Thursday, November 8, 2007

What can Acupuncture treat?

Acupuncture is a comprehensive system of care that treats both acute and chronic diseases. The World Health Organization lists over 40 diseases that acupuncture has proven to be effective in treating in controlled clinical trials. Traditionally, acupuncture treats a multitude of ailments, only some of which are listed below.

  • Neurological and Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
  • - Headaches and Migraines
  • - Depression and Anxiety
  • - Pain
  • - Insomnia
  • - Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • - Post-operative pain and recovery
  • - Sciatica

  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • - Acute and Chronic Gastritis
  • - Chronic Duodenal Ulcers
  • - Gastric Reflux/GERD
  • - Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease
  • - Constipation
  • - Diarrhea
  • - Nausea and Vomiting

  • Respiratory Disorders
  • - Sinusitis/Allergies
  • - Common Cold
  • - Asthma
  • - Bronchitis

  • Women’s Health
  • - Menopause
  • - Infertility
  • - Painful Periods/PMS
  • - Endometriosis/PCOS
  • - Amenorrhea
  • - Insufficient Lactation
  • - Post-partum depression

What is Aupuncture?

Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been in practice in China for nearly 3,000 years. It is based on the principle that every human body has 14 major channels, called meridians, flowing through it. The meridians follow various pathways throughout the body. A form of energy called Qi (pronounced "chee") circulates in these meridians. Qi is necessary for all bodily functions. When the flow of Qi in these meridians is disrupted, Qi stagnates, and the body becomes unbalanced. This is when disease happens. Think of it like a freeway system. The freeways represent the meridians and the cars represent the Qi. A traffic jam can cause a lot of problems right? It is the same way in the body. An Acupuncturist works to resolve the blockage of Qi through the use of needles. Acupuncture needles are inserted at certain points along the meridians to restore the smooth flow of Qi and thus bring the body back into balance.