Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Why Would I Avoid Acupuncture?

Natural treatments are something that people often look into in order to treat their various illnesses. Some of these natural treatments have been used for thousands of years and stem from some ancient scientific studies. One of these is the process of acupuncture, a way of manipulating the natural balance within the body through the insertion of very thin needles into specific points that are located on the body. Even though this particular type of natural medicine is gaining in popularity in the United States, it still comes under some scrutiny from time to time. Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is something that has been done for thousands of years throughout a variety of cultures, especially those that are located in Asia. It's really only been within the past several decades that acupuncture has gained popularity in the Western world. Since that time, however, many millions of people have sought this kind of treatment in order to gain a natural healing for their bodies. Many people are concerned, however, because of the possibility of something going wrong during this treatment. Fortunately, those worries are not founded.

As long as it is done by somebody who is experienced, acupuncture is one of the safest forms of natural medicines that exist. The FDA now even regulates the needles that are used by acupuncturists in their treatments in order to ensure that they are sterile and that no infection will be passed on. The only real dangers, other than infection are the possibility of an organ being pierced or of some difficulty caused by an underlying condition such as pregnancy or the wearing of some kind of electronic device, such as a pacemaker.

On your initial visit to the acupuncturist, he will go over a series of questions with you in order to determine your health needs. You may also want to consult with your doctor before any acupuncture treatments are administered. In this way, you will be in a much safer position because one will not be working against the other.

All in all, acupuncture is an excellent way for you to regain the balance in your body and to improve your overall health. It may also help you with specific healthcare needs such as depression, appetite suppression or general pain. Regardless of why you go to an acupuncturist, however, the odds are that you will walk out of their feeling better than you felt when you walked in.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Natural Healing through Acupuncture?

Many people are concerned when it comes to their health and rightly so. Your good health can have a positive influence on all areas of your life. Most people realize that there is some benefit to taking care of yourself naturally and trying to bring your body into a balanced state. Acupuncture is one way that you're able to do this and if administered properly, it can help you to gain an overall health to your body that you may have been trying to reach through other methods, such as supplementation. Of course other natural health methods have their place, as any reliable acupuncturist will let you know but acupuncture can play a major part in your overall health.

The practice itself has been around for thousands of years, being established in ancient China. After it was used in China successfully for quite some time, the medical practice spread throughout other Asian areas and their own flair was added to the original practice. Many thousands of years later, it has now become popular in the United States, especially since the 1980s. As people become more aware of the benefits of taking care of themselves naturally, acupuncture can play a part.

It actually has to do with the balance that is in our body and the energy that flows through all of us. This is really an indisputable fact but thousands of years ago it was referred to as Chi. Although it had some religious connotations, they were fairly close to the fact that this energy played an important role in all of our lives and health. As long as the energy was balanced and free-flowing, we enjoy good health. If it was blocked or imbalanced in some way, we have difficulties.

What acupuncture actually does is to send the energy into an area of our body that is affected in one way or another. This has actually been proven through tests which monitor blood flow and energy throughout the body. By building on the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture, many modern-day doctors have been able to help individuals to overcome problems that range from headaches to depression.

If you have been holding off trying acupuncture, you would probably be very surprised at how easy the procedure actually is. Why not try it out for yourself and see how far this natural medical practice can take you with your health?

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Getting Familiar with Acupuncture

As with anything in the natural health world, there is a lot of misinformation that is surrounding acupuncture. As a matter of fact, many people miss out on the benefits of acupuncture because they understand it to be something that it is not. If you're unfamiliar with acupuncture but think that you could benefit from some of the services that they provide, here is some information to help you to cut through the noise and find out the truth.

Acupuncture was started some 5000 years ago in ancient China and was a way to regulate the energy that flowed through the body. This energy, known as Chi according to Chinese medicine is present in all living things. Whenever it becomes imbalanced, however, it can cause problems for us as individuals that range from mild symptoms to severe disease. Acupuncture came along as a way to regulate the energy and to open up the channels that allow the energy to flow through our body normally.

Since that ancient time, acupuncture has come a very long way but they still adhere to many of the same things as the original natural medicine. Some of the differences include the fact that it does go along with modern medicine and the techniques that are used include such things as sterile needles and environments in which the acupuncture is performed.

Whenever you make your first trip to the acupuncturist, you will be given an interview by the doctor in order to find out exactly what you need and exactly where you stand as far as your health is concerned. They will ask you many questions and you will have the opportunity to give feedback and ask some questions of your own. Take this opportunity to become familiar, both with the doctor and with the practice of acupuncture in general.

