Your First ACUPUNCTURE Visit

Acupuncture needles (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even though acupuncture is becoming more prevalent in today's society, there are still many people that are nervous about the practice in general.  These people may have preconceived ideas that are inaccurate or maybe resting their ideas on the fact that it is actually a medical practice that was first done in ancient Asia thousands of years ago.  Regardless of why they are nervous or hesitant about going to an acupuncturist, however, they need to have their minds put at ease.  If you are facing your first visit to the acupuncturist, here are some things that you can expect.

First of all, you are not going to enter into your acupuncture session and immediately be stuck full of needles.  Not only that, but you are also entering into an environment that is not unlike an environment that is typically found in many doctors' offices.  Even though this is a form of natural medicine, it is still considered medicine and most acupuncturists hold to the medical profession's idea of what is expected in their practice.  Don't be overly worried about your first session because you may not actually end up getting acupuncture on your first visit at all.

The first visit is an introductory visit in which the doctor will ask you a lot of questions about your medical history, your particular problem in any surrounding issues that may also need to be taken into consideration.  It will also give you the opportunity to get to know your doctor a little bit and ask them any questions that you may have on your mind.  Depending on what your problem is, you may not even have an acupuncture treatment on your first visit.  If you do, by the time you actually have the treatment done, you will be more at ease because of having the time with your doctor before any treatment is actually administered.

The acupuncture itself is actually done by inserting hair-thin needles into the skin to various depths.  Most people do not feel uncomfortable whenever this is done other than a slight stinging in some instances.  The needles are much smaller than the needles that are typically used by a doctor so there really is not much pain if any involved.  These needles will remain in your skin for anywhere from five to 20 minutes until they are removed.  That's basically all that there is to your first acupuncture visit.  It's not much to worry about.

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Erasing Lines with ACUPUNCTURE

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Getting older is something that none of us really enjoy.  Not only does it make it more difficult for us to live life in general, but it also begins to show, such as in the wrinkles on our face.  Far too many people try to remove these wrinkles by use of dangerous medical treatments that include injecting chemicals under our skin or using them to actually peel part of our face away.  Many people have turned to natural medicine in an effort to turn back the hands of time.  One of the ways that they use is that of acupuncture.  Is acupuncture actually able to give you a facelift?

As acupuncture becomes more common in Western society, many people have turned to this natural practice in order to help with their healing and their overall health.  Although this practice is able to bring a balance back to our body, it cannot be considered as a facelift, regardless of what it can do for us individually.  This is because acupuncture does not do anything to us medically that could be considered a facelift such as make incisions or use chemicals.  That doesn't mean, however, that I cannot give us a more youthful appearance.

Maintaining our health from the inside out is one sure way for us to look younger and to feel younger.  Acupuncture is simply one way for us to maintain this style of health.  When used in conjunction with other natural methods such as supplementing with vitamins and eating a proper diet, you would be surprised at what it can do for your overall appearance.  It can also help to stimulate areas of the face that will assist in removing some of the wrinkles hopefully but it will really do its wonders when it comes to improving our health from the inside.

Whenever we are healthy and in balance we sleep better, eat better and are overall more relaxed.  This will do a lot for the way that we look on the outside because we are feeling good on the inside.  Acupuncture can bring your body back into a naturally balanced condition that will give you this glow and make you feel and look younger.  Of course, your acupuncturist may also ask you to maintain your help in other ways, but this Chinese practice can point you in the direction of a more youthful look.

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ACUPUNCTURE As a Facelift Alternative

Acupuncture (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Something that all of us struggle against is time.  As a matter of fact, all of us are aging from the time we are born and as we get older, that age begins to display itself in one way or another.  For some, it comes as a decreased metabolism and an inability to keep off excess weight.  For others, it comes in the form of facial wrinkles and noticeable signs that point to the fact that we are getting older.  Some people spend countless dollars on all kinds of treatments in order to get rid of these wrinkles, some of which are very unhealthy.  A new way of looking at an old medicine, however, may give us some hope in order to turn back the hands of time.  Is acupuncture actually being used as a facelift alternative?

