also improve local circulation to promote faster healing. If regular Acupuncture treatments are applied after a traumatic injury you can expect to heal faster and get back to doing what you love to do.
During childbirth Acupuncture can be used to relieve labor pain and significantly reduce the duration of labor. In contrast, Acupuncture can also increase uterine activity if contractions are too weak for delivery.
In Rheumatoid arthritis Acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial with controlling inflammation and to supplement a dysfunctional immune system. For Rheumatoid arthritis Acupuncture is also effective for pain relieve but may not improve any damage that has already occurred within the joint.
Acupuncture has been successfully used to treat abdominal colic, acute gastroenteritis, gastric spasms and has been shown to have a better analgesic effect than conventional medicinal treatments. The positive effects are noted to peak in a shorter period of time than conventional medicines and Acupuncture has no negative side effects.
For pain related to trauma, sprains, and fractures Acupuncture is not only helpful to alleviate discomfort but will also improve local circulation to promote faster healing. If regular Acupuncture treatments are applied after a traumatic injury you can expect to heal faster and get back to doing what you love to do.
During childbirth Acupuncture can be used to relieve labor pain and significantly reduce the duration of labor. In contrast, Acupuncture can also increase uterine activity if contractions are too weak for delivery.
Neurological disorders
Recent studies have proven that Acupuncture has the ability to prevent the frequency of migraines and relieve symptoms by restoring
normal brain functions. MRI results show that Acupuncture provides these benefits by increasing the functional connectivity of the brain,
in both the frontal and temporal lobes. These studies indicate that Acupuncture restores normal balance to the brain to reduce the frequency
and symptoms of migraines.
In addition to being successful in treating pain or discomfort related to headaches, migraines, insomnia, aphasia, and neuralgia; Acupuncture is beneficial for stroke patients. If treatment for paresis is pursued early after a stroke then Acupuncture can be highly effective. Specifically in cases with hemiplegia due to cerebral hemorrhage, Acupuncture is considered to be a primary treatment. Even after showing a long duration of hemiplegia improvement can often be achieved with regular treatments.
Research has now proven that Acupuncture can regenerate nerves with an effective response of 80% in the patients participating in a controlled clinical study. These results indicate that treatment can promote functional repair after a peripheral nerve injury. The Acupuncture treatments have been shown to possess a mechanism in which the healing of peripheral nerves can be promoted by the body, rather than having further nerve cell death occur. This fact is particularly important for patients who have suffered from nerve related injuries.
normal brain functions. MRI results show that Acupuncture provides these benefits by increasing the functional connectivity of the brain,
in both the frontal and temporal lobes. These studies indicate that Acupuncture restores normal balance to the brain to reduce the frequency
and symptoms of migraines.
In addition to being successful in treating pain or discomfort related to headaches, migraines, insomnia, aphasia, and neuralgia; Acupuncture is beneficial for stroke patients. If treatment for paresis is pursued early after a stroke then Acupuncture can be highly effective. Specifically in cases with hemiplegia due to cerebral hemorrhage, Acupuncture is considered to be a primary treatment. Even after showing a long duration of hemiplegia improvement can often be achieved with regular treatments.
Research has now proven that Acupuncture can regenerate nerves with an effective response of 80% in the patients participating in a controlled clinical study. These results indicate that treatment can promote functional repair after a peripheral nerve injury. The Acupuncture treatments have been shown to possess a mechanism in which the healing of peripheral nerves can be promoted by the body, rather than having further nerve cell death occur. This fact is particularly important for patients who have suffered from nerve related injuries.
Respiratory disorders
Acupuncture is a commonly used treatment for a variety of respiratory disorders. In clinical studies Acupuncture treatments have been shown to be more effective than conventional medicines like antihistamines for allergic rhinitis. Other respiratory disorders that Acupuncture can benefit are sore throat, tonsillitis, allergies, bronchitis, sinusitis and asthma.
Cardiovascular disorders
Acupuncture has been proven effective in lowering the blood pressure of patients with Hypertension. Patients receiving Acupuncture had a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, for this reason Acupuncture has been strongly suggested in Hypertension treatment guidelines and is widely used to regulate blood pressure. In general patients who received Acupuncture treatments for Hypertension also experienced significantly less anxiety. Further investigation into the benefits of Acupuncture for Hypertension showed that Acupuncture has the ability to regulate micro RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. Being able to control blood pressure at a normal rate is an essential aspect of cardiovascular health and disease prevention.
Studies have shown that Acupuncture can improve the working capacity of the heart muscle. Treatment can benefit patients with angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, and cardiac neurosis. Acupuncture has also been shown to improve circulation of peripheral blood flow. Acupuncture treatments can be expected to improve overall circulatory function.
Studies have shown that Acupuncture can improve the working capacity of the heart muscle. Treatment can benefit patients with angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, and cardiac neurosis. Acupuncture has also been shown to improve circulation of peripheral blood flow. Acupuncture treatments can be expected to improve overall circulatory function.
Digestive disorders
Common digestive disorders that Acupuncture is well known to be beneficial for are constipation, chronic diarrhea, acid reflux, epigastric pain, peptic ulcers, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastric spasms. Acupuncture treatments are known to be significantly better than conventional medicines for the relief of gastric pain and gastrointestinal spasms. Clinical studies have also shown that Acupuncture has a consistent antiemetic effect, which will relieve nausea and vomiting. This antiemetic effect is effective for treating nausea related to digestive disorders, post-operative nausea, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and morning sickness.