The actual procedure is probably nothing like you had considered before you understood what it was. The needles that are inserted into your skin are hair thin and it rarely ever hurts at all. As a matter of fact, many people experience relaxation or rejuvenation as a result of the needles being inserted. If there is any pain involved, it is very temporary and light.

Although you may go in for a dozen acupuncture treatments for your problem, many people experience relief after the first treatment. They leave the office feeling rejuvenated and with a general sense of well-being.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Can Acupuncture Work with Weight Loss?

Unfortunately, many people have to deal with problems with their weight on a regular basis and throughout their lifetime. For some of us, it is a problem that started whenever we were children and we developed some bad habits that are very difficult to break. For others, it is a hormonal problem such as those experienced by people with hypothyroidism. Regardless of why you're having a difficult time with your weight, it can be a real struggle to get the weight off and keep it off. One way in which many people have looked to for help with their weight loss efforts is acupuncture.

Acupuncture can indeed bring our body into a balance that it may be lacking. If we are having problems with our hormone levels which can cause weight gain, acupuncture can help to bring those back into line with where they should be. In general, the better you feel and the better you feel about yourself, the easier in that it will be for you to lose weight and keep it off. Unfortunately, for most people, that's not quite enough for them to realize the weight loss that they have been looking for. Acupuncture is able to overcome one more large hurdle.

On the inside and around the ear are specific acupuncture points that serve several different functions. Whenever these points are stimulated through the use of acupuncture needles, they help to control our appetite by suppressing it and they also work to detox the body. This works to our benefit in two different ways. Not only does it keep us from overeating out of habit but it also helps us to be able to lose weight quickly because our bodies are not clogged with a lot of toxins as a result of the acupuncture detox.

So, if you have been struggling with your weight for quite some time and do not seem to be able to control it through willpower and natural means, going to an acupuncturist may be exactly what you need. By suppressing your appetite and bringing your body back into a natural balance, you are assisting yourself to lose the weight naturally. The weight that you lose will be easier to keep off as a result of your overall general health being better. For some, it's the only thing that really helps them in their weight loss efforts.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Can Acupuncture Help with Fibromyalgia?

Many individuals suffer from the disease that is known as fibromyalgia. For some of these people that suffer with this problem, just getting out of bed in the morning can be a very difficult task. It causes pain in specific areas of the body and saps all of the energy that we have away from us. The worst part is that some people don't even consider this to be a disease at all. They think that we are suffering for no reason or that it is simply all in our head. For those of us that live with the disease, however, we know exactly how real it can be. Whenever traditional medicine has failed us, is acupuncture able to step in and cure fibromyalgia?

Acupuncture is not actually a cure for any diseases. Although it does help in order to bring the body back into balance, it does not take the disease away from us, our body actually does that. What acupuncture can do for you, if you have fibromyalgia or another disease is to bring your body into unison with itself and allow the free flow of energy to move through your entire being. This is natural healing at its very roots and if you are able to heal your body and the flow of energy, it will be much easier for your body to remove diseases such as fibromyalgia.

The concept of Chi, or the energy that flows within all of us is at the basis of acupuncture. Thousands of years ago, in ancient China this practice came into being as a way to get Chi to flow freely through individuals. The Chinese felt that if the body was out of balance in any way and leaning either toward the positive or the negative that illness and disease would result. Although they did not have all of the details that we have as far as medical science is concerned, they were pretty close to the actual truth. When our body gets out of balance, we suffer.

So, if you are suffering from fibromyalgia and want to try acupuncture, it's a pretty good idea to do so. Not only can it help you by bringing your body back into balance but your acupuncturist will be able to guide you in other natural methods to help remove this disease from you, once and for all.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

What Is the Cost of Acupuncture?

Although it has come a long way since its roots some 5000 years ago, the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture is still something that is revered, even today. Since the 1980s, this practice has gained widespread use throughout much of the westernized world. Although it has changed as far as the type of needles that are used and the areas in which they are used, much of the ancient art still remains intact. If you would like to try acupuncture for yourself but are wondering about the cost, here is a breakdown on what it will cost you for treatment.

Of course, treatments for acupuncture vary from area to area but for the most part you can expect to pay anywhere from $50-$250 per treatment. This also includes your initial consultation in which your doctor will discuss all of the options with you and try to ascertain exactly what kind of treatment that you need. On this initial visit, the acupuncture may not even be administered. There are some acupuncturists, especially where competition is high in the area that will give you the initial consultation for free. If you are able to find such a deal, it may help you to afford the further treatments.