First of all, you need to know that acupuncture itself is not a facelift at all.  There is no surgery, chemical injections or any other alterations that are done through acupuncture that would classify it as such.  That doesn't mean, however, that you're not able to enjoy a healthier complexion and more youthful look as a result of acupuncture treatments.  The fact of the matter is, acupuncture is known to help with your general health and this can offer you a lot in the way of reduced aging.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a way of bringing the body back into a naturally balanced state.  Two opposing forces that govern our body in general often get pushed toward one extreme or the other.  By maintaining a balance between these two extremes, we allow our life energy or Chi to flow naturally throughout our body and to give us balance.  This can help us in many different ways but for the most part, it helps us to enjoy natural health and all of the benefits that it gives to us.

So, can acupuncture remove your wrinkles?  No, it can't remove the wrinkles from your face but it can give you a health that will radiate from within.  It can help to remove a lot of the negative effects of aging that show up as a wrinkle on your face.  If you maintain a healthier balance in your body, you will give off a more youthful appearance that will be plain for everyone to see.

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Can ACUPUNCTURE Help Me Lose Weight?

Photo  by Rob Swystun 

One of the most difficult things that we have to deal with on a regular basis are problems with our weight.  For many of us, this is been a problem that we have been dealing with for most of our lives.  It may have been that we were even heavy when we were children and because of habits that we have had since we were young, it may be difficult for us not to overeat.  Add to that the general lifestyle that most of us lead which is busy and full of sugary snacks and fast food and it's little wonder that we have a problem with our weight.

One thing that can help with weight loss and suppressing our appetite is the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture.  Although most people think of acupuncture as being something that helps with general health and the relief of pain, it can also do a lot to help us with our weight loss efforts.  It is true that acupuncture is a great method of working with our health naturally but, isn't taking care of our weight also a part of our natural health?  Let's take a look at acupuncture and weight loss and see what it can do for you.

Acupuncture is a way of bringing our body back into balance, a natural balance that our body needs.  According to traditional Chinese medicine, all of us have channels in our body which funnel energy from one part of our body into another.  If our body is in balance, we are able to enjoy a natural flow of this energy, otherwise known as Chi.  Acupuncture is able to manipulate the flow of energy that is within our body through the insertion of hair-thin needles.  If this energy is disrupted in some cases, it can help us by suppressing the energy as well.  It does this through acupuncture and also helps by suppressing our appetite.

Many people who go in for acupuncture for pain or general healing may also be able to enjoy the benefits of a suppressed appetite through acupuncture as well.  Your acupuncturist will be able to give you assistance and advice as far as this is concerned.  What you will probably find, however, is that by reducing your appetite through acupuncture, you are able to eat less on a regular basis and maintain a healthier weight.

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ACUPUNCTURE and AUTISM

Major brain structures implicated in autism. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Studies have shown that there is an increase in the number of children that have been diagnosed with autism. Until now, doctors have not yet found a cure to this illness which is why some parents want to experiment with alternative forms of treatment and one example is acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a holistic approach to treating and preventing certain diseases. Its main tool is very thin needles that are inserted to targeted points in the body. The body has about 400 of them linked through a system known as meridians or pathways. Once these are stimulated, these are supposed to create balance in the body.

Autism, on the other hand, is a brain disorder that is long term. This disease is characterized by deficits in language, social communication and cognition. Children who are diagnosed with this illness may also suffer from secondary problems such as aggression, irritability, stereotypes, hyperactivity, negativism, volatile emotions, temper tantrums, short attention span and obsessive-compulsive behavior.

Preliminary studies have shown that acupuncture may provide symptomatic relief to children suffering from autism. Although difficult at first, it is believed that it is rewarding in the long run. This is because while conventional therapy and treatment require that the child stay still, acupuncture doesn’t. Some say it’s a quick prick at the vital points in the body.

A group of children in the US participated in a test to see how effective acupuncture is among children. There are 22 respondents and each of them was given the treatment once every other day for four months.

