Learn About: ACUPUNCTURE

For over 2500 years the Chinese have used acupuncture to treat pain and illness. It is also widely used in Asia and Europe, and is growing in acceptance and popularity here in the United States.

Acupuncture is a technique of inserting tiny thread-like needles along the meridian lines/pressure points of the body. These points are grouped along specific pathways or meridians that cross the body. As long as the energy flows freely through these pathways, health is maintained. When the flow of energy is either absent, deficient, interrupted, excessive or blocked in an area, health is disrupted, resulting in illness or pain. By stimulating appropriate acupuncture points along these meridians, the energy is released and regulated, and health is restored.

Acupuncture works with the body, harmonizing and balancing energy, improves circulation, affects sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride levels in the blood, functioning of the gastrointestinal system, the activity of the endocrine system as well as releases endorphins from the brain which makes it effective in pain control.

The World Health Organization has approved acupuncture for the treatment of numerous illnesses including: headache, migraine, pain, PMS, depression, anxiety, insomnia, allergy, muscle strains and sprains, constipation, I.B.S., Crohn’s disease and many more.

One of the great advantages of acupuncture is the absence of any side effects. The needles used are single, one-time disposable needles and are discarded immediately after use. There are also alternative methods that do not require use of needles, including low-level laser, low electrical frequency instrument and finger pressure, all which stimulates acu-points.

On your first visit the practitioner may examine the condition and color of your skin, tongue, hair, eyes, nails, as well as to discuss your personal and family health history, work and living habits, physical environment, and emotional life...all in an effort to determine if there is any qi blockage and if so, which organ networks are affected.

To find a qualified practitioner in your area you can visit:
www.aaom.org (The American Association of Oriental Medicine)
www.acuall.org (The National Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Alliance)
www.nccaom.org (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine)

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AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE - "NEEDLES IN THE EAR!"

Auricular acupuncture is a technique widely used in the alternative medicine community. It is performed by inserting ultra-fine needles into specific spots of a client’s outer ear. This treatment is used for mental and emotional issues (including a wide range of addictions), for alleviating aches and pains and digestive upset.

How do those needles do that? The ears are considered to be a micro-system. This is an ancient cross-cultural concept, which states that all areas of the body can be accessed through stimulation of specific points on a particular part of the body. An example of this is how the sole of the foot is used in reflexology. This same theory can be applied to the ear, and when acupuncture needles are inserted into these points, it is called auricular acupuncture therapy.

Chinese auricular acupuncture has been continuously practiced for 2,500 years; however the map of the ear guiding point locations was not fully developed until 1950 by Dr. Paul Nogier. His charts were experimented with and validated at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). There, at the UCLA pain management center, under the supervision of Dr. Terry Oleson patients were successfully treated for chronic pain and for withdrawal of opiate medications using Chinese auricular acupuncture.

The advantage of using the micro-systems is vast. Clients are not required to disrobe for procedures, it is very relaxing, it is inexpensive and the effectiveness is long lasting. Additional benefits like eliminating headaches, toothaches, anxiety and depression are also noted.

Tammy Bennett, AP
Longwood Preventive Medicine Group
www.longwoodhealingcenter.com