Acupuncture
is an ancient healing art that has been used for more than 2500 years. It is
part of Traditional Chinese medicine for healing the
body. Acupuncture in Chinese is known as Zhen
Jiu and Acupressure is Zhi Ya. These flourished in Asia until western medicine was introduced in the
17th century. Acupuncture and Acupressure started
making a comeback in the late 1920s and in 1970s was
recognized by the World Health Organization as an
effective method of treating 40 major internal
diseases.
How
does Acupuncture and Acupressure work?
It is
based on the idea that there are more than 2000 points
on the body which are connected by pathways called
meridians. Meridians in Chinese medicine are paths through which the life-energy
flows. This energy circulates throughout the body
along these well defined pathways. These pathways are
connected to specific organs, body structures and
systems.
Acupuncture seeks to release the flow of the body's vital energy or "chi" by stimulating points along 14 energy pathways.
If
this energy circulation is blocked, the disruption of
this energy flow blocks optimum function in the body,
and this results in pain or illness. This disruption of
energy can lead to imbalances and chronic
disease.
The treatment involves
stimulating these points to balance the circulation of
energy which influences the health of the entire body.
Scientists say the needles cause the body to release endorphins -- natural painkillers -- and may boost blood flow and change brain activity.
This sounds like medicine not being able to
understand acupuncture so going back to their "brain
chemical" theory which cannot be proven.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture
involves the insertion of metallic hair-thin needles
(3 - 15 of them) into the specific acupuncture points
that affect the unhealthy part of the body. It generally involves little or no discomfort, and patients often
say they feel energized or relaxed following the
treatment.
Acupuncture is used on a number of chronic health
conditions.
Acupressure
Closely
related to acupuncture and both rely on the same
fundamental principles and both the same points and
meridians. Acupressure is the use of pressure
on the acupuncture points.
The term acupuncture is often used to describe all of these
as they have similar benefits.
Traditional acupuncture involves the use of needles
but the stimulation of acupuncture points is done in
acupressure with hands and small devices.
Acupressure
uses hands and pressure to stimulate specific key points on the
body. Acupressure can be used for many things
including acupressure to induce labor to induce
menstruation and acupressure for weight loss.
Acupressure
differs due to the ability of self-practice. You can
learn to practice on yourself.
Another
explanation by medicine
One
explanation is that both acupuncture and acupressure stimulates your central nervous system to release natural chemicals that alter bodily systems, pain and other biological processes. It can stimulate and perhaps release immune system
cells or pain-killing chemicals. It can
activate the body's natural pain handling
system. It can stimulate the glands which
modulate the body's systems or it can change the
secretion of neurotransmitters which can positively
influence the brain chemistry.
Acupuncture Has 30 Proven Uses and 60+ Potential Uses
One of the most common uses is treating chronic pain. One analysis
shows that acupuncture has a clear effect in reducing chronic pain,
even better than standard drug-based pain treatment
and without side effects.
The study
showed that the participants averaged a 50% reduction
in pain while the drug treatment had a 28% pain
reduction.
The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted an extensive review and analysis of clinical trials related to acupuncture, and reported the procedure has been proven effective for the following diseases:
Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
Allergic rhinitis
(irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose)
including hay fever
Biliary colic
- a type of pain related to the gallbladder that occurs when a gallstone transiently obstructs the cystic duct
Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)
Dysentery, acute bacillary
- the most common and violent form of dysentery, caused by bacteria.
Dysmenorrhoea
- Painful periods
Epigastralgia,
pain in the upper abdomen (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and
gastrospasm)
Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)
Periarthritis of shoulder
- inflammation of the structures (as the muscles, tendons, and bursa of the shoulder) around a joint
Postoperative pain
Renal colic -
the severe pain produced by the passage of a stone
from the kidney through the ureter on the way to
the bladder
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Sprain Stroke
Tennis elbow
One study on acupuncture for cancer patients suffering from nausea during radiotherapy, 95 percent of the patients felt that the treatment helped relieve nausea, and 67 percent experienced other positive effects such as improved sleep, brighter mood, and less pain.
Additionally, acupuncture has also shown a therapeutic effect for treating the following diseases and
conditions:
Abdominal pain (in acute gastroenteritis or due to gastrointestinal spasm)
Acne vulgaris
- a chronic acne involving mainly the face, chest, and shoulders that is common in adolescent humans and various domestic animals and is characterized by the intermittent formation of lesions often resulting in considerable scarring
Alcohol dependence and detoxification
Bell’s palsy
Bronchial asthma
Cancer pain
Cardiac neurosis
- a condition marked by shortness of breath, fatigue, rapid pulse, and heart palpitation sometimes with extra beats that occurs chiefly with exertion and is not due to physical disease of the heart—called also cardiac neurosis, effort syndrome, irritable heart, soldier's heart
Cholecystitis
- inflammation of the gallbladder
Cholelithiasis
- production of gallstones; and he resulting abnormal condition
Competition stress syndrome
Craniocerebral injury,
involving both cranium and brain
Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent
Earache
Epidemic haemorrhagic fever
- characterized by acute renal failure in addition to the usual symptoms
Epistaxis -
infection
Eye pain
Female infertility
Facial spasm
Female urethral syndrome
- a group of symptoms (as urinary frequency and urgency, pain and discomfort in the lower abdominal region, and dysuria) that resemble those of a urinary tract infection but for which no significant bacteriuria exists
Fibromyalgia and fasciitis
(inflammation of the connective tissue)
Gouty arthritis Hepatitis B virus
Herpes zoster
Hyperlipaemia
- the presence of excess fat or lipids in the blood
Hypo-ovarianism
- a condition marked by a deficiency of ovarian function
Insomnia
Labor pain
Lactation, deficiency
of
Male sexual
dysfunction
Ménière disease
Neuralgia
Neurodermatitis
- chronic dermatitis arising from repeated rubbing or scratching of a real or imagined irritation of the skin
Tietze syndrome
- inflammation of costochondral cartilage
Tobacco dependence
Tourette syndrome
Ulcerative
colitis
Urolithiasis
- a condition that is characterized by the formation or presence of calculi
(stones) in the urinary tract
Vascular dementia
- dementia (as multi-infarct dementia) of abrupt or gradual onset that is caused by cerebrovascular disease
Whooping cough
(pertussis)
Acupuncture and
Acupressure is also felt to enhance overall health.
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Complete Program Includes 12 Step-by-Step Video Tutorials
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