An ancient Oriental system and medical
technique that involves inserting and stimulating particular points on the
skin with fine needles. It is one of the main forms of
treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.
There are more than 360 acupuncture
points in the human body. The needles may be twirled, heated, stimulated with weak
electrical current, ultrasound and sometimes even wavelengths of light.
It is used in the
treatment of pain, depression, allergies, asthma, arthritis, bladder and kidney problems,
constipation, diarrhea, colds, flu, bronchitis, dizziness, smoking, fatigue, gynecologic
disorders, headaches, migraines, paralysis, high blood pressure, PMS, sciatica, sexual
dysfunction, stress, stroke, tendinitis, drug addiction, vision problems, and even AIDS.
Acupuncture needles dating from more than
4000 years ago have been found in
China. The first needles were stone;
later, bronze, gold, or silver were used, and today needles are usually made
of steel. Initially, needles were used only to prick boils and ulcers.
Acupuncture was developed in response to the
theory that there are special “meridian points” on the body connected to the
internal organs and that “vital energy” flows along the meridian lines.
According to this theory, diseases are caused by interrupted energy flow, and inserting
and twirling needles restores normal flow.
Before the 1970s only a few Western
physicians who had been to China were fascinated and intrigued by
acupuncture. But when Richard Nixon became the first U.S. president to visit
China, this all changed. American journalists covering the president's trip
were astonished to observe major operations being performed on patients
without any use of anesthetics. In fact, wide-awake patients were being
operated on with only acupuncture needles inserted into them to control
pain.
Today acupuncture is being practiced by more than 10,000 practitioners in
every state of the Union, and millions of Americans have used it as a
therapy. Unfortunately it is mainly unsupported by the traditional
medical institutions and establishment, and many still think of it as a
pseudoscience.
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