The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (2004) states: "In the United States, acupuncture has its greatest success and acceptance in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain."
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on medicine that developed over several thousand years and treats the body as a whole that is composed of several "systems of function". Health is explained as a state of balance between the yin and yang, with disease ascribed to either of these forces being unbalanced, blocked or stagnant.TCM uses a variety of interventions, including pressure, heat and acupuncture applied to the body's acupuncture points to modify the activity of these two energies.
The acupuncture technique that has been most often studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.The technique is completely painless.
Why use acupuncture?
Because in the past 2,000 years more people have been successfully treated with this than any other health modality.
The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy run in patterns through the body, called meridians, which irrigate and nourish our tissues and organs. They keep diseases and pain at bay or in check. An obstruction in these meridians is like a dam that backs up and inhibits the natural course and flow, thereby causing pain and disability.
The meridians can be affected by needles which unblock the dam, correcting the imbalance and allowing the energy to flow into the healing path it was meant to be on. This happens because the needles stimulate the nervous system to release chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord and brain. These chemicals will either change the course or intensity of the pain or disease, and/or trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body's own internal regulating system. This means that the natural healing can take place again.
The very small needles, which are stainless steel, are virtually painless. They are smooth, not hollow with a cutting edge, like a hypodermic needle. Each needle is brand new, sterile and disposed after a single use.
What can acupuncture be used to treat?
There have been many studies regarding acupuncture's potential health benefits for a wide range of conditions. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has funded extensive research to advance scientific understanding of acupuncture and has shown that it works for such things as:
- reducing high blood pressure
- chronic low-back pain due to inflammation and disc disease/rupture/hernia
- headaches/migraines
- osteoarthritis of the joints
- premenstrual symptoms and pain
- digestive disorders: gastritis, gastro-esophageal reflux, irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhea
- respiratory disorders: sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, recurrent chest infections
- neurological and muscular disorders: facial tics, neck pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, tendinitis, sciatica, osteoarthritis, epilepsy
- urinary and reproductive problems
- tension, stress, emotional conditions
We make referrals only to certified acupuncturists from the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