For chronic ulcerative colitis Acupuncture is a great complementary treatment to help alleviate pain and promote healing. Extensive data shows that Acupuncture has a positive effect on the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, including an effect on acid secretions and motility. This component of Acupuncture also contributes to its ability to treat biliary colic due to gallstones and is useful for assisting in expelling stones.
For chronic ulcerative colitis Acupuncture is a great complementary treatment to help alleviate pain and promote healing. Extensive data shows that Acupuncture has a positive effect on the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, including an effect on acid secretions and motility. This component of Acupuncture also contributes to its ability to treat biliary colic due to gallstones and is useful for assisting in expelling stones.
Urogenital disorders
Common urogenital disorders treated with Acupuncture are urinary retention, renal colic, and expelling urinary stones. For women Acupuncture treatments can lower urethral pressure and be used as a prophylaxis to protect against recurrent lower urinary tract infections. While in men treatments can be beneficial for chronic prostatitis.
Gynecological disorders
Acupuncture has amazing positive effects for all kinds of gynecological concerns. The positive effect of Acupuncture has been noted to promote blood flow and circulation to the pelvic region. This effect of treatment relieves pain while regulating motility of the uterus at the same time. Treatment with Acupuncture is commonly used for the gynecological disorders such as, irregular menstruation, reducing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, painful menses, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Reports have also shown some success in dissolving small uterine fibroids.
Today more and more doctors are recommending Acupuncture to complement the treatments given to their patients who are pursuing fertility options. Studies have shown that Acupuncture treatments can regulate ovulation, improve sperm quality, and significantly boost IVF success rates. Acupuncture treatments have been proven to assist in IVF success rates by 40-60%. An Acupuncturist can also help a couple pursuing fertility with diet and lifestyle recommendations to further enhance their fertility. Upon fertilization Acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial in preventing miscarriage. Acupuncture treatments are not only beneficial in assisting with fertility but are also great for emotional well-being.
Leading up to the delivery date an Acupuncturist can help ready the expecting mother for labor with Acupuncture treatments for cervical ripening. Acupuncture has very good success rates in correcting the position of breeched babies in the womb. After delivery Acupuncture treatments can also be helpful for mother’s experiencing deficient lactation and post-partum depression.
Today more and more doctors are recommending Acupuncture to complement the treatments given to their patients who are pursuing fertility options. Studies have shown that Acupuncture treatments can regulate ovulation, improve sperm quality, and significantly boost IVF success rates. Acupuncture treatments have been proven to assist in IVF success rates by 40-60%. An Acupuncturist can also help a couple pursuing fertility with diet and lifestyle recommendations to further enhance their fertility. Upon fertilization Acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial in preventing miscarriage. Acupuncture treatments are not only beneficial in assisting with fertility but are also great for emotional well-being.
Leading up to the delivery date an Acupuncturist can help ready the expecting mother for labor with Acupuncture treatments for cervical ripening. Acupuncture has very good success rates in correcting the position of breeched babies in the womb. After delivery Acupuncture treatments can also be helpful for mother’s experiencing deficient lactation and post-partum depression.
Emotional health
Regular Acupuncture treatments have been shown to be effective in treating stress, anxiety, and depression. Acupuncture has been scientifically proven to regulate serotonin, which is well known for having a positive effect on emotional well-being. You can also expect Acupuncture to have an effect on the release of our own natural feel good chemicals, called endorphins within the body. Treatments calm the nervous system and work to balance the mind, spirit, and body. Some research indicates that Acupuncture can be effective in treating patients with insomnia. Patients may be able to fall asleep faster and sleep longer while receiving treatment. Even if you are a good sleeper, Acupuncture will likely improve your quality of sleep.
Oncology
Patients receiving chemotherapy treatments can expect that Acupuncture will help to control nausea, vomiting, pain, poor sleep, and anxiety. Studies have shown a decrease in chemotherapy related side effects in cancer patients who received regular Acupuncture treatments. Regular Acupuncture treatments have been shown to have a positive effect when treating leukopenia related to chemotherapy treatments. This positive effect has been noted to be more effective than conventional medicines when Acupuncture is used for increasing cell counts in patients with leukopenia.
When a licensed provider with the essential training practices Acupuncture then the Acupuncture treatments are an incredibly safe healing modality with life changing effects. Currently there are more than 200 conditions recognized by the World Health Organization that are effectively treated with Acupuncture. Above are just some of the reasons to consider Acupuncture as a healing modality to incorporate into your life. Honestly though, I could go on and on with more exciting information on Acupuncture, so if you have a question feel free to contact me and I will do my best to help.
~ Jenna Knight
When a licensed provider with the essential training practices Acupuncture then the Acupuncture treatments are an incredibly safe healing modality with life changing effects. Currently there are more than 200 conditions recognized by the World Health Organization that are effectively treated with Acupuncture. Above are just some of the reasons to consider Acupuncture as a healing modality to incorporate into your life. Honestly though, I could go on and on with more exciting information on Acupuncture, so if you have a question feel free to contact me and I will do my best to help.
~ Jenna Knight