When people think of acupuncture they immediately think about needles. But, this holistic health technique, which is actually a form of massage or a massage with needles, helps alleviate many stress and pain-related symptoms as well as a variety of diseases.
Surprisingly, even though needles are used in acupuncture, they are relatively pain-free. One of the most popular uses of acupuncture is to help reduce chronic pain throughout the body in a natural way without the need for medications.
What else can acupuncture help treat?
- Muscle spasms and pain
- Chronic back problems and pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Neck pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Knee Pain
- Allergies
- Digestive problems
- Mood and depression
The National Institute of Health considers acupuncture to be a safe procedure as long as it is performed by an experienced well-trained practitioner using sterile needles. The FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices and requires that the needles be sterile, non-toxic and labeled for single-use.
The overall aim of acupuncture treatment is to restore the body’s equilibrium. The focus is on the individual, not their illness, and all the symptoms are seen in relation to each other. Each patient is unique; two people with the same diagnosis may receive different acupuncture treatments. This means that every part of our body is related somehow to different illnesses, so an acupuncturist will focus on certain parts of your body. Our body has several meridians which link different parts of our bodies together as seen below:
The acupuncturist must have a very precise and complete knowledge of how the human body works and which areas should be treated according to the pain or illness that is suffered. Acupuncture will always be a good alternative to chemical-based drugs, but you have to make sure that the doctor who does this treatment is a person who is specialized in this field and has experience. Make sure you do your research ahead of time, research their credentials and ask all the questions you may have prior to the treatment.