After the treatment 20 out of the 22 respondents showed remarkable improvement. In fact 2 of them has cerebral blood flow.  The only thing that did not change prior to treatment and after was the blood flow between the left and right cerebrum as it showed no differences.

Aside from traditional acupuncture to help children with autism, a preliminary study in Hong Kong is trying to see if tongue acupuncture can produce better results.

Results have shown that of 30 respondents in the test, the majority showed functional improvement of various degrees depending on the age and severity of their disabilities. Some improvement was noticeable within a few TAC sessions, especially for drooling, spasticity (scissoring or tiptoeing), ataxia, and poor balance in walking. Functional improvement was noted after one to two courses of TAC. Most children tolerated TAC well, with only occasional pain and minor bleeding in some patients.

The reason why tongue acupuncture is being experimented with is that there is a connection between the tongue and the heart through the meridians that spread to all the organs in the body. It is believed that the points on the tongue can influence the state of the other body organs thus giving relief to the one suffering from autism.

But many believe that acupuncture alone cannot help autism sufferers. It has to be combined with other things like maintaining a certain diet to help improve one’s mood and communication schools. Although it is an only short term, it is better than nothing until a cure is found.

When will the cure be found? Only time can tell as there are many other questions that have to be answered in order for doctors to further understand neurological disabilities. Doctors who are conducting research believe that an interdisciplinary approach is needed given that acupuncture has shown positive results in helping children with autism.

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Do ACUPUNCTURE Treatments Hurt?

Basic Acupuncture. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are so many different ways that we can maintain or restore our health.  For most of us, we understand that it is often a matter of restoring a balance in our body in order to enjoy the most helpful response.  Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that was developed in order to help maintain the balance between positive and negative charges in our body.  Although these had specific terms attached to them that were used in Chinese philosophy and religion, the basic principles behind acupuncture are not generally brought into question, even my medical science.  In fact, some studies that have been taken on acupuncture actually show that it does promote a flow of energy in the body.

One thing that many people are concerned about is the pain that is associated with acupuncture.  One thing that many people do not like, even into their adulthood, are the needles that are typically associated with doctors' offices.  Many of these needles are rather large and capable of producing quite a bit of pain in the human body.  Most people just assume that the needles that are inserted during acupuncture also produce this kind of a pain in on us as individuals.

The fact of the matter is, the needles that are used for acupuncture are much smaller than the needles typically found in many doctors offices.  Whenever they are inserted into the body, many people do not feel any discomfort at all and, in fact, many actually find the experience pleasurable.  As a result of their acupuncture treatment, it is also possible for individuals to feel relaxed or even accelerated.

A little more good news about the practice of acupuncture is that it is almost always safe to undergo.  The only problems that may occur typically come as a result of the acupuncturist being inexperienced.  As long as they are well practiced and are sure to use clean, one use needles then there is rarely ever a problem.  The worst thing that can happen is that an organ can be punctured during a treatment but this is extremely rare.

All in all, acupuncture is a safe and effective way for you to maintain your natural health. Although you may be nervous about undergoing this treatment, there really is nothing to be nervous about.  Once you take the plunge and go through with the treatment yourself, you will wonder why you waited so long to do it.

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The Effectiveness Of ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture chart from the Ming Dynasty: The Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Whenever you are feeling pain and discomfort, you'd usually reach for your painkillers for relief. While they do relieve the pain, they also bring along side effects that come with taking foreign chemicals into your body. As much as modern medicine has developed drugs that can relieve pain right off the bat, do you really think that the quick fixes you've been taking are actually good for your body? Why not try something safer and more effective like acupuncture.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture has surged in popularity for the last few decades as brought on by the recent health trend. Mostly known as a traditional Chinese medical technique, acupuncture is seen as a homeopathic method of treatment. While alternative medicine does raise a lot of eyebrows for the scientifically-inclined, it does merit attention before being dismissed as a quack cure.

Basic Procedure

Basically, needles are inserted into the skin, each corresponding to one of the numerous pressure points located throughout the body. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, by inserting a needle into the pressure point, an acupuncturist can manipulate the flow of chi or life force, thus relieving pain and gradually treating the patient. While most would say that the whole chi thing is a bunch of nonsense, science has suggested that with the needles inserted, the body's natural painkillers called endorphins are released, thus helping with pain relief.

