Acupuncture is one of the oldest and most commonly used healing techniques in the world. A lot of research conducted have already proven that acupuncture can be used to treat certain health conditions like headaches, back pain, allergies, fertility, and digestive issues. In fact, even the World Health Organization and National Institute of Health are on board with these findings.
Acupuncture treatment room 4 at Harmony Wellness Center
Front desk manager, Sarah, in our waiting room
Acupuncture originated from China over four thousand years ago…..and it’s stuck around (pun intended) surpassing the test of time. The technique involves the insertion of needles into the body to promote circulation, release endorphins, stimulate white blood cells, and calm the nervous system. According to modern scientists, their research has shown that acupuncture can activate the nervous system to release bio-chemicals in the spinal cord, brain and muscles. These chemicals decreases pain and inflammation and even bring balance to the endocrine system. It essentially stimulates the body’s natural healing process and promotes the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of an individual.
Acupuncture is still a mystery to some, but what I know for sure is that it works!
The director of the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine and professor of family medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine said, “There is a lot of research to show that different neurotransmitters are released in the brain and those have different effects throughout the body, including pain reduction and reducing inflammation.”
Associate professor and Director of Traditional Chinese medicine Research at the Center for Integrative Medicine or CIM located at Kernan Hospital, Lixing Lao, Ph.D., L.Ac., explained how acupuncture works based on the theory of Chinese medicine. Dr. Lao said, “The Chinese view is that the healthy condition of our body is balance between Ying and Yang and that the energy, called “chi” or “qi”, which flows in the channels also known as meridians through the body, keeps the balance.” He mentioned that the energy or chi flows freely to maintain the balance within the body. When a patient is inflicted with a certain illness, the energy is considered to be blocked. The acupuncture treatment is used to prevent the blockage of energy in order to maintain physical well-being.
Dr. Lao said that acupuncture can act as a preventive medicine and it basically “swallow illnesses in the bud.” It is referred to as the transition between the illness and the health. “This period of time is referred to as a “sub-health condition”, before the illness appears. This “edge of illness” is the time that acupuncture could help to correct the imbalance and prevent illness.” said Dr. Lao.
Acupuncture is still a mystery to some, but what I know for sure is that it works!
