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