Unfortunately, acupuncture is not always a one-shot deal. As a matter of fact, for some types of treatments you can expect to be in the acupuncturist's office a dozen times or more. This can add up to a substantial amount of money if you are paying $100 per visit. What can be done to curtail the cost?

Depending on your particular treatment and the reason why you're visiting the acupuncturist, your insurance may actually cover all or part of the treatment. The best thing that you can do in this particular case is to contact your insurance company to see if they cover acupuncture treatments.

Of course, there is a negative affect to the cost of acupuncture as well. If you have a problem with your health and you do not seek help through an acupuncturist you may end up keeping that malady for quite some time. You have to balance this in your mind and try to put a price tag on what your health is worth. If you have been dealing with your illness for quite some time, the price of several acupuncture sessions may not be so big after all.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

What Can Acupuncture Do for Me?

There are a lot of people that are familiar with acupuncture in general but many of them may not be aware of all of the different things that acupuncture can do for them. As long as it has to do with your body's health, acupuncture can assist you in a natural way. This is because, at its essence, acupuncture is meant to allow the free flow of energy within the body in order to heal the body and to rejuvenate the senses. Although there is quite a long list of things that can be done at the acupuncturist office, here are a few of the more common things that are treated.

One thing that most people go to the acupuncturist for is control of pain. It doesn't matter what kind of pain an individual has, from back pain to carpal tunnel syndrome, the acupuncturist will be able to assist you. By allowing the free flow of energy through your body, the pain can either be blocked or the area can be healed. Pain management doesn't just stop in this area, however, it also includes surgical procedures.

Many individuals who are undergoing surgery seek out acupuncture treatments in order to control the pain and to help with some of the side effects from the surgery. Surgeons are catching on to the benefits of acupuncture as well and are administering it before and after the surgery in order to cut down on the amount of pain medicine that is needed. Some doctors are even administering the acupuncture whenever the surgery is taking place!

Acupuncture is also used for its calming effect in many cases. People with unusual phobias or that have a difficult time relaxing or sleeping may seek acupuncture therapy in order to help them to relax and to overcome their problems. This type of acupuncture may take ongoing treatments that last for quite some time but many people experience almost immediate relief from these type of problems.

One other thing that is fairly common for acupuncturist to do is to decrease a person's appetite. As a matter of fact, many people who undergo acupuncture treatments for various reasons also ask if they can be given acupuncture for appetite suppression. Although many acupuncturists will not focus on this area solely, they will administer this treatment in conjunction with the therapy that the person is already receiving.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Is Acupuncture My Last Hope?

All of us have to deal with problems in our life. For some of us, the problems seem to be relatively light and they are something that we can deal with on a regular basis. For others, the problems may come fast and furious and it may be difficult to get a handle on the situation. Some people seek medical advice for their problems but, at times, doctors are able to do little more than give us something to suppress the symptoms when what is really needed is a cure for the disease itself. At times like these, many people turn to natural health and hope that it is able to take care of the problem.

One natural healing method that many people try is that of acupuncture. In fact, you would probably be surprised with the number of individuals that try acupuncture in a last ditch effort to solve their problems. What these individuals find out, in many cases, is that the field of natural healing actually only begins with acupuncture but it goes much wider than that. A good acupuncturist will not claim to be able to heal the difficulties that you are having but they can guide you through the healing process.

Acupuncture has a lot to do with restoring and maintaining good health. It does this by promoting the free flow of life throughout our entire body. At times, the energy that is within us can become clogged or even imbalanced and that causes a lot of problems in us as individuals. By promoting good health through a balanced energy flow, acupuncture is able to help us to heal ourselves and is not necessarily doing the healing itself. When used in connection with other forms of natural healing, the effects can be quite powerful.

If you're contemplating acupuncture but are worried about the process, let me put your mind at ease. The process of acupuncture is relatively free of any problems whatsoever. In fact, the only problems that really occur could occur with any procedure, as they all involve the competence of the person administering the acupuncture. As long as your doctor is aware of what they are doing and uses clean and sterile needles from an unopened pack, you have very little, if anything, to worry about.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Promoting the Free Flow of Energy through Acupuncture

There are many different ways that we can help ourselves naturally. For some people, they do a lot with their diets and perhaps meditation but for others, they may need a bit more of a natural boost. One way that we can help ourselves to heal and to rejuvenate is through the process that is known as acupuncture. Although this method of healing is thousands of years old, it is still revered as one of the basic ways to take care of ourselves and to balance the life force that is within all of us. What exactly can acupuncture do for you?

According to traditional Chinese medicine, we all have an energy within ourselves that is known as Chi. This energy flows freely through us and is the essence of what we actually are on the inside. Chinese medicine identified roughly 14 channels through which this life force flowed. From time to time, however, we may experience a blockage of the free flow of this life force which causes problems in us that range from minor aches and pains to serious illness.

