Acupuncture

Acupuncture is among one of the oldest medical treatment approaches of oriental medicine. It has been developed and refined for thousands of years and is practiced in China and other Far Eastern countries as a primary medical treatment approach - alone and in combination with oriental herbal treatments, diet, breathing, exercise and bodywork. Today, acupuncture is a well respected treatment approach all over the world. Among its benefits Acupuncture may be best known in context with medically substantiated reports of results in pain management. Additionally, it is being used in western countries as solitary and conjoint treatment for numerous health conditions.

Oriental medicine, and with it acupuncture, views health and well being as a state of balance and harmony of energy, which flows in the body. This energy, or qi, vitalizes and flows through the system. When qi flows in balance, wellbeing and health result. Two aspects of balance are important in our wellbeing: yin – associated with the night, sleep, the feminine, earth, water, passive and quiet principle, and yang – associated with the masculine, day, sun, fire, vivacious, and active principle. Yin and yang exist in a dynamic harmony to each other, and constantly rebalance in response to each other. When this balance cannot be maintained, due to diet, emotion, activity, life style or predisposition, the dynamic system tries to compensate and eventually shows an excess or a lack in the balance of yin or yang. Imbalances can result in stagnation in the flow of qi, which manifest in the body as pain, inflammation and accumulations. Acupuncture seeks to restore the smooth flow of qi and to restore the balance of yin and yang. In so doing, the mind and body regenerate, symptoms cease, and a person can return to a greater state of health and wellbeing.

Acupuncture was developed in ancient times. During these times people relied on the observation of nature in order to understand how balance was created, maintained, destroyed and restored. In addition to the understanding that there was a life force, qi, and the duality of yin and yang, observation of the world placed the heavens above, the earth below and people in the middle between the heavens and the earth. Based on this idea, spirit and matter - associated with the heavens and all things of earth - also contributed to health and illness.                    

 

Ancient philosophies held that all things were as above (heavens), so below (earth, people in the middle), and as external (environment, food, climate, family, life events), so internal (i.e. health, digestion, circulation, emotions, thoughts, reactions). Additionally, five elements, wood, fire, earth, metal and water were regarded in the generation and destruction of all balance in nature. These five elements were associated with systems and functions of the human body. A person’s health and illness could now be understood following a very specific natural system. According to this system, the sum total of health and wellbeing are based on a person’s dynamic interaction with his/her universe and the harmonious flow of qi, the balance of yin, yang and the five elements. When an imbalance occurs, symptoms arise. These can be addressed through treatment with oriental medicine and acupuncture.

 

Acupuncture involves the assessment, oriental diagnosis and treatment of imbalances through insertion of very thin sterile needles into specific locations on the body. These locations are chosen based on the symptoms reported by a person. The nature of symptoms is associated with indications of imbalance. Locations of acupuncture points are associated with meridians, which are pathways along which qi flows. These pathways and the organs, systems and functions they serve have been identified and studied in detail for thousands of years. In more recent times, they have also been found to be associated with specific nervous system pathways which communicate with all structures in the body. Specific stimulation to an acupuncture point can then energize or calm the energy depending on whether there is an excess or a lack. Stuck energy can be helped to flow again. Upon insertion of a needle, a small pinching sensation, or the sensation of a pin prick may be experienced. During an acupuncture treatment a person may rest for a period of time. It is recommended to avoid moving around during the treatment. At the end of the treatment, all needles are removed.

After an acupuncture treatment a person’s experience may vary. One may feel very energized or like resting. Sometimes, a treatment may take several hours or longer to process for changes to be noticed. This will have to do with how acute or chronic a condition has been until it is being treated. The more chronic the condition is, the more gradual the changes that can be expected. In general, it is a good idea to drink water after a treatment and to not over-exert oneself if extra energy is experienced.

About Acupuncturists

In order to become licensed to practice acupuncture in the state of CT, a person must have undergone the formal study and practice of acupuncture and oriental medicine at a nationally accredited institution and must have passed the exams given by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Acupuncturists approach all illness as an imbalance of energies which need to be harmonized. There are no western diseases in oriental medicine, just various types of imbalances among yin, yang, qi and several other components to health. Acupuncturists strive to assist patients in restoration of harmony in their system through the placement of needles, diet, breathing, qi gong – a form of breathing and slow exercise which promotes energy flow, and at times use of body work and oriental herbs. Acupuncturist may at times use electrical stimulation, heat lamps, the refined and compressed herb Artemesia called Moxa, and other oriental treatment modalities.