Instruments

Modern acupuncturists nowadays use disposable fine stainless steel needles that are 0.007 to 0.020 inches in diameter which are sterilized with either ethylene oxide or by autoclave. Since they are way finer than hypodermic syringe needles, being poked by these needles are relatively painless. The upper third of the needle is covered with either a thicker bronze wire or plastic to make the needle sturdier and easier to handle. The length of the needle and how far they are inserted is all up to the acupuncturist and his practiced style of acupuncture.

Example Of Treatment

If a patient has a headache, he/she is diagnosed and is treated by stimulating the sensitive points located at the webs between the thumbs and palms. In acupuncture theory, these points are connected to the face and head and can be used for the treatment of headaches and other ailments involved. Needles are then carefully inserted into the skin until the patient feels a twinge, which is usually accompanied by a slight involuntary twitching of the area. During this treatment, a number of things may occur.

- Sensitivity to pain in where needles are inserted.

- A hint of nausea during treatment in case of bad headaches.

- Near-immediate headache relief.

Evolution

As an ancient method, acupuncture has crossed over into the modern age with implementations of technology and recent scientific findings. Electrical stimulation is now a common technique that is combined with acupuncture to produce more effective results. Also, acupuncturists combined this eastern technique with western methods to further enhance the treatment.

Practitioners have eventually realized that leaning towards one school of thought can't propagate progress unless they are willing to move towards the future by looking towards other horizons as well.

Reactions And Research

Not everyone is impressed with acupuncture itself. Most western medical professionals have expressed either doubt or indifference to the oriental method while others have downright driven it down into the earth with criticisms and brutal skepticism. However, recent research shows the efficacy (or lack thereof) of acupuncture, and while more research has to be done, it has been proven to actually positively affect some, but not all, forms of ailments that it claims to cure.

So as the doors open to a new age of acupuncture, give it a try when you feel the need for pain relief and you will not be disappointed. As the Chinese have used it for many centuries, so should we.

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What Can I Expect from My ACUPUNCTURE Treatment?

Chinese uses her needles to treat a production brigade worker
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Although it is been done for thousands of years in Asia, some people are still very nervous about going to an acupuncturist for treatment.  As the practice becomes more accepted, however, and the use of acupuncture is becoming more prevalent, many individuals will find themselves getting this treatment for the first time.  If you are a little bit nervous about your acupuncture treatment, you are in good company but that doesn't mean that you have a need for alarm.  Here is what you can expect from your visit to the acupuncturist.

The first visit will actually be a question-and-answer session and may or may not include acupuncture at all.  Your doctor will want to know almost everything about your medical condition, and the underlying issues and anything else that may help him in his treatment of your condition.  Once the proper treatment is discerned, however, your treatments will start, perhaps even on the first visit.

This is where most people get nervous because they are unsure about the dangers that may exist from acupuncture.  Let me put your mind at ease.  It is very rare for there to be any problems from acupuncture treatment and, as long as you're acupuncturist is using clean needles and knows what they are doing, you have little to worry about at all.  It is possible for an infection to set in or for an organ to be punctured but this is very rare if you're acupuncturist is qualified.

Each session will last about one-half hour and your doctor will insert very tiny needles into the acupuncture points and may manipulate them somewhat with his hands, induce a very light electrical pulse or even warm them with moxa.  The needles will remain in your body for anywhere from five to 20 minutes.  Most people do not feel any discomfort at all from having these needles inserted and actually may feel invigorated in some cases or perhaps very relaxed.

After your first time of receiving acupuncture, you will find that it is not an unpleasant situation at all.  As a matter of fact, you may leave the acupuncturist feeling very good, relaxed and with an overall sense of well-being. In fact, once you begin with your acupuncture treatments you will probably wonder why you waited so long to begin them in the first place.  It's an ancient medical practice but it can still take care of many things for us today.