Whenever we experience an imbalance in our Chi, acupuncture is able to bring our body back into a balanced state again. By stimulating various acupuncture points on our body, it can send energy and increased blood flow to other areas of our body. For example, the palm of the hand and the web of the thumb can be used to help with headaches. There are over 2000 of these acupuncture points that are found throughout the body that can help in numerous ways in order to promote good health and to aid in healing the body of the problems that it experiences.

Whenever our body is in balance and flowing properly, it does not hold disease in easily. This is also seen in the pH balance that is in our body and just goes to show exactly how important it is for us to stay within the lines of physical balance.

So, if you are experiencing pain or sickness, acupuncture may be up to bring you back to a state in which your body can remove it from itself. By using acupuncture as a basis for a natural, healthy life, you are giving yourself the opportunity to be free of disease and the problems that imbalance creates.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Can Acupuncture Help Me Lose Weight?

One of the most difficult things that we have to deal with on a regular basis is problems with our weight. For many of us, this is been a problem that we have been dealing with for most of our lives. It may have been that we were even heavy when we were children and because of habits that we have had since we were young, it may be difficult for us not to overeat. Add to that the general lifestyle that most of us lead which is busy and full of sugary snacks and fast food and it's little wonder that we have a problem with our weight.

One thing that can help with weight loss and suppressing our appetite is the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture. Although most people think of acupuncture as being something that helps with general health and the relief of pain, it can also do a lot to help us with our weight loss efforts. It is true that acupuncture is a great method of working with our health naturally but, isn't taking care of our weight also a part of our natural health? Let's take a look at acupuncture and weight loss and see what it can do for you.

Acupuncture is a way of bringing our body back into balance, a natural balance that our body needs. According to traditional Chinese medicine, all of us have channels in our body which funnel energy from one part of our body into another. If our body is in balance, we are able to enjoy a natural flow of this energy, otherwise known as Chi. Acupuncture is able to manipulate the flow of energy that is within our body through the insertion of hair thin needles. If this energy is disrupted in some cases, it can help us by suppressing the energy as well. It does this through acupuncture and also helps by suppressing our appetite.

Many people who go in for acupuncture for pain or general healing may also be able to enjoy the benefits of a suppressed appetite through acupuncture as well. Your acupuncturist will be able to give you assistance and advice as far as this is concerned. What you will probably find, however, is that by reducing your appetite through acupuncture, you are able to eat less on a regular basis and maintain a healthier weight.

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Can Acupuncture Remove My Wrinkles?

All of us are fighting against a common foe, that of aging and all of the problems that it brings along with it. For some of us, it brings along problems that we need to fight on a continuous basis in the form of disease or decreased energy. For others, it may be a matter of the effects of aging showing on our face and other areas of our body. People will spend an unusual amount of money in order to make themselves look young again. Not only do they spend a lot of money, they may also take risks with their health in order to remove wrinkles.

Some of the most popular forms of face lifts include chemical peels, surgery and micro-dermabrasion. All of these are invasive and can damage our skin in order to make it look better. This has sparked an interest in natural health as a way to remove some of the wrinkles from our face, specifically through the use of acupuncture as a facelift. Is acupuncture actually able to help remove wrinkles from our face and to make us look young again? The answer may surprise you.

First of all, it's important for us to explain that acupuncture is not and never will be the same as a facelift. This is because treatment through acupuncture is natural and not invasive in any way. The only thing that is invasive about acupuncture are the needles that are used and they hardly even damage your skin at all. Regardless of the actual term, however, many people have experienced great benefits with their skin through the use of acupuncture. This is for several different reasons.

Some doctors will use acupuncture directly on the wrinkles in order to stimulate the skin to grow and to heal. Going deeper than that, however, acupuncture actually promotes the free flow of energy throughout the body which can make you feel and look better from the inside out. Whenever you are glowing and youthful as a result of your acupuncture treatments, the effects will be plain to see on the outside as well.

Although acupuncture cannot remove all of the wrinkles from your face, it is one step toward a more natural, healthy you. By keeping your body in balance and maintaining that balance, you will take a chunk out of the aging process that will show to everyone that looks.

Friday, March 05, 2010

Treating Infertility through Acupuncture

One of the biggest disappointments that we can experience as a married couple is the inability to conceive a child. Even though we may try month after month, for some of us it is just a difficult thing to accomplish. If you are having a difficult time with conception and you don't necessarily want to go through in vitro fertilization, acupuncture may be able to offer you a natural treatment that has helped many. How can acupuncture help you to have a baby?

