Acupuncture
Acupuncture is part of a system of medicine that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. It is based on a paradigm unlike that
used in Western medicine.
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) refer to the foundational concept of "Qi" (pronounced chee), which can be loosely translated to mean energy and its effects on physiological function and health. Qi represents a positive, animating life force.
The underlying goal of traditional Chinese medical treatment is the creation or maintenance of harmony - within the individual, and between the individual and the environment.
Acupuncture works directly on the nervous system to restore the distribution of Qi through the 12 meridians, or energy pathways, that run throughout the body. Each meridian relates to specific organs in the body. One may have too much or too little Qi. Acupuncturists insert fine needles at selected points throughout the body to restore balance and unblock the flow of Qi; this allows the body to heal itself, bringing about optimal health.
In addition to injuries and chronic pain, acupuncture is used successfully for many medical conditions including asthma and allergies, menstrual pain and irregularities, infertility, immune and inflammatory disorders, pre- and post-natal care, and sleep disorders. Acupuncture can also help your body to recover more quickly between workout sessions and improve your athletic performance while giving you a sense of overall well-being. Additionally, the World Health Organization has stated that acupuncture can help those dealing with the drastic side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, including those suffering with mesothelioma cancer.
Acupuncture was one of the first complementary therapies to receive significant acceptance by the mainstream allopathic medical community. In 1979, the World Health Organization issued a list of over 40 clinical conditions for which Acupuncture had some benefit.
For additional references see "Clinical Uses of Acupuncture" by Keith Berndtson, MD, Kirk Moulton, CA, and Alan Uretz, CA, in Chicago Medicine, September 7, 1997.
Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) predates
acupuncture for treating all types of internal and external ailments. It uses
plants, minerals and occasionally animal products to be combined into formulas,
based on classic Chinese formulas that have been developed over the past two to
three thousand years. These formulas are then specifically tailored to each
individual patient, by adding or subtracting various ingredients. Unlike Western
pharmaceuticals, the CHM formula can be adjusted, creating the best treatment
for a particular patient, rather than just that patient’s condition; this
significantly reduces, if not eliminates, side effects. These formulas are
usually created as a powder and then consumed as a tea, although pills are
available for certain conditions.
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