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Tying Into Ancient Philosophies: Does CHINESE MEDICINE Work?

Yokohama Chinese Medicine Mussel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You have had a head cold for over a month.  No matter what type of medication you try, you simply can’t get rid of the problem.  It continues to linger, knocking you out of your ability to have the energy you want to and function at the level you want every day.  Getting desperate for an answer to get rid of the illness, you begin to look for alternatives.

A friend recommends an acupuncturist to you in order to help to cure the problem.  There happens to be someone that she has also gone to who could probably help you to be cured of your cold.  Even though you laugh at first, the cold has dragged on long enough, and you are willing to try the alternatives.  You schedule an appointment and get ready to try something a little different with some alternative.

For most, there is some cynicism on whether the ideas of Chinese medicine really work.  Even though it is an ancient practice that has been developed through both the physical and spiritual aspects, it doesn’t tie into much science that Western thought would give a second look at.

Chinese medicine, even though it is not a proven science, is a good alternative for those that are dealing with any type of illness.  For about 90% that use the method, they will say that there are positive results that come from the practice.  All you have to do to see if this is true is to look at the amount of time that it has lasted.  You can also look at the growing popularity of various holistic methods that are now being used.  Most of these come from Chinese medical philosophies.

If you are considering an alternative to your health, you can start to turn to ancient philosophies to better your energy.  Even though science hasn’t proven its validity, time and people have.  Chinese medicine, no matter what level of health you are working towards curing, can be effective if you walk in with the desire to finding the best healing alternatives.

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ACUPUNCTURE for Weight Loss

Old Chinese medical chart on acupuncture meridians (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It's hard to meet anyone that is not at least a little bit concerned about their weight.  The society that we live in, as well as the type of lifestyle that many of us keep, has led to an epidemic of weight gain that all of us are suffering from.  Even those of us who are able to maintain a fairly lean lifestyle still struggle because of the difficulty of eating a healthy diet and maintaining our weight.  There are some things that can be done, however, in order to help curb your appetite and to lose the extra pounds.  Acupuncture is one of these.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that has been done for thousands of years.  Even though it spread throughout many areas of Asia, it really has only become popular in the Western world in the past several decades.  Since that time, many tests have revealed that there is a lot of truth in what acupuncture is able to do for us as individuals.  In recent years, it has also been discovered that a natural balance in the body is one way for you to be able to combat weight gain and problems with overeating.  Acupuncture is a natural way to maintain balance in the body so they work hand-in-hand.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, we all have an energy about us that is typically known as Chi.  This energy has two basic parts that are opposite to each other but when they work in balance they give us the life force that we need.  By manipulating certain parts of our body with acupuncture needles we are able to maintain the flow of energy and to find that balance that our body needs.  This can do everything for us from removing pain and depression to helping us to maintain a healthy weight.

So, if you have been struggling with weight gain or have a difficulty with overeating, acupuncture can help you in several different ways.  Not only can it bring you back into a balanced state where your body will work better as a unit, it can also help by suppressing our appetite and making it easier for us to maintain a healthy weight.  Although it will still take willpower on our part to a certain extent, by using acupuncture to maintain a healthy weight, you will be giving your self some help along the way.

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ACUPUNCTURE for Effective Weight Loss

Photo  by Rob Swystun 

In a generation when physical fitness is given topmost attention, people are always on the lookout for the newest and most effective means for weight loss. Acupuncture, the method of inserting thin, filiform needles on certain points in an individual’s body, has been found to be one effectual method for losing weight.

Not many people may find the idea of being inserted by needles quite comforting in their quest for weight control. However, this ancient Chinese alternative treatment seeks to deliver a control mechanism, enabling the patient to manage hunger cravings more successfully in the long run.

The Skinny on Acupuncture Weight Loss

It has been found that weight gain is directly related to emotions.  Other than physical hunger, people reach for a huge chocolate bar or a big platter of burger and fries because of the sense of comfort derived from food and eating. More often than not, excessive weight gain is an emotional issue, rather than a merely physical one. You may not realize it, but you tend to take in more food whenever you’re stressed, upset, or pressured.

In Acupuncture, there are specific spots on the body being targeted by the hair-like needles. These spots are linked to certain areas in the body and by stimulating these spots; the patient will achieve a greater sense of inner balance. As these points are inserted by the needles, certain hormones are released throughout the body. These substances work by helping you manage hunger and efficiently control the impulse to overeat.

How Acupuncture Induces Weight Loss

Most acupuncturists will target the spots behind the ear when it comes to promoting weight loss. When these points behind the ear are stimulated, endorphins are released in large doses. Endorphins are called the feel-good hormones, and these are also often referred to as natural pain and fever relievers. The release of endorphins is what makes you feel better after an increased level of physical activity, as in the case of a good workout.

These bodily compounds allow the patient to experience better relaxation, thus considerably alleviating stress. There is a greater possibility of enhanced weight loss when the patient has already achieved emotional wellness. Endorphins are also released whenever the body experiences low levels of bodily pain, thus their moniker as a natural pain reliever.

Patients of acupuncture typically experience very minimally or no pain at all, however, most of the points are located near nerve endings and muscle tissues. As the needles are embedded in the body, signals are sent to the brain thus promoting the release of endorphins from the pituitary gland.

There are also other points in the body that serve as gateways for better weight management. One of these placements promotes a decrease in an individual’s appetite, while another has the ability to reduce water retention in the body. The acupuncturist may choose a multi-targeted approach, depending on the requirements of the patient.

Consulting with a Professional Acupuncturist

There are a number of acupuncture practitioners in existence nowadays, offering a host of services. If you are considering this form treatment for your weight management, make sure that you settle for no less than a trained and professional acupuncturist. A poorly trained acupuncturist may not be able to pinpoint the specific meridian points and worse may cause unnecessary bodily pain and discomfort.

Moreover, your acupuncturist may require an herbal supplement for your treatment, to encourage a longer-term effect. Your sessions need not be maintained for an extended period; however, you may be required to visit your acupuncturist during the entire course of the sessions.

There are other means for losing weight successfully, and this does not include crash dieting and strenuous workouts. If carried out by trained professionals, acupuncture can be the answer for effective weight management. While it is far from being a cure-all, it may just be the right weight loss solution for you.

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ACUPUNCTURE Points Map

Acupuncture chart from the Ming Dynasty:
The Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Practitioners of the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture rely on the acupuncture points map to free trapped energy in the body and restore health.

You might have spotted this type of chart of the human body on the wall of your holistic doctor’s office or during a visit to a natural health store. It depicts numerous points on the body where the body’s energy, also known as qi, often accumulates. In fact, there are over 2,000 points that conduct energy throughout the body!

Because of their direct connection to the flow of energy in the body, the acupuncture pressure points depicted on the acupuncture points map help to regulate body function, mood, emotional and spiritual well-being. You might find it surprising that acupuncture has been used for over two millennia to help relieve headaches, skin conditions, digestive disorders, and asthma. And, that’s just the beginning. Acupuncture has been known to help with depression, phobias, addictions, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and other ailments caused by energy imbalances in the body.

The traditional acupuncture points chart shows fourteen main channels, also known as meridians, which exist in the body – one meridian for each of the twelve organs, one along the spine and another along the abdomen. Acupuncture pressure points are located along these meridians, and some points have more than one function. This means that an acupuncturist might use them to cure more than one type of illness.

For example, there is a commonly-used point on the acupuncture points chart, which is located on the back side of the hand between the thumb and first finger. Acupuncturists use it mainly to relieve pain and to treat constipation or other intestinal disorders. This point, however, is also used to treat illnesses which cause inflammation and fever. Because the large intestine meridian runs from the hand to the face, these symptoms often manifest in the throat and head.

Another point on the acupuncture points map is located at the base of the skull along the gallbladder meridian. This is a valuable point to know around cold and flu season because it helps treat these annoying illnesses. It also helps relieve headaches, neck pain, and fever. Additionally, it may also lower blood pressure and relax tension in the region around the eyes. There is a multitude of points that may hold the key to better health for you.