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical procedure in which the body's energy is brought back into balance. Through the stimulation of acupuncture points with the use of very fine needles, this life energy is sent throughout the body through various channels. Whenever we experience an imbalance in our body as a result of this energy leaning towards the positive or the negative, it can display itself in a number of different ways. For some, it displays as pain or disease but for others, it may show up as an inability to conceive a child.

Studies that have been done on acupuncture have shown that whenever certain areas of the body are stimulated through treatment, it does increase the amount of energy and blood flow to the targeted area. This can have a great impact on us in many different ways. If we are having a difficult time in producing the sperm and eggs that are necessary in order to conceive a child, giving these areas of our body additional blood flow may be exactly what is needed in order to produce an adequate supply. It may also be that by increasing the balance within our body and bringing ourselves into a more natural state, we give our bodies the ability to heal any problems that we may be experiencing in these areas.

Of course, many individuals also try in vitro fertilization in order to produce children and this can be stimulated by acupuncture as well. As a matter of fact, in several tests that were conducted, those people who were going through in vitro fertilization and using acupuncture increased their odds of conception by 10% or more when compared with those who were only going through IVF alone.

Acupuncture can certainly help you to bring your body into a balanced condition. It may also be a double to assist your body in healing itself and producing what is necessary in order for you to conceive a child.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Acupuncture for Sinus Headaches

The human body is an amazing thing, and whenever it is working properly it has a wonderful ability to take care of itself. Whenever our body gets out of balance, however, problems can occur and show up in the form of pain and various diseases. In order to naturally remove these various maladies from ourselves, it is often necessary for us to seek out the natural balance that we may have lost. If you are having a difficult time with your sinuses and sinus headaches, it may be a sign of the balance missing from your body. You can bring this balance back through the use of acupuncture.


Many people are not aware of exactly how large the sinuses are. They are cavities which reach out into the cheek bones and above the eyes. Our sinuses are there for a specific reason much the same as everything on our body. Not only do they filter out the air before it enters into our lungs but they also reduce the risk of brain injury from blunt force trauma to the face and give our faces their unique shape. For those that suffer from sinus headaches, however, the benefits of their sinuses are outweighed by the trouble that they are causing.


By using acupuncture, you may be able to relieve some of the problems that you are experiencing from sinus headaches. If you are able to get your body back into alignment with itself through acupuncture and natural healing methods, you may be able to remove the headaches altogether.
By producing various chemicals in the bloodstream through acupuncture along with some of the pain relief that acupuncture is able to bring, you may experience an immediate relief from the headaches that you are having. With several treatments and a good regimen of natural health, you may be a ball to get rid of the headaches once and for all.


Of course, you will want to speak to your doctor and to your acupuncturist about the treatments in order to make sure that they don't conflict with one another. More than likely, however, you will be able to experience the relief that is typically found through acupuncture treatments. Many people experience immediate relief and if you are one of those, you may be wondering why it took you so long to try acupuncture in the first place.

Monday, March 01, 2010

Acupuncture for Weight Loss

It's hard to meet anyone that is not at least a little bit concerned about their weight. The society that we live in as well as the type of lifestyle that many of us keep has led to an epidemic of weight gain that all of us are suffering from. Even those of us who are able to maintain a fairly lean lifestyle still struggle because of the difficulty of eating a healthy diet and maintaining our weight. There are some things that can be done, however, in order to help curb your appetite and to lose the extra pounds. Acupuncture is one of these.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that has been done for thousands of years. Even though it spread throughout many areas of Asia, it really has only become popular in the Western world in the past several decades. Since that time, many tests have revealed that there is a lot of truth in what acupuncture is able to do for us as individuals. In recent years, it has also been discovered that a natural balance in the body is one way for you to be able to combat weight gain and problems with overeating. Acupuncture is a natural way to maintain balance in the body so they work hand-in-hand.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, we all have an energy about us that is typically known as Chi. This energy has two basic parts that are opposite to each other but when they work in balance they give us the life force that we need. By manipulating certain parts of our body with acupuncture needles we are able to maintain the flow of energy and to find that balance that our body needs. This can do everything for us from removing pain and depression to helping us to maintain a healthy weight.

So, if you have been struggling with weight gain or have a difficulty with overeating, acupuncture can help you in several different ways. Not only can it bring you back into a balanced state where your body will work better as a unit, it can also help by suppressing our appetite and making it easier for us to maintain a healthy weight. Although it will still take willpower on our part to a certain extent, by using acupuncture to maintain healthy weight, you will be giving your self some help along the way.

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