What Exactly Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture originated in China more than 2,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.

The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up in others.

The meridians can be influenced by needling the acupuncture points; the acupuncture needles unblock the obstructions at the dams, and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments can therefore help the body's internal organs to correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities, and in the circulation of their energy through the meridians.

Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner.

According to the NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture, there have been many studies on acupuncture's potential usefulness, but results have been mixed because of complexities with study design and size, as well as difficulties with choosing and using placebos or sham acupuncture. However, promising results have emerged, showing efficacy of acupuncture, for example, in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain.

There are other situations--such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma--in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program. An NCCAM-funded study recently showed that acupuncture provides pain relief, improves function for people with osteoarthritis of the knee, and serves as an effective complement to standard care.

The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.

Jerry Hall

Guide To Choosing The Best Acupuncture Schools Will Save You Money

To begin with, if you're a prospective student you'll want to learn how and where you can earn a certificate or degree in acupuncture, where the best acupuncture schools are and what it's like to work in the field of acupuncture. Besides licensing you may also want to be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. With this certification you can use the title Diplomate of Acupuncture. The professional abbreviation is Dipl.Ac. An acupuncture practice can be a career you can enjoy for a lifetime.

Acupuncture schools that offer courses in traditional Chinese medicine often include other segments of traditional medicine

, such as anatomy, body therapy, massage therapy, and various sciences. It's important to get a total picture of all the treatments offered by the acupuncture schools so you acquire the necessary skills to be well-rounded and well-versed for your patients. First of all you'll want to find out what school and program options are in your area.

For naturopathy schools that offer acupuncture programs see the established List of Accredited Natural Medicine Colleges in North America. States such as California have quite a few acupuncture schools to choose from, while Wisconsin has only one school and some states have none at all. The ACAOM (Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) is the national accrediting agency and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit Master's-level programs in the acupuncture and Oriental medicine professions, so make sure the school you're considering has this accreditation.

Acupuncture schools usually offer the science and philosophy of acupuncture too. You can call each school you're considering and ask to speak to a recruiting counselor to find out what is the student-to-teacher ratio is. Try to get smaller classes. Check to see if your home state is on the national list of about 50 acupuncture schools that have accredited programs.

Acupuncture programs in acupuncture schools are expensive and usually require three years or so of course work. Some of the programs can be up to five years. One good textbook to review in advance of your decision is: "The Foundations of Chinese Medicine" a comprehensive text for acupuncturists and herbalists by Maciocia. In order to qualify for federal assistance be sure to enroll in a school that's accredited by the ACAOM.

And if you're visiting an acupuncture clinic as a patient to learn more about acupuncture, make sure to ask about any drawbacks that might go along with an acupuncture career. Acupuncture is particularly effective at relieving or treating chronic muscle pain, stress, and PMS just to name a few symptoms. Before you commit to learning about any alternative medical technique, be aware that some of them may not have been scientifically evaluated.

Before you commit to any acupuncture school or to any acupuncture training you might want to purchase "Fundamentals of Chinese Acupuncture" by Ellis, Wiseman, and Bosson. This text book is used in many acupuncture schools and acupuncture programs and will give you an idea if you want to pursue a career in acupuncture. Note that each state and each discipline has its own strict rules about how alternative medicine practitioners are to be professionally licensed.

The economic burden can be lessened with financial aid in a variety of forms. If you need financial aid try contacting some of your local philanthropic organizations and health organizations to see if they know of any scholarships that are still available. Sometimes these organizations have some scholarship money that was unused and will accept an application for it. Talk to the financial aid officers at the school you have in mind and see what suggestions they have for grants, scholarships and federal aid.

There is always federal money available for education. There is money set aside for online degree programs also. Check and see if your school has any of its classes available online and if so then apply for these funds. There are also education loans and student loans available if you're unable to get any full or partial scholarships or grants.

Our advanced medicine has proven the effectiveness of many treatments that have been practiced in other countries for centuries and as a result, more and more insurance companies are covering alternative treatments such as acupuncture. Make sure to learn about your state's licensing requirements for acupuncturists before you do anything. After graduation from an acupuncture school or program and as a licensed acupuncturist you could choose to have a cosmetic acupuncture or facial acupuncture practice or even run a veterinary acupuncture clinic.

Helen Hecker

Weight Loss With Acupuncture|Can Acupuncture Help You Lose Weight?

In recent years, more and more people are trying out acupuncture to lose weight. Just what is acupuncture? How can acupuncture treatment help you lose weight?

Acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been around for about 5,000 years. It is the practice of inserting very thin needles to stimulate pathways or meridians in the body to treat many illnesses and diseases especially to relieve pain from chronic disorders.

Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners or TCM physicians claim that acupuncture can help you to lose body fat by making you feel full and so will eat less. This curbs excess caloric consumption in the patient treated with acupuncture and is a great help in the patient’s weight loss program.

Acupuncture treatment can also be used to raise your metabolic rate and help you to burn more calories to speed up weight loss. Some Chinese medicine practitioners say that acupuncture stimulates the production of a hormone called endorphins and this hormone helps to lower body fat, insulin and lipid levels in the bloodstream thus less insulin is converted into body fat.

Acupuncture is not a miracle cure for obesity. TCM physicians often stress that to achieve good weight loss results from your program and maintaining your weight, acupuncture treatment alone is not enough. To lose weight effectively and keep the fats off permanently, acupuncture treatment must be combined with healthy eating habits and regular exercises.

Before you begin your acupuncture treatment, your Chinese physician will conduct a medical examination on you by checking your pulse and examination of your tongue to ensure that you are suitable for acupuncture weight loss treatment. This is because TCM is a holistic branch of health care and do not just specifically target the ailment or medical complaint. So an investigation into other reasons why a patient is obese is necessary to solve the problem holistically.

If you want to lose weight naturally and without drugs, why not try TCM acupuncture for your weight loss program?

Chris Chew