How does an acupuncturist use these points on an acupuncture points map? He or she utilizes small needles and places them at the specific point on the patient’s body to help relieve illnesses caused by disrupted energy flow. By manipulating the flow of qi at these points, the two forms of energy in the body, yin and yang, are brought into proper alignment. It may require several visits to your acupuncturist to bring your body’s energy into harmony.

Encouraging the proper flow of life energy at specific acupuncture pressure points will help bring your body into physical and emotional harmony, in addition to proper diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices. Visit a licensed acupuncturist who has studied the acupuncture points map in detail to ensure a beneficial session.

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ACUPUNCTURE - an Old Cure with a New Twist

Old Chinese medical chart on acupuncture meridians (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are so many different ways that you can take care of your health and many of them can be taken care of naturally.  One method that has been used for thousands of years and originally came from China is that of acupuncture.  Although acupuncture is gaining in popularity in Western cultures, it is still basically misunderstood by many people who have never been through the process.

If you are considering having some treatments done, here are some things that you may want to know before your first visit and what you can expect from your treatment by an acupuncturist.

More than likely, you will have to go through a series of visits whenever you visit the acupuncturist. The first visit may not actually have any treatments involved at all unless the problem that you are trying to deal with is fairly routine.  The doctor will take a lot of time to ask you questions about your personal circumstances, what it is that you're trying to have healed and just generally trying to find out about your overall health.  This will give him an idea of the type of treatment that he will give to you as well as any problems that may need to be taken into consideration.

Many people that are not familiar with acupuncture are very nervous about problems that may come up during the treatment.  Let me put your mind at ease.  Acupuncture is one natural treatment that rarely ever causes any problems for the individual undergoing the treatment.  In fact, the only real problems that occur as a result of acupuncture, typically occur because of the acupuncturist not taking care with the needles that he uses.  As long as they use clean, prepackaged needles and are careful to clean the area where they are inserted, there is little for you to worry about at all.

Acupuncture has been proven to work on a number of different problems that you may be dealing with that range from a wide variety of pain problems to a difficulty in getting pregnant.  Some people even use acupuncture in order to lose weight!  Although it is still not accepted as widely as modern medical practices, it still has a place as far as natural medicine is concerned.  It has also proven to work in many cases by studies done in the scientific community.

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• Is Acupuncture The Remedy for You?

Can ACUPUNCTURE Remove My Wrinkles?

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All of us are fighting against a common foe, that of aging and all of the problems that it brings along with it.  For some of us, it brings along problems that we need to fight on a continuous basis in the form of disease or decreased energy.  For others, it may be a matter of the effects of aging showing on our face and other areas of our body.  People will spend an unusual amount of money in order to make themselves look young again.  Not only do they spend a lot of money, they may also take risks with their health in order to remove wrinkles.

Some of the most popular forms of facelifts include chemical peels, surgery, and microdermabrasion.  All of these are invasive and can damage our skin in order to make it look better.  This has sparked an interest in natural health as a way to remove some of the wrinkles from our face, specifically through the use of acupuncture as a facelift.  Is acupuncture actually able to help remove wrinkles from our face and to make us look young again?  The answer may surprise you.

First of all, it's important for us to explain that acupuncture is not and never will be the same as a facelift.  This is because treatment through acupuncture is natural and not invasive in any way.  The only thing that is invasive about acupuncture are the needles that are used and they hardly even damage your skin at all.  Regardless of the actual term, however, many people have experienced great benefits with their skin through the use of acupuncture.  This is for several different reasons.

Some doctors will use acupuncture directly on the wrinkles in order to stimulate the skin to grow and to heal.  Going deeper than that, however, acupuncture actually promotes the free flow of energy throughout the body which can make you feel and look better from the inside out.  Whenever you are glowing and youthful as a result of your acupuncture treatments, the effects will be plain to see on the outside as well.

Although acupuncture cannot remove all of the wrinkles from your face, it is one step toward a more natural, healthy you.  By keeping your body in balance and maintaining that balance, you will take a chunk out of the aging process that will show to everyone that looks.

