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What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient method of alleviating pain and combating disease that was developed in China. The claims of the followers of acupuncture are that acupuncture can assist with such ailments as arthritis, migraines, deafness, asthma, strokes, and some mental illness, as well as other ailment. The Chinese assert that placing needles in specific points stimulates Qi ("chee"), the natural healing energy of the body. This practice is also supposed to balance the Yin and Yang, the two principles in the Chinese philosophy of nature that work with the body's life force. Acupuncturists believe there are 12 meridians that run the length of the body. Sharp needles can be placed in hundreds of locations along these meridians.
What is the modern view of acupuncture?
Today, acupuncture is receiving a more accepted status among medical practitioners. In 1996 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that acupuncture needles were to be considered as a medical tool. The FDA did not declare, however, that acupuncture was a viable treatment option for the many afflictions acupuncture claimed to cure.
Researchers in acupuncture now believe that acupuncture is effective because it releases endorphins, a natural painkilling hormone found in the body. Acupuncture also could cause the nervous system to release several chemicals: ACTH (adrenocorticotripic hormone), a chemical that fights inflammation and prostaglandins, which help the healing of wounds.
What are the benefits of acupuncture?
The most immediate benefit is the lack of side effects with acupuncture. Modern day drugs can bring drowsiness, nausea and all sorts of physical consequences with them.
Acupuncture has none of these side effects and presents itself as a long established alternative to accepted medical practices.
Acupuncture continues to raise questions on exactly how it accomplishes what its promoters claim. Yet even without total scientific understanding, acupuncture continues to alleviate pain and illness for millions of people.
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