| Acupuncture, as an alternative medical practice, is | | | | efficacy as a non-invasive, drug-free means of |
| now making headway in the Western world. It is | | | | alleviating a number of physical ailments. It is also |
| now accepted as a drug-free treatment and method | | | | used in conjunction with traditional Chinese herbal |
| of stress relief. Practiced in China for more than | | | | cures that are perceived to be as effective as |
| 2,000 years, acupuncture is a therapeutic system | | | | modern pills and medication. Acupuncture is concerned |
| that makes use of sterilized needles for the purpose | | | | not only with providing cure to specific ailments. It is |
| of restoring the body's equilibrium. The needles are | | | | also used to determine the causes of physical |
| inserted on specific vital points that correspond to a | | | | discomforts and illnesses. Acupuncture practitioners |
| specific internal organ. The light insertion of the | | | | make use of body charts that show the meridians or |
| needle into a vital point is supposed to free the flow | | | | channels where internal energy flows to different |
| of internal energy or "chi." According to Chinese | | | | parts of the body. These meridians correspond to |
| medical theory, any blockage in the flow of chi in the | | | | the Western medicine layout of the central nervous |
| body's "energy streams" or meridians can an | | | | system and circulatory system. |
| imbalance in the body --- resulting to an illness. The | | | | Studies are still being made by Western doctors and |
| natural flow of chi ensures a person's general state | | | | other scientists to determine the efficacy of this |
| of health. The focus of acupuncture is on restoring | | | | Eastern alternative form of healing. Even if |
| harmony in the flow of the chi throughout the body | | | | acupuncture already accepted in different parts of |
| and, in the process, balancing the metaphysical | | | | the world as an alternative healing method, some |
| concepts of yin and yang. | | | | quarters are still skeptical about its long-term effects. |
| Acupuncture is used to treat a wide range of | | | | While there are still no research findings that make |
| ailments such as nausea, sinusitis, migraine headaches, | | | | the curative claims about acupuncture absolutely |
| lower back pain, knee pain, and chronic pain. Ancient | | | | undisputable, it is interesting to note the depth of |
| Chinese texts also claim that the acupuncture can be | | | | understanding that the Chinese had about the inner |
| used to treat minor mental and emotional problem | | | | workings of the human body thousands of years |
| such as anxiety disorder. For this reason, some even | | | | before the formal organization and practice of |
| compare the Traditional Chinese Medicine method of | | | | Western medicine. Perhaps, one day, scientists will |
| acupuncture to the Western medical discipline of | | | | finally prove that the differences between Eastern |
| psychology. Both are seen as similar disciplines or | | | | and Western medicine is found mostly in culture and |
| therapy methods that have a positive effect on the | | | | terminology; and that both systems are actually alike |
| mental health of patients. | | | | in terms of philosophy and theory in the use of the |
| The true benefits of acupuncture are found in its | | | | needle as a tool for healing. |