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Does ACUPUNCTURE Really Work?

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Things don't always necessarily need to be new in order to be helpful.  This is true in a lot of areas in life and is also true when it comes to certain types of medical treatments.  As a matter of fact, there were treatments that were being performed thousands of years ago in Asia that still have some medical benefits, even today.  One of those is the practice of acupuncture, something that is becoming more popular in Western society today.  What exactly is ACUPUNCTURE and how can it help you with your health?

Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine in which small, hair sized needles are inserted into the body at specific locations in order to alter the flow of energy.  These channels which, according to Chinese medicine, run through the body keep everything in line and balanced.  If one of these should happen to get out of balance, however, it could cause a problem in the entire body and depending on where the imbalance occurred, it could affect a specific area of the body.  This is really the essence of yin and yang, the two forces which regulate almost everything within the human body.

Many people are nervous about going to the acupuncturist but, as a matter of fact, it is actually one of the safest forms of medical treatment that there is.  In fact, there are very few problems that can occur as long as a few safety guidelines are followed by a doctor.  This would include such things as only using prepackaged, sterile needles and, of course, understanding what they are doing so that the needles are inserted in the proper areas.

Although it has not been totally embraced by all areas of the medical community, acupuncture is actually a relatively safe way for you to enhance your health through the use of natural medicine.  Some of the studies that have been done on acupuncture actually show that it does contain some benefit and that it causes certain changes in a person's physiology that may help them in the healing process.

So, if you're having a difficult time with any number of things physically, acupuncture may be able to help you to get back on the road to better health.  Even though it is not a total replacement for traditional medicine, it can still enhance your ability to live a healthy life.

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The Do’s and Don’t of ACUPUNCTURE

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There are things that patients have to be aware of before, during and after surgery. The same goes for those who undergo acupuncture because, in order to enhance the value of the treatment, there are some do’s and don’ts that patients have to follow.

First, you should not eat a large meal before or after treatment.

You should also avoid over-exercising, engaging in a sexual activity or consume alcoholic beverages 6 hours before and after treatment.

Since the acupuncture session will last from 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on how often you have to go to the clinic, you better fix your schedule so you have time to rest.

Chances are, you were consulting with a doctor prior to your visit to the acupuncturist. If there are any prescription medicines given, don’t forget to take them.

You will not feel any improvement after just one or two visits with the acupuncturist. Just the same, you should write this down so you can go back to the acupuncturist on your next visit and tell him or her how you felt during the previous session. Such feedback will let the specialist know what needs to be modified in the future to help you with your problem.

The acupuncturist might give you some herbs to take as part of your treatment. Since you don’t know if taking them will have any side effects with the medication you are taking, you should first consult with your doctor if it is safe to consume both.

Women who are pregnant are also advised not to undergo acupuncture treatment. However, they can engage in that once the baby is born.

How well the acupuncture treatment will go depends also on a specialist who will be performing it. You have to take into account their years of experience and skill so they are able to make the correct diagnosis, finding the acupoints in the body, the angle at which the needles will be inserted and the techniques they know as there are different types of acupuncture.

This brings us to ask ourselves how to find a skilled acupuncturist. For this to work, we have to do ask our doctor if they can refer anyone. It wouldn’t hurt to also do some research online. After all, there are about 3,000 acupuncturists all across the country so it won’t be that hard to find one.

Before you decide to have a session with them, talk to the acupuncturist to know their credentials. This will also give you the opportunity to find out how much do they charge as this can be from $45 to more than $100 per session.

You can probably ask for the name and contact number of a previous client so you can ask this person how everything went. Remember, if it doesn’t work out for you, don’t be afraid to find someone else who can do a better job.

The most important thing to do during the session is to relax. If you feel an itch or something, tell the acupuncturist. The same goes if you are nervous or experience a burning sensation so the specialist will take out the needles.

Now that you know the do’s and don’ts of acupuncture, you should ask yourself if this form of treatment is right for you. If conventional medication doesn’t work, it wouldn’t hurt to see how things